Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and with choices like the ones that The Scout Guide readers nominated, I am left wondering why anyone would argue otherwise. Think about it…you can eat with impunity and you have the rest of the day to work it off, or nap. Take a read and let me know which one of these local breakfast spots is your favorite! xoM
Bevvy Uptown
From the management team behind The Porch in Arcadia and Bevvy in Old Town Scottsdale, the Bevvy Uptown is a gastropub serving handcrafted meals and cocktails in its 7th Street location near Missouri. The Bevvy Uptown serves weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm with an emphasis on the cocktails, including a selection of shared cocktails like the Bevvy Brunch Punch, Beer-garitas, Sangria, Mega Mosas and Monster Mules. They have a section of Beyond Meat choices for the vegan minded, and many options for calorie-busting meals like poutine, hang-over burritos, and a Chorizo Breakfast Scramble with house-made chorizo. This is the place you want to visit after having gone on a big morning hike or bike ride and want to go hog wild with calories and while the day away sipping serious libations. Good to know: You can order “all you can eat” for $22.
5600 N 7th St., Phoenix AZ www.bevvyuptown.com
Chestnut Fine Foods & Provisions
Originally opened in 2012 by two sisters, Marissa and Kirsten, at the northwest corner of 44th St. and Camelback, Chestnut Fine Foods & Provisions has since moved down a few blocks within the Vintage Arcadia at 4418 E Osborn and have extended hours and an expanded menu. Offering a casual, farm-to-table experience, Chestnut’s menu tends to focus on health, but there is something for everyone. I have recently become obsessed with the Morning Bibimbap Bowl – possibly a nod to the owners’ Korean heritage? – and the kids love the Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes that are served with sweetened condensed milk and chocolate sauce. This breakfast spot features several local producers including Noble Breads, MJ Bread, Matador Coffee, and McClendon’s Select organic produce. Breakfast and lunch are served from 8 am to 3 pm daily. There is also a full bar with signature cocktails and an extensive beer and wine selection open until 9 pm Sunday thru Thursday and 10 pm on Friday and Saturday. Good to know: Within the new space at Vintage Arcadia, you can eat, sip on cocktails and shop for one of kind vintage goods, clothing, home décor and accessories.
4418 E. Osborn Rd., Phoenix AZ www.chestnutaz.com
Colados Coffee & Crêpes
Colados Coffee & Crêpes is a family-owned local coffee house crêperie with two locations in both Avondale and Goodyear, serving traditional coffee and specialty crêpes. Colados boasts a unique coffee brewing process, dating back many generations that is a “cultural flavor that cannot be found in traditional chain coffee houses”. The coffee is freshly brewed to order and include traditional lattés and cappuccinos, plus Colados’ specialty blended coffee made with their cold brew, like the Chocolate Chip or White Chocolate Helados. You can choose from a variety of sweet and savory crêpes including a Balsamic Chicken Crêpe or a Chipotle Ham and Cheese Crêpe, to a sweeter side like Nutella, Peach, or Tropical. Good to know: Colados is a very popular spot and if you are in a rush, it would be better to call ahead. They offer take-out as well as delivery via Ubereats. THE SCOUT GUIDE PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE WINNER.
15479 W McDowell Rd Suite #109, Goodyear, AZ
10685 W Indian School Rd, Suite G, Avondale, AZ www.colados.com
Hope’s Artisan Bread
Hope’s Artisan Bread is in Litchfield Park and specializes in freshly baked artisan sourdough bread, quiches, pies, and pastries. Founder Hope Mendrin, Australian by birth, is passionate about baking, and specifically the flours she uses in her products, preferring locally-sourced products, such as Hayden Flour Mills and BKW (in Marana), as well as the Utah-based Central Milling. She maintains a high standard for her products, using no commercial yeast, preservatives or additives. Like many a good baker, Hope has her own specialty sourdough starter for her breads, the more popular of which are classic sourdough, jalapeño cheddar, and Italian Herb. Hope’s uses All Natural Everything Bagel and All Natural Hearty Italian seasonings from the Tempe-based RA Seasonings. Fruits and vegetables used in quiches and pastries come from vendors at the Peoria Farmers’ Market. It is well worth the drive to the west valley, as I seem to find something new with each visit, like one of the best vegan chocolate chip cookies I have tasted. To top it off, Hope is possibly one of the most kind and thoughtful people I have met. She had been working for the last two years out of her garage, selling only in the local farmer’s market. But, due to high demand for her delicacies, she opened a brick and mortar located inside Purple Elephant Cakes, recently taking over the whole space continuing to sell their beautiful cupcakes, cake-pops, and macarons. It may be hard at first to find, but you need only to follow your nose and the lines of customers. Good to know: Check out the website below to place your preorder as inventory can go quickly! And don’t miss out on the Sourdough Brioche Sesame Rolls. THE SCOUT GUIDE PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE WINNER and OVERALL WINNER OF MOST VOTES ACROSS ALL CATEGORIES.
