Bahar Anooshahr

Phoenix

Dining and Nightlife Reporter at The Arizona Republic

Dining and Nightlife Reporter @azcentral, wanderlust, bibliophile, recovering oral surgeon

Articles

This massive steakhouse chain is about to open more restaurants in Arizona

1 week ago | azcentral.com | Bahar Anooshahr

Texas Roadhouse plans to open 30 new restaurants, including two in Arizona. Bubba's 33 is owned by Texas Roadhouse and its name comes from the founder's nickname and the year Prohibition ended. Arizona currently has 10 Texas Roadhouse locations and three Bubba's 33 locations. Texas Roadhouse, the Louisville, Kentucky-based chain famous for its fluffy, pillowy dinner rolls, is expanding in Arizona and bringing its offshoot, Bubba's 33, along.
Phoenix bars named among top 10 in US for 'remarkable cocktails'

1 week ago | azcentral.com | Bahar Anooshahr

Six Arizona bars and bartenders were nominated for the 2025 Spirited Awards, considered the "Oscars of the beverage world."The nominees include Carry On, Highball and Valentine. The Spirited Awards recognize excellence in cocktail crafting, guest experiences and industry innovation. Tales of the Cocktail Foundation released its Top 10 U.S. nominees for the 19th Spirited Awards, considered the Oscars of the beverage world, and six Arizona bars and bartenders made the list.
Christopher Gross loathes mustard — and other things I learned at his favorite restaurant

2 weeks ago | azcentral.com | Bahar Anooshahr

Christopher Gross, James Beard Award winner for Best Chef Southwest in 1995 and executive chef at Christopher's at Wrigley Mansion, is full of surprises, several of which I learned over a meal at his favorite metro Phoenix restaurant. Turns out, the list of dishes he can't or won't eat is longer than expected for a lifelong gastronome and his taste for chilies is nearly an addiction.
Phoenix restaurant serves only 1 doughnut - and it was just named best in US

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Bahar Anooshahr

Phoenix restaurant serves only 1 doughnut — and it was just named best in USBahar Anooshahr, Arizona RepublicUpdated Wed, May 21, 2025 at 5:10 PM UTCYelp released its Top 50 donut shops in the US, according to Elites, shouting out the best doughnut spots across the U.S. While we appreciate the shoutout, we are left scratching our heads at their choice for Arizona — Novel Ice Cream. According to Yelp: "This is an all-time list of the top 50 donut shops in the U.S. according to Yelp Elites.
Phoenix restaurant named best doughnut shop in US with only 1 on the menu

2 weeks ago | azcentral.com | Bahar Anooshahr

Yelp released its Top 50 donut shops in the US, according to Elites, shouting out the best doughnut spots across the U.S. While we appreciate the shoutout, we are left scratching our heads at their choice for Arizona — Novel Ice Cream. According to Yelp: "This is an all-time list of the top 50 donut shops in the U.S. according to Yelp Elites.
Joey Maggiore is closing one of his original restaurants after 9 years

3 weeks ago | azcentral.com | Bahar Anooshahr

After nine years, Joey Maggiore's vibey brunch spot Hash Kitchen in north Scottsdale is closing at the end of May. The north Scottsdale location, the restaurant chain's second, opened in 2016 with a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar and a DJ spinning. In a statement to The Republic, Maggiore said the group decided not to renew the lease.
I wanted to love this stylish Phoenix Mexican restaurant. I hope someday I can

3 weeks ago | azcentral.com | Bahar Anooshahr

Welcome to First Bite, The Arizona Republic's guide to can't-miss dishes at restaurants that are new — or new to us. Yasmine Rubio, whose father owns several Filiberto's locations, brought us into her new Phoenix restaurant via Instagram long before the place even opened.
5 Arizona beers named among best in the world for 'innovative craftsmanship'

1 month ago | azcentral.com | Bahar Anooshahr

The World Beer Cup announced its winners for 2025 and five Arizona breweries brought home medals. The world’s largest professional beer competition, run by the Brewers Association, drew 8,375 entries from 49 countries and 1,761 breweries. The World Beer Cup recognized 112 styles of beer and awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals in a ceremony at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis on May 1.
10 best menus to try during spring Arizona Restaurant Week: Italian to French

1 month ago | azcentral.com | Bahar Anooshahr

Arizona Restaurant Week is back for its 2025 spring edition, from May 16 to May 25. For the newbies, this is a biannual event where Arizona restaurants offer three or four-course prix-fixe menus for $33, $44 or $55. The price is mostly per person, with a few per couple deals. Some restaurants serve cocktail or wine pairing options as well. It's an affordable way try the restaurants that might ordinarily be out of reach.
These metro Phoenix restaurants closed in April — one after 76 years

1 month ago | azcentral.com | Bahar Anooshahr

Spring brought a wave of change to the Valley’s dining scene, with several beloved spots quietly shuttering, some due to rent hikes or lease issues, others because of personal pivots or unforeseen tragedies. From the glowing robata grill soon replacing Chauncey Social in Scottsdale to the heartbreak behind Sorso Wine Room’s goodbye, each closure carries a story of community, challenge and transition. While some restaurants promise a return in new forms, others mark a definitive end.