Which city has better restaurants and is more interesting: Chandler, Gilbert or Ahwatukee? (Phoenix: transplants, HOA)

[Sno0909]

Originally Posted by Maroon197

They're practically identical. All three are basically bland, generic suburbs. If I blindfolded you and dropped you off in any of them you'd have almost no way of knowing which one you were in - strip malls and tract housing can only vary so much. They also border each other, so it's not like you'd be missing out on anything by picking one over the other. I wouldn't overthink it.

I would exclude Gilbert from that. Chandler and Ahwatukee were mostly built up pre-recession, when they were just trying to build as many bland, tract homes as possible. So they both do look very similar (with the exception of some parts of South Chandler). Gilbert, for the most part, was built up later and I feel like they tried very hard to distinguish themselves. I see way more grass and trees, and the homes seem to have way more character in Gilbert.

[Maroon197]

Originally Posted by Sno0909

I would exclude Gilbert from that. Chandler and Ahwatukee were mostly built up pre-recession, when they were just trying to build as many bland, tract homes as possible. So they both do look very similar (with the exception of some parts of South Chandler). Gilbert, for the most part, was built up later and I feel like they tried very hard to distinguish themselves. I see way more grass and trees, and the homes seem to have way more character in Gilbert.

Gilbert has some areas like what you describe, but it also has countless generic Phoenix tract home developments just like the others. All along the 60 and in many areas along the 202 it’s pretty indistinguishable from chandler, Mesa, Tempe etc. And realistically with the rate at which the water crisis is developing, I wouldn’t count on the long term viability of having tons of green grass communal landscaping areas. They will eventually be left brown, and many places in California and colorado have already placed restrictions on residential lawn watering.

[Sno0909]

Originally Posted by Maroon197

Gilbert has some areas like what you describe, but it also has countless generic Phoenix tract home developments just like the others. All along the 60 and in many areas along the 202 it’s pretty indistinguishable from chandler, Mesa, Tempe etc. And realistically with the rate at which the water crisis is developing, I wouldn’t count on the long term viability of having tons of green grass communal landscaping areas. They will eventually be left brown, and many places in California and colorado have already placed restrictions on residential lawn watering.

Yes, along the 60 is the "older" part of Gilbert that looks like every other part of the Valley - agreed.

As far as the water, I really don't see conservative Gilbert putting water restrictions, but who knows what the future holds.

[infocyde]

1999 "Live in Gilbert? lol that is worse then Mesa!"
2021 "Yeah Gilberts cool. the down town is like a mini Snottsdale or Mill ave. I could live there...but I can't afford it."

Ahwatukee - Chandler, but harder to get in and out of. Also a hair nicer and maybe slightly less crime (some parts of Chandler starting to get a little hood-ey).

[Pink Jazz]

As for Chandler, the best parts are South and West Chandler. North Chandler is less desirable.

[PhureeKeeper]

Downtown Gilbert and Agritopia are getting so crowded. I can't imagine what those areas will be like once the weather starts cooling down!

[ajonesaz]

Anyone ragging on Gilbert likely has not been there in the last 6 years.

I am amazed what they have done with their downtown area over the last several years. It is packed every single weekend. A lot of really unique restaurants and bars. Add in the mix the San Tan Mall area and you have a lot in the city going on.

Here is a list of downtown restaurants: https://www.discovergilbert.com/cate...ct-restaurant/

Same could be said for Chandler, their downtown has come a long way and is crowded every weekend too.

Ahwatukee is the odd one out. They don't really have a lot of walkable night life area. The area seems to die after a certain time. I have only really seen chain restaurants in that area.

[Maroon197]

Originally Posted by ajonesaz

Anyone ragging on Gilbert likely has not been there in the last 6 years.

I am amazed what they have done with their downtown area over the last several years. It is packed every single weekend. A lot of really unique restaurants and bars. Add in the mix the San Tan Mall area and you have a lot in the city going on.

Here is a list of downtown restaurants: https://www.discovergilbert.com/cate...ct-restaurant/

Same could be said for Chandler, their downtown has come a long way and is crowded every weekend too.

Ahwatukee is the odd one out. They don't really have a lot of walkable night life area. The area seems to die after a certain time. I have only really seen chain restaurants in that area.