13331 W Indian School Rd, Unit 202, Litchfield Park www.hopesartisanbread.com
La Grande Orange
Also nominated for Best Sweets & Desserts, La Grande Orange is an organic coffee and breakfast bar, café, pizzeria, wine shop, and retail grocery on the SW corner of 40th and Campbell. This area was once a large orange grove, hence the inspiration for the name. LGO, as it is known for short, is the quintessential neighborhood jaunt for grab-and-go coffee, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast faves are the Crôque Madame (the best I have had in PHX), Parisian Cheesy Eggs, and the Daybreaker Omelet, an egg white omelet topped with rotisserie turkey breast and a tomato-avocado salsa. Be sure to try their Havana Coffee, flavored with sweetened condensed milk that will have you hooked. Good to know: Call ahead to place your order so that you can park in the specially designated Take Out parking places. The wait staff will come to your car with your order and off you go, bypassing the line, which sometimes wind out of the store and around the corner.
4410 N 40th St, Phoenix, AZ www.lagrandeorangegrocery.com
LoLo’s Chicken & Waffles
Many of you Phoenix old timers will know Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Café, a Phoenix institution since the ‘60’s. It turns out Mrs. White has a grandson, Larry White, who, after working at his grandmother’s spot for many years, start experimenting with his own recipes. Larry, soon to become known as “Lo-Lo”, has since perfected his fried chicken and homemade waffle recipes. In 2002, the first 1,000 sq. ft. restaurant opened and started to gain cult status, along with patrons the likes of Shaquille O’Neill (during his brief tenure with the Suns) and the legendary Muhammad Ali. LoLo’s Chicken & Waffles now has four locations (including Sky Harbor Airport), one in Las Vegas, and one in Southlake, TX. Yes, it is all about the fried chicken and waffles, but the blackened catfish with dirty rice topped with butter and shrimp is pretty tasty too if you are looking for something on the “lighter” side. Good to know: LoLo has developed his own waffle mix, seasoned salt, maple syrup, hot sauce and more.
3133 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ www.loloschickenandwaffles.com
Prep & Pastry
Established in 2013 in Tucson, Prep & Pastry opened their Scottsdale location in September 2019 across from Nordstrom in the Scottsdale Broadstone Waterfront. Housed inside the beautiful, soaring, indoor-outdoor space, Prep & Pastry serves up a menu of breakfast, lunch and brunch, paired with an extensive menu of craft cocktails, house-steeped teas and organic fair-trade coffee drinks. Open daily from 7 am – 3 pm, Prep & Pastry favorites include a Cast Iron Duck Confit, Steak and Egg Sammie, and Breakfast Poutine, plus some vegetarian favorites like the Chickpea Scramble and the Monster Bowl. There is special care to provide guests with a one-of-a-kind brunch experience, adding unique touches with their house-made jams and pastries, build your own mimosas, a House Bloody Mary made combining guajillo & garlic infused vodka, herbed mustard mix and a shot glass of beer, and a full coffee bar featuring fresh-ground OX Coffee and your choice of 15 different loose-leaf teas. Good to know: Prep & Pastry has one of the more beautiful outdoor patios in Scottsdale, seating up to 50 people and replete with bistro chairs and Carrera marble topped tables. You won’t regret spending al few hours treating yourself to a luxurious meal, followed by a stroll along the Scottsdale Canal.
7025 E Via Soleri Dr #175, Scottsdale, AZ www.prepandpastry.com
Ranch House Grille
Leland Cline’s parents opened the original Ranch House Grille in Page, AZ, where he learned all facets of the business working as a line cook. A few years later, Leland moved to Phoenix in the hopes of starting a career in music, but pivoted and opened his own Ranch House Grille in a strip mall on Thomas and 56th. Known for serving Southwest comfort food, Ranch House Grille’s signature dish is Chicken Fried Steak with two fried eggs and a side of sourdough toast, awarding the restaurant with “Best Chicken Fried Steak” by the Phoenix New Times and other accolades by Phoenix Magazine and the AZ Republic. Needless to say, if you are looking for a hearty, filling breakfast, like steak and eggs, omelets, huevos rancheros and burritos, Ranch House Grille is the place to go. It is certainly popular with the Spring Training crowd, attracting many baseball players and the owner of the Diamondbacks. Good to know: the strip mall where the first Ranch House Grille was located burned down in 2010, apparently by a neighbor, and the present structure took a year and a half to rebuild. Dare I use the analogy of a Phoenix here, for many claim it is better now than ever.
