Neat City

Tag: date-night

  • Espiritu Mesa Is the Date Night Mesa Has Been Waiting For

    Espiritu Mesa Is the Date Night Mesa Has Been Waiting For

    Interior del restaurante Espiritu Mesa con una larga barra de madera, taburetes metálicos y coloridos murales en la pared

    Espiritu Mesa arrived on the downtown scene with real ambition, and after a long overdue dinner there I am ready to say it out loud: this is the most exciting new restaurant in the East Valley. The dining room is candle-lit and comfortable, the service is warm without being stiff, and the menu rewards both curiosity and hunger.

    Start with the Guacamole

    We started with the tableside guacamole, bright with lime and a whisper of serrano, then moved on to the beet tostada and short rib barbacoa. Every plate was beautifully composed and generously portioned.

    Save Room for Mezcal

    The mezcal list is deep and the bartender happily walked us through a flight. Espiritu is a place you save for a night that matters, and you will not regret the reservation.

  • Myke’s Pizza: A Neapolitan Love Letter on Main Street

    Myke’s Pizza: A Neapolitan Love Letter on Main Street

    There is a very short list of places in the Valley doing real Neapolitan pizza, and Myke’s is at the top of it. The dining room glows around the wood-fired oven and the whole crew moves with the calm confidence of people who have rolled a thousand doughs this week alone.

    The Margherita Test

    I always order a Margherita first, because if you can’t nail the simple one you can’t nail anything. Myke’s passed in about ninety seconds. The crust was blistered, airy, and just chewy enough, with San Marzano sauce that tasted like sunshine.

    Don’t Skip the Specials

    We also split the soppressata pie, which arrived with little cups of spicy oil pooling across the top. Every slice disappeared quickly. Myke’s is the kind of place you recommend before anyone even asks where to eat in Mesa.