The atmosphere is one of a small, casual, intimate diner set in the 40s and 50s.  Unfortunately the music is from that time period as well and they play it over and over and over.  However if you’re not one of the wait staff it probably won’t bother you over the course of your meal.

The menu is extensive with pizza/salad/pasta as their specialties.  Every dish is huge and easily split between two or more people.  They are also known for their cookie/ice cream dessert Pizza Cookie as well as their Bellinis.  Best of all, the price is extremely cheap!

The local chain recently merged with a national resturant company.  There is a good possibility you will see Oregano’s Pizza Bistros across the U.S.  Hopefully their great price and casual atmosphere stay the same.

Overall Cost Estimate:

• Appetizer’s: $4-$7
• Entrees:  $8-12
• Beer: $4 – $5
• Wine: $5-7

Overall Thoughts:

• Great inexpensive food
• Wonderful place to take someone visiting from out of town
• Be prepared to search for a parking spot and possibly wait in line

www.oreganos.com
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Inside it is warm and quaint with a small bar and a brick oven for cooking pizzas.  There is a small secluded patio out back which is awesome, weather permitting.  The menu is small, just pizza, some basic salads and calzones.  But the food is wonderful!

I prefer it to over-hyped Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix.  No need to wait three hours when you can walk right in and be seated at Classic Italian.  This is a perfect spot for a first date.  Make sure to call ahead as if I remember correctly, they’re closed on Mondays. Also be aware that they close for a few weeks in July or August each year to make a trip to Europe.  Overall, a really cool Tempe hole-in-the-wall with great food and atmosphere.

Overall Pricing:

• Entrees:  $8-12
• Beer: $4 – $5
• Wine: $5-9

Overall Rating & Recommendations:

• Best pizza in town
• One of a kind place that will surely impress
• Great staff
• 8.5 for pizza quality and atmosphere

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Disclaimer: I am sucker for good margaritas and Mexican food.

Ah, Maria, Maria, how I do love thee. Well, I think I have died and gone to heaven with our latest Talking Dish reviewed restaurant, Maria, Maria. Located in the Tempe Marketplace, the restaurant serves what I would call a variety of Cuban-infused Mexican dishes. It’s the second restaurant owned and operated by Carlos Santana, and he doesn’t disappoint with this venture.

Once you sit down, you will notice this restaurant has a different atmosphere than most in the Tempe area. It has a boutique, Old Town Scottsdale feel with Day of the Dead paintings and a chocolate brown interior minus the pretentious waiters and overpriced dishes.

All diners receive chips and a variety of salsas, but we also started with their House Guacamole. The Guac was fresh, spicy and yummy at all the right time. If you’re a fan of guacamole that has chucks of avocado then you will like this guac. It’s available in a seafood version which we hear is great too. We also started with the Maria, Maria Margaritas. These margaritas will blow your socks off. They don’t skimp on the tequila and are made with fresh lime cordial. The result is blissful. If you don’t like your margaritas with a kick, I would suggest asking them to go light on the tequila.

We’ve visited the restaurant on several occasions. Each time we have never been disappointed with our main courses. Notable dishes include the Beef and Chicken Enchiladas Suizas and the Beef Burrito Maria. Here’s where the Cuban-infusion comes in. The beef at Maria, Maria comes from slow-cooked, short ribs. It’s out of this world compared to traditional Carne Asada.

Unfortunately, we haven’t had the opportunity to try dessert due to the limitations of our stomachs after the guac and entrees. The traffic at the restaurant has definitely picked up since its opening. You may want to arrive early on Friday and Saturday evenings as the wait time can tick up quickly.

Overall Cost Estimate:

• Appetizer’s: $6-$14
• Entrees: $14-$21
• Margaritas and Cocktails: $7-$15
• Deserts: $7

Overall Thoughts:

• Live music on the weekends
• Great, but pricey food
• Friendly, attentive service
• Be prepared to search for a parking spot and possibly wait for a table during peak periods

www.mariamariarestaurants.com
Click here to get directions to Maria, Maria

Z Tejas serves southwestern style cuisine which seems to be contemporary cross between American and Mexican, but without the traditional Mexican feel. The food is really quite good for a quasi-chain restaurant, with multiple locations and a consistent menu from location to location. I got the diabalo chicken pasta, which is about 1 grilled chicken breast, sliced and prepared over a linguine type pasta. It’s a bit spicy if you eat the peppers, but is amazing in the taste department. Since the place has a contemporary southwest/mex feel, you might want to go with the margaritas, which have a serious dose of tequila, probably about 2.5 shots per margarita, so make sure not to have more than two unless you feel like getting a little out of control. I usually get the Patron fuzion margarita, which literally has a shot of patron floating on top – excellent if you like patron! They have multiple restaurant locations, my favorites being in Tempe Arizona and Scottsdale Arizona, since they are my local spots.

Overall Cost Estimates:

• Appetizers: $4-$9
• Entre’s: $12-$20
• Margaritas: $5-$9
• Beer: $4-$5

Overall Rating & Suggestion:

• Rating: 8.5 TD’s (Tasty Dishes)
• Best for quite bite to eat before a night of drinking, a good lunch, a night out with a big group or a dinner with visitors in town (when you don’t want to blow your budget).

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