February restaurant openings, closings

Nearly 30 restaurants opened in February, including Wild Ocean Seafood Market & Grill in Scottsdale, Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles in Gilbert and Pomo Pizzeria Napoletana in Glendale. At least four closed, including Herb 'n Flavors in Tempe.

Now open

Fractured Prune Doughnuts

Fried-to-order doughnuts are dipped in your choice of 19 glazes and 14 toppings. Cookies and Cream (vanilla glaze and cookie-crumb topping), Carnival (honey glaze with rainbow sprinkles) and Strawberry Shortcake (berry glaze with graham crackers and powdered sugar) are among the specialty combinations. This brand opened in 1976 in Ocean Park, Md., and is named after athlete Prunella Shriek, nicknamed Fractured Prunella.

Details: CityScape, First and Washington streets, Phoenix. Other locations at fracturedprune.com.

Cafe Tranquilo

This Mexican restaurant took over the Gallo Blanco space inside the Clarendon Hotel in Phoenix. Chef Dan Maldonado, of Mucho Macho Taco in Phoenix, developed the menu. Among the offerings: Gulf shrimp ceviche; kale, green cabbage and jicama chopped salad; Bistec a lo Pobre, a 10-ounce rib eye with pebre sauce, caramelized onion, two fried eggs and papas fritas; street tacos; and a daily fish special. Cafe Tranquilo serves breakfast starting at 7 a.m.

Details: 401 W. Clarendon Ave., Phoenix. 602-469-1730, goclarendon.com.

Milk Bar

Cocktails and perogi are on the menu at this downtown Phoenix hangout.

Details: 801 N. Third St., Phoenix. Search "Milk Bar" on Facebook.

Classic Crust Pizza

The pizza recipes and methods at this north Phoenix restaurant have been passed down through generations. Along with specialty pizzas like the spicy meatball and the vegetable, the menu features wings, grinders, salads and desserts.

Details: 2150 E. Cactus Road, Phoenix. 602-996-1025, classiccrustpizza.com.

Counter Intuitive

The cocktail is king at Counter Intuitive, the newest venture of Peter Kasperski's (Cowboy Ciao and Kazimierz World Wine Bar). The space, FnB's former spot in Old Town Scottsdale, is only open from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Mixologists Jason Asher and Micah Olson developed the drink menu. Chef Garrison Whiting's offerings include house-cured bacon, gumbo, shrimp remoulade deviled eggs and crawfish po'boy. Pastry chef Country Velador makes beignets mixed with bacon.

Details: 7133 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale.

Wild Ocean Seafood Market & Grill

Part market, part dining room, Wild Ocean Seafood opened at Pinnacle Peak and Pima Roads in the La Mirada Center next to Mastro's Steakhouse. Owner Paul Stanton, who has worked at markets such as Whole Foods, sells yellowfin tuna steaks, Scottish salmon, grouper, Alaskan halibut and mahi mahi to take home. Dine-in on such dishes as jumbo lump crab cakes, New England lobster rolls, Chilean sea bass and Atlantic sea scallops. The Scottsdale business is not affiliated with Wild Ocean Seafood Market of Florida, a seafood distribution company.

Details: 8876 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale. 480-272-7221, wildoceanseafood.com.

Kale & Clover

Restaurateur German Osio (SumoMaya, Local Bistro and Central Bistro) opened this healthful restaurant at Hayden Peak Crossing in Scottsdale. The menu is mostly vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free, but proteins are available as add-ins. Among the offerings are caramelized cauliflower steak with caper-raisin jam; and seared salmon with red quinoa. Drinks include cold-pressed juices, espresso drinks, nut milks, herb-infused spa waters, craft beer and wine.

Details: 20511 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. 480-568-8707, kaleandclover.com.

Carvalho's Brazilian Kitchen

Ruth Marsteller and Louise Stephens opened this restaurant that serves signature Brazilian dishes such as feijoada, a hearty stew of black beans, sausage and smoked meats; moqueca de peixe, a popular seafood stew; and brigadeiros, chocolate truffles with sprinkles. Located near Scottsdale and Pinnacle Peak roads, Carvalho's serves Latin American wines and specialty beers from Brazil.

Details: 23623 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-563-1562, carvalhos.co.

