I'm from the Dallas area and I'll be in Phoenix next week (Mon-Fri) for business and I'm looking for some good places to go for dinner. I've been told I'll be around the Phoenix Sky Harbor airport. If I wanted some local flair that won't cost me an arm and a leg in cab fare, where would I go?

Please help, Phoenix Yelpers!

St. Francis
Postino's
Durant's
Hanny's
Moira

Awww...Robert!

How bout a nice knuckle sammich?
yelp.com/topic/phoenix-h…

^Velveeta!!!

Beaver Choice.

I second that .....FEZ!!!  You must go to FEZ

and Mi Patio too!!  It's a dive but it's good!!

J, you just like saying/writing that.....haha!

Donalds review had me thinking it has been a while since I had me some Beaver....

Tough decision, the menu had my mouth watering...

Alice Cooperstown

Four peaks brewery

Robert and J....I know it's a real place.....I read Donald's review.....
but the innuendo......you boys......

Where are you staying? Are you close to the airport or the light rail at all? Are you going to have a car?

Ya...

I went there once after Robert and there weren't much left...

and all that was left was pretty much tore up after he got done with it....

Los Dos Molinos!

Vote for Amy...oh, er, um wrong thread.

Whoa!! So many responses, this is fantastic.

I'm not going to have a car and I'm staying at a Holiday Inn right by the airport. If I go anywhere it will be with some co-workers for dinner and we'll grab a cab. I'm checking all the places listed out on Yelp!

You guys in Phoenix are pretty rockin', you responded a bunch! Thank you!! (I'll keep reading more suggestions!)

Less than 5 miles away- nw of airport:  best pizza in america [no kidding - but you may wait a looong time] 4.3 miles away Pizzeria Bianco Heritage Square,   ne of airport:  Barbeque that compares well with Dallas, closes at 7PM Hap's E Washington St, se of airport:  Soul food, Everybody's, closes at 8:30PM, E Broadway
Otherwise local flair / my favorites:  nouveau mexican 8.5 miles away Gallo Blanco, Mexico City-ish 5.3 miles away Barrio Cafe  [make reservations],  Caribbean 5.3 miles away the Breadfruit, Asian Tapas 5.3 miles away Sens Asian Tapas & Sake Bar - if the wait's too long walk down the hall to nouveau italian pasta BAR.  Have a good stay!

Petite Maison
Joe's Pizza
Wildfish
Mijana
Four Peaks Brewery
Stax
Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles (Scottsdale or D'town Phx)
Postino's/LGO Pizza
Eliana's El Salvadorian
Es A La Vida
Vig
Z's Greek
Beckett's Table
Fez
Lobby's Burgers
Pita Jungle (on Apache in Tempe)
Mama's Java
Hula's Modern Tiki (drinks)
Papago Brewery

Tottie's Asian Fusion (Hayden/Thomas)  - Lemongrass Chicken, Hot n Sour soup...OOF
Casella's Deli
DeFalco's
Al-Hana
Ranch Market (16th & Roosevelt)
Hong Kong Gourmet (McDowell/15th St)

Enjoy AZ...

Golden Buddha (near the airport)
Panne Bianco/Lux Coffee
Malees on Main in Scottsdale
Durant's
Stacy's BBQ

Kabuki. Sushi. Tempe Marketplace. Took a group of people there last night and even the non Sushi lovers enjoyed it.

La Chalet
Indian Oven
Asian Cafe Express
Sauce
LoLo's Chicken and Waffle
FEZ
Famous Daves BBQ
Fresh Wasabi
Carolina Mexican Food
Cherryblossom Noodle Cafe
China Magic Noodle House
Gallo Blanco
Mimita's Cuban Cafe
Yasu Sushi Bistro

Who IS this Chris T. imposter, and how does he know I like Kabuki?!?!?!

- agreeing with thomas on the moira recommendation. it has a hip venue and the lemon pepper dish i tried was pretty darn delicious. also, the waitress who served me was more than happy to tell me what to check out in phoenix since i was a visitor.

- agreeing with jennifer that phoenix people rock. very friendly group of people. a contrast to the LA douchebags i'm currently witnessing.

@Paul Yeah, LA seems to be hateful. I stay off of that side of the tracks...

Pizzeria Bianco and Cibo are pretty equivalent in terms of pizza quality, and I like the minimal wait time and patio at Cibo better. But if you friend wants to brag that they ate at Oprah and Seinfeld's favorite pizza joint, go Bianco. By that I mean, 4 pm on a weekday. You'll wait an hour, but be one of the first in the restaurant when it opens at 5 and not have to worry about the 3 hour horror stories.

People in phoenix are not friendly at all......just look at this.

yelp.com/topic/phoenix-w…

@ Dante:
I like your tinfoil comment on that link. I think the most lively (and heated) discussion I've seen on the rail was between a hippy (completely outfitted with a tunic) and a pro-Beck supporter... both giving off confrontational body languages and going off on something. I wish I took a picture.

I saw Chris Bianco on Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern the other day.  Bianco was touring the Bizarre Foods guy through Tucson.

Get a foot long Oaxaca Burrito from Carolina's.  Overrated, Under rated, whatever.  It's good.

I think I have seen the tunic guy.....does he wear a black one and hiking boots?  (that is what I love about downtown.  I'm dead serious about a hippy in tunic with combat boots.)

I am thinking Raw Hyide....(not sure about spelling)..... All the people I took out from very far away really like this place.....I don't enjoy the same thing as people I care about....but all visitors that I had rated this the best to visit in food and entertainment......