5618 E Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ www.ranchhousegrille.com
RnR Gastropub
Located in Old Town Scottsdale at the NE corner of Scottsdale and 2nd St., RnR serves brunch daily from 11 am to 3 pm on weekdays, and 9 am to 3 pm on weekends in an impressive two-story structure with a commanding view of the bustling Scottsdale scene. Retractable glass garage doors create an indoor/outdoor vibe with multiple seating options, from community tables, booths, lounge and traditional seating. RnR is part of Evening Entertainment Group which touts many concepts in the valley that many of you will recognize such as Sandbar, Bevvy, Casa Amigos, Skylanes, and Chauncey Social. A hotspot especially during Spring Training, RnR gets rowdy on the weekends with bottomless Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas. The menu entices you to treat yourself to Jalapeño Mac’n’Cheese or XL Cinnamon Rolls, while alternatively you can order Vegan Avocado Toast or a carb-free Better Bowl with Cauliflower Rice. Good to know: Grab at least two friends and head to RnR on a Saturday or Sunday to order the Mimosa Tower for $75 that is filled with 3 bottles of champagne (along with a splash of OJ) with a spigot for serving.
3737 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ www.rnrscottsdale.com
Schmooze Scottsdale
Schmooze Workspace and Cafe is a remote workspace with a charming patio that serves breakfast and lunch and is situated on a quiet corner of Marshall Way in Old Town Scottsdale. John Vatistas, of Launch Realty, created Schmooze as a place where real estate agents and clients could meet to discuss the details of buying a house in the Valley. This innovative idea turned into a beautifully designed co-working space serving coffee, tea, cocktails (most on tap) and food. Fiber internet provides fast and reliable wi-fi connection, and individual offices are for rent both hourly, daily and monthly. Hubby and I first stumbled upon Schmooze one afternoon while riding bikes around Old Town. We stopped in and to our delight they served some refreshing Aperol Spritzes on tap. Since then, I have returned for breakfast and coffee, enjoying the Avocado Toasts and Breakfast Bowls filled with quinoa, sautéed mushrooms, and arugula salad topped with two fried eggs. Thursday thru Saturday during Happy Hour they serve tacos at the bar. Good to know: Schmooze has a custom app for ordering from the table that will also earn loyalty points towards future purchases.
4222 N Marshall Way, Scottsdale, AZ www.schmoozescottsdale.com
The Farm at South Mountain
Located just south of downtown Phoenix, The Farm at South Mountain, is literally an oasis in the desert, situated on a former riverbed that rewarded the grounds with naturally-rich soil. A pecan tree grove provides the shade for organic gardens and three separate restaurants: the Morning Glory Café offers house smoked meats, seasonal omelettes, and fresh baked goods for breakfast, The Farm Kitchen serves sandwiches, fresh soups, and seasonal salads packed in picnic baskets (perfect for exploring the grounds!), and Quiessence delivers a “farm-to-table” dinner experience using local produce, meat and wine to create a choice of 4 to 6-course tasting menus. There is also an art gallery and gift shop onsite. Specialties at Morning Glory Café include Pancho’s Chilaquiles, Brisket & Egg Open Faced Sandwich, and the Farm Monte Cristo, brioche French toast toasted with ham, eggs, Gruyère cheese and topped with syrup. Good to know: Morning Glory will work with dietary restrictions, converting many dishes to vegan or GF, plus offering reduced priced “Kids’ Option” for the Brioche French Toast and the American Breakfast.
6106 S 32nd St, Phoenix, AZ, www.thefarmatsouthmountian.com
The Henry
The Henry is a Fox Restaurant Concepts venue located on Camelback Rd. at the 44th Street intersection. Touted as The Greatest Neighborhood Restaurant, The Henry truly is an ideal place to grab coffee with friends, a late lunch with a colleague, dinner with the family, an after work cocktail on the scenic patio, or a comfy place to peck away at your computer for hours. In the days prior to COVID, a couple of my favorite experiences at The Henry included being invited to a private ladies’ lunch in the private dining room off the kitchen, and to a flower arranging party in one the party rooms. If arriving for breakfast, you can order at the counter and find a seat in the bright, spacious areas. You can choose from a variety of pastries and a small menu with familiar selections like avocado toast, burritos, French toast and breakfast sandwiches. Brunch on the weekends offers a wider selection, including a Flower Child Scramble and a Rancheros Breakfast Bowl, and bringing in lunch and dinner favorites like the Spicy Tuna & Crispy Rice, Short Rib Pot Stickers, Harvest Bowls and Roasted Turkey French Dip. Cocktails are light and refreshing, and I highly recommend the Grapefruit Spritz or Arcadia’s Best G&T. Good to know: This is one of the best places around from which to work virtually. Go early to beat the crowds. Grab a Cleo, an espresso with almond milk and hazelnut, and choose a spot to work and get properly caffeinated. The hours will roll by as you just people watch and type away.
