Arizona Restaurant Week is back. Here are the best menus to try during the spring event
Corrections & Clarifications: A previous version of this article had an incorrect meal price for Prado. The meal is $55 per person.
It’s that time of year again, when Arizona restaurants showcase their best offerings in a debit card-friendly, prix-fixe format. The spring iteration of the biannual Arizona Restaurant Week takes place May 19-28 and more than 140 restaurants are offering a diverse lineup from white table cloth to casual neighborhood joints and even out-of-town spots in Tucson, Flagstaff and Wickenburg.
All menus are $33, $44 or $55. Most deals are per person, but some offer meals for couples. The majority of participants are offering three courses, but some are doing four or including a beverage. You can peruse all the offers at arizonarestaurantweek.com.
The sea of restaurants can be overwhelming. So, if you need assistance narrowing down your dining plans, here's a look at the 15 menus we found noteworthy, either due to the value, creativity of menu items or both.
Here are the best Spring Restaurant Week deals in metro Phoenix.
Dining cheat sheet: 100 essential restaurants in metro Phoenix
Rusconi’s
$44, $55/person
3 courses
Dine-in only
Slow-roasted pork belly with peach relish and vanilla-scented creamy grits and asparagus soup are among the eye-catching starter offerings. Main course selections include pan-roasted sea scallops with carrot puree and citrus marinated vegetable salad; braised beef short ribs with spring English pea risotto; cocoa and spice-rubbed duck breast with foie gras bread pudding; and English pea risotto. Opt for the $55 menu and you can select the 28-day aged Angus beef tenderloin and grilled prawns served with piquillo pepper grits as your main course. For dessert, choose strawberry and lavender creme brulee, grilled peach white chocolate bread pudding or blackberry sorbet.
Details: 10637 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix. 480-483-0009, rusconiskitchen.com.
Wren & Wolf
$33, $44, $55/person
3 courses
Dine-in only
All three menu options feature starter options of strawberry and whipped ricotta and spring lettuces, avocado Caesar salad, the signature meatballs and polenta and ahi tuna tartare. For the main course, choose from: fried cauliflower, pipian mole, cotija, and pickled cabbage ($33); 12-hour braised oxtail pappardelle with horseradish ricotta ($44); New England sea scallops, cinco jotas Iberico ham, corn foam and smashed and salted pee wee potatoes ($55); or 8-ounce filet of beef tenderloin with whipped parmesan potatoes and roasted baby carrots ($55). For dessert, choose between the signature butter cake and Meyer lemon cake.
Details: Two N. Central Avenue, Suite 101, Phoenix. 602-562-3510, wrenandwolf.com.
The Genuine
$55/person
3 courses
Takeout and dine-in
For the opener, choose squash blossoms stuffed with Argentine crab and cream cheese or fire-roasted asparagus with house bacon, fried egg and tomato jam. A duck duo composed of duck confit crepe and roasted duck breast accompanied by spring peas and baby carrots; agnolotti with spring vegetables and Meyer lemon butter and fire-roasted Alaskan halibut with braised mussels, fennel, leeks and fingerling potatoes are the main course options. For dessert, decide between peach beignets or lemon posset.
Details: 6015 N. 16th St., Phoenix. 602-633-1187, thegenuineaz.com
Ajo Al’s Mexican Cafe
$55/couple
3 courses
Beverage included
Dine-in only
Start by sharing jalapeno poppers with a honey chipotle glaze or a dip trio of queso, jalapeno bean dip and guacamole with chips. For the entree, share a pizza topped with chicken, green chiles, tomatoes and cream cheese; or each guest can choose their own entree of blanco enchiladas stuffed with mushrooms or spinach, quesabirria tacos with consomme or a chicken burrito bowl. For dessert, split the flan or tres leches cake. A Mexican beer or Cadillac margarita also comes with the meal.
Details: 5101 N. 16th St., Phoenix. 602-222-9902. Other locations at ajoals.com.
Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar & Grill
$55/couple
3 courses
Takeout and dine-in
Start by sharing an order of crispy calamari, loaded beef sliders, chicken lettuce wraps or a crispy tortilla filled with spicy ahi, kanikama, shishitos and avocado and topped with eel sauce and spicy aioli. Next, share a sushi roll course: kanikama and avocado topped with salmon and marinated red onion; tempura shrimp and avocado topped with yellowtail, Asian salsa and spicy ponzu; or jalapeno-yellowtail with avocado and cucumber topped with a spicy ginger-soy. For the main course, each diner chooses their own dish from the following: stir-fried spicy jeweled beef with vegetables, egg noodles and sambal; General Ling’s Chicken; the signature pad thai; kung pao beef; Evil Jungle Princess Chicken that’s stir-fried in a peanut-red curry sauce with vegetables; or honey walnut shrimp.
Details: 9397 E. Shea Blvd. Scottsdale, 480-767-5464, lingandlouies.com/scottsdale-location.
Thompson 105
$44/person
4 courses
Dine-in only
This McDowell Mountain establishment makes its Arizona Restaurant Week debut with a menu that starts with a house or citrus salad and continues with a second course of either agave glazed prawn and avocado or meatballs in slow-cooked tomato gravy over polenta. Roasted halibut with grilled asparagus, house rigatoni served with slow-braised beef and pork and chicken parmigiana are the main course options. Sorbet and tiramisu are dessert choices.
Details: 10401 E. McDowell Mountain Ranch Road, Ste. 160 Scottsdale. 480-612-9400, thompson105.com.
Cielo, ADERO
$55/person
3 courses
Dine-in only
Choose a charred corn chowder or Caesar salad to start before moving on to one of the main courses: 24-hour braised short rib with potatoes and sauteed mushrooms; free range airline chicken breast with white corn hominy and haricots verts; or poblano peppers stuffed with quinoa and onions in a black bean sauce. Finish with lava cake or honey pie.
Details: 13225 N. Eagle Ridge Drive, Scottsdale. 480-333-1880, aderoscottsdale.com.
Hush Public House
$55/person
3 courses
Takeout and dine-in
Crab hush puppies, butcher’s country pate with Noble bread or a little gem salad kick things off. For the main course choose from: Mafaldine from Sonoran Pasta Co. in a braised pork ragu; duck fried rice made with duck confit and fried egg; or Italian beef, braised oxtail, smoked provolone and Chicago-style giardiniera served on Noble brioche. Date cake with bourbon toffee sauce and Grateful Spoon gelato or chocolate budino topped with fresh whipped cream, olive oil and French sea salad are options for the finale.
Details: 14202 N. Scottsdale Road #167, Scottsdale. 480-758-5172, hushpublichouse.com.
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Prado
$55/person
3 courses
Beverage included
Dine-in only
Start with your choice of a glass of Cava Royal or house-made sangria, then select gazpacho, Caesar salad or local artisan greens with Crow’s Dairy Farm goat cheese salad as your appetizer. For the main course, mull over organic Mary’s Chicken with green beans, foraged mushroom and corn puree; paella with soyrizo, charred broccolini and wood-grilled brussels sprouts; or striped bass served with mussels, clams, corn and aguachile. A prickly pear and orange trifle or white chocolate nectarine bomba are dessert.
Details: 4949 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley. (480) 627-3004, omnihotels.com/hotels/scottsdale-montelucia/dining/prado.
Zu & Pocha
$44/person
3 courses
Dine-in only
This Korean-inspired eatery enters its first Arizona Restaurant Week with a choice of kimchi fried rice, truffle japchae, smoked chicken mandu or baked scallop to start. For the main course consider squid ink pasta with creamy salmon roe sauce, parmesan and shiitake mushroom; ribeye steak with perilla chimichurri; salmon with roasted cauliflower and doenjang; or fire roasted cornish hen with sweet potato fondant. Finish the meal with boricha creme brulee with miso pineapple compote or yuja curd with graham mesquite crumbs, toasted fluff and berries.
