Go here when you are in downtown Phoenix and want a drink at a modernist bar. Hanny's is good if you want to get some food while you are having a drink.

Hanny's is owned by the same folks as AZ88 in Scottsdale. The downside is that the food at Hanny's is not as good as at AZ88. Their tends to be an over reliance on fried onions as garnish which is kind of Hanny's schtick.

Also consider AZ88, Postinos on Central or My Florist.

Experience Hanny's is set in an old department store and that theme carries over into the restaurant. Hanny's is in the modernist Phoenix style that you really only get in Phoenix. it is a subdued form of minimalist stylish.

There is an upstairs area with a few tables that over looks the main area. Between the upstairs and the downstairs is a glassed in elevator shaft. You can go and stand on the glass and peer down to the depths of the original elevator. The toilets are an interesting - if confusing design - with lots of mirrors, Alice in Wonderland style.

Patio Being a downtown location Hanny's does not have a patio.

Parking is similar for most downtown locations. You may have to mill around a bit to find a spot. There is a parking area directly behind Hanny's which is easy to miss. You have to turn down the entrance to it on the south side of Hanny's.

Website Hanny's

Menu Hanny's menu

Map Hanny's is on the corner of First and Adam's St.

Go here when you want a modernist meal with good wine in contemporary settings. Avalon is a good change from the normal Scottsdale restaurants and an ideal place for a birthday, or for taking someone from out of town to a Phoenix style restaurant.

Avalon is located on McDowell Rd and 77th just in-front of the 3 Palms Resort. The setting inside is dark, contemporary with lots of mood lighting. The food is heavy on taste but not so filling that it feels like you will burst.

Also consider The Tuckshop, Furio, Roka Akor

Experience Avalon has a Prix Menu which is very competitively priced and gives a chance to try an appetizer, entree and desert under the one bill. There is also a large wine selection. The mood of the restaurant is nice with lots of accent lighting which is sparsely administered.

Patio Avalon does not have a patio.

Parking There is a culd de sac type parking area in front of the restaurant. When we were there a couple of hot rods had parked there. There is ample parking behind the restaurant with the parking lot that is shared with 3 Palms.

Website Avalon Scottsdale

Map Corner of McDowell Rd and 77th in Scottsdale

Go here when you feel like an intimate dinner with friends or family.

The Tuckshop is in a neighborhood rather than downtown or in a mall; which gives the restaurant a nice feel. The Tuckshop is in the modernist Phoenix style.

Also consider Lisa G's, Switch or My Florist.

Experience The Tuckshop has a large waiting area set aside at the front of the restaurant which is like a front parlor. You are constantly attended to by friendly staff with drinks and appetizers.

The restaurant area has a large bar, as well as a communal table and numerous smaller tables. The inside is well done with a strong minimalist streak in the Phoenix contemporary style. The setting is very relaxing, comfortable, dark and laidback.

The crowd that frequents the Tuckshop is more artsy than hipsterish. Some Phoenix restaurants can suffer from having the beautiful people going there to be seen. The artsy crowd at the Tuckshop is more laidback.

Patio The Tuckshop does not have a patio.

Parking There is some parking on the east side of the Tuckshop. Across the road from the restaurant is an overflow parking lot. There is no valet service, as parking is not an issue in the area.

Website Tuckshop

Map On Oak St not far east of 7th Street in a mostly residential neighborhood.

Go here when you are meeting up for Friday night dinner and drinks. The Vig is also good for taking an out of towner to lunch as it is casual with upscale pub food but in a modern Phoenix setting.

The Vig has one of the best patios in Phoenix. The outdoor area of the restaurant includes a mix of seating and cover from the sun; such as roofing, trees and umbrellas. Despite it tavernish aspirations The Vig is a direct competitor to the likes of Postinos, Chelsea's Kitchen etc as a trendy place to hang out. There is now a second Vig, the Vig Uptown on 16th and Bethany.

Also consider The Vig Uptown, RnR or Chelsea's Kitchen

Experience The Vig is more of a modernist pub than a contemporary restaurant. If Phoenix was to do over an English pub this is how it would turn out. The Vig has the contemporary Phoenix feel but the food is more pub or tavern, though upscale from the food that normally comes from a pub. The interior has a long bar and booths with big soft seating that parallels it. The outdoor patio is one of the best in Phoenix.

Patio The Vig has an excellent patio. It is exceptionally large and has areas that are under cover, under tree shade and open to the sun. There is a mix of seating on the patio from lounge chairs to soft back chairs and harder more upright chairs. There is also a bocci lane running alongside the patio.

Parking The Vig has a valet service. There is a large car park on the western side of 40th St, people park on the northern end of that lot - above the pay and go place - when going to The Vig. More recently there have been signs saying no Vig parking on the southern end of the parking lot. It is probably easier to entrust your car to the valet service.

Website The Vig

Menu Summer Menu [pdf warning]

Map On 40th and Indian School just south of Indian School. It is the same area as La Grande Orange, Postinos and Radio Milano.

Go here when you want breakfast, brunch or a casual dinner.