4455 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ www.thehenryrestaurant.com
The Larder + The Delta
The Larder + The Delta, a Southern farm-to-table concept started by the talented Chef Steven Jones, moved from a stall in the DeSoto Central Market to Portland on the Park, a luxury condo building on Portland Ave in downtown Phoenix in 2018. The restaurant is open for dinner every day with the exception of Mondays when it is closed, and is open for brunch on Sundays only from 10 am to 3 pm. Chef Jones churns out dishes that are both hearty and delicious, using local Arizona produce to create Southern favorites with a twist. Many items on the menu are seasonal, but you may find dishes like Appalachian Shrimp and Grits with Carolina Gold rice, Corned Beef Hash and Eggs, Crispy Chicken McMuffin, and Andouille and Bacon Dirty Rice. You could also see a spattering of dishes from their dinner menu that are not to be missed, like Crispy Pig Ears dusted with Cheetos, or Fried Chicken Skin that has been drizzled with honey, Pimiento Cheese with Benton ham (from TN), tomato, and jam on grilled bread, and my favorite, the Hoppin’ John, a dish with Carolina Gold rice, Sea Island red peas, and plenty of fresh herbs. Many of the customers are regulars, living nearby and making time to frequent the restaurant weekly. Others, like us, ventured out from the suburbs, and are all the better for having done so. Good to know: While it may appear to be otherwise, the menu is heavily veggie-centric and cocktails are no exception, like “The Beetlejuice,” with house beet syrup, gin, lemon, cynar, egg white, ginger-honey simple syrup and rosemary.
200 W Portland St #101, Phoenix, AZ www.thelarderandthedelta.com
The Mission Old Town
Renowned Zinc Bistro Chef Matt Carter is the force behind this perennial Old Town favorite, now with a second location in the Kierland Commons. While you can visit the newer north Scottsdale location, you would be missing out on the charm of the Old Town location, next to the white adobe church on Brown Ave. Choose from a variety of modern Latin dishes whose influences range from Spain, Mexico, Central America to South America. Home-made tortillas, arepas (Colombian specialty), and salsas are made fresh daily and all meats are prepared on a plancha or a grill using pecan and mesquite wood. Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 3 pm. There is a Shaved Kale Salad with Ají Amarillo (Peruvian chili) vinaigrette, Almejas al vapor, grilled street corn, anticuchos, gorditas, and tacos. Sides dishes are also rich with flavors, like the Oaxacan Cheesy Rice or the Roasted Poblano Grits. Don’t miss out of the Espresso Churros for dessert. Good to know: The Mission is where I send most of my out of town guests looking for a “Southwest” experience, and I specifically instruct them, as I will to you, to sit on the patio, order a margarita and order the table-side guacamole.
3815 N. Brown Ave, Scottsdale, AZ www.missionaz.com
Windsor
Brought to you by Upward Projects Restaurant Group, the Windsor continues the mission of the group to be connected to the communities in which they serve. Windsor takes its name from the local historic Phoenix neighborhood, and serves breakfast Saturday and Sunday starting at 9 am, complete with a build-your-own bloody Mary bar cart, $5 brunch cocktails and pitchers of beer. Seating on the backyard-style patio is popular, so make a reservation or arrive on the earlier side. Popular brunch dishes include Eggs Benedict, Beignets, Southern Style Sausage and Gravy with cheddar biscuits, and Chicken & Waffles. To wash this all down, Windsor serves high-quality wine and beer on tap, as well as a robust selection of prohibition cocktails with a heavy emphasis on whiskey, rye, bourbon and scotch. Good to know: Windsor is next to another Upward Projects concept, Churn, where you can satisfy your sweet tooth if you have any room left in your belly.
5223 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ www.windsoraz.com
The Scout Guide’s inaugural Phoenix & Scottsdale print guide will launch Spring 2021. To enhance their online presence, I will be collaborating with @tsgphoenixscottsdale to provide my unique perspective on the food scene in the Valley.
Eager for more local breakfast spots? In the meantime, browse my About Town archive to discover more of my Valley favorites. xoM
1 comment
Comments are closed.