Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Maricopa

"Set within the Sheraton Grand Hotel at Wild Horse Pass, Kai Restaurant is a five-star, award-winning restaurant that serves elite interpretations of Native American fare. The elegantly appointed dining establishment features calming décor in warm earthy tones and floor-to-ceiling windows with spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding desert landscape. The restaurant specializes in using fresh locally sourced ingredients and regional produce along with rich Arizona-made olive oil to prepare sublime dishes with time-honored Native American techniques."

"The ancient farmed and wild foods of the Sonoran Desert get a global filter at Kai, owned by the Gila River Indian Community. Chef Ryan Swanson’s “Pee-posh garden” unites the best of the desert’s seasonal bounty in one dish, emulating a garden. Right now, that means “plants” like hedgehog mushrooms, fermented I’itoi onion, and pickled baby corn from an Akimel O’odham farm, all interspersed with espuma and frozen pesto."

"Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. One of Chef Swanson's favorite seafood creations: Steelhead Trout & Sturgeon Roe with warm tomato gazpacho water, Arizona juniper, nasturtium petals and charred leeks. Kai - the name means “seed” in the language of the native Pima tribe whose home is nearby - is Arizona’s only restaurant to have secured AAA’s prestigious five-star rating."

"Arizona Grand Spa envelops guests in a serene environment from the first moment to the last. Treatments like relaxing massages, rejuvenating facials, therapeutic body treatments and salon services are tailored to each guest’s preferences. The spa even offers custom services, and special services just for kids or teens."

"Featuring a water park and a full-service spa, this luxury resort offers fun for all ages. Free Wi-Fi is included in each spacious guest suite. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is 7 miles away."

"Arizona Grand Resort, with thrilling gigantic water slides and golf course, is a superb choice for all types of families."

"This farmhouse turned eatery, nestled in the historic Farm at South Mountain, is a love fest both in setting and cuisine. Its rural tranquility offers a lush backdrop for guests as well as chef Dustin Christofolo, whose daily menu of contemporary American farm cuisine includes ingredients harvested at next-door Soil & Seed Garden. Whether clinking glasses of vino at the exclusive Brick Oven Table on the patio or holding hands over a dish of dreamy homemade pasta in front of a crackling fire, Quiessence at The Farm has amore written all over it."

"No list of the most romantic restaurants in Phoenix would be complete without mentioning one of the absolute most amorous spots in the city, Quiessence at The Farm. Serving up a true love fest of flavours and ambiance, the tranquil setting lends itself to an idyllic romantic evening for two. Ingredients are harvested next door, ensuring food is fresh and fantastic."

"Quiessence restaurant is located in the back of The Farm at South Mountain, an oasis that takes you just slightly outside the typical desert landscape. You can dine either on the farmhouse patio or out on the lawn beneath the Valley sky. The menu is made up of local ingredients from the farm and other local businesses."

"Rustler's Rooste is Phoenix's down-home gem, a destination cowboy steakhouse serving up thick and juicy steaks, ribs, chicken and the freshest seafood around. Appetizers are rather unique at this popular restaurant (rattlesnake, anyone?), but it's all part of the fun. One of the more popular dining options at Rustler's Rooste is Cowboy Stuff, a family-style dinner that includes barbecue chicken, shrimp, beans, baked potatoes, swordfish, pork ribs, sirloin steak strips, corn-on-the-cob, fresh raw vegetables, and rolls with a side of butter and honey."

"There’s no restaurant in Phoenix quite as unique and family-friendly as Rustler’s Rooste. With an indoor slide and a live longhorn at its entrance, some children might even think it’s a Western playground. Your kids will relish the incredible family-oriented features of this restaurant, such as its cotton candy in a bucket and roaming magician."

"Rustler's Rooste is a popular local steakhouse where the food isn't necessarily the main attraction. A live bull greets you from a pen near the front door, you can take the tin slide to your table, a live Western band plays nightly, and most tables have an outstanding view of the Phoenix skyline and Camelback Mountain."

"Morning Glory Café is a favorite brunch spot with a sunny outdoor patio and the ambiance of a friendly farmer’s house that attracts a regular morning crowd. Part of the Farm at South Mountain, a complex of eateries, gardens, and event spaces in South Phoenix, Morning Glory Café serves a delicious menu for breakfast with dishes prepared from locally sourced ingredients, many of which come from the adjacent herb and vegetable plot. Surrounded by green lawns and leafy trees, giving the café a non-Arizonan feel, Morning Glory Café is the perfect place for a rustic yet slightly refined breakfast with dishes like chicken enchiladas with two eggs done any way and steelhead trout omelets filled with heavily smoked trout and served with roasted peppers and goat cheese whipped with cream."

"Morning Glory Café is nestled in the Farm at South Mountain, an oasis in the middle of Phoenix. Turn into the farm’s road and the city disappears: surrounded by trees, the only noise one hears is the crunch of the gravel under the wheels. At the end of the road, a small outdoor dining area appears with picnic tables and chairs spaced for safety on the patio."

"This brunch spot is a favorite amongst Phoenix residents; it is always packed full for breakfast and lunch. Their patio setting is designed for you to sit and enjoy their fantastic muffins and incredible pastries. Another meal to try out is their omelets; it is one of the best in the city."

