Roosevelt Row, or RoRo if you prefer, is perhaps downtown Phoenix's most popular neighborhood. You'll find historic houses, art studios, freshly erected condo high rises, and an ever-growing food and drink scene. If there's one constant here, it's change.
The area is home to neighborhood staples likeCarly's Bistro, an unassuming restaurant and bar with a simple yet well-executed menu of sandwiches, salads and bar nibbles.
For a date night, or just some of the most revered wood-fired pizzas in the city, stop by Cibo, a charming Italian restaurant, pizzeria and neighborhood staple that's located in a historic house near Roosevelt Row.
For "unabashedly inauthentic", and very delicious, noodle bowls, head to SoSoba, a fun and casual noodle shop on Roosevelt Row.
Also fun, and quite delicious, is the casual, globally-inspired menu at The Dressing Room, a small but lively restaurant that serves up delicious burgers, tacos, and beachy street grub from around the world.
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This local chain is a favorite with local foodies and health enthusiasts. The large, eclectic menu features wraps, salads, burgers, wood-fired pizzas, and several delectable sides. Try the Roasted Red Pepper Hummus for starters, or dive right into the wraps menu, which features hot and cold selections, including Mediterranean Roasted Chicken, Broiled Chicken Pita, Gyros, Falafels, and even a Philly Steak Pita. Seasonal specials include the Wood-Fired Fresh Salmon, Wood-Fired Chicken, Mahi Mahi with Pita Chips, Chicken Del Sol, and Chicken Tikka Masala. With an understated yet sophisticated ambiance, Pita Jungle is perfect for a casual lunch, business, or even date night.
Recommended for Roosevelt Row (RoRo)'s Best Restaurants because: Pita Jungle is a local chain with a strong following, due not in small part to the large menu of flavorful yet healthy Mediterranean-inspired dishes.
Patricia's expert tip: Pita Jungle's outdoor patio is a comfy oasis in the heart of Roosevelt Row.
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You would think that finding authentic Neapolitan-style pizza would be a challenge in the Arizona desert. If traveling to southern Italy in search of great pizza isn't feasible right now, you can satiate your appetite for great pizza with a visit to Pomo Pizzeria Napoletana. The pizzeria features thin-crust pizzas made according to the ancient pizza-making traditions of Napoli, in an oven imported from Italy. The expansive menu runs the gamut from the classic Margherita to savory specialties like the Quattro stagioni (four seasons), which is loaded with sausage, mushrooms and salami. The menu also features antipasti, pasta dishes, and salads.
Recommended for Roosevelt Row (RoRo)'s Best Restaurants because: Mother Brunch Brewing marries craft beer with elevated pub fare in a relaxed setting.
Patricia's expert tip: Start with the delicious and ultra-fresh caprese.
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Once a humble downtown Phoenix food truck, Short Leash Hot Dogs is now one of downtown Phoenix's most-loved local eateries. The restaurant specializes in gourmet hot dogs, but these are not your typical ballpark hot dogs. They come wrapped in toasty, pillowy naan bread and topped with an assortment of unique, fresh ingredients. For example, there's the currywurst, a knockwurst sausage slow-cooked in a tomato and onion curry broth and then topped with crunchy onions. The results are playful and delicious. New hot dog specials grace the menu regularly. Don't miss the "Rollover" menu, featuring a mix of gourmet donuts.
Recommended for Roosevelt Row (RoRo)'s Best Restaurants because: Short Leash Hot Dogs offers a huge selection of gourmet hot dogs and flavor-bending donuts.
Patricia's expert tip: Want to try something new? Try The Bear, a sweet-salty specialty that features Cracker Jacks and barbecue sauce.
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Downtown Phoenix
If you don't know where Matt's Big Breakfast is, no problem. Simply look for the long trail of chatting, slightly restless men and women lined up outside the small cafe on First Street. This is Matt's Big Breakfast, one of the city's most popular breakfast destinations, especially on the weekends. Try the Hog and Chick, two eggs with your choice of thick-cut bacon, country sausage, or off-the-bone ham. Lunch, featuring a short menu of sandwich classics such as The Classic Reuben and BLT, is served starting at 11 am. The breakfast menu might not be the biggest in town, but the kitchen's use of farm-fresh ingredients makes this one of the tastiest.
Recommended for Roosevelt Row (RoRo)'s Best Restaurants because: One of Phoenix's most beloved breakfast spots is located right off Roosevelt Row.
Patricia's expert tip: Feel free to sleep in: breakfast is served all day at Matt's Big Breakfast.
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The Grand Avenue Pizza Company offers gourmet specialty pizza, calzones and sides in the Grand Avenue arts district in downtown Phoenix. The small, counter-service pizzeria dishes out pies and slices until 4 am every morning, making it one of the most consistently good places to score late-night pizza in Phoenix. Specialty pies include the Animal, a meat-centric pie with spicy sausage and smoked bacon and a creamy white sauce. For vegetarians, the Greek-style Zorba comes loaded with kalamata olives, spinach, roasted red bell peppers, fresh garlic, basil, red onion, mozzarella and feta. The pizzeria frequently offers daily specials, as well.
