Lauren Saria

Lobster Wraps from 1130 The Restaurant

Ever find yourself thinking, "Wow, I really wish there was someone who could show me around downtown Phoenix's bustling food scene. It's all so overwhelming"?

Well . . . probably not. But anyway, Taste It Tours is here to satisfy your burning curiosity about all that downtown has to offer you and your stomach. And although the company advertises "Phoenix's premier food tasting . . . walking tour," the three-hour excursion can best be summed up as a food tour, yes, but not one designed for the culinarily enlightened (a.k.a. the foodie).

The tours take diners "inside the restaurants that have impacted Downtown Phoenix's culinary scene." Developed by Jessica Combest, the company takes tour-goers to three to seven eateries. Combest, an Arizona native, decided to create her own way to share downtown culture with visitors after going on several food tours herself.

More >>

Katie Johnson

How cute is this?

Katie Johnson

Patio at Astor House.

Astor House, the new little restaurant right next door to Tuck Shop, the cozy house-turned-eatery in the residential heart of the Coronado District, is now open.

Courtesy of owner and architect DJ Fernandez (whose next venture is Vovomeena, a soon-to-open breakfast spot on the southeast corner of McDowell Road and 7th Avenue), Astor House will be open for breakfast, lunch, and evening nibbles along with beer, wine, and cocktails enjoyed inside or on a cute little backyard patio.

Read on to check out Astor House's daily drink specials and take a sneak peak at the breakfast menu.

More >>

Gilbertarians with a hankerin' for tasty cakes, cake pops, or over twenty varieties of cupcakes in flavors like raspberry lemon, caramel macchiato, or the seriously sweet Darth Vader -- a chocolate, chocolate-chip cupcake topped with dark chocolate butter cream and a dark chocolate drizzle -- take note: there's a new bakery in town.

Mind Over Batter, the family-owned bakery which opened in Tempe in February of last year, has opened a second location in Gilbert, at 1490 East Williamsfield Road (at the northwest corner of Williamsfield and Val Vista, behind the Blue 32 Sports Grill.)

Sporting bright pink walls and a black-and-white tiled floor, the Gilbert location of Mind Over Batter, like the original location in Tempe, will feature custom made cake pops, cakes, and cupcakes.

Read on for a peek at Mind Over Batter's cupcake and cake pop menus.

More >>

Shannon Armour

Rudy's is open for business

Hey Chandler, ready for some BBQ? Texas style or Mountain style? You now have both!

Texas barbecue franchise Rudy's Country Store and BBQ opened earlier in April and are dishing out Texas style brisket, ribs, chicken and smoked sausage.

And right across the street, New Mexico's Can't Stop Smokin' is putting the finshing touches on a log cabin styled building that will open later this month.

Did the two companies plan to turn the corner of 54th Street and Chandler Blvd into barbecue central?

More >>

For those in Old Town Scottsdale in search of cheesesteaks, meatball sandwiches, and cold hoagies -- especially in the late evening hours -- and who might not have heard the news that the Philadelphia Sandwich Company has moved (and re-opened) to a larger space at 4225 North Craftsman Court, not to worry, Big B's Hangover is ready to serve as of noon today.

Located at the northwest corner of Scottsdale Road and 5th Avenue, Big B's Hangover comes courtesy of Bryan Chittenden, who, along with partners Greg Donnally and Andrew Nam, own Stingray Sushi, Geisha A Go-Go, Jimmy Woo's, and Spanish Fly in addition to the now-shuttered Drift. Chittenden is also partnering with Donnally on a new cantina, patio bar, and restaurant in Scottsdale called El Santo opening on May 4th.

Read on for more details and to check out the menu.

More >>

Out with the doughnuts, in with the pizza.

As of this week, East Coast Italian-style pie lovers in Tempe can hit up Paisan's Pizza & Italian Kitchen, at 425 South Mill Avenue (5th Street and Mill and in the former home of Dunkin' Donuts), to test run a new favorite slice -- which Paisan's says are giant. Also on the menu: bottomless bowls of pasta, baked subs, wings, Italian hero sandwiches, and bruschetta.

And with late-night hours of 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily, Paisan's seems to understand that a late-night slice after an evening of imbibing is worth keeping its doors open for.

Follow Chow Bella on Facebook and Twitter and Pinterest. 

Warsan, a new African restaurant and coffee shop first-time owner Loyan Hassan Abdi tells me means good news in the Somali language, has opened in the strip mall at 2935 East McDowell Road (McDowell and 29th Street.)

The casual, bare-bones restaurant, opened for about a week, is still sparse on decor and doesn't have a menu yet, but Hassan Abdi says he'll be happy to run through Warsan's small selection of African dishes with a heavy influence on Somalian cuisine (think whole fried tilapia, goat curry, and the triangular snack sambuusa, a Somali version of the samosa) with new guests.

Warsan is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. For more information, call 602-275-6707.

Follow Chow Bella on Facebook and Twitter and Pinterest. 

Chef Cullen Campbell

As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait.

Since he was kicked out of his old location in Scottsdale last July, Cullen Campbell, owner and chef of Crudo, has been working on his new Phoenix location at 3603 East Indian School Road (Indian School and 36th Street) since November. And tomorrow, the former Back Street Wine Salon officially opens as the new Crudo, featuring Campbell's staple of inventive raw seafood and handmade pasta dishes in addition to signature mozzarellas and wood-grilled items.

In addition, guests can enjoy a cocktail or a glass of wine from Crudo bar owner, cocktail artist, and sommelier, Micah Olson, formerly of Merc Bar.

"Our seasonal menu will be based on our farmer's availability so there will be new things to try on a regular basis," says Campbell, "But don't worry, signatures will always stay."

The new Crudo opens at 5 p.m. tomorrow and will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Follow Chow Bella on Facebook and Twitter and Pinterest. 

For those in search of Texas barbecue -- and nothin' but Texas barbecue in Old Town Scottsdale, say hello to Texas BBQ House.

From owner and Texas expat Mike Pitt, the restaurant's second location (the first is in South Phoenix) is now open at 3748 North Scottsdale Road (Scottsdale Road and Second Street).

Texas BBQ House features brisket, barbecued chicken, pork ribs, pork loin, chopped beef, sausage, and turkey -- cooked low and slow, smoked over oak wood, and sold deli-style. And like Texas 'cue, the "dinnerware" is a scrap of butcher paper, the "tray" a shallow plastic soda crate, and the "utensils" -- unless we're talking about eating a side dish or dessert -- they're your hands.

Follow Chow Bella on Facebook and Twitter and Pinterest. 

P-WAM!'s Lemongrass Chicken Grilled Sandwich

Last November, I reported that P.F. Chang's China Bistro Inc., the Scottsdale-based company responsible for serving mediocre "Pan-Asian" fare at over 200 P.F. Chang's China Bistro restaurants and over 170 Pei Wei Asian Diner locations, was planning to open a new concept in Phoenix this April.

And Thai my basil, it's actually happened.

Called Pei Wei Asian Market (henceforth to be referred to as P-WAM!), the spin-off will focus on a pared-down menu, limited service, a lower price point, and all items packaged to-go. According to Nation's Restaurant News, Pei Wei hopes its P-WAM! concept will be better able to compete with quicker-service, fast-casual establishments like Chipotle's ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen in Washington, D.C.

More >>