Downtown Phoenix Restaurants (hotel, house, floor)

[Italy04]

My hubby and I are going to a concert at US Airways Center and are looking for restaurants downtown. We'd be eating fairly early and aren't looking for an upscale place, just a nicer place that we maybe wouldn't normally take our kids. Thinking The Arrogant Butcher and Blue Hound both seem like good picks but would love recommendations! Thanks!

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by Italy04

My hubby and I are going to a concert at US Airways Center and are looking for restaurants downtown. We'd be eating fairly early and aren't looking for an upscale place, just a nicer place that we maybe wouldn't normally take our kids. Thinking The Arrogant Butcher and Blue Hound both seem like good picks but would love recommendations! Thanks!

Arrogant Butcher and Blue Hound are both good choices. Here are a few more, all within walking distance of USAC / Talking Stick:

• Nobuo at Teeter House -- Japanese tavern-style food -- not so much sushi, but instead cooked small plates that can fit together into a very nice dinner
  
• Squid Ink Sushi -- very different from Nobuo with sushi, sashimi, and some Asian fusion dishes
  
• Pizzeria Bianco -- the legend that put Phoenix on the pizza map
  
• Hanny's -- classic cocktails, pizzas, salad, and sandwiches
  
• La Piazza PHX -- authentic VPN-certified pizza with antipasto and salads
  
• Bitter & Twisted -- upscale cocktail place with excellent bar food to match
  
• District -- in the ground floor of the Downtown Sheraton with an emphasis on local ingredients

[Java Jolt]

The Hard Rock, it's right across the street from US Airways Center, or what's now called Talking Stick Arena.

[Italy04]

Thanks for the suggestions exit2lef, those all sound great.

Our kids love Hard Rock so don't think that'll work for this particular night, thanks though!

[azx4]

Try Blue Hound at the Palomar Hotel! It's right across the street also and has a good happy hour menu. I second Bitter & Twisted too though. I LOVE THAT PLACE!

[The_Cadillac_Lawyer]

Is KinKaids still open?

[pbenjamin]

Originally Posted by The_Cadillac_Lawyer

Is KinKaids still open?

No, closed in July.

[pbenjamin]

I can recommend Blue Hound Kitchen, Arrogant Butcher, Pizzeria Bianco, Hanny's and Bitter and Twisted.

I'm not a fan of La Piazza PHX. If you want AVPN-certified pizza, go to Pomo Pizzeria Napoletana 7 blocks north of La Piazza PHX, also on 1st St. Better food, better atmosphere.

[Italy04]

Pbenjamin I completely agree about Pomo. I haven't tried the other recommendation, but I have been to Italy (hence my name) and Pomo is about as authentic as you can get. It's hard for me to try other pizza places in the valley I love it so!
I think we'll try Blue Hound or Bitter and Twisted, then go to our concert and I was thinking of hitting District Kitchen for their reverse happy hour afterwards, before heading back to reality with 3 kids!

[exit2lef]

Although I don't share in the antipathy toward La Piazza PHX, I'm also a fan of Pomo. In fact, it's a great strength of Downtown Phoenix that so many good pizzerias are within its boundaries: Bianco, Cibo, La Piazza PHX, Pomo, and the newest arrival, Forno 301. Nevertheless, I didn't initially recommend Pomo because it might be considered a bit too far to walk from there to USAC / Talking Stick, depending of course on the weather and a person's fitness.