If you guys have a chance to grab breakfast or lunch hit up Matt's Big breakfast (they close at 2)

Cibo FOR SURE! F Biancos, I went there once at 4, there were about 20 people ahead of us and once they opened the hostest told us we were at the 4 hour wait point. NOTHING is worth waiting 4 hours, I dont care if the pope makes it! They take reservations if you have 6 or more, we tried that once and it was a 4 MONTH WAIT! I am soooo over it.

Good call on Lo Lo's Chicken and waffles

I would take a cab to one of the light rail stops, then you will really open up your area to eat and the light rail is cheap!

Alright, I feel like I'm late to the game, but at least I showed up. I checked out your profile to see what kinds of food that you'd like and here is my list in no particular order:

Lo Lo's Chicken and Waffles - great experience

Four Peaks Brewery in Tempe - a little crowded at times, but great beer and their carne adovada is killer

Fry Bread House - this place screams local flair (bit of a dive, but cheap)

FEZ, Switch, Ticoz - all have style (same owner) and all have daily specials

Cherry Blossom Noodle Cafe - italian/asian fusion! Amazing, not very costly and completely cozy (Hot Gyoza Pot is a winner)

Postino/LGO - wine & bruscetta @ Postino/ wine and pizza @ LGO

Richardson's - seriously the best New Mexican-style chile rellenos that I've ever had. Absolutely delicious. (as far as I know, Richardson's is located in The Rokerij and Dick's Hideaway)

Enjoy!

Shame on me...

The Main Ingredient and Los Reyes de la Torta are also great spots.

You're staying on 44th St., if you're at the holiday inn airport.

Take a cab directly 3.5 miles north to La Grande Orange. It's at 40th St. (4 blks west of your address) and Campbell. It is excellent and should cost you $15-$20.

BTW, don't go to Pizzeria Bianco. The wait will be between 2-3.5 hours. It always is.

I love Pizzeria Bianco, but I am over the wait.  I love The Parlor on Camelback and 19th St.  FEZ is awesome!

Just wanted to give you guys an update! Tonight was the first night we got to go anywhere for dinner. After $17 cab ride to Cibo I'm enjoying the best pizza of my life! Thank you Phoenix!!

now get on down to Alice Cooperstown for a ginormous hot dog!
; )

With your location I'd definitely recommend Postinos.  It's around 32nd and Campbell I think and is really good.  It'd be good with friends/coworkers too.  Great salads, pizza, wine and food.

Will the real Chris T please stand up!  LOL!

re: pizza

there's a huge difference between a "wait" and a "night out". if you surround yourself with boring people, or stand around by the door glaring at the hostess who i guarantee you has seen it all, you're in for a miserable night at bianco. if you're rushing to catch a movie or a sports event, you're doomed.

why go there, even with the wait? to enjoy your fucking night hanging out with friends, drinking wine, having conversation, playing games, eating delicious apps, meeting new people. whatever. the wait isn't "designed" into the experience. it is what it is. if you don't have friends you can happily hang out with for  a few hours, don't go. simple as that.

even domino's has a 30 minute wait. and flies in the crust. enjoy.

Well put Ron. Waiting at the DMV is one thing, waiting outside on a nice patio with friends and a glass of wine is pleasant.

@ Ron B. - Not sure where that  came from, I haven't mentioned a wait??

I'm thinking tomorrow we might go for Fez, but we definitely won't use the "Clean Air Cab" company. HORRIBLE! Completely didn't know where they were going and we ended up helping him navigate via our phone's GPS. WTF?! Insane. Will write a review on that mess.

As far as Cibo goes... incredible pizza. I really appreciate the suggestions and I'm looking forward to FEZ!

Jennifer.  Discover the lightrail.  It is clean, inexpensive, near the airport, and will get you to most places you want to go in phoenix or tempe.  It is regularly patrolled by police and so it is safe as well.  

As far as FEZ you will love it.  Also try Gallo Blanco, Hanny's, Hula's, St Francis, and if you are in the mood for a great steak and incredible atmosphere try Durant's.

All of those suggestions are on or near lightrail stops.

damn, FEZ is huge on Yelp. perhaps shamefully, I have never been.  but with no offense to anyone, I've never once heard anyone outside of Yelp tell me, "OMG, you HAVE to go to FEZ".  which is probably why I haven't gone.  I'm surprised to see all the suggestions for it, honestly.

@ Dante M. - I would be cool doing the light rail on my own but the people I'm with are not big on public transportation. Thank you for the tip though! If I ever come back solo I'll check it out.

You would be surprised to see how clean and safe the lightrail is.  I was absolutely shocked the first time I was on it.

Joel, FEZ gets right what ticoz and switch get wrong.  While there are not going to be getting huge recognition for their food in the future it is consistently good.  What it has going for it is good drink specials, a good location, a great atmosphere, fantastic service, and who the hell doesn't love thomas?

Its about a mile to the closest light rail stop....if the hotel has a shuttle have them drop you off there (44th St and Washington)....Most shuttles have a 5 mi raduis....

Or you can do what I do.  Make friends with the front desk people at the hotel.  I have gotten them to drive me ridiculously far and wait for me while I eat dinner.

FEZ was also phenomenal. I had the best time and Brandon was probably the coolest waiter I've ever had, and I even met Thomas the owner!! So cool!

Thanks Phoenix for some awesome suggestions, it sucks that I'm leaving today but I can't wait to come back! :)