Downtown Ocotillo, with its Santa Barbara-style buildings and tree-lined boulevards, is where the locals from Chandler and the East Valley go to eat, sip wine, and socialize.
Whether you’re on vacation or just looking for some place new, check out one of these restaurants at the corner of Queen Creek and Price roads in Downtown Ocotillo.
The Living Room
2475 W. Queen Creek Rd.
Chandler, AZ 85248
(480) 855-2848
A casual wine bar with padded seating and couches throughout, The Living Room is a great option for wine, cocktails, and small plates. Happy hour (Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for drink specials and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. for food specials) draws a crowd from nearby businesses, and when the weather is good, the patio, equipped with heaters for the winter and misters for the summer, is packed.
Wine—served by the glass, bottle, or in one of five flights—is the drink of choice at The Living Room although the restaurant does have a selection of cocktails and beers on draft or by the bottle. The menu changes seasonally and features bruschetta, sushi, flatbread, and an extensive list of salads. Only three heartier meals are available: salmon, lamb chops, and a NY strip steak cut in-house.
La Sala Tequila Cantina
2475 W. Queen Creek Rd.
Chandler 85248
(480) 307-9412
The flavors of Latin America come to Chandler at La Sala Tequila Cantina. The menu is simple—there’s an enchilada, a chimichanga, and a burrito offering in addition to the taco platters showcasing mesquite-grilled meats such as carne asada, brisket, chicken, pork carnitas, rock shrimp, and rock fish.
La Sala, which means “the living room” in Spanish, serves only the freshest ingredients and makes everything it can in house and only as needed. The corn tortillas, for example, are made by hand each morning using freshly ground masa from heirloom blue and yellow corn, and the guacamole is made tableside with the option to add pomegranates, onion, lime, grapefruit, jalapenos, and raisins.
The bar offers Mexican beers, tequila and mescal cocktails, and wines by the glass to wash down your tasty South-of-the-border meal.
Rock Lobster
2475 W. Queen Creek Rd.
Chandler, 85248
(480) 821-9000
When you step inside Rock Lobster, you’ll feel like you’ve teleported to Japan. The red walls are simply decorated, Japanese lanterns hang overhead, and steam rises from the three tables with teppan grills. Sushi is a favorite here. Try the Spicy Chandler, a mix of spicy tuna and crap, or the Santan, a roll featuring yellowtail, jalapeno, and cream cheese.
In addition to sushi, you can order bento boxes, tempura, salads, and lettuce wraps. Or, make a reservation for a seat at the teppan grill. Teppan meals include a shrimp starter, salad, soup, steamed rice, and your choice of meat (or meats).
Wine is available by the glass or bottle as well as Asian beers. Rock Lobster also boasts an impressive sake selection, including hot and cold options.
CHoP Steakhouse
2625 W. Queen Creek Rd.
Chandler, 85248
(480) 821-0009
The kitchen opens every day at CHoP Steakhouse where you can savor classic dishes like shrimp cocktail, prime rib, and grilled salmon. Even though it’s one of the more upscale restaurants in Downtown Ocotillo, the restaurant serves comfort foods, too, such as slow-cooked baby back ribs, burgers, and mac ‘n’ cheese.
Owned by the same creative team behind The Living Room, La Sala Tequila Cantina, and Rock Lobster, CHoP Steakhouse also has a great selection of wines by the glass and cocktails as well as craft beer. If you love wine, come on Wednesday when select bottles are 1/3 off.
Sauce Pizza & Wine
2551 W. Queen Creek Rd.
Chandler, 85248
(480) 388-3640
For a kid-friendly restaurant, try Sauce Pizza & Wine. The signature combinations such as rosemary potato and prosciutto and fig will appeal to foodies young and old, or you can build your own pizza from a list of high quality ingredients like sausage from local favorite Schreiner’s Fine Sausage.
(Be sure to ask for the hand-stretched crust if you prefer yours thicker. Otherwise, pizzas come on the original, cracker thin crust. Gluten-free crust is also available.)
Sauce Pizza & Wine also serves pasta, panini, and salads, and as its name suggest has an impressive selection of wines. The menu changes seasonally, especially when it comes to the salads.
Not in the mood to go out? You can order online, and either pick up your food to go or have it delivered by Doordash Delivery, Bite Squad, or GrubHub Delivery.
Press Coffee Roasters
2577 W. Queen Creek Rd.
Chandler, 85248
(480) 699-6239
Kick start your day or sip an after dinner brew at Press Coffee Roasters. Named the best coffee in Arizona by Food Network and awarded Best Coffee Roaster the last two years in a row (2015 and 2016) by the Phoenix New Times, Press Coffee roasts their beans in small batches and is served at some of the Valley’s best restaurants, including Binkley’s, Citizen Public House, and The Gladly.
In addition to exceptional coffee, Press Coffee serves cold drinks. You can order cold coffee on tap, on nitro (giving it a thick head), or in a grab-and-go flask for later. For something different, try one of three flavors of kombucha from local Wild Tonic Kombucha, served on tap. Five flavors of cold pressed juice from Radish are also available.
More at Downtown Ocotillo
Besides the restaurants, you’ll find local businesses at Downtown Ocotillo, including a dentist, hair salon, insurance agency, and marketing company. Oenophiles who live in the area can take advantage of Vinum 55, a facility that will store their wine collection in a climate-controlled cellar. Vinum 55 members enjoy special tastings, wine pairing dinners, and exclusive opportunities to purchase select wines.
Don’t want to leave Downtown Ocotillo? You don’t have to. Luxury condos can be purchased at The Cays at Downtown Ocotillo. Or book a stay at the new Home2 Suites by Hilton Phoenix Chandler hotel located across the street.
