15 Metro Phoenix Restaurants to Visit During Spring Training 2013

By Nikki Buchanan Mon., Feb. 18 2013 at 7:00 AM

Categories: Buchanan, Top Lists

Continued from page 4

Diana Lustig

Los Olivos

For a delicious piece of local history, you can't beat this old-school Mexican restaurant, still owned and operated by the Corral family, who came to Scottsdale in 1917. A piece of the original 20's-era adobe building (once a pool hall, later a place for church meetings) is still intact, but the creaky, dim old building has grown considerably over the years to accommodate locals and tourists who can't get enough of the straightforward, Sonoran-style food served here. If you're smart, you'll start with a gooey, bubbling hot cheese crisp, made on a fabulous house-made flour tortilla and best eaten with the spicy bright red salsa (not the milder one) brought to the table with chips. Mariachis on the weekends keep the atmosphere lively, but there's really no need for entertainment when you're focused on excellent green corn tamales, rich enchiladas and spicy steak picado that will leave your mouth aglow. Get there early for happy hour in the bar, when cheese crisps, flautas and mini tacos are dirt-cheap. $-$$

Matt's Big Breakfast

Yes, it was featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, but don't visit this insanely popular, perpetually crowded neighborhood favorite on Guy Fieri's say-so. Go because owners Matt and Erenia Pool, who recently moved the operation to larger digs on the same block, turn out some of the best breakfasts in town -- served all day long, using cage-free eggs and locally roasted coffee. Rosemary-flecked home fries are one delicious reason breakfast gets all the glory, but lunch's Big Butter Burger (fried in butter), classic Reuben (made with house-roasted corned beef) and Midwest-style chili are just as praiseworthy. $-$$