click to enlarge Take a seat at the bar and lose yourself in your solo meal at Dick’s Hideaway. Allison Young Done right, dining alone can be elevated to an art form. For starters, shake off the stigma that you are kind of lonely or have no friends. Eating what you want in any restaurant (dessert for dinner, yes please!) Without the hassle of splitting the check is liberating and sublime. Where you sit can also make a difference. The bar is always a good choice, as is a seat with a view of an open kitchen. (Avoid four-tops.) You can really enjoy the sensory benefits just by eating. By eating and enjoying with all your senses, you can taste, notice or even get to know something new. Now that you’ve set the rules, here’s a roundup of the best Phoenix restaurants to eat on your own. Greetings to you! Dick’s Hideaway6008 North 16th StreetDick’s actually feels like a hiding place. There is no proper signage above the door, apart from the small hint that there is “Additional parking space in the back”. And it’s a shoebox, everything dark and cozy. Grab a stool by the bar where you’re likely to run into someone eating alone. From here you can watch how your food is burned, fried and served in more than ample portions on the characteristic metal plates. This place is known for its epic portions, so stick to dishes that travel well (carne adovada, enchiladas, Santa Fe chicken, each of the pastas) because you get a to-go box. click to enlarge Pho at Da Vang is damn good. Allison Young Da Vàng 4538 North 19th Avenue Da Vàng is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., serves tripe and tendons, and doesn’t have a flimsy name like “What the Pho”. All the pluses! It’s also a solo dining haven where you’re likely to find multiple people posted alone happily sipping huge bowls of pho. In addition to the best pho in town, Da Vang has an extensive menu of spring rolls, banh mi and Vietnamese hot pot, but getting quiet and loud with a large amount of noodles in beef broth is really an act of concentration that is better enjoyed solo. click to enlarge The Zinc Bistro invites you to many solo dinners, especially lunch. Allison Young Zinc Bistro15034 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale A table for one in Zinc French restaurant feels oh la la. Whether you are sitting at the steel-roofed bar, the long banquets with white tablecloths or on the terrace, there is a lot to marvel at, from the sheet metal ceiling to the collection of illustrated books and other guests, many of whom will also be dining alone. Order oysters, foie gras, crispy duck confit, truffle-parmesan fries or ricotta fritters for dessert (double dipping is recommended) and enjoy your Parisian party. I Support Local Community Journalism Support the independent voice of Phoenix and help keep the future of the New Times clear. click to enlarge The cauliflower tacos at The Coronado will impress vegans and non-vegans alike. Allison Young The Coronado 2245 North 12th Street Coronado is the type of restaurant that you would like to become a regular even if you are not a vegan or vegetarian. Nestled in the historic Coronado neighborhood, it has the feel of a neighborhood hangout with a design-centric look thanks to its black banquet seating, pink floral wallpaper, and all those brass accents. Get the cauliflower tacos at the bar, in masa batter and stacked with spinach, pepitas, and avocado dressing paired with a fabulously photogenic cocktail, and you’ll plan your next visit before your last plant-based bite. click to enlarge End on a cake at Kiss The Cook. Allison Young Kiss The Cook4915 West Glendale Avenue, Glendale If you want comfort on a plate with a serving of hospitality – and coffee topping up – Kiss The Cook is the place for you. The family-run Glendale fixture looks like Denny’s from the outside, but feels like grandma’s kitchen inside, complete with mismatched chairs, frills galore, regulars that have been around for decades, and staff that feel like family feel. Enjoy stuffed omelets, homemade cookies with country sauce and grandma’s fried potatoes while soaking up the down-to-earth atmosphere. And definitely end on a cake note. click to enlarge Sip and enjoy the art in Match’s Lounge. Match Market & Bar Match Market & Bar 1100 North Central Avenue Hotel restaurants have the advantage of being able to dine alone: business travelers dining alone are common. But Match, the restaurant at the artistic FOUND: RE Hotel, ticks a few additional boxes. Open from early morning until late at night with a menu that ranges from shaksuka to wood-fired pizzas, it has an excellent selection of wines by the glass and a happy hour that feels all natural to navigate deer. The sleek space includes an ornate lounge, four-sided bar, and breakfast nook so you can sit as you please, as well as a chic market and contemporary art gallery to stroll after. Click to enlarge Stretching hand-drawn noodles at the China Magic Noodle House in Chandler Chris Malloy China Magic Noodle House2015 N. Dobson Rd., Chandler The China Magic Noodle House in Chandler has dinner and a show. Take a seat with a view of the kitchen, order something tasty and watch the magic play out in the framed picture window. You’ll see chef and owner Sing Dison beating, flinging, swirling, and grinding your made-to-order noodles in a song that ends in a stacked high, boiling hotplate. Whether you’re getting beef with fried noodles in XO hot sauce or a slurpable bowl of oxtail soup, these are like no noodles you’ve tried before, tender and yet tough, the Chinese version of al dente, with the most satisfying bite. Huge portions and a culinary show for less than $ 10 a meal. It is really magical. click to enlarge The colorful bar at Glai Baan is the perfect solo setting. Allison Young Glai Baan 2333 East Osborn Road At Glai Baan you never really eat alone. Yes the place is usually busy, with people lining up for the electric atmosphere and Thai street food inspired dishes, but there is also a shared feeling that you are part of something special. Chef “Cat” Bunnig makes the food she wants to eat: Fried Mackerel Rice and Kanom Jeeb are standout, and Bunnig shares her Thai culture in a visually quirky way with family photos on the wall and Thai tchotchkes to check out. Sit at the bar where the drinks are divine and it’s easy to have a chat with the bartender or paired guests. Bonus: Going solo means you can actually get a seat without waiting. click to enlarge The food and art pop at AZ / 88. AZ / 88 AZ / 887353 East Scottsdale Mall, Scottsdale As a friend put it: “When the service is good, you never feel lonely.” It is not only the service at AZ / 88 that is impeccable, the waiters fill white shirts and ties water up effortlessly, answering all of your menu questions, and serving stylish food, but there’s also a sophistication that’s better appreciated when you’re not with your entourage. You see it on the art-adorned walls, a party of disco balls that transform the modern space into a kaleidoscope of light at night (the art installations change every four months). They sip it in sleek and sensual martinis. And you can even taste it in their famous waffle-cut fries and flatbreads, which somehow look more upscale. click to enlarge The smell alone may lead you to the Progress restaurant, but reservations are strongly recommended. Lauren Cusimano Restaurant Progress702 West Montecito Avenue Date yourself at Progress Restaurant. The intimate place in Phoenix’s Melrose District is rightly praised for its upscale but unpretentious service and chef and owner TJ Culp’s food-themed menu of house pate, beef tartare, and cider-glazed pork knuckle. Make a reservation for one, sit at the short end of the bar for a view of the whole place, including the open kitchen where Culp and his team roast and stew to perfection. If you’re feeling really adventurous, opt for the $ 75 five-course meal and stick around for a while.
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