Downtown Dining Options (Phoenix: restaurant, price, pub)

[Finger Laker]

Friday night i'll be downtown for a show with some friends.

Was wondering if our local CD downtown advocates could give some dining advice.

My wife and I are pretty much open to anything and dont' mind spending a touch more for good food.

Our friends, are more of your chain restaurant going type and aren't as adventurous and are a little more conservative on the amount they want to spend.

So....... i'm running at a loss because the places I normally would chose are going out the window rather rapidly.

What I'm not looking for is a place that is high cost, serves mexican food or only has a menu of options that are fried/fatty or plates that will bog you down as we don't want to be in food coma for the show

What I am looking for is a place that has a diverse menu, is low to moderately priced, with portions that are reasonable but not overwhelming

any help you can provide is appreciated

[ArtJen]

We always love going to Cibo. Located in a renovated house, lots of charm, inside and outside seating.

603 N 5th Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85003-1528

[Finger Laker]

We went there last time we dined downtown with this couple - i think we're looking for something different

a place where they frequently go before events is coach & willies as kind of a reference to their tastes

[TRTFSHR]

I was going to suggest Cibo. Love the place. Great food and atmosphere. How about Hard Rock if they like chains?

[azriverfan.]

What is expensive to you? Coach and Willies is considered glorified bar food. If that's the food you are looking for, there are a lot of places like that such as Amare's. Go to Jackson's on Third or Cooperstown. Despite their more obvious sports environment, their menu isn't really all that different from Coach and Willies.

Here is a quick list

http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dining/...1downtown.html

[Finger Laker]

that's the rub - we just have different tastes

they pretty much go to seamus or coach & willies as much as they can

we're more of the cibo set

trying to find something that has a little for everyone - i'm not a big fan of majerle's (another place that a different group of friends absolutely love)

the pub across from bianco was OK

i went to amare's when it first opened and liked it, i know they have had some changes over there since then and the last time i looked at their menu nothing jumped out at me

feel a little like beating my head on the wall as everything mentioned is getting skeptical looks - but yet it's still on me to "find a place to eat"

[trudawg]

Seamus McCaffrey's Irish Pub 18 W Monroe St was surprisgingly very good to me

[HX_Guy]

What about PastaBar? May not work since it's not a variety of food, just pasta...but it's good. It isn't along
the same lines of Coach and Willies though, it's more "foo-foo"

What about Sonoma at Van Buren and 1st Ave? I've never eaten there but it may be worth a look.
There is also the newer Turf Irish Pub on 1st St and Fillmore, I bet they would like it but you may not, it's more along the lines of what they like.
Ther is also a little Mediterrean place on Roosevelt and 2nd Ave that's pretty new.
Kincaids at the Colliers Center is a favorite of mine but it's not cheap.

One last suggestion, look at what places there are at the Arizona Center.

Also, are you driving from the restaurant to the show or walking? If driving, have you considered any of the places in Uptown?

[Finger Laker]

we were planning on walking from dinner to the show - but we have to drive in from goodyear anyway, so uptown isn't out of the question

[synapse]

Moira, a new sushi restaurant on McKinley, is excellent. I'd also recommend Portland's, at Portland and Central, or Hanny's, which is in the heart of downtown. Hanny's might be an excellent choice, actually - lots of different foods, cool atmosphere (it's 40 N. 1st Street.)