Best Family Style Restaurants in North Central Phoenix

Amazing Valentines Day Dinner. Got there early to explore and enjoy the views. Had two rounds of drinks at the wine bar and then got the most amazing table with views for dinner. 4 course menu delicious and the somm helped us get an awesome bottle of Chianti.

Great food and ambience. Drinks were fun and tasted good. Service was good and we got sat right at our time of reservation. Service was great and live music was perfect for the evening.

Bacanora lives up to the buzz——lively, yet intimate. Casual and effortlessly cool. Friendly, knowledgeable, efficient waitstaff. Super background music that keeps the energy up but doesn’t drown conversation. And the food! We ordered elote, calabaza, and mole-crusted ribs with frijoles and cilantro salad. More than enough for the two of us, but we made room for flan. All delicious and different. And the cocktails! We had an old-fashioned-type and a classic martini-type, both with Mexican spirits. It’s worth the effort to score a reservation.

The food was amazing, with more of a Mexican comfort food offering compared to their highly acclaimed sister restaurant, Bacanora. Flavorful, unique, and pleasing to the eye. The signature drinks were strong, complex and satisfying. Be warned, if an entree has a higher price, it’s for good reason. We made the mistake of ordering carne asada fries, 8 tacos and a few starters/sides and ended up going home with 3 boxes of food for the four of us to indulge in the next day. The jicama salad was a highlight of the meal while serving as a great palate cleanser with its refreshing yet spicy flavors. This restaurant has become a top contender on our list of local spots around Phoenix for special occasions and showing visitors what our amazing city has to offer for gastro culture. Do yourself a favor and get in here ASAP!

Stephen Jones and his team still know exactly how to "make it nice." I've been a fan for a while; enjoyed his food at Blue Hound, then his market stall, and at the previous location. This is the loveliest spot yet, still warm and inviting in every corner - but the best tables look into his open kitchen where you can see him direct the calm symphony of plating and service. There's a fine line to walk when you're putting together dishes at this caliber and refinement; you don't want to overshoot into fussy or tortured, and he never does. Every dish is a delight.