Dining around Arizona: 12 best restaurants in Flagstaff

Flagstaff retains its shaggy mountain-town charm, but its dining scene has taken a sophisticated turn.

Mealtime once meant grab anything quick so you could hurry back outside to play. Now, with a slate of chef-driven eateries, you’ll want to linger over some of the most creative dishes in the state.

Flagstaff now has restaurants serving food almost as exquisite as the mountain-cooled, pine-infused air that draws us every summer. Here are a few.

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Simply Delicious Cafe Daily Fare

It’s a long name for a little place tucked behind a car lot, and it's one of the best meals you’ll have in Flagstaff.

Simply Delicious is the catering company that started the business and is still going strong. Nancy McCulla decided to add a take-out counter and it took off. So, tables were brought in and Cafe Daily Fare was born. The eclectic seasonal cuisine is noteworthy for fresh ingredients and vibrant flavors.

Popular items include blackberry-marinated duck tacos ($14.95), fish tacos made with wild-caught Hawaiian red snapper ($12.95) and monster-size sandwiches. The Hot Italian ($13.95) is piled high with capicola, genoa salami, pickled red onion, tomato, romaine, pecorino romano and provolone on ciabatta.

If you’re looking for something lighter, they’ll happily halve any sandwich. Or try the luscious brie, pear and jalapeño quesadilla ($8.95) served with black bean salad, avocado pico and housemade salsa.

Details: 408 E. Route 66. 928-774-2855, www.simplydeliciousflagstaff.com.

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Coppa Cafe

Many restaurants pride themselves on local offerings, but much of what gets served at Coppa Cafe qualifies as hyper-local. Herbs and vegetables grow in a garden behind the kitchen. Mushrooms are foraged in nearby forests, along with dandelions, cactus pads, ferns, piñon nuts and more.

Husband-and-wife team Brian Konefal and Paola Fioravanti met at culinary school in Italy. They worked for years in acclaimed restaurants in Spain, Italy, San Francisco and New York before opening Coppa Cafe in 2011 to pursue their own creative vision.

The cafe is warm and inviting like a French country home — a comfortable setting for elegant food. The dinner menu ranges from salads starting at $8 to tripe and pork meatballs ($11) to a clay-baked duck egg with risotto for $27. An all-Arizona eight-course tasting menu ($95) includes entrees such as local grass-fed sirloin with variations of Flagstaff sunflowers.

A lavish brunch is served Saturdays and Sundays. Or stop by for some unexpected treats at the new happy hour, like parmesan and black truffle fries ($5) served in a cone.

Details: 1300 S. Milton Road. 928-637-6813, www.coppacafe.net.

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Satchmo’s

Barbecue and Cajun food seem like such a natural fit that it’s a wonder there isn’t a Satchmo’s in every town. Owner Jamie Thousand combined his two culinary loves to create a happy, bustling eatery in East Flag.

Grab a menu when you walk in and order at the counter, then take a seat. It’s no surprise that specialties include a bold jambalaya ($3.50) and slow-smoked pork ribs ($12 for a half-rack).

Mouthwatering sandwiches make up a big chunk of the menu. Pulled pork, chicken breast ($6.75 each) and beef brisket ($6.99) represent the ‘cue. Or try po’boys such as andouille sausage ($7.25) or catfish, blackened or fried ($7.50) served on toasted bread with tomatoes, slaw and house-made remoulade. Add two sides to any sandwich for $3.75. The seasoned tater tots and smoked beans are not to be missed.

Details: 2320 N. Fourth St. 928-774-7292, www.satchmosaz.com.

Shift

One of the newest additions to Flagstaff’s downtown dining scene, Shift has definitely expanded the burg’s culinary horizons. This airy intimate eatery, open since April 1, specializes in small artistic plates often using local ingredients.

Joe and Dara Rodgers are the husband-and-wife team behind Shift with Joe acting as head chef and Dara specializing in pastries and overseeing operations.

Snag one of the eight stools at the chef’s counter. A fun, creative vibe resonates in the small kitchen and it’s nice to be part of that. Chat with the chefs and discuss the choices they make with each carefully composed dish. The plates range from $3 to $17, perfect for sharing and experimentation.

