FOOD & DINING

Summer specials at 11 southeast Valley restaurants

Georgann Yara
Special for The Republic

Reward yourself for enduring the heat with summer menus, deals and drink specials at these 11 southeast Valley restaurants. Note that many have locations across metro Phoenix.

The banana foster beignets are one of the special summer dishes at Z’Tejas.

Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill

House margaritas and Moscow mules are half price when temperatures hit 105 degrees or higher. The summer menu features cool dishes like fresh heirloom tomato caprese salad; light summery plates such as seared Atlantic sea scallops with braised Tuscan kale in a Meyer lemon beurre blanc; and the refreshing raspberry mint mule-jito: strawberries muddled with mint, lemon and lime and a nice Bacardi pour.

Details: Tempe Marketplace, Loop 202 and McClintock Drive, 480-968-2920. Scottsdale Fashion Square, 7014 E. Camelback Road, 480-284-7292, thirstylionpub.com.

Sauce Pizza & Wine

The $20 summer sampler deal makes date night easy and wallet-friendly. Diners choose an $8 and under salad, $10 and under 12-inch pizza and two $5 glasses of wine. We suggest the seasonal watermelon salad, with feta, jicama and spinach.

Details:

2551 W. Queen Creek Road, Chandler. 480-388-3640. Also, 3426 E. Baseline Road, Mesa. 480-497-3500. More Valley-wide locations at

saucepizzaandwine.com

.

RELATED:Phoenix summer dining deals: Cocktail camp and sushi

Four Peaks Brewing Company

The brewhouse rolled out its signature craft cocktail menu for the summer with 15 concoctions that intertwine in-house beers with spirits and mixers. Mixology guru Jason Asher helped develop the recipes, some of which include local wares such as the Four Peaks Sunset, with Arizona Distilling's Copper City Bourbon, Four Peaks' own Hop Knot syrup, Americano Gancia, passion fruit and lemon. And the Ajo Twist, made with Roger Clyne Mexican Moonshine tequila, mint and jalapeño.

Details: 1340 E. Eighth St., Tempe. 480-303-9967. Also, 15745 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. 480-991-1795, fourpeaks.com.

Earnest

Through Aug. 29, all kids 12 and younger receive a free meal from the build-your-own children's menu with the purchase of an adult entree. Mom and dad can devour rib-sticking burgers, pasta and fish dishes while the kids design their own three-course menu from entree to dessert. One free kids meal per adult entree purchase.

Details: 4991 S. Alma School Road, Chandler. 480-883-3773, earnestrestaurant.com.

Wimpy's Paradise

Known for its traditional take on burgers, sandwiches and ice cream treats, this family-style eatery is taking a lighter approach for the summer with three pocket combos at $4.95 each. Tuna salad, blueberry hummus and the Greek salad varieties are served in a flatbread pocket and come with a side of potato salad, coleslaw or chips.

Details: 48 S. San Marcos Place, Chandler. 480-821-3197, wimpysparadise.com.

Chompie's

The exclusive summer selection includes a variety of chopped salads; gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches on Chompie's homemade Challah; gluten-free Flatbush flatbread sandwiches; and all-you-can-eat Leo (Nova Lox sauteed with onions and scrambled eggs), Spleo (add spinach) and Kleo (add kale). The all-you-can-eat barbecue beef rib special is on every Sunday.

Details: 1160 E. University Drive, Tempe. 480-557-0700. Also, 3481 W. Frye Road, Chandler. 480-398-3008. More Valley-wide locations at chompies.com.

My Wine Cellar and Bistro

New chef Westley Wilhelm brings a new summer menu to this longtime Ahwatukee favorite. Start off with bacon-wrapped dates with blue cheese, pickled grapes and local honey before tackling the ribs with pears and black rice. The seasonal bruschetta lineup flaunts combos like pickled beets, red onion, arugula and melted brie.

Details: 5030 E. Warner Road, Phoenix. 480-598-9463, mywinecellarphx.com.

Spinato's Pizzeria

Wash down a few slices of pie with one of the summer cocktails. Among them is the Bae Collins: Bombay Sapphire gin, Absolut ruby red vodka, elderflower, grapefruit juice and ginger beer. Or try the Summer Crush: Hangar One blueberry vodka, Lagunitas IPA, muddled blueberries and lemon juice.

Details: 4848 E. Chandler Blvd., Phoenix. 480-961-0208. More Valley-wide locations at spinatospizzeria.com.

Pita Jungle

Through Aug. 2, select Pita Jungle locations are serving exclusive summer plates. Try the chilled cucumber-avocado soup that's garnished with pico de gallo and pita chip; or mango tuna poke, a mixture of cubed raw ahi, mango, scallions, ginger, jalapeño, spicy marinade and sesame lavosh chips. Available in the southeast Valley at the Mesa and Chandler branches below.

Details: 1850 W. Southern Ave., Mesa, 480-615-7482, 1949 W. Ray Road, Chandler. 480-855-3232. More Valley-wide locations at pitajungle.com.

Z'Tejas

Just for summer appetites, the season's menu includes dishes like the pig wings appetizer with pork shanks, chipotle prickly pear sauce and sweet and sour slaw; and the Navajo taco with crispy kale, chile rice and beans in a handcrafted Navajo taco shell. For a sweet ending, get the bananas foster beignets three ways: with cream cheese filling, a side of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream garnish. Wash it down with the summery blackberry bourbon lemonade, which gets its pucker from Jim Beam, Chambord and a splash of ginger beer.

Details: 7221 W. Ray Road, Chandler. 480-893-7550. Also, 20 W. Sixth St., Tempe. 480-377-1170. More Valley-wide locations at ztejas.com.

Ra Sushi Bar Restaurant

Chill out over the Coco Loco, a frozen cocktail made with Skyy pineapple vodka and Malibu blended with a creamy piña colada mix, which is available for $6 — normally $8.25 — through July. Choose from traditional, mango or strawberry flavors or add a Meyer's dark rum or Midori float for $1. On the food side, summer items available through Aug. 4 include a langostino strawberry salad and red seabream carpaccio, which features thinly sliced red seabream topped with lemon, spicy yuzu dressing, organic micro greens and truffle salt.

Details: 1652 S. Val Vista Drive, Mesa. 480-632-9500. Also, 4921 E. Ray Road, Phoenix. 480-940-1111. And, 411 S. Mill Ave., Tempe. 480-303-9800. More Valley-wide locations at rasushi.com.