Valentine
Restaurant · Encanto ·
Pastries, pasta, innovative Southwestern fare, craft cocktails
Pastries, pasta, innovative Southwestern fare, craft cocktails
"Crystal Kass, the pastry chef at a Phoenix restaurant, was nominated for the James Beard Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker award for genre-bending desserts that evoke the Southwest; one example cited is an apricot tostada with burnt honey cremeux and sweet salsa macha. She was a finalist for the prize, which ultimately went to another chef." - Nicole Adlman
"This modern Southwestern restaurant and relaxed hangout, brought to life by owners Blaise Faber and Chad Price, offers innovative food, pastries, and beverages that continue to impress first-timers and longtime fans alike. Faber’s cocktails combine regional ingredients such as cactus vermouth, Arizona gin, and creosote bitters, while lattes often include Southwestern ingredients such as squash, chiltepin, or cajeta. Chef Donald Hawk marries ingredients from his Korean ancestry with desert crops such as red fife wheat, heirloom squash, and tepary beans to create a style uniquely his own. Don’t miss whatever crudo he’s running at the moment or the smoked chicken with wheat berries and herb yogurt — a menu staple for good reason. Best for: Proving to your out-of-town friends that Phoenix is just as cool (if not cooler) as any other city in America." - McConnell Quinn
"Pastry chef Crystal Kass is the only national nominee from Phoenix, nominated for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker after making history in 2024 as the first Arizona pastry chef to be nominated in that category. The restaurant — an Eater Phoenix 38 pick — is known for innovative Sonoran-Korean cuisine and its iconic elote pasta." - Rebecca Roland
"Valentine knows the way to our hearts: pastries, pasta, natural wine, and late-night cocktails. The atmosphere here feels familiar—think more living room than dining room, with retro modern leather chairs and soft lighting. The Melrose spot puts Arizona ingredients at the center of every dish, and we particularly love the brunch spread: the avocado squash toast and the churro waffles with dulce de leche are some of our favorites." - lauren topor
"Chef Donald Hawk, a Phoenix-based chef, was named a Best Chef: Southwest semifinalist. He was listed alongside fellow Phoenix chefs Stephen Jones and Yotaka Martin as part of the Best Chef: Southwest semifinalist slate for 2025, highlighting regional recognition for their work and impact within the local dining community." - Nicole Adlman