Restaurants in Surprise

At Manny's Mexican Restaurant, a familial spirit permeates the air and is reflected in the menu's hearty homemade dishes that cross borders with Mexican and Southwestern flavors. The combination plates mix and match traditional Mexican entrees such as flautas, tacos, and enchiladas, while the kitchen crew returns to Arizona by deep-frying burritos filled with meats and beans to make filling chimichangas. At the outdoor cantina, bartenders—like jockeys on stilts—reach for top-shelf tequilas such as Patron or Hornitos when mixing their signature margaritas. Southwestern paintings and mosaic tiles capture the sunlight as it bounces about the expansive indoor dining room and outdoor patio.:m]]

In their youth, Paul Fratella and Anthony Guerriero met as coworkers at a restaurant. They discussed their hopes of someday opening an eatery of their own. But as time went on, they drifted apart in life. Fratella continued along in the restaurant business, working at locations in Utah, Indiana, and Florida. Guerriero went on to work in refrigeration, and eventually traveled to Spain to study international business. And then, nearly two decades after their first pipe-dream discussions, they reconnected. With Guerriero’s business savvy and Fratella’s experience opening restaurants, the two finally had the blueprint that would breathe life into Caballero Grill.

Southwestern and Mexican flavors give an edge to the eatery's American grill fare. Chefs cook steaks, burgers, and chicken breasts on a kettle grill fueled with pecan wood, which imbues each dish with a unique smoky flavor. A ceviche bar allows diners to customize their own selection of marinated fresh fish, and Sunday brunch sets out popular entrées alongside a seafood bar rich with shrimp and mussels. And though Fratella and Guerriero carefully curate their entire menu, one dish in particular holds a special place in the owners’ hearts, according to AZCentral.com. Manny’s empanadas, named for their late friend Manuel De Jesus Cabrera, commemorate their lost comrade with a recipe given to them by Manuel’s mother.

Eest Asian Bistro’s comprehensive menu brims with traditional Chinese dishes and chef specialties, including peking duck and honey-walnut prawn. Open seven days a week from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., the restaurant satisfies cravings morning, noon, and late into the night with crowd-pleasing dishes such as teriyaki salmon, kung-pao chicken, and mongolian beef. Hot entrees often come tossed in savory housemade sauces that tingle taste buds and give a new purpose to that half-gallon of milk in your purse.

In 1986, the Tenorio family pooled their knowledge of Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine to create a restaurant that combined authentic, south-of-the-border cuisine with quick service. They named it Filiberto’s after one of their own, Filiberto Tenorio. Since then, Filiberto’s Mexican Food has expanded to three states and 55 locations, but their commitment to fresh ingredients hasn’t changed. Available for dine-in or carry-out, the menu abounds with crispy chicken, beef, and pork tacos, hefty burritos, and combination platters that pair enchiladas, tacos, and chili rellenos with rice and beans or a compatible paper doll.

At Cleopatra Restaurant, restaurateur Ali Othman and songwriter Tony Youssef join together to enrapture diners with a combination of flavorful Near Eastern cuisine and live entertainment. Guests sip glasses of bubbly moscato and sup on marinated chicken kebabs while taking in the sights and sounds of salsa dancing on Thursdays and belly dancers and singers on Saturdays. An open, airy space decked out with plush leather couches, marble statues, and gold-hued curtains surrounds the entertainment and the edibles, which includes smaller bites of spinach pies, baba ghanouj, and falafel.