Southwest sizzle

Suddenly Phoenix and Scottsdale have a ton of great places to eat. Here are the ones you can't miss

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Esparza shows off her fabulous freshly made guacamole

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by Melissa Castleman, Amy Traverso

Ask an old-timer in Phoenix or Scottsdale what the food scene used to look like, oh, 10 or 15 years ago, and you’ll be painted the bleak picture of a ghost town in a spaghetti Western—minus the spaghetti. But that was before chef Nobu Fukuda ingeniously introduced sushi to tapas at Sea Saw, before the Barrio Café’s Silvana Salcido Esparza gave the grateful barrio her own inspired take on Mexican fare.

Read on for the tables where we’re most excited to pull up our chairs—and look for the sun icon, sun seekers: Several of these have great outdoor patios.

Barrio Café
This little high-energy spot is a riot of color. You won’t find burritos, but you won’t miss them with such comforting, robust fare to choose from as poblano chiles stuffed with chicken, apples, nuts, and cilantro, or blue-corn enchiladas with crab and Mexican goat cheese. $$$; 2814 N. 16th St., Phoenix; 602/636-0240.

Deseo
Sit at the ceviche bar and watch the chefs toss tuna with soy, citrus, and cilantro, or shrimp with roasted tomatoes and avocado. Douglas Rodriguez, the granddaddy of Nuevo Latino cooking, is consulting chef, and the menu takes classics like duck confit and wraps them in preparations like tamales steamed in banana leaves. Don’t miss the Argentina-inspired churrasco of beef, a tender fillet served with a tangy chimichurri sauce (here made with basil instead of the usual parsley). The menu encourages multiple tastings with ceviche, soup, and entrée “samplers,” so taste away. $$$$; Westin Kierland Resort, 6902 E. Greenway Pkwy., Scottsdale; 480/624-1015.

Kai
The dining room’s stunning views of the mountain-rimmed Gila River Indian Community are matched by the fabulous Native American–inspired cooking from the kitchen. Don’t miss the Sioux-raised buffalo tenderloin with cholla cactus buds and saguaro-blossom syrup or the zippy olive oil made from fruit pressed by local tribe members and served up with warm, seeded breads. $$$$; Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa, 5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler; 602/225-0100.