Bistro du Lac

Catherine Berraud-Dufour, co-owner of the shuttered Au Petit Four, opened this French restaurant in McCormick Ranch in the space that housed Buster's Restaurant on the Lake. The menu features classic French dishes such as escargots de Bourgogne; confit de canard; coquilles St. Jacques; and boeuf bourguignon. Sweet and savory crepes are served, along with French pastries and breads to go.

Details: 8320 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. 480-203-2075, bistrodulacaz.com.

Thirsty Lion Pub

The restaurant's style leans toward a European pub atmosphere, but the menu runs the gamut from sushi rolls and enchiladas to Toscano Italian pizza and filet mignon. There are 25 draft beers, 25 wines by the glass, four ciders and a craft cocktail menu. Thirsty Lion opened in the former Marcella's Italian Kitchen at Scottsdale Fashion Square.

Details: Scottsdale Fashion Square, Camelback and Scottsdale roads. 480-284-7292, thirstylionpub.com.

Guido Garcias

Cave Creek residents Troy and Christina McDonald, who own Brugos Pizza in north Scottsdale, opened this Carefree spot that offers both Mexican and Italian dishes. From the Mexican side of the menu, there are white or red enchiladas, pork belly tacos and tamale pie. On the Italian side, look for vegetarian lasagna, red wine braised beef ravioli, and meatball sub sandwich.

Details: 7212 E. Ho Road, Carefree. 480-488-7000, search "Guido Garcias" on Facebook.

Modern Grove Neighborhood Eatery & Market

During breakfast, stop by this stylish restaurant near Gilbert and Brown roads in Mesa for burritos, parfaits, Belgian waffles and egg scrambles. For lunch and dinner, check out the pretzel-and-beer appetizer, classic chicken Caesar salad, turkey panini, Marsala-mushroom burger and white pizza. The Valley's original Modern Grove is at Tatum Boulevard and Greenway Road in northeast Phoenix.

Details: 1958 E. Brown Road, Mesa. 480-275-2584. Also, 15530 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix. 602-992-1127, moderngrove.com.

Broken Yolk Cafe

This popular breakfast and lunch restaurant in Southern California opened its first Arizona branch, near Southern Avenue and Gilbert Road in Mesa. Look for biscuits and gravy topped with bacon or sausage country gravy. The Golden State Benedict includes a pair of poached eggs on an English muffin topped with tomato, avocado, applewood-smoked bacon, hollandaise and Sriracha. Nutella crepes also are on the menu.

Details: 2034 E. Southern Ave., Mesa. 480-892-9655, thebrokenyolkcafe.com.

Low Key Piano Bar

This dueling-piano bar opened in the former home of the Big Bang, which was briefly a club concept called Rck Cty. Patrons can order food from Earl of Sandwich.

Details: 501 S. Mill Ave., Tempe. lowkeypianobar.com.

Creole Cajun Bistro

Get a taste of the South at this Louisiana French-style kitchen at Gilbert and Chandler Heights roads in Chandler. Specialties include gumbo, etouffee, shrimp po'boy sandwiches, red snapper, homemade sausages, seafood boils, Cajun honey ribs, fried catfish, crab cakes and chocolate pecan pie. At breakfast, look for beignets and shrimp and grits.

Details: 5070 S. Gilbert Road, Chandler. 480-895-1655, creolecajunbistro.com.

FrinGo's Kitchen

This spot, near Alma School and Warner roads in Chandler, serves Puerto Rican dishes such as Bistec Encabollado, thin beef with caramelized onions; and Pinchos, chicken kabobs with choice of glaze such as guava or mango barbeque.

Details: 2160 N. Alma School, Chandler. 480-821-3012, fringoskitchen.com.

Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers

This eatery specializes in elaborate burgers like the Steakhouse Truffle, topped in Gruyere, bacon, white truffle oil, garlic aioli, herb butter, baby greens, caramelized onion and thyme-roasted tomato. The newest location opened in the old Uncle Bear's building at Dobson and Germann roads in Chandler. The original Cold Beers is in Grayhawk Plaza in north Scottsdale. There's a second one in Old Town Scottsdale.

Details: 1980 W. Germann Road, Chandler. Other locations at coldbeers.com.