"Outside of Ethiopia and Morocco, the entire continent of Africa is almost unrepresented in the Valley’s restaurant scene, which makes this recent addition among the most exciting. The atmosphere is essentially nonexistent and the line can be long and slow. But none of that matters when you’re presented with a smooth, elastic round of yam fufu, bathed in a spiced tomato soup brimming with goat meat."

"This Italian restaurant near Phoenix comes from a storied past and carries with it the countryside inspirations that came from the early lives of the owners in a small fishing village from the “heel” of Italy. Not to mention the fact that it rocks a mean pizza, to boot!"

"Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar and Grill is where authentic Chinese food and distinct specialties from Asia come together in a vibrant contemporary restaurant. Combining authentic Asian food with American hospitality, stylish interiors with affordable prices, familiar with new dishes, spicy with mild offerings, the restaurant is a marriage of the best of Eastern and Western traditions. Check the website for happy hour locations and specials at the two locations."

"A post shared by Ling & Louie's Restaurants (@lingandlouies). 9397 E Shea Blvd | Scottsdale | lingandlouies.com. Looking for a fun and unique dining experience?"

"Less of a restaurant and more of a makeshift snack shop run from the back of a neighborhood market, Little India specializes in chaat, the savory little roadside and street-cart morsels of Indian cuisine. This is as informal as it gets. Grab a ticket, mark off a few selections, poke your head into the kitchen and try to flag down somebody to take your order."

"Locally owned and operated, this gem is great for an afternoon pick-me-up, as Boba & Donuts not only serves up a variety of fresh donuts and hand-crafted Boba drinks, but they also offer coffee and ice-cream. It is sure to be a crowd pleaser."

"Morning Glory Café is a favorite brunch spot with a sunny outdoor patio and the ambiance of a friendly farmer’s house that attracts a regular morning crowd. Part of the Farm at South Mountain, a complex of eateries, gardens, and event spaces in South Phoenix, Morning Glory Café serves a delicious menu for breakfast with dishes prepared from locally sourced ingredients, many of which come from the adjacent herb and vegetable plot. Surrounded by green lawns and leafy trees, giving the café a non-Arizonan feel, Morning Glory Café is the perfect place for a rustic yet slightly refined breakfast with dishes like chicken enchiladas with two eggs done any way and steelhead trout omelets filled with heavily smoked trout and served with roasted peppers and goat cheese whipped with cream."

"Morning Glory Café is nestled in the Farm at South Mountain, an oasis in the middle of Phoenix. Turn into the farm’s road and the city disappears: surrounded by trees, the only noise one hears is the crunch of the gravel under the wheels. At the end of the road, a small outdoor dining area appears with picnic tables and chairs spaced for safety on the patio."

"This brunch spot is a favorite amongst Phoenix residents; it is always packed full for breakfast and lunch. Their patio setting is designed for you to sit and enjoy their fantastic muffins and incredible pastries. Another meal to try out is their omelets; it is one of the best in the city."

"Rustler's Rooste is Phoenix's down-home gem, a destination cowboy steakhouse serving up thick and juicy steaks, ribs, chicken and the freshest seafood around. Appetizers are rather unique at this popular restaurant (rattlesnake, anyone?), but it's all part of the fun. One of the more popular dining options at Rustler's Rooste is Cowboy Stuff, a family-style dinner that includes barbecue chicken, shrimp, beans, baked potatoes, swordfish, pork ribs, sirloin steak strips, corn-on-the-cob, fresh raw vegetables, and rolls with a side of butter and honey."

"There’s no restaurant in Phoenix quite as unique and family-friendly as Rustler’s Rooste. With an indoor slide and a live longhorn at its entrance, some children might even think it’s a Western playground. Your kids will relish the incredible family-oriented features of this restaurant, such as its cotton candy in a bucket and roaming magician."

"Rustler's Rooste is a popular local steakhouse where the food isn't necessarily the main attraction. A live bull greets you from a pen near the front door, you can take the tin slide to your table, a live Western band plays nightly, and most tables have an outstanding view of the Phoenix skyline and Camelback Mountain."

"The annual Homestyle Turkey n’ Dressing Meal ($12.99) is comprised of turkey with dressing and gravy, a sampling of sugar cured ham, sweet potato casserole, cranberry relish, one country side, buttermilk biscuits or corn muffins, a refillable beverage and slice of pumpkin pie."

"Set within the Sheraton Grand Hotel at Wild Horse Pass, Kai Restaurant is a five-star, award-winning restaurant that serves elite interpretations of Native American fare. The elegantly appointed dining establishment features calming décor in warm earthy tones and floor-to-ceiling windows with spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding desert landscape. The restaurant specializes in using fresh locally sourced ingredients and regional produce along with rich Arizona-made olive oil to prepare sublime dishes with time-honored Native American techniques."

"The ancient farmed and wild foods of the Sonoran Desert get a global filter at Kai, owned by the Gila River Indian Community. Chef Ryan Swanson’s “Pee-posh garden” unites the best of the desert’s seasonal bounty in one dish, emulating a garden. Right now, that means “plants” like hedgehog mushrooms, fermented I’itoi onion, and pickled baby corn from an Akimel O’odham farm, all interspersed with espuma and frozen pesto."

"Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. One of Chef Swanson's favorite seafood creations: Steelhead Trout & Sturgeon Roe with warm tomato gazpacho water, Arizona juniper, nasturtium petals and charred leeks. Kai - the name means “seed” in the language of the native Pima tribe whose home is nearby - is Arizona’s only restaurant to have secured AAA’s prestigious five-star rating."