Kitchen Doors: Where We Ate This Month, October 2017
VOILA!
Scottsdale
Tucked into an unsuspecting corner of Scottsdale is a magnificent, authentic French restaurant called Voila!, which proves there’s a lot more to French food than escargot and baguettes. The husband and wife team who own and operate restaurant came to the United States just two years ago to share their culinary vision. We should all be glad they did, especially in the Phoenix area where good French food is hard to come by. Jean-Christophe serves as owner and chef, bringing 30 years of experience to the restaurant, and its delicious dishes — like the somewhat less adventurous chicken prepared with peppers and onion with white wine sauce I had, and the scallops in puff pastry and fish broth sauce my dining companion had. This is a place to enjoy all three courses too — the French onion soup, charcuterie board and soufflés are not to be missed. — Jamie Killin
Craft 64
Scottsdale
Craft 64 is somewhat hidden. On Main Street in Scottsdale. Hard to do. But that’s a good thing. It’s known but not too known. So we fear its overall awesomeness and popularity might lead it to go the way of Rigazzi’s, a St. Louis restaurant, about which Yogi Berra quipped: “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.”
We don’t want folks to know about its fun vibe and friendly service. We’d rather its very high pizza quality be kept among friends.
It dubs itself “Scottsdale’s premier venue for local craft beer, great wine and artisan wood-fired pizza.” Normally we’d be skeptical of such lofty claims but find us a better place in Scottsdale that checks all three of those boxes better than Craft 64 that’s a tall task. — Mike Saucier
Manuel’s Mexican Restaurant
Glendale
Dinner before homecoming, family dinners and late night bites-Manuels’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantina (Glendale) is a memorable staple for many of us who grew up in the West Valley. With welcoming staff, a newly revitalized restaurant and bar area, my “usual” after work pick up that never disappoints is the homemade Albondigas Soup with fresh vegetables, delicious rice and ginormous meatballs served in a soulful broth of awesomeness and the Taco Salad with generous helpings of warmed shredded marinated chicken, freshly made salsa as my dressing and all the fixings, served in a crispy fried tortilla bowl. One of seven Valley locations, the Glendale spot continues to be owned and operated by members of the Salazar Family, and to me will always feels like home. — Whitney Thistle
Twisted Grove Parlor + Bar
Arcadia
If you like food that makes you happy, you’ll like Twisted Grove Parlor + Bar. While the new second location at 32nd and Camelback has had a few identities in the past, we can be pretty sure this one is here to stay. And that’s a good thing, because Twisted Grove is the creation of the very capable Christopher Collins, whose expanded empire now includes the two Twisted Groves, Grassroots Taproom, Wally’s American Gastropub and Sweet Provisions. It’s good-old American grub, the kind that makes you feel satisfied when you’re done. I did the gnocchi and short ribs, which was perfectly done, but could have picked from about a dozen menu items that would have done the trick. There’s nothing twisted about this place except the name — it’s straight-forward good food. — Tom Evans
