Mark your calendar. The restaurant scene in Arizona is about to get extra tasty. The fall edition of Arizona Restaurant Week runs Friday, Sept. 19, through Sunday, Sept. 28. A recent dinner gave a small group of media representatives and influencers a sneak peek at some of the over 250 restaurants participating in this highly anticipated biannual event.
“We invite our culinary community to come out and enjoy Fall Arizona Restaurant Week, one of the best times of the year to enjoy an incredible meal at an incredible value,” Arizona Restaurant Association President and CEO Steve Chucri said. “We could not be as successful as we are in championing our hospitality industry without the loyalty and dedication of our enthusiastic diners. We thank you all for continuing to give local restaurants some much-needed love and support.”
Participating restaurants offer a prix-fixe menu priced at $33, $44 or $55 per person, depending on the restaurant. Some restaurants include a beverage in the cost of the meal, and others have wine or cocktail pairings available for an additional cost. There are also many restaurants offering their Fall Arizona Restaurant Week menus to go. Menus available feature restaurants’ most popular dishes, plus unique offerings that are not on the regular menu.
Three Thirty Three
Tucked into the bottom floor of The Watermark on Scottsdale Road, south of the 202, Three Thirty Three is as much of a restaurant and bar as it is a visual spectacle of the highest order. The Asian-inspired steakhouse has a $55-per-person menu with three courses, with a diner’s choice of an appetizer, main course and dessert.
During the “dine around” preview dinner, we enjoyed all three of the Three Thirty Three appetizer selections available during Fall Arizona Restaurant Week. The whipped edamame is a gluten-free option that includes a dreamy creamy whipped edamame with a dash of house chili sauce, topped with onion ash and togarashi abd served with puffed prawn chips. The selection was unique and a perfect way to kick off our multi-restaurant visit for the night.
We also enjoyed yellowtail sashimi topped with truffle crema and chives, and swimming in a chili ponzu sauce. The third appetizer was a platter of Korean fried chicken wings kissed with sesame and chives. Remarkably, there is one piece of $60,000 kitchen equipment at Three Thirty Three that is used solely to create this magical spicy and sweet chicken.
Glenrosa
Glenrosa was our next stop. The restaurant showcases the flavors of Arizona through unique recipes and ingredients that are sourced locally. The rustic-style restaurant is offering an engaging Fall Arizona Restaurant Week menu for $44 per person.
Appetizer selections include fluke aguachile, mercado salad and tamal de elote. Entrees include chile en nogada, grilled sea bass and pork milanesa. Desserts include a selection of tres leches bundt cake or a scoop of creamy gelato.
The standout dish from our visit was tamal de elote. As an Arizona native, I can say that I’ve never seen a tamale quite like this one. The generously sized tamale includes masa, roasted Anaheim pepper and creamed corn topped with shredded queso fresco. The chile en nogada deserves an honorable mention. It incorporates a massive poblano pepper stuffed with a veal and apple stew and is topped with walnut sherry sauce and pomegranate seeds.
Alter Ego at Canopy Tempe
Alter Ego inside Canopy Tempe is offering a $55 per person menu during Fall Arizona Restaurant Week. Appetizers include Buffalo tempura cauliflower, bang bang shrimp, and ginger and garlic meatballs. Entrees include miso salmon, shoyu pork chop and ahi tuna poke bowl. Our group’s visit was all about dessert and a perfect way to wrap the night.
We enjoyed a wildly delicious St. Louis butter cake, coconut chocolate tres leches and New York cheesecake. The St. Louis butter cake was phenomenal, and the dense cake with crunchy edges is complimented with a creamy vanilla gelato and fresh blackberries, blueberries and strawberries. When you’re finished, don’t miss the chance to visit the top floor of Canopy Tempe, the Alibi Rooftop Lounge, boasting the best views in the area.
More Information
Some of the many restaurants participating in Fall Arizona Restaurant Week include:
• Aftermath
• Campo Italian Bistro & Bar
• Chula Seafood (all locations)
• Dolce Vita
• El Carbon Mexican Eatery
• Espiritu
• Renata’s Hearth
• Saint Urban
• SanTan Spirit House
• The Mick Brasserie
• Vicinos Local Italian
• Vintage XIV Wine Bar & Sports Lounge
• Yellowbell
… and many more!
In addition, the following establishments are first-timers to Arizona Restaurant Week:
• Forks & Boards
• Francine Restaurant
• Indibar
• Rodizio Grill North Scottsdale
• SOL Mexican Cocina
• SumoMaya
• Three Thirty Three
• Uchi
For more about Arizona Restaurant Week, visit arizonarestaurantweek.com.
Dining and Cooking