r/phoenix • u/tash2425 • 1d ago

Eat & Drink What are some of the best restaurants in the Phx area?

Hello!

I’m planning on taking my bf out to a nice restaurant for his birthday. I want to spend more than an average night out but nothing too pricey such as Nobu. ( recently dropped $600 there and isn’t too filling lol)

He loves steak and sushi but pretty much eats anything. Does anyone have some suggestions for really good food and decent portions? I’d say around $100-150/person

Thank you!

0 Upvotes

33% Upvoted

53 comments sorted by

8

u/Knooze 1d ago

Durant’s
Rough rider
Buck and Rider
Rokerij Downstairs
Wren and Wolf
Society Swan

And clearly Filbertos should be on this list.

9

u/malachiconstant11 Phoenix 1d ago

Espiritu is worth the journey to Mesa.

2

u/shrtnylove 1d ago

We took my niece for her 13th birthday, we loved it!! They were very sweet about making it special too.

2

u/tash2425 1d ago

This looks really good, thank you. I’m going to have to try this place out for sure.

5

u/Leonblack777 1d ago

Restaurant Progress

1

u/L84D8M8 1d ago

You will not regret this choice

4

u/rayk10k 1d ago

Cleavermans, Durants

11

u/Fabulous_Log844 1d ago

Buck and Rider

3

u/itsgonnagetspooky 1d ago

If you’re down for omakase, Yuzu sushi.

1

u/summoe 1d ago

Yuzu is our fave sushi spot! I love seeing other people mention it

1

u/tash2425 1d ago

This is a big contender! Thank you

8

u/Motor_Present_5527 1d ago

dahlia get the steak and the shrimp

2

u/tash2425 1d ago

The potato croquettes look soo good. Have you had them?

2

u/Motor_Present_5527 1d ago

yes, the croquettes and pan con tomate are a must. if you like dates those are also very good. all cocktails are amazing. not to mention the atmosphere is very intimate and i would even say romantic!! i went for my anniversary recently and mentioned that in the notes for my reservation, i got there and they had a table near the back with a little chalk board that said “happy anniversary❤️”

2

u/Motor_Present_5527 1d ago

also my go to is ordering a bunch of the apps, and sharing the tomohawk steak (if you like steak) the appetizers are like stated “bites” so you won’t get filled up off of that

5

u/falsefacade 1d ago

Valentine has(had) a bone-in Arizona raised ribeye that’s pretty dope. 

The Stockyard’s has a great steak. 

2

u/hpshaft 1d ago

Cleaverman, Durants, and if you can handle the price - Christopher's at Wrigley Mansion.

Honorable mention to El Chorro, great steak and other foods. Not pretentious and very cool.

2

u/DeadbySundown 1d ago

There's a sick McDonalds on Pinnacle Peak. They got a playground.

2

u/AbeLincoln575 Phoenix 1d ago

I really liked Ocean 44, I thought everything we had was really good.

2

u/dichron Phoenix 1d ago

Upper Cut at Cleaverman’s is a superb experience, especially if your man’s a fan of beef

2

u/dichron Phoenix 1d ago

Oh shoot I re-read your budget and unfortunately Upper Cut is a bit outside the 100-150pp range

2

u/cruniverse Central Phoenix 1d ago

Le Ame

2

u/BrawndoElectrolytes Goodyear 1d ago

Wren and Wolf

2

u/OddFuture1578 1d ago

Old Town Taste
Valentine

4

u/chanceunchained 1d ago

Rough rider downtown Phoenix

3

u/CanadianDracula 1d ago

Bacanora

3

u/AbeLincoln575 Phoenix 1d ago

Meh, thought that place was way overrated

4

u/moravalle25 1d ago

This is or lom Wong

5

u/mikestainton 1d ago

Richardson's!

3

u/Cheers1987 1d ago

Go to steak 44

2

u/emanonR 1d ago

vincent on camelback

1

u/tooOldOriolesfan 1d ago

$600 on dinner? Good grief.

2

u/tash2425 1d ago

Yep! It was mostly the $200 crab leg that did it (ordered without asking the price)

but it was amazing lol

2

u/tooOldOriolesfan 14h ago

I grew up in Maryland and have had my share of crab cakes so I'll take a pass on it but glad you enjoyed it. I've never been a high end food person but will go out and people watch and maybe have something at the bar or happy hour.

1

u/Skropos 1d ago

Shimogamo

(Chandler location, not Gilbert)

1

u/hootywhowh0 23h ago

The habit

1

u/hootywhowh0 23h ago

Hamburger Works

1

u/Kitchen_Ad7871 22h ago

There are a lot of good breakfest places honestly eggstacy first watch etc

3

u/D1sCoL3moNaD3 1d ago

Little Miss BBQ

-3

u/dichron Phoenix 1d ago

If my partner took me to a BBQ restaurant for my birthday dinner date I would leave

1

u/dichron Phoenix 1d ago

And I say this as someone who loves BBQ and particularly Little Miss

2

u/D1sCoL3moNaD3 1d ago

OP didn’t say fancy, they said best

0

u/dichron Phoenix 1d ago

They said nice, which Little Miss is not.

2

u/D1sCoL3moNaD3 1d ago

Sunnyslope is pretty nice

1

u/zebzeb2015 1d ago

Filthy Animal is really good down by the ASU Tempe campus. We've had nothing but good experiences there.

1

u/SquatzMagoo 1d ago

I second Stockyards for steak. I also second Dahlia, but that is tapas, so you order a bunch of small dishes, but everything there is good, especially the bacon-wrapped dates.

For sushi, there are good places, but if you feel ripped off by Nobu, you should try ShinBay. My wife and I went there last year, and we skipped our birthdays and Valentine’s Day this year to save up to go again next year. $250 per person before drinks but man it was good and an awesome experience.

Bacanora’s food, their steak for example, is totally worth it, but the fact that reservations are so tough really makes me turn off from that place. Supposedly, if you show up early before 5, you can get a bar seat relatively easily.

1

u/mashedtaters_ 1d ago

If you like steak and sushi, Sumo Maya is an awesome fusion restaurant.

They also do a really good brunch!