Category Archives: North Phoenix

Mellow Mushroom brings vegan-friendly pizza to North Phoenix

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It’s not always easy to find vegan pizza spots in the Valley (though Green and Z Pizza are a couple of great options), which is why I was stoked to find Mellow Mushroom.

The spot has been open for about 3 weeks now, breathing some much-needed life into the often-desolate CityNorth and joining other Tempe and Happy Valley locations (there are more around the country).

Think of it as a pizza joint touched by the hippie spirit, with a giant mushroom mascot and colorful music-inspired artwork covering the walls — good vibes all around to complement the vegan-friendly menu. And if eating animals is your thing, there are items for you, too.

The menu’s specialties are the pizzas, but it also includes soups, salads and hoagies. On a recent visit, we started with a Stuffed Portobello ($9), a mushroom topped, not stuffed with artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes and feta cheese. I was really disappointed with the portion size of this appetizer, and the taste wasn’t anything special. Thankfully, the appetizers also include the tasty-sounding pretzels, which come in both sweet and salty options.

My boyfriend got a Kosmic Karma pizza, which I actually preferred over my own pizza even though I’m not the hugest pesto fan. It came with mozzarella, sun dried tomatoes, feta and spinach. All the toppings worked wonderfully together, and the dough was soft and bubbly with a dusted parmesan crust.

I tried the Melchacho, a pizza special to the CityNorth location. It had avocados and tomatoes and an interesting chipotle sauce base. I now know I’ll probably avoid cheddar cheese on my pizza in the future — the pie reminded me more of an item from Taco Bell than a pizzeria.

On a later visit, I tried a veggie hoagie, which came with avocado, sprouts, tomatos and mozzarella cheese, along with chips. You can get hoagies on wheat bread, and I thought the meal was really filling — I preferred it to my pizza, especially because it seemed like the healthier option.

Despite not being completely thrilled with the food I ordered, there were lots of drool-worthy items on the extensive menu that I’ll be trying out soon. And it’s nice to see another cool place pop up in CityNorth, too!

Blue Martini at CityNorth one of the coolest places in north Phoenix

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It’s been really difficult for me to find cool places to drink at and dine at in north Phoenix (if you know of somewhere cool, please, please, please leave it in the comments for me), but this weekend I had a good time at Blue Martini at CityNorth. I’ve been to Blue Martini once before for a karaoke night, but I had two huge meals there this weekend that allowed me to sample a ton of their signature martinis and dishes.

Blue Martini is the anchor of CityNorth, a retail and living space that only completed the first phase of its development. Our server assured us the complex would soon be built up again, with more restaurants and shops to come besides the few (Kona Grill, Bebe, Ocean Prime, to name a few) it has now.

Not surprisingly, Blue Martini’s signature menu item is its martinis. The menu boasts more than 40 varieties and come in just about any flavor you might like.

Probably my favorite martini I tried during the weekend was the Caramel Swirl, with Van Gogh Dutch Caramel Vodka, Irish Cream Liqueur and cream in a glass topped with caramel. It was sweet and didn’t taste like alcohol, and if you love caramel, it’s a no-brainer.


The Espresso Martini is almost as tasty, with Grey Goose Vodka, Borghetti Espresso Liqueur and Irish Cream in a chocolate-covered glass. It definitely has that coffee taste.

A restaurant favorite is the Bellini, a peachy drink filled with Grey Goose Vodka, Peach Schnapps, peach puree, Chandon sparkling wine and a splash of orange juice. It was fruity and had a tropical vibe to it.

I also tried the Tootsie Roll, which tasted like an orange Tootsie Roll pop, and The Perfect Pear, which tasted more sour than pear-like–our table wouldn’t recommend that one.

Food-wise, we sampled a little bit of everything on the menu. By far, my favorite dish on the tiny menu is the Margherita Flatbread, which had the perfect consistency because it had lots of cheese and wasn’t too crispy. This is what I’d get every time if I went back for food.

We also tried the Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, which came with fried pita chips. I was not a fan of the pita because it was too thick and hard, and the hummus was just mediocre to me. I felt the exact same way about the Spinach and Artichoke dip, which also came with fried pita chips and wasn’t spectacular.


We also tried the Baked Brie en Croute, a breid cheese puff over a strawberry cabernet sauce that came with crackers and grapes. It was a really delicious dish–I just wish there was more of it!


My friends loved the Sliced Beef Tenderloin, which is pictured below.


And we all gobbled up the White Chocolate Mousse cake dessert, which was rich and creamy and came with an Oreo cookie crust and white chocolate and whipped cream.


While the food and drinks were great, I’d try to go during happy hour if you could, since cocktails are all half-off from 3-7 p.m. daily, and food is discounted. Most martinis cost around $12, and food generally ranges between $10-$20, so this is definitely the best time to go. Sit on the heated patio, which has some sports televisions to check out, or head inside to the cozy, sleek sports bar lounge. For more information on Blue Martini, go here.

Sand Bar great for drinking, watching the game, but skip the food

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I’ve been hanging out a lot recently at the Sand Bar at Desert Ridge, watching the Arizona Diamdondbacks dominate in the baseball world and sampling some strong margaritas. You’ve got to appreciate a bar that has actual sand you can sink your toes into, bringing a little bit of the beach to the Valley.


At the Desert Ridge location (there are three in the Valley), there’s a massive bar in the center of the outdoor patio, along with a ton of umbrella-covered tables atop the sand, as well as a big indoor restaurant.


The bar is full-service and has a slew of televisions, and there are also three more secluded cabanas with ultra-comfy couches and televisions.