Recommended for Roosevelt Row (RoRo)'s Best Restaurants because: The Grand Avenue Pizza Company is not quite on Roosevelt Row, but it's a good late-night pizza spot convenient to Roosevelt.
Patricia's expert tip: The Grand Avenue Pizza Company is closed on Sundays.
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Downtown Phoenix
Photo courtesy of Welcome Diner
What this tiny traditional diner lacks in square footage, it more than makes up in style and heart. The vintage diner ambiance and modern American menu of comfort food classics has made Welcome Diner a downtown favorite. The food menu includes burgers, buttermilk biscuit sandwiches, and side dishes. The menu also features a supper menu that includes a market salad, New Orleans-style red beans and rice, and vegan po-boys. The drink menu includes Mexican Coca Cola, rotating draft beers, and a small selection of cocktails and wine. Side orders include unique dishes like smoked spring onion slaw and poutine, fries with cheddar and gravy.
Recommended for Roosevelt Row (RoRo)'s Best Restaurants because: Welcome Diner is technically located in downtown Phoenix's Garfield neighborhood, but it's a unique spot that's convenient to Roosevelt Row.
Patricia's expert tip: The Big Jim, a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, is a crowd favorite.
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SoSoba, which is playfully described as an "unabashedly inauthentic" noodle shop, is known for its fun, twisty ramen, soba, and udon bowls. Try the Mic Drop, a signature bowls layered with glistening pork belly, carnitas, and ham fries. It's served in an 18-hour tonkatsu pork broth. To start with, try the sweet chile tofu starter, featuring slinky, pleasantly crisp tofu cubes tossed in a lovely sweet chile sauce. And even if you've never been fond of cauliflower, you may just fall in love with the General Tso Tso cauliflower at SoSoba. SoSoba also offers a strong cocktail menu and late-night eats.
Recommended for Roosevelt Row (RoRo)'s Best Restaurants because: SoSoba offers one of the most creative and fun menus on Roosevelt Row, plus late-night dining.
Patricia's expert tip: Not sure what to order? The porky Mic Drop is a perennial favorite.
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This small, cozy bistro means serious business when it comes to good food. The kitchen at Carly's Bistro may be small, but the menu impresses with its dedication to locally-sourced ingredients and freshly made panini sandwiches, wraps, sandwiches, soups and salads. The appetizer menu at Carly's is excellent. Start with the brie cheese wedge, or the cheese and fruit plate. From the panini menu, the Cuban, made with thinly sliced ham, turkey, & swiss with grainy mustard and pickles on ciabatta, is always a good choice. Carly's also has a large wine and craft beer menu, and a popular brunch on the weekends.
Recommended for Roosevelt Row (RoRo)'s Best Restaurants because: Carly's Bistro is a Roosevelt Row staple serving fresh dishes featuring locally-sourced ingredients.
Patricia's expert tip: Stop by for the popular brunch, featuring live music and great atmosphere.
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Snooze: An AM Eatery is a hip breakfast and brunch spot with locations in Denver, San Diego, and now, Phoenix. The Phoenix location is located in mid-town's Town and Country Plaza in a modern, hip diner setting with wood flooring and retro-inspired green, orange, and brown color scheme. The menu, which is divided into various breakfast "themes," is fun and creative. Egg-lovers will want to give attention to the "Flavors From a Hen" section of the menu, which features fluffy omelettes, huevos rancheros, and the house breakfast pot pie, which has a rosemary sausage gravy topped with a flaky puff pastry. Hollandaise sauce lovers: this is your place. The menu has an entire section dedicated to hollandaise-inspired dishes.
Recommended for Roosevelt Row (RoRo)'s Best Restaurants because: A fun breakfast spot just off of Roosevelt to fill you up before you head out for the day.
Patricia's expert tip: Pancake lovers: don't miss the pancake flight option!
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Roosevelt Row (RoRo)
This Central Phoenix urban pizzeria is situated in a restored 1913 bungalow, making it the perfect backdrop for a leisurely lunch or romantic dinner. Exposed brick, hardwood floors, authentic stained glass windows and a working fireplace means that you'll have much to admire while you nosh on your salad, antipasti, made-from-scratch pasta or artisanal pizza. Each pizza is made-to-order and hand-tossed by Chef Guido Saccone, a native of Sicily, and then topped with a delicious drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. The new stuzzichini, or happy hour menu, is now available Mondays to Fridays from 3 pm to 6 pm, the perfect opportunity to sample different parts of the menu.
Recommended for Roosevelt Row (RoRo)'s Best Restaurants because: Cibo is an award-winning neighborhood pizzeria located in a historic downtown bungalow.
Patricia's expert tip: For a gourmet delight, try the Procida, topped wih mozzarella, prosciutto crudo, Asian pears, chopped arugula, goat cheese and black pepper.
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