February, 2015 | Arizona Reviews

Hopdoddy Burger Bar in Scottsdale

My favorite burger place in all of Arizona is Hopdoddy Burger Bar. While some other burger places come close, Hopdoddy is a full point ahead of the rest of the burger places in town.

So far, I’ve tried about 6 of the burgers and have never been disappointed.

I wrote about this place a few months ago, and decided to make a return visit. My finding? It’s still the best burger in Scottsdale!

The main picture at the top of this post is the Terlingua Burger from Hopdoddy. It has chili con carne, Tilamook cheddar, and corn fritos! I love it!

The burger above is the Magic Shroom Burger which has goat cheese from Arizona, field mushrooms, mayo, and pesto. Delicious! The goat cheese goes amazing with burgers!

Here’s a picture of the menu at Hopdoddy. So you can choose your burger before you head in!

Here’s a photo of the location in Scottsdale, AZ.

Lots of beer on tap!

Awesome milk shakes! This is a chocolate milk shake!

Another shot of the Magic Shroom Burger.

Here’s what the interior of the restaurant looks like.

The line for ordering.

Getting there:

Hopdoddy Burger Bar
11055 N. Scottsdale Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Phone: (480) 348-2337

Sip Coffee & Beer House

Have you been to Sip Coffee & Beer House in Scottsdale? If not, you absolutely need to stop in here and spend an hour enjoying the scene. It’s a beautiful coffee shop and beer house. With windows on nearly every side of the store, this place is filled with beautiful light from the street, and in the winter months they open the doors and windows.

Ok, so there are just a few things I’ll say about Sip.

1. They have awesome coffee and I’ve written about that numerous times.

2. They have a wide selection of beer, from local and national vendors, as well as international. It’s a craft beer wonderland in Scottsdale.

3. They serve an amazing hummus platter (spicy hummus!).

4. The interior is beautiful and well decorated, with comfortable seating, and it’s big!

5. Awesome patio and comfortable outdoor chairs and tables.

6. They serve breakfast and lunch.

7. They have plenty of free parking and are located in Old Town Scottsdale.

8. The owners are local, and kept the old Needlework sign and attached it to the ceiling.

9. They have live music every week which they announce online. They’re open most days from 7 am to 9 pm, and 11 pm on weekends.

10. Super friendly staff, and they’ll let you start a tab so you can keep ordering all day long without having to pull out your wallet.

So, stop and smell the roses, and the coffee at Sip Coffee & Beer House!

Getting there

Sip Coffee & Beer House
3617 N Goldwater Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Phone: (480) 625-3878

Fired Pie (Scottsdale)

I’ve positively reviewed Fired Pie in the recent past, and I’d like to offer another take as I’ve recently revisited.

Fired Pie is stingy. Yeah, from the moment they begin adding toppings to your custom pizza, they are stingy with the ingredients. I’ve seen this on multiple visits to the Scottsdale location. On my most recent trip, I overheard other customers discussing this as well.

For example, after they add each ingredient they ask “is that all?” It’s like they’re hoping I won’t add more ingredients to my pizza and they can throw it in the oven.

Also, they go really slow when adding the ingredients and don’t add them liberally. So, when they ask you after each ingredient “is that all?” it never is all, because you realize you want more. So, naturally you ask for the next ingredient you see that looks good. Granted, you could add every single ingredient to your pizza and I think they would add them, but who wants 8 kinds of meat on their pizza? I’d much rather get lots of pepperoni for the ultimate pepperoni pizza.

I’ll definitely be back, since it’s becoming a family favorite to design your own pizza.

Getting there

Visit their web site at firedpie.com for locations and directions.

PHOENIX
(deer valley towne center)

CHANDLER
(raintree ranch)

SCOTTSDALE
(scottsdale rd & greenway-hayden loop)

PHOENIX
(park central)

NORTH SCOTTSDALE
(northsight & raintree)

Urban Picnic

We stopped in at Urban Picnic for lunch recently, and had their delicious wraps for lunch. Urban Picnic is a small sandwich and soup shop located on Main Street in the heart of downtown Mesa. Within walking distance to coffee shops, antique shops, and salons.

They specialize in amazing salads, wraps, sandwiches, and more! The more includes awesome house-made teas, Izze drinks, and a big kids menu. The vibe is fancy… and, dare I say, urban. We loved the seats against the wall where we could watch people come in, order, and mill about.

On the day we visited, there was a massive rainstorm. The sort where you can only see a few yards in front of you. Here’s a picture.

They have a menu that changes frequently, so I’m not 100% sure whether these items will be available in the future.

Turkey Wrap

Spicy Chicken Wrap

Kids meal with mac and cheese

If you are in Mesa, definitely give Urban Picnic a visit! It’s a great spot for lunch in Mesa!

Urban Picnic
218 W. Main St.
Mesa, AZ 85201
Phone: (480) 246-8366

Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill

I ordered the Gyro Platter and the Chicken Platter. Both came with sides like rice, salad, and assorted veggies. I’ve also ordered the chips, which were pretty awesome! The food was really fresh, with awesome flavors and quality ingredients.

Garbanzo is a new fast-casual mediterranean restaurant in the style of Chipotle. While there are many menu items, most people choose from the options and have someone build their plate.

I had a chance recently to check out the new Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill across from Paradise Valley Mall. It’s located on the south side of Cactus Rd. halfway between Tatum Blvd. and Paradise Village Parkway.

Garbanzo is technically a chain. They have locations in California, Colorado, Georgia, New Jersey, and Texas at this time. In Arizona, they have locations at Desert Ridge and Paradise Valley Mall.

Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill
21001 N. Tatum Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ 85050
(480) 397-9510

4575 E. Cactus Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85032
(480) 351-2497

Little Miss BBQ

Have you heard about Little Miss BBQ?

There’s a 15 minute wait most days!

I’ve never felt so nervous about a simple barbecue order. Standing in line with a bunch of other folks talking about what they are going to order. Asking what is best, what they’ve had there before. It’s apparent that I’m the only one who had never been to Little Miss BBQ. Perhaps it was the 15 minute wait in line behind other barbecue fans who were discussing their orders.

In this photo, above, you can see the turkey.

If you haven’t been to Little Miss BBQ, go! It is quickly becoming famous in Arizona. In fact, it recently made Yelp’s list of top 10 restaurants in America. Seriously! It’s that good.

And, it has made my top list of best BBQ places in metro Phoenix. Little Miss BBQ serves all of their meat by the pound on butcher paper, and also offers a variety of sandwiches and sides.

Above, a photo of the brisket and sausages.

All of their meats, including the brisket, sausage, pork spare ribs, turkey breast, pastrami, and beef short ribs are cooked using oak and pecan wood from Arizona. Everybody I’ve spoken with heartily recommends the “fatty brisket”, but they often sell out early.

Above: Cole Slaw and Potato Salad

For sides, you can get these awesome grits that are flavored with jalapeño cheddar. Absolutely delicious! They also serve up beans, potato salad, and cole slaw but don’t have chips or fries. I kind of like that they don’t have those. Feels a bit more healthy.

Here’s a picture of the interior where you place your order.

Don’t miss a trip to Little Miss BBQ when you are in downtown Phoenix!

Little Miss BBQ
4301 E. University Dr.
Phoenix, AZ 85034
Phone: (602) 437-1177