This past Sunday, my friend and I were surprised to see no one was sitting at the cabanas, and we got our own private viewing party at one after requesting to sit there.


I’ve only had the food at Sand Bar once, but it was nothing special and definitely not something I’d crave. I did like the endless bucket of chips ($5) and two types of salsa (the green is my favorite), but I’d stick to that if you want food.


The cheese enchiladas ($8.99) were rubbery and forgettable, and I didn’t enjoy the red sauce that covered them. The saving grace of the dish was the rice, but even that didn’t stand out.


Instead, go to Sand Bar for an island-y atmosphere and a ton of viewing options. Even though all the TV’s at the bar displayed football games, the bartender had no problem turning on the Diamondbacks for us at the cabana, and the service there has always been great for me.

Tutti Santi a romantic, friendly spot for tasty homemade Italian cooking

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I’ve been told for a long time that Tutti Santi was a must-try for authentic Italian food in a romantic setting, and I finally got to try it this past weekend.


The Phoenix spot on 16th St. (there are five locations) is indeed romantic, since the restaurant is darkly lit with candles on linen-covered tables, with Italian decorative touches in its paintings covering the walls. The restaurant is divided into three parts–a main dining room, a smaller private area and a small bar area. If you mention you’re having a romantic evening, and the place isn’t too busy, they might even put you in the smaller room all by yourself, which is thoughtful.

The service is top-notch. Not only was our server friendly and engaging and made us feel like his main focus, but all the other servers who came to our table were friendly and professional.

We started with the Mozzarella Caprese ($11.95), which had thick hunks of mozzarella and sliced basil atop thickly covered tomatoes, smothered in diced tomatoes. I’ve never had a caprese dish where diced tomatoes were on top, but I love tomatoes, so I definitely didn’t mind! It also came with some spicy peppers and olives, and all the factors complemented each other well.


For my entree, I ordered the Homemade Ravioli alla Nina ($15.95), with ricotta cheese and spinach. I was able to get a combo of the tomato sauce and cheese sauce, and you could really tell the pasta was homemade. It was so delicate and almost melted in your mouth, and the sauces were amazing. I felt like the dish was a little too watery and would have preferred the pasta to have been thicker, but I’d rather have thin homemade pasta over pre-made stuff any day.


My pal got the special, the orange roughy, which looked and smelled amazing. I really wanted to try it even though I don’t eat fish, but the aromas were enough to make me know it was a tasty dish–which he agreed on.


We of course had to try the tiramisu, my favorite dessert ever. There was so much mascarpone cream in the giant piece of dessert, and it was served very traditionally, covered in cocoa powder. The ladyfingers were soaked heavily, and the cream was amazing. It was a really, really good piece of tiramisu.


Besides the scrumptious food, I loved that Tutti Santi had something for everyone, whether you want a romantic date night, an evening out with a big group or just want to chill at the bar and talk with the bartender. No matter what you go there for, it feels warm and friendly.

Nick’s Italian delivers on tiramisu, neighborhood vibe

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I really like eateries that are high-energy and bustling, especially ones that have their dining area set up as one big room. So it is with Nick’s Italian in Paradise Valley (there are two more locations in the Valley). The upbeat, high-energy restaurant makes you sort of feel like you’re in someone’s home, since the seating quarters are close.

The food is all handmade, and I really enjoyed my meal, too. My pal and I grabbed a seat at one of the bar high-top tables, and we started off with the Caprese salad ($7.95). It wasn’t huge of anything, but the mozarella was high-quality, the tomatoes were juicy, and the basil was ample.

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For my entree, I got the Portobello Mushroom Ravioli ($15.95). The pasta was filled with delicious mushrooms, which I really enjoyed. I liked the pink sauce the ravioli was served with, but I wish it would have had fresh tomatoes in it. Also, I felt like the portion could have been a little more generous.

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Here is my pal’s Veal Parmesan ($17.95), which he said was pretty darn awesome because the veal was tender and the sauce was tasty.

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The meal-ender, the tiramisu ($6), was a great deal, really delicious and perfect to share. The mascarpone cream was mouth-watering, and the ladyfingers melted in my mouth. Tiramisu is my favorite dessert, and that was definitely my favorite part of the meal.

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While I enjoyed Nick’s Italian, and I did appreciate the twinkly lit patio, I would choose Arrivederci over Nick’s if you’re in the area, based on the service alone. We were in a busy area near the bar, but servers should still strive to make you feel welcomed and relaxed no matter how buzzy the place is, and I didn’t really get that vibe from our server. If you do go, try to get a table in the main dining area or patio–maybe things would feel a little more welcoming.

Michelina’s Ristorante Costa Campagnia is Italian food at its best

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One of the most romantic places I’ve ever eaten dinner is at Michelina’s in Phoenix, and if you haven’t been there yet, I suggest you set up your next date there now.

The Italian restaurant, run by Miss Michelina DiSibio, is a gorgeous fresh flower-filled eatery, complete with white linen-covered tables, pretty lighting and friendly, competent servers. And usually, Michelina herself visits tables to make sure guests are perfectly satisfied with what they’re dining on.

michelinaThe menu is classic Italian, with recipes Michelina brought with her from her native Italy. At a recent visit, I had the absolutely amazing pasta shells stuffed with spinach and ricotta ($17.95), which I covered in both alfredo and marinara sauces to create a divine creamy concotion. I’ve been there many times and also really love the salads and desserts, especially the tiramisu. Everyone I’ve dined there with has also raved about the food.

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The place is so pretty and cozy, the food so delicious and the staff so professional and friendly, it’s a guarantee you’ll want to go back.