Top Restaurants in Tempe, Arizona

House of Tricks

Cuisine: New American
Price: $$$

Built in and around two historic homes set side by side, the House of Tricks presents a perfect portrait of intimate, romantic dining. While the homes are lovely inside, it's the many patios of the restaurant that are the prime dining locations. Surrounded by trees and leafy plants, these airy outdoor spots provide a sense of intimacy and create a sense of distance from the rest of the world. The menu tends towards upscale dishes that are creative takes on traditional meals like grilled salmon and herb crusted lamb. From the setting to the food, a meal at House of Tricks begs a few hours' worth of enjoyment, so start with an appetizer, savor the wine and enjoy your dinner with plenty of conversation on the side.

Cafe Lalibela

Cuisine: Ethiopian
Price: $$

Having amassed awards for everything from being the best vegetarian friendly restaurant in the region to being the best location for a first date, Cafe Lalibela is simply delicious. Dine on a variety of exotic dishes like misir wat (lentils with onion, berbere and herbs) or yebeg alicha sega wat (lamb with kibae, onion and herbs), served with an order of the crepe-like injera which serves as both wrap and silverware. No, Ethiopian food has never been the neatest of cuisines to try to eat, but it is always quite an experience. For the best possible enjoyment of the menu, order a combination plate to share with others. In doing so you get to sample a variety of dishes and even mix them together for a whole new range of taste sensations.

Cornish Pasty Company

Cuisine: British
Price: $

Based off one of the traditional dishes of Britain, the Cornish Pasty Company serves up something that's best described as a large, savory turnover. These pasties, as they're called, are filled with ingredients like those of shepherd's pie or lamb vindaloo. The restaurant itself looks much like a small pub, with limited seating at times making it a challenge to dine in and enjoy one of the many beers available. At least you can always get a pasty to go and enjoy it elsewhere: they're a great impulse picnic treat for sunny days spent out on the grass.

Green

Cuisine: Vegetarian
Price: $

Just over a mile north of the ASU campus, Green's vegan menu attracts crowds of university students as well as a steady stream of locals. Everything, from the mock meats to the vegan cheeses, is delicious, if not exactly the same as the meal made with regular meats and cheeses. While vegan tends to imply healthy eating, this isn't always the case at Green, where you can have a vegan buffalo wings appetizer or a mock chicken parmesan sandwich and fries. Come prepared to do a bit of work: the college feel of the restaurant is emphasized with its order at the register and bus your own table setup.

Sushi Eye

Cuisine: Japanese
Price: $$

Despite the less than thrilling strip mall surroundings, the food at Sushi Eye makes the experience worth the while. Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere changes from unimpressive to inviting, with sleek, modern furnishings and decorations. Choose from the wide variety of rolls, sushi and sashimi and fill up on these delectable cuts of fish and seafood. While the rolls are definitely the highlight of the restaurant menu, for less adventurous diners there are a handful of other dishes available, like chicken teriyaki and vegetable tempura. The small inside space and surroundings make this restaurant great for a casual date or a meal with a few friends, but not so suitable for large groups.