Unique Eateries

[amatrine]

Chez Monieux in Tempe is good for some REAL cajun food if you like it. It is on Price road. They have frog legs, gumbo and all that.

Ama

[joninaz]

- Go for a cocktail at Elements at the Sanctuary resort, on the North side of Camelback overlooking Paradise Valley. They have a pricey restaurant but you can simply stop in for a drink and take in the view of red rocks and the infinity pool - best at sunset. It's definitely a "unique to AZ experience."

- Also at sunset, check out Greasewood Flats in North Scottsdale. It's a bit of a hike for many, but also a place you won't find in other areas. It's a dusty, aged outdoorsy cowboy barn dance meets biker bar meets tourist/local attraction that defies typical attractions. It's on the edge where development ends and preserved area begins, offering some scenic desert scenery that becomes martian at the suggested sunset hours. The fare is mostly green chile burgers and beers, which you'll eat on weathered picnic tables. But they have live music, outdoor dancing and everyone is having a good time. I'd never name it to a "Best Food" guide but everyone who visits seems to love it for uniqueness.

- Ditto kudos for Ranch Market on Roosevelt. It's like going on a trip to Mexico, but newer and cleaner. It's a supermarket on salsa-infused steroids. That said, it's also an homage to the big, central markets of Europe and Latin/S. America. You can go in there and load up the grocery cart, but you can also go in and have lunch, then leave with nothin in tow. There's a great food court, for example. But there's also a fish taco stand in the seafod section, should you want a beer and some shrimp. Very unique. If you like Asian food, Lee Lees in Chandler is another "better than California even" destination, though it's more suited to loading up the shopping cart.

[Finger Laker]

lots of good suggestions on here - chino bandido and mi cocina mi pas are excellent choices, with the later try to hit it off peak as it's really small

you can find rattlesnake all over the place - if you like to drink and are in the area grab a Chile Beer from the Satisfied Frog in Cave Creek - if you went to run down central toward S. Mountain Los Dos Molinos serves up some spicy mexican food in more of a new mexico style, very good

if you want to blow out your budget for a true dining experience that is first class and 100% arizona / native american check out Kai - it's a 5 diamond restaurant that is absolutely incredible - start with the lobster fry bread and make your way from there - so good

for a quick desert check out MacAlpines Soda Fountain off 7th Street - vintage place that has old fashioned sodas and ice cream treats - not a bad way to refresh for a minute on those hundred degree days