Restaurants in Camp Verde

An elegant chandelier sparkles above Amaro Pizzeria & Vino Lounge's open kitchen, but it’s rarely the first thing that guests notice. They are too engrossed by Executive Chef John Spahr’s delicate dance as he flings discs of pizza dough high into the air, careful not to get them caught in the chandelier’s net of crystal beads. Spahr and his culinary team pull their own mozzarella and top their Neapolitan pizzas with such creative ingredients as shoestring onions, oven-roasted artichoke hearts, and shaved ham. Pizza is hardly their only specialty, however. Their dishes run the gamut from house-made pastas to a bone-in pork chop with a Dijon and mustard glaze. 90 wines complement the complex Italian flavors, as do the artworks on the dining room’s walls and live musicians who have strung their guitars with resonant spaghetti al dente.

The staff at Cocomo Joe’s characterize the restaurant as a “pause button” from the ringing phones and stressful traffic of reality. Here, the melody of lively music, roar of televised sports games, and chatter of friends permeate the restaurant’s festively decorated space. Strings of lights dangle from the ceiling of the colorful, island-themed dining room, illuminating pool tables and flat-screen televisions. Bartenders dart about beneath a straw-thatched canopy, doling out tiki glasses of margaritas and frozen drinks. Servers emerge from the kitchen, bearing platters of spicy tacos, juicy burgers, and the hot wings lauded by reporters from Dine Out Phoenix. Teams assemble on Tuesday nights for trivia. Come Friday, the joint booms with the beats of live music from local bands. During Wednesday and Sunday-night karaoke, it’s the guests who take the stage to belt out favorite pop songs, beloved oldies, and meaningful hot-dog commercial jingles.