Restaurants in Florence

Walter Salazar—chef, owner, and Lima native—staffs Villa Peru with family members who are "friendly, familiar with the food, and happy to take the time to walk you through any of the dishes," according to the Phoenix New Times in 2011. This help is especially valuable in light of the eclectic menu, which chef Salazar fills with exotically spiced meats and seafood. Inside the kitchen, chefs flame pieces of steak, hot peppers, and tomatoes in the chef's secret sauce to craft lomo saltado de carne entrees, or sprinkle fresh fish, squid, and octopus with lime to prepare their specialty ceviche mixto. Those customers who don't bring bottles of their own wine may sip hard-to-find Peruvian beverages such as Inca Kola or sweet and tangy chicha morada, an extract of purple-corn juice.:m]]Walter Salazar—chef, owner, and Lima native—staffs Villa Peru with family members who are "friendly, familiar with the food, and happy to take the time to walk you through any of the dishes," according to the Phoenix New Times in 2011. This help is especially valuable in light of the eclectic menu, which chef Salazar fills with exotically spiced meats and seafood. Inside the kitchen, chefs flame pieces of steak, hot peppers, and tomatoes in the chef's secret sauce to craft lomo saltado de carne entrees, or sprinkle fresh fish, squid, and octopus with lime to prepare their specialty ceviche mixto. Those customers who don't bring bottles of their own wine may sip hard-to-find Peruvian beverages such as Inca Kola or sweet and tangy chicha morada, an extract of purple-corn juice.

The Grind's guests get their food hot, and they get it quickly. That’s because the restaurant’s coal-fired oven heats up to 1000 degrees, preparing most items in approximately four minutes. And the food isn’t just fast, it's acclaimed—like the cheetah that won three gold medals at the Olympics. The restaurant was named one of the “Top Ten Best New Burger Spots” from Bon Appetit. Among their collection of burgers, the menu includes one topped with housemade barbecue sauce, mozzarella, and garlic aioli, one accompanied by candied jalapenos and fried ratatouille, and one made with turkey and charred sweet onion. The chefs don’t stop at burgers, though. They churn out other sandwiches, such as a roast chicken wrap, a grilled Portobello sandwich, and a selection of breakfast items that includes a cheeseburger topped with hash browns, fried egg, and bacon. The team also demonstrates a dedication to the environment and health by using locally grown organic vegetables and hormone-free beef and chicken.

Saddle Bronc Grill plunks its guests straight into the middle of a sci-fi western. A hitching post augments the restaurant's saloon-like exterior, where customers are more likely to see motorcycles than horses waiting out front. Napkins have been switched out for bandanas at each table, and the soft glow of 13 flat-screen televisions illuminates the wooden slats of the walls. This blend of genres is no accident—the grill strives to be a country-western bar with all the comforts of the modern era, allowing diners to snack on classic cowboy food even as they follow their favorite sports team. Live bands twang away on weekend evenings, and the Tavern Poker League takes place on Thursday, though players needn't abide by traditional frontier rules that force the loser to eat his own spurs.

The menu, meanwhile, remains faithful to an entirely rustic ambiance. Broasted chicken and flat-iron steaks follow appetizers such as fried onion rings. Side dishes pay homage to the snacks of hungry ranch hands, running the gamut from corn bread and sweet potato fries to a potato-stuffed poblano pepper. To conclude meals, Rock Springs Café populates the Into the Sunset dessert list with a rotating selection of homemade pies.

Barney’s Boathouse imports the party atmosphere and culinary traditions of New Orleans and Key West into its three-story restaurant and bar. The menu merges traditional Cajun dishes such as fried alligator tail and crawfish with classic pub cuisine, including eight creative burgers and six shareable pizzas. Beyond tropical flavors, the bar cultivates a beach-party vibe every night with regular trivia contests, live DJs, and votes to cast dining partners off the island.

With a Middle Eastern flair, Eat This! Deli & Grill's menu showcases a simple yet tantalizing list of quick eats. Hungry customers can stop in to sample cheeseburgers, philly cheesesteaks, and greek salads. Meals are augmented by meat-and-cheese-laden fries and sweet bites of baklava, a traditional Middle Eastern dessert layered with phyllo dough, nuts, and syrup sourced from the local syrup well.

4th Floor Grille & Sports Bar serves lunch and dinner amid the warmly lit luxury of Chaparral Suites. Chefs fill the menu with burgers, pizzas, and southwestern specialties such as tacos and spicy sandwiches. For dessert, an in-house pastry chef invites diners to indulge in flourless chocolate peanut butter cake and frozen margarita pie. In the adjacent sports bar, watch the human body at its mightiest, and the ball at its most humiliated, as 10 HDTVs broadcast football, baseball, basketball, and hockey packages.