4 Must-Book Restaurants in Phoenix

Feringhee means “foreigner” in Hindi, but this 8,000-square-foot fine-dining spot aims to make Indian cuisine anything but unfamiliar. Just opened in Chandler, Feringhee, owned by the folks behind Scottsdale’s Pastries ’n’ Chaat and Saffron Indian Grocery ’n’ Kitchen in Scottsdale, Phoenix, and San Antonio, offers both northern and southern Indian dishes. Several plates, such as the avocado-studded chutney and fried chicken served with peanut chutney and moringa, add influences from other cultures. Himalayan lamb chops and kasundi or mustard sauce shrimp, are house specialties. A cocktail menu features drinks infused with Indian flavors like black plum, saffron, and cane sugar.

The mid-summer rush to line up for this new June opening from the founders of the upscale Bourbon and Bones Chophouse hasn’t slowed. Shared plates and sushi are the orders of the day, and the appetizers are hearty enough to make a meal. Kiwi margaritas pair well with Mediterranean scallops, and a smoked rye manhattan—among B&B’s most popular drinks thus far—goes nice with an order of gooey cheese-and-garlic shrimp cargot and a side of steak frites. Leather and marble surfaces give this generous room an elegant feel, while the casual atmosphere and chummy bar staff lighten the fancy mood.

Motomoto is, quite literally, cooking with fire. Its menu of robata dishes features pork belly, octopus, and negima (chicken with scallions) skewers, grilled over Japanese charcoal. Rooted in the tradition of izakayas, meaning “stay and drink place”, these fireside treats can be washed down with a glass from a long list of sakes or specialty cocktails. Friendly staff are eager to point out what goes best with the kombu-infused Ebisu martini—eggplant curry, as it turns out—or which Japanese whisky to try before dinner. As an added perk, the helpful menu gives each sake a meter value of “rich,” “dry,” or “sweet.”

People who scoff at the notion of Arizona-made wines don’t know two things: there are 130 wineries in the state, and samples of many of them are resting in a dark, cool room in Scottsdale, waiting to be paired with tasty bites selected by experts. At The Wine Collective, learning about varietals is as important as drinking the best local reds, and staff are trained to showcase a good chenin blanc or a misunderstood, locally made tempranillo. Parties and private affairs take place in a 30-seat tasting room with its own retail space, and charcuterie, cheeses, and desserts can be paired with exclusive wines on the dog-friendly patio.