The vast majority of places in downtown gilbert are "trendy chains" (OHSO, Culinary Dropout, Snooze etc.) It's definitely crowded down there, but it'd be nice if they had businesses, housing, and attractions beyond the standard collection of generic valley chain restaurants. There's nothing overtly special about it that you can't find at countless other suburban locations like desert ridge. Downtown chandler has some unique places, but it too seems to be headed down the generic color-by-number route with pedal haus and so forth. Same with downtown Mesa. These trendy chains are basically the new applebees for the modern era.

"Where'd you go last night?"
"Postino."
"Oh. Which one?"
"Tempe."
"Oh. Which one?"

[asufan]

Originally Posted by Maroon197

The vast majority of places in downtown gilbert are "trendy chains" (OHSO, Culinary Dropout, Snooze etc.) It's definitely crowded down there, but it'd be nice if they had businesses, housing, and attractions beyond the standard collection of generic valley chain restaurants. There's nothing overtly special about it that you can't find at countless other suburban locations like desert ridge. Downtown chandler has some unique places, but it too seems to be headed down the generic color-by-number route with pedal haus and so forth. Same with downtown Mesa. These trendy chains are basically the new applebees for the modern era.

"Where'd you go last night?"
"Postino."
"Oh. Which one?"
"Tempe."
"Oh. Which one?"

Not a whole lot of local one-off restaurants make it. It's a tough business so you have to be good at what you're doing to open 2-3 more locations, therefore I wouldn't discount some of the local chains. Bourbon and Bones comes to mind, the fact that they have one in Scottsdale and one in Gilbert doesn't make the quality any worse. My favorite restaurant in Chandler is probably Roy's, but I know people that go a couple hundred yards past Roy's to eat at Fleming's, which they prefer, or Shula's which is another quality chain. I think it's important to have a little mix of both, which we do. I have lots of great local places I have to get sushi, but I'd love for a Nobu or Morimoto "chain" to open near me. There's good chains and bad chains and I wouldn't call much of what we're seeing akin to Applebee's.

[KO Stradivarius]

Originally Posted by Maroon197

The vast majority of places in downtown gilbert are "trendy chains" (OHSO, Culinary Dropout, Snooze etc.) It's definitely crowded down there, but it'd be nice if they had businesses, housing, and attractions beyond the standard collection of generic valley chain restaurants. There's nothing overtly special about it that you can't find at countless other suburban locations like desert ridge. Downtown chandler has some unique places, but it too seems to be headed down the generic color-by-number route with pedal haus and so forth. Same with downtown Mesa. These trendy chains are basically the new applebees for the modern era.

Geez, your standards are so high. It's hard not to notice that you are usually negative about the whole area. Get off that high horse.

If it's busy and people are waiting for tables then it would seem to be a success by almost any standard except yours. We go to downtown Gilbert once in a while and we enjoy it. It seems like a nice mix to us. There are several unique restaurants (see below). Many successful restaurant owners also have several locations. There are efficiencies to be gained with more volume. Gilbert and Chandler ain't NY City, and even Times Square has many chain attractions. It's called Capitalism - the free market.

Here are some examples I found within downtown Gilbert by a not-so-quick search that are not really "chains":

Copper 48, Da'Bayou Creole Kitchen, Sotol Modern Cocktail Kitchen, Joe's Real BBQ, SoCal Fish Taco Company, The Farmhouse Restaurant, Champions Sports Saloon, The White Rabbit, Liberty Market, Romeo's Euro Café, Topo -- these all have only one location in Gilbert

Clever Koi - locations in Phoenix and Gilbert - two locations
Joyride Taco House - two locations
Sushi Brokers - three locations
Dierks Bentley's Whiskey Row - three locations
The Porch - three locations
Even OHSO that you mentioned has four upscale valley locations - sounds OK to me: https://ohsobrewery.com/restaurants/

Granted that Oreganos, Lo-Lo's, Snooze, Zinburger, Postino, Culinary Dropout are indeed large chains.

Those are 18 places that are not big chains. There are also other businesses in the area such as coffee shops, a bike shop, a huge candy store, ice cream, a street taco stand (Midnight Taco - 2 locations), Level 1 Arcade Bar (one location), the Hale Theatre, the park by the water tower. And more. Still growing. Seems like a decent mix, but maybe you just require more sophistication.