The Daily Dose leans toward the tavern or pub side of feel and presentation. The food is more pubbish than restaurant and there is a strong selection of drinks of all kinds.

Also consider The Vig

Experience When you enter the Daily Dose it is like entering a long cave. It is dimly lit. There is a long bar, high tables and booths as well as a small patio out the front. The food is like a pub menu but upscale. The Daily Dose has a very good breakfast and brunch menu.

Patio There is a small patio out the front with about eight tables or so. The patio fronts onto Scottsdale Rd.

Parking There is no parking unique to the Daily Dose but there is plenty of parking down Main St heading east.

Website The Daily Dose does not appear to have its own website.

Map In Old Town Scottsdale just south of Indian School. North of the garishly pink Sugar Bowl and just to the south of the Starbucks on the east side. The Daily Dose is kind of tucked away so keep an eye for it when you are going there for the first time. The patio is probably the easiest way to spot it.

Go here when there is a long wait at Postino's and you have already handed your car over to the valet service.

Radio Milano is the red-headed step child of the group of restaurants on 40th and Campbell. Undeservedly as it has good food and is a nice atmosphere.

Also consider Postino's on Campbell, Chelsea's Kitchen and The Vig.

Experience Radio Milano is the most restaurant-like of the restaurants grouped around 40th St and Campbell. Rather than being a winebar and cafe, or a pizzeria and deli, it is a sit down meal with plate entrees restaurant.

Patio Radio Milano does not have a patio.

Parking The area in and around Le Grand Orange, Postino and Radio Milano is sparse on parking. Radio Milano has a valet service which is the easiest way to park. There is small parking area to the east of Radio Milano but you will be lucky to get a parking spot there. It fills quickly and can only hold about fifteen cars. It is also very tight and there is not much room. Le Grande Orange has a parking area in front of it but that is nearly always full. In off-peak times there is parking at Postino as well.

Website Radio Milano

Menu Radio Milano Menu [pdf warning]

Map On the north west corner of 40th and Campbell.

Go here when you have a group get together for happy hour.

Furio is a modernist restaurant in the contemporary Phoenix style. The dinner menu is a bit heavier than most of the other modernist restaurants in Old Town Scottsdale. Furio is dimly lit inside with a mix of stools, booths, lounge chairs and more formal dinner tables.

Also consider Postinos

Update Furio is now closed.

Experience Furio has distinctive rusted corten steel on the outside. Inside it is quite dimly lit. There is a good mix of seating and food can be brought to the bar or booths. It has a nice and open bar area.

Patio Furio does have a patio but it is tiny and adjoins 2nd Street. It is about four tables.

Parking There is some parking directly infront of Furio. It can hold about twelve cars. There is a large parking area directly opposite. There is no valet service as parking is never an issue.

Website Furio.tv Turn your speakers off before clicking the link, the Furio website plays some crappy music when it loads.

Menu Furio dinner menu

Map Furio is visible from Scottsdale Rd. Turn onto 2nd Street from Scottsdale Rd and Furio is directly on the right.

Go here when you are having happy hour after work with a group of people, or meeting for lunch or dinner in downtown Phoenix.

Switch is in the urban contemporary Phoenix style. It has a good mix of seating environments which makes it usable from happy hour drinks, to quick lunch to a casual dinner.

Also consider Fez, Maizie's Cafe, Postinos on Central, Lisa G's or Hanny's.

Experience Switch has a strong modernist feel and the food is the Phoenix style of light of light and accessible. There isa good mix of seating to match most style of how you would want to use the restaurant.

Patio Switch has a long patio out the back of the restaurant.

Parking There is a medium sized parking area off Virginia Road directly behind Switch. The parking lot curls round both north and south but at peak times it can be difficult to get a spot.

Website Switch.

Menu Switch's menu. Not in pdf form which makes a nice usable change.

Map Look for Virginia Rd when driving north on Central.

Go here when you are meeting up for Friday night dinner and drinks. The Vig is very Phoenix tavern experience and great for taking an out of towner to a comfortable, casual, modern restaurant and pub.

The Vig Uptown is the new Phoenix tavern that has spawned from the successful Vig on 40th St in Arcadia. The Vig Uptown doesn't have 40th St's outdoor area but compensates for that by a very cool glassed in indoor-outdoor style area.

Also consider The Vig on 40th, RnR or Daily Dose

Experience The Vig Uptown is along the same lines and traditions as the Vig on 40th St. It is more of a modernist pub and tavern than a contemporary restaurant. The feel of the Vig Uptown is probably more modernist than the Vig 40th St but that may be because the building and renovation is fresher.

Patio The Vig Uptown, unlike its 40th St brethren, does not have a patio. However, it has been compensated by a large glassed in area at the rear of the pub that is like an outdoor patio. This space contains the bocci ball lane.

Parking The Vig Uptown has a valet service. There are some malls around the tavern, but it is easier to hand your car over to the valet.

Website The Vig

Menu Vig Uptown Menu [pdf warning]. The menu's are different between the Vig on 40th St and the Vig Uptown.

Map On 16th and Bethany Home just west of the 51.