Restaurants in Surprise

All eyes gaze expectantly toward the center of M Sushi Bar's low-lit dining room, where a chef assembles his 32 specialty rolls at a glowing counter. A string of paper lanterns hover above tables on the room's far side, framing the open kitchen. Rolls sprinkled with candied macadamia nuts and striped in spicy wasabi or sweet unagi sauce pour forth, accompanied occasionally by a bowl of udon noodles. Other Japanese favorites, such as beef teriyaki, appear in lunch bento boxes and dinner specials, both of which are served as multi-course meals with miso soup, rice, and salad. The menu is primarily concerned with sushi, however, and favors fresh tuna and shrimp tempura over more unusual marine life and leftovers exhumed from Davy Jones' locker. A full bar taps Japanese beer on draft and uncorks cold sake to be enjoyed outside on the patio.

At Satara, chefs preps a plethora of seafood, chicken, and tofu dishes with authentic Thai sauces. Amid walls adorned with abstract and figurative artwork by Scottsdale artist Domingo Domingo, diners relish piquant curries prepared for omnivores, herbivores, and troubadours alike. Between bites ranging from mild to thai spicy, patrons can sip boutique wines fetched from both small and featured vineyards.

Johnny of Johnny Fox's Public House sought to re-create the comforting pub ambiance he experienced during his time in Ireland with his father. He has accomplished this by building an old-world cottage exterior and large water wheel and filling his pub's interior with Gaelic "craig agus ceol." Following the tradition of Irish pubs, he divided the rooms into quaint sections. Low wood tables and stools sit near a brick fireplace, while one ornate booth stands semienclosed near the back. An old pipe organ sits next to a long table occupied by wayward lawn gnomes, and plenty of natural light floods in from all directions. Bartenders fill pints with Guinness, Harp, and Smithwick's at a bar inscribed with Gaelic sayings. In the kitchen, chefs labor over classic dishes such as shepherd's pie prepared with fresh ground lamb and beef, Guinness-braised short ribs, and pan-seared sea bass. Brunch buffets are available on Sundays, and a good whiskey is easy to find at Johnny Fox's, including an 18-year Jameson, while a carefully selected list of white and red wines can be paired to match all dishes on the menu. The restaurant's 15,000 square foot space is also available for meetings, weddings, or meetings held during weddings.

Chandelier lamps with domed shades float below Tandoori Village's high ceilings, casting a buttery light on tables strewn with yogurt-marinated chicken, lamb chops, and tender fish steak. These succulent tandoori dishes cure in a clay oven, then arrive at purple-accented booths beside dishes such as rice biryani and amply stuffed tandoori wraps. In the natural light from picture windows, freshly baked naan sops up veggie and fish curries in ginger, garlic, and coconut. After meals, the sugar syrup on sweet gulab jamun dumplings can cleanse the palate or disable the gas tank of a ride reluctant to stay for dessert.

There's nothing humble about Humble Pie's pizza crust: Pulled from wood-fired ovens with a light, bubbly texture that crisps at lightly charred edges, it cracks to release a subtle aroma of smoke and yeast. For owner Tom Kaufman, the recipe demanded two months of tinkering and one month of building an underground vault to keep it from prying eyes. Customers tend to think the time was worth it as they bite into delicate slices topped with careful combinations of veggies, meats and cheeses, often locally sourced.

The potato-and-roasted-garlic pizza, for example, happily marries the fragrances of gorgonzola and rosemary. Retaining a botanical touch even on a meat-lover's pie, the Schreiners Sicilian Sausage sprinkles homemade mozzarella with "sprigs of roasted fennel [that] add another aromatic dimension," according to Phoenix New Times.

While the pizza may push some of the other menu items out of the limelight, fresh salads, grilled sandwiches, and traditional and twisted pastas earnestly pine for appetites' affections. The Our Way" Mac & Cheese adds aged white cheddar, italian bacon, and bread crumbs, distinguishing itself from its boxed brethren while forming an equally fun medium for kids' art projects, while wine, beer, and seasonal cocktails pair well with plates and pies alike.

Crazy Earl's perfectly safe restaurant seduces patrons with the occasional nylon timbres of mariachi bands and a globally inspired menu. The Chimichanga Special piques and sates hearty hankerings with beef or chicken enchiladas joined by sour cream and guacamole ($10.49), while 9'' hand-tossed pizzas feature the Greek Combo with feta, gyro, and black olives in a sea of marinara and mozzarella cheese ($9.29). Breakfast-minded eaters are privy to the home-style flavors of biscuits and gravy ($3.29), and bread stuffers can follow a trail of bread crumbs to the 100%-Angus-beef South of the Border Burger with bacon, cheese, and guacamole ($8.99), as well as fried fish filet sandwiches ($8.99).