By james art 
Opening
3Local residents
This Florida-based eatery specializes in acai bowls, smoothies, salads and wraps, as well as juices and coffee drinks.
13637 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, 3natives.com
Kitchen with eggplants
A Utah-based restaurant specializing in unprocessed and unrefined health foods with global flavors has opened in Mesa.
1939 S. Val Vista Dr., Mesa, auberginekitchen.com
Badlands Bar & Grill
A breakfast, lunch and dinner spot with American comfort food and a four-hour weekday happy hour is making its Queen Creek debut.
22002 S. Ellsworth Rd., Queen Creek, badlandsbarabdgrill.com
Blanco Cocina & Cantina
Fox Restaurant Concepts has opened its first Blanco in the West Valley, offering Sonoran-style Mexican cuisine along with margaritas and other cocktails.
8191 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria, blancococinacantina.com
BLU Seafood
Featuring “exotic flavors with a modern twist,” the Sonoran-inspired seafood restaurant offers a variety of dishes including ceviche, tacos, pasta and steaks.
2472 S. Recker Rd., Gilbert, blu-seafood.com
Brunch Snob
This homegrown brunch restaurant has opened a location in Chandler in the former BLD space, with fun dishes like chicken bacon fried, smoked salmon quesadilla, omelette carnitas, and cinnamon roll French toast.
1920 W. Germann Rd., Chandler, brunchsnobrestaurant.com
Central BBQ House
Look for all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ and hotpot dishes at Central BBQ House’s second location.
7227 S. Central Ave., Phoenix, 602-368-4172
Cheba Hut
Cannabis-themed Cheba Hut, founded in Arizona and known for its laid-back vibe and “toasty” subs, has opened an outpost in Gilbert.
1555 N. Higley Rd., Gilbert, chebahut.com
Honey and sage
Westside Concepts has opened a second Copper & Sage. Look for American fare including Bayou clams, New York steak and fries, smashed burgers and chicken sandwiches.
1975 N. Globe Dr., Goodyear, copperandsageaz.com
Crave Protein Cafe
If you’re looking for protein shakes, salads, bowls and sandwiches made with the freshest ingredients, this is for you.
143 E. Germann Rd., Gilbert, craveproteincafeaz.com
Creampuff Donuts
The folks at Wren & Wolf have opened a donut shop (brioche-style) with coffee drinks in Phoenix’s warehouse district.
101 E. Buchanan St., Phoenix, 623-561-3550
Come on
After closing due to a change in ownership and remodeling, Italian food restaurant Etta has reopened for dinner and cocktails in the Scottsdale neighborhood.
15301 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, ettarestaurant.com
Fire & Braid at Pinnacle Brewing Co.
Fire & Braid has set up a semi-permanent pop-up shop at Pinnacle Brewing Co. with tacos, quesatacos (quesadillas and taco mash), burritos and hot dogs.
15111 N. Hayden Rd., Scottsdale, fireandbraids.com
Forks and boards
This restaurant and bar next to the Gamer’s Guild offers an inviting space for gamers with a full menu that includes everything from onion rings and pizza to burgers and salmon entrees.
1818 W. Bell Rd., Phoenix, forksandboards.com
George Chicken and Shrimp
George’s stacked menu includes crispy fried chicken, shrimp, wings and fries.
1342 W. Warner Rd., Tempe, gesorgeschickenshrimp.com
Humble oysters and bubbles
A new upscale concept from the folks at Humble Bistro features oysters, seafood and champagne with a “vintage Mediterranean vibe.”
5415 E. High St., Phoenix, humbleoysterbar.com
KaÐa Vietnamese coffee and tea
A cafe serving Vietnamese coffee, smoothies, tea drinks and banh mi has opened in Gilbert.
2531 S. Gilbert Rd., Gilbert, 480-245-4250
Moku Hawaiian Grill
Moku, a family restaurant serving Hawaiian brunch, poke and a la carte items, has opened a second location in Mesa.
4425 S. Power Rd., Mesa, mokuhawaiiangrillaz.com
Northern Italy
North Italia, a popular restaurant that was once part of Fox Restaurant Concepts, has opened up shop at The Park at P83 in Peoria.
8163 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria, northitalia.com
Origen Steakhouse
Mexican-inspired wood-fired fare featuring charred bone marrow, grilled steaks, tacos and several pasta dishes.
2472 S. Recker Rd., Gilbert, origen-arizona.com
Pinard Wine Bar
A wine bar that stocks more than 200 wines by the bottle and serves European-inspired dishes has debuted in the former Craftsman space in North Scottsdale. Possibility of membership in the wine club.
20469 N. Hayden Rd., Scottsdale, pinardwinebar.com
Rush Bowls
Hungry students will now have another healthy option in downtown Phoenix at this new Arizona, Colorado, acai bowl eatery located at the Cronkite School.
555 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, rushbowls.com
Stemistry
Eighteen-year-old Dylan Capshaw has opened a third location of his own bouquet and cafe with a small breakfast and lunch menu, this time at the Roadrunner Apartments in south Scottsdale.
6601 E. McDowell Rd., Scottsdale, stemistry.com
Thirsty lion
Glendale’s Westgate Entertainment District can now count Thirsty Lion among its tenants. The Scottsdale-based restaurant serves American and international cuisine, as well as cocktails, beer and wine.
9445 W. Entertainment Blvd., Glendale, thirstyliongastropub.com
A real food market
Health food powerhouse True Food Kitchen has opened True Food Market, featuring takeout, breakfast, lunch and dinner, flatbreads and soft serve ice cream.
8980 N. 90th St., Scottsdale, thetruefoodmarket.com
Viet bites
You’ll find a full range of Vietnamese dishes for lunch and dinner, including pho, spring rolls, fried rice, curries and noodle dishes.
20235 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, vietbitesaz.com
Closing
Mediterranean inspired Arboleda in the Scottsdale neighborhood has announced it is calling it quits after less than two years.
Arizona Distilling Co. closed its Tempe location but moved its manufacturing facilities to Mesa.
Based in Hermosillo Buki Bichi has closed its Chandler pub, but the downtown Phoenix location remains open.
Belly Kitchen & Bar has closed its shoebox-sized Phoenix restaurant after four years, but you can still visit Epicenter at the Agritopia location.
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria closed its Gilbert operation, which only offered carry-out and delivery. The Chicago-based pizzeria still has eight locations in the Valley.
To Mr. Zeke closed after 12 years in Gilbert, but the original Pinetop-Lakeside restaurant remains open.
Former Arizona Diamondbacks coach, Mike Butcher, hung up Off 87his restaurant, bar and music venue Chandler.
The Maggiore Group closed Roastery after 10 months, but another Maggiore Group restaurant, The Mexicano, moved into the premises after a fire in the kitchen.
Walter Sterling (Ocotillo) closed his Starlite BBQ near Old Town Scottsdale in six years.
After three years on Grand Avenue, the Wayward Taphouse will close because the landlord is not renewing the lease.
The whining pig closed its Ahwatukee location, leaving one location in Gilbert and three in Phoenix.