REQUEST: Restaurants in Phoenix

I really liked RoxSand in Phoenix. Expensive, innovative, Nouvelle American.

It's in a ritzy shopping mall somewhere off of CamelBack (sorry, it's been a while).

                  -- Chan

Someone wrote:
>Stuart B. wrote:
>>I will be in Phoenix at the end of March and would appreciate suggestions
>>for good restaurants in the area.
>
>
>I'm caught without my Phoenix map.  On Camelback, roughly due north of
>the airport, perhaps a bit east, there is an L-shaped shopping strip
>on the SE corner.  In there are a Spanish tapas restaurant (excellent) and
>an Italian restaurant (very good).  Both very friendly places.
>
>Rob Lake
>BP Research
>[email removed]

The shopping center is at 32nd Street and Camelback (Camelback is several miles north of the airport).

The Italian Restaurant is Tomaso's. I'll second that recommendation.

The Tapas Restaurant is Tapas Papas (I believe).  I've never been there so I can't say anything.

Further east on Camelback (at about 44th St.) is Havana Cafe, Cuban / Spanish.  Very good.  Try the rice pudding dessert.

Northeast of the city in Scottsdale is Oaxaca.  It is a steak / seafood restaurant with a Southwestern flair.  Nice wine list.  Nice view of the city.  Call are make a reservation and ask for a table with a view.

Back at 24th Street and Camelback is Christophers which is continental. Very good.  Very expensive.  Nice fixed price dinner (with or without a fixed price wine option).

Also around there on Camelback (between 24th and 26th Street) at the Biltmore Shopping Center is another steak / seafood restaurant - Oscar Taylor's.  Not as nice as Oaxaca but closer to town.  This one has a good pastry chef (e.g. desserts and breads).

Be careful - Streets are on the east side of town and avenues are on the west side.  32nd Street and 32nd Avenue are about 8 miles apart!

Also, I would recommend staying away from the Hotel Restaurants. I travel to Phoenix a lot on business and have tried the Pointe's, the Crescent, the Phoenician, etc.

And of course, there are always the national chains (Marie Callender's, Tony Roma's, Olive Garden, Hungry Hunter, ...)