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A churro waffle with a cult following and a soft pretzel served with butter blended from guinea hen fat says about everything you need to know about Valentine's priorities. This all-day cafe and restaurant in the Melrose District does wood-fired Sonoran cooking with Arizona ingredients treated like the whole point, not a talking point. The chef is a James Beard semifinalist, and the elote pasta has its own fan club. The vintage furniture store in the back is not a joke.
23 honors, in evidence:
The record strongest first
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Nominee · Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker · Crystal Kass
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Nominee · Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker · Crystal Kass
- Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Finalist: Elote Pasta · Standout Signature Dish
- Esquire #17 · The Best New Restaurants in America
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Pastry Chef · Best of Phoenix · Crystal Kass
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Pastry Chef · Best of Phoenix · Crystal Kass
- Phoenix New Times The 10 best brunch restaurants in Phoenix
- The Infatuation The 20 Best Restaurants In Phoenix
- AZ Central Best Midtown Phoenix coffee shops for meeting friends or making new ones · The ultimate guide to the best Phoenix cafes
- Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best One-Two Punch · Best of Phoenix
- James Beard Awards 2022 · Semifinalist · Emerging Chef · Donald Hawk
- James Beard Awards 2023 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker · Crystal Kass
- Spirited Awards 2025 · Top 10 U.S. Nominee · Best U.S. Restaurant Bar
- Eater Elote Pasta · The Most Iconic Dishes in Phoenix
- The Infatuation The Best Restaurants In Phoenix
- Phoenix Magazine Elote Pasta · Top 100 Dishes of Arizona
- Eater The 38 Best Restaurants in Phoenix
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Southwest · Donald Hawk
- Spirited Awards 2024 · Regional Honoree · Best U.S. Restaurant Bar – U.S. West
- Spirited Awards 2026 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best U.S. Restaurant Bar – U.S. West
One number, weighted & current 90
How we scoreThe dishes from the writeups
- Pinon-stuffed croissant Phoenix New Times, 2026
- Churro waffle Phoenix New Times, 2026
- Elote pasta Phoenix New Times, 2025
Nearby in the record closest first
- 1912 Eat · 75
- Modern Manor Do · 44
- Copper Star Coffee Coffee Eat · 79
- Title 9 Sports Grill Beer Bar Eat · 54
- Bark If You’re Dirty Do · 36
- Melrose Vintage Market Do · 36
- The Royale Eat · 44
- Window Coffee Bar Eat · 76
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