North Phoenix/Scottsdale’s Duelies Sports Bar and Grill is crowd interaction at its finest.  Dueling pianists perform alongside guests, who join the musicians at their instruments, while others gather around and sing, dance or start a conga line around the three-month-old venue.   Housed near Harkins Theatres Scottsdale 101, Duelies is an upscale sports bar with live music and has garnered great reviews. Patrons have learned about it from word of mouth. The space is owned by Ross Paterson, a real estate developer and a native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He had owned resta ..read more

Ben Ostro is passionate about helping the 1 in 8 kids who are food insecure. As chief executive officer of Chateau Luxe in North Phoenix, he’s proud his venue is the home of the charity-driven 32nd annual Taste of the NFL on Saturday, February 11.  “Sometimes the only meals these kids get are subsidized meals at school,” Ostro says. “Being in this business, it blows my mind. We have to prepare food for functions and, naturally, there is leftover food. I try to send it home with staff or donate it to a local charity. The reality, though, kills me that there are children going to bed hungry ..read more

After opening restaurants in Chicago, Richard Raschillo moved to the Valley to relax. Instead, the industry called him back. “I got anxiety from not working, and it was either go to Lexapro or open another restaurant,” Raschillo says with a laugh about the antidepressant. Raschillo signed a lease at 14891 N. Northsight Boulevard, Suite 135, Scottsdale, and that allowed him to relax.  “I slept like a baby that night,” he says. “Before then, I was pacing outside at night. My brain was circling too much.” The result is Culinary Gangster, a brick-and-mortar version of his popular food truck i ..read more

Christmas doesn’t have to be about slaving over a hot stove and washing dishes. Make it easier and head to a restaurant — just make sure to tip well. Here is a sampling of eateries celebrating the holidays this year.   Casino Arizona This holiday season, Casino Arizona is offering an array of dining options. Guests can enjoy a festive meal selection, offered at several price points. The Eagles Buffet At Casino Arizona’s The Eagles Buffet, there’s a Christmas champagne brunch from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The meal features a chef’s carving board with herb-crusted prime rib with au jus; citrus-g ..read more

David Tyda contends that Phoenix is a top city for pizza.  “I say to people that I believe Phoenix is the pizza capital of the U.S. and I wait for them to slap me across the face,” says Tyda, the co-manager of Phoenix Festivals.  “But it’s so crazy how many different styles of pizza are represented here, and the people doing those styles are masters at it. We have such good pizza here in town, so we should celebrate it.” Tyda is bringing the family-friendly Phoenix Pizza Festival back to Downtown Phoenix’s Margaret T. Hance Park Saturday, November 12, and Sunday, November 13.  A ..read more

ALL MONTH Touchdown Special Football season is here, and Streets of New York is helping Arizona Cardinals fans cheer on the team with a touchdown special available every game day. Guests can score big on game days with $5 off any 16-inch pizza for dine-in, takeout and delivery by ordering online. Various locations, Arizona Cardinals game days only, streetsofnewyork.com   SUNDAYS NFL Sunday Fundays Lakeside Bar & Grill is serving up an NFL Sunday Funday menu featuring Sunday-only breakfast and brunch foods along with tailgating drink essentials. Food options include extra avocado toast ..read more

Rockin’ Taco Street Fest’s organizers are pumped about the Downtown Chandler event’s 11th iteration on Saturday, September 24.   “We’re fired up,” says Mike O’Donnell, director of partnerships for Forty8 Live!, the event’s producer. A food, music and cultural celebration, Rockin’ Taco Street Fest will feature creative tacos from more than 20 local restaurants and food trucks. Accompanying drinks include fresh fruit fresca, cerveza, handcrafted margaritas and micheladas.  Providing the soundtrack are Ozomatli and Everclear, with other featured entertainment to include luche libre wres ..read more

50 Years of Pizza and Pipes ALL MONTH As one of the two remaining restaurants that provides organ entertainment with a side of pizza, Organ Stop Pizza is celebrating 50 years with 50 days of specials. Through October 8, customers can enjoy the $50 meal deal with two large pizzas with unlimited toppings (excluding extra cheese), two appetizers (combo basket excluded) and two pitchers of soft drink. Nightly giveaways of food and merchandise will also be available. Organ Stop Pizza, 1149 E. Southern Avenue, Mesa, 480.813.5700, organstoppizza.com   Everything Lobster at STK Steakhouse ALL MON ..read more

Acclaimed chef Lisa Dahl is ever the optimist — even when it came to opening her second Pisa Lisa in the Village of Oak Creek in July.  “I didn’t like the idea of opening the slowest month of the year, but, in a way, it’s a godsend,” Dahl says. “The busiest month is around the corner — September, October. This is giving us the opportunity to ease into it. What I’m thrilled about is it’s not really slow. That’s blowing my mind.” Serving wood-fired pizzas, organic salads and artisan gelato, Dahl’s Pisa Lisa debuted in 2013 and quickly became a destination. The new Oak Creek store is her six ..read more

Mesa’s Organ Stop Pizza — one of the country’s last “pizza and pipes” restaurants — will celebrate its 50th anniversary this August. “In the last 50 years we have had many ups and downs, especially the last couple of years during the pandemic, but when the world feels unpredictable, coming together and hearing music brings people delight and comfort,” says Jack Barz, Organ Stop Pizza co-owner.  “We are proud to carry on the pizza and pipes tradition and provide escapism for our guests night after night.” Opened in 1972, Organ Stop Pizza is home to the “Mighty Wurlitzer,” the largest and m ..read more