Details: 1212 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe. 480- 590-2903, zuandpocha.com.
Alter Ego, Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown
$55/person
3 courses
Dine-in only
Known for creating new dishes specifically for Arizona Restaurant Week, this hotel restaurant comes through again. Starter choices include hamachi crudo, sriracha avocado aioli, togarashi brittle and blood orange yuzu and an oxtail empanada served with ginger fried rice, cucumber kimchi slaw and gochujang plum sauce. Main course options are smoked pork cheek with lemongrass broth and wilted spring onion and chili oil and char siu chicken ramen in sake miso broth, fried egg, daikon sprout and infused hot oil. Green tea no-bake cheesecake with sesame crumble, cinnamon mango compote and crisp lotus root vie for sweet ending honors with a coconut tres leches cake with sweet pickled strawberries and chocolate kissed pineapple crisp.
Details: 108 E. University Drive, Tempe. 602-612-7871, alteregotempe.com.
Feringhee Modern Indian Cuisine
$44/person
3 courses
Takeout and dine-in
This newcomer to Arizona Restaurant Week offers an array of options for all three courses. Amsol glazed pork belly, chicken malai tikka and a trio of puchka are among the six starter choices. Saffron rice and garlic naan accompany each of the five main course options, like seasonal squash kofta; paneer mille-feuille; Bengali lamb curry; old Delhi butter chicken; and Goan sea bass. For dessert, decide between masala chai ice cream or Kulfi popsicle bar.
Details: 3491 W. Frye Road, Chandler. 480-534-7178,.feringhee.com.
Sicilian Butcher
$33/person
4 courses
Dine-in only
Start off with mussels or pull apart garlic bread. After your salad of choice, ponder entree options including mafalde pasta Bolognese and meatballs; handkerchief pasta stuffed with meat ragu, ricotta and mozzarella and baked in bechamel; or braised short ribs with rigatoni and vodka cream sauce. Tiramisu and cannoli are dessert options.
Details: 9780 W. Northern Ave., Peoria. 623-471-5721. Other locations at thesicilianbutcher.com.
Fabio on Fire
$44, $55/person
3 courses
Takeout and dine-in
Both menus feature appetizer choices of lightly breaded shrimp roasted in a wood-fired oven accompanied by arugula; wood-fired pork belly with rosemary focaccia and chickpea hummus; or fried calamari and zucchini. For $44, decide among these entrees: White pizza adorned with imported bufala mozzarella, prosciutto di Parma, arugula and shaved parmesan; lobster tortellini in a pink vodka cream sauce with crab; braised short rib ravioli in a buttercream sage sauce; or homemade tagliatelle and Bolognese. For $55, consider these main courses: tagliolini pasta with clams, mussels, calamari and prawns; wood-roasted lamb and vegetables; or tagliolini pasta with California sea scallops in a pesto sauce. Two scoops of chef Fabio’s homemade gelato are dessert.
Details: 8275 W. Lake Pleasant Pkwy #101, Peoria. (623) 680-5385, fabioonfire.com.
Arrowhead Grill
$55/person
3 courses
Dine-in only
Choose among three kinds of salad or the clam chowder as your starting point at this steakhouse. Main course options are: 8-ounce USDA Prime Delmonico or New York strip; 10-ounce prime rib; wood-fired half roasted chicken; or Atlantic salmon. Creamed spinach, creamed corn, sauteed broccoli and Yukon Gold mashed potatoes are accompaniment options. The signature butter cake and flourless decadence chocolate cake are dessert choices.
Details: 8280 W. Union Hills Drive, Glendale. 623-566-2224, arrowheadgrill.com.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 2023 Spring Arizona Restaurant Week: 5 best menus in metro Phoenix