There are usually a couple of house-made pastas available, such as tagliatelle with tomato, charred corn and pecorino ($16). The menu changes nightly but pickled French fries ($8) with secret sauce are a standby. Save room for the luscious desserts. There also is a Sunday brunch.

Details: 107 N. San Francisco St. 928-440-5135, www.shiftflg.com.

Tourist Home AM Eatery

For years the Tourist Home was a leaky ruin of a building, one that seemed destined for the wrecking ball. But the owners of neighboring Tinderbox Kitchen and Annex saved the historic structure, a former boarding house for Basque sheepherders, from such an inglorious fate.

Tourist Home Urban Market opened in October 2014 as part store, part restaurant. But the delectable menu won out, so the place is being rebranded as Tourist Home AM Eatery.

A few retail items remain, but most customers come for made-to-order dishes like the breakfast burrito ($7) stuffed with eggs, tater tots, queso fresco, cilantro cream and jalapeño salsa. Salads and sandwiches are available at lunch.

But the showstoppers are the colorful pastries made in house, like the gluten-free lemon raspberry macarons ($2.75), fresh strawberry cheesecake ($5) and chocolate rose cupcakes ($3.50). A few weeks ago, pastry chef Katrin Biemann began adding scrumptious pies to the roster. A dozen fill the case at $5 per slice, or $29.95 for a whole pie, and you can choose any eight slices to make a whole.

Details: 52 S. San Francisco St. 928-779-2811, www.tinderboxkitchen.com.

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Proper Meats + Provisions

This butcher shop and casual eatery is owned by the folks who operate the popular Brix and Criollo Latin Kitchen restaurants. The focus of Proper is to produce artisanal meats locally sourced from Arizona farms and ranches. It’s a way to provide meat that is raised sustainably and humanely to their restaurants and the community.

The deli menu offers salads, soups, a hard-to-resist charcuterie board ($17) and made-to-order sandwiches. The banh mi ($11) is made with pork shoulder confit, pickled zucchini and carrot and chile aioli on a hoagie roll. The most popular is the warm pastrami ($11) with grilled onions, Swiss cheese and Carolina mustard on grilled rye.

Seating is limited, but you can get your order to go and wander next door to Historic Brewing Barrel + Bottle House and wash it down with one of 20 beers on tap.

Details: 110 S. San Francisco St. 928-774-9001, www.propermeats.com.

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6 more favorites to try

• Pizzicletta serves artisan pies layered with fresh toppings on a deliciously charred but chewy crust. Bonus: You can now order from Pizzicletta while enjoying a brew in the nearby Mother Road Taproom. 203 W. Phoenix Ave. 928-774-3242, www.pizzicletta.com.

• MartAnne’s Burrito Palace, a Flagstaff institution renowned for its breakfast chilaquiles (although the buckwheat pancakes are equally divine) is now open for dinner with creative Mexican dishes. 112 E. Route 66. 928-773-4701, www.facebook.com/MartAnnes.

• Diablo Burger serves juicy burgers made from open-range, antibiotic-free local beef cradled on a light. crisp English muffin. 120 N. Leroux St. 928-774-3274, www.diabloburger.com.

• Cottage Place Restaurant is set in a refurbished 1909 Craftsman bungalow and harkens back to an era of impeccable service and style. Chateaubriand for two is prepared tableside. 126 W. Cottage Ave. 928-774-8431, www.cottageplace.com.

• Lumberyard Brewing Company offers a wide-ranging menu, a good selection of craft beers and a spacious patio to savor them both. 5 S. San Francisco St. 928-779-2739, www.lumberyardbrewingcompany.com.

• Mama Burger is an old-fashioned experience with fresh Angus beef sizzling on a flattop, delicious hand-cut fries and rich creamy shakes. 991 N. Fort Valley Road. 928-226-0616, www.themamaburger.com. 

Dining Around Arizona

Eat your way around Arizona with Roger Naylor as your guide. Every month in 2016, he'll tip you off to top restaurants in a city or region.

Coming in September: Deliciousness in Payson and Mogollon Rim country.