Peixoto Coffee

This cafe in downtown Chandler serves Brazilian coffee that's grown and harvested by the Peixoto family and farmers. Hot drinks include espresso, cappuccino, mocha and cascara. The shop also sells local pastries and Belgian chocolates and caramels from Scottsdale-based Chocolade van Brugge.

Details: 11 W. Boston St., Chandler. 480-275-2843, peixotocoffee.com.

BoSa Donuts

Apple fritters, sprinkle doughnuts, croissants, bagels, doughnut holes, bear claws, coffee, tea and smoothies are among the offerings at this doughnut shop, at Arizona Avenue and Ocotillo Road in Chandler.

Details: 4015 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. 480-895-8955. Search "Bosa Donuts" on Facebook.

Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles

The menu at the Gilbert location features the same secret-recipe chicken atop fluffy waffles and maple syrup that made the restaurant popular in Phoenix and Scottsdale. Other specialties include shrimp and grits, salmon croquettes, fried catfish, rotisserie chicken and Chyna's honey and hot sauce wings.

Details: 366 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert. Also, 1220 S. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-340-1304. And, 3133 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-945-1920, loloschickenandwaffles.com.

Local Eats

From the owners of Blue 32 Sports Grill, this fast-casual eatery serves pizza, sandwiches and salads and has a kids menu. Look for pizzas topped with such ingredients as fig and prosciutto; and pepperoni, sausage, mushroom and red onion. Sandwiches include caprese, pesto chicken and turkey-provolone.

Details: 6348 S. Higley Road, Gilbert. 480-625-3860, localeatspizza.com.

Skyline Pizza

Pizza toppings come on top of thin crust, thick-cut Sicilian or stuffed between two crusts at this SanTan Valley restaurant. Order one of the 20 specialty pies or top your own. Calzones, sandwiches, sides, salads and desserts also grace the menu.

Details: 5452 E. Skyline Drive, San Tan Valley. 480-882-9343. Search "Skyline Pizza" on Facebook.

Pomo Pizzeria Napoletana

Stefano Fabbri, Pomo's Italian-born owner, opened a third pizzeria in the Valley, his first in Glendale. The restaurant took over the old Tutti Santi by Nina space at Citadelle Plaza. Pomo Glendale has the same Neapolitan-style pizza as its sisters in Phoenix and Scottsdale. The Pomo Restaurant Group is VPN-certified, which means its pizza meets quality standards set by Italian trade association Napoletana Verace Pizza. Fabbri will open Toscana Osteria in the same Glendale building in early March. A fourth Pomo is scheduled to open in the spring at Gilbert's Heritage Marketplace.

Details: 19420 N. 59th Ave., Glendale. 623-777-1868. Other locations at pomopizzeria.com.

Pieology Pizzeria

This national build-your-own-pizza brand opened its first metro Phoenix store at Gateway Crossing in Avondale. Select your own toppings, or choose from one of the signatures such as the rustic veggie, hickory barbecue or classic margherita.

Details: 9915 W. McDowell Road, Avondale. 623-907-0300, pieology.com.

Papa Murphy's

Sun City now has a branch of Papa Murphy's, a national take-and-bake pizza chain where customers choose their pizza dough and toppings, and then bake it at home. Owned by Linda and Ed Holmes and James Lovelace.

Details: 10659 Grand Ave., Sun City. 623-972-3230. Other locations at papamurphys.com.

The Panini People

This food truck specializes in grilled sandwiches. The menu includes croque monsieur; pastrami with red onion chutney; roasted red pepper caprese; and Italian meat.

Details:thepaninipeople.com.

Yaya's Tacos

This food truck serves gluten-free and paleo-friendly food. For breakfast, there's chia scrambled eggs with sweet potato hash and your choice of pork chorizo or chicken-apple sausage. Choose from carne asada, chicken green chile and grass-fed beef tacos. Combo plates come with cauliflower rice, pinto beans and choice of salsa or sour cream.

Details: Search "Yaya's Tacos" on Facebook.

Now closed

Burger Joint, in downtown Phoenix.

Herb 'n Flavors, Mediterranean restaurant in Tempe.

Lobbys Burgers, hamburger joint in Tempe.

Famous Sam's, neighborhood grill in Gilbert.