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Located 35 miles west of Phoenix, Buckeye is known for its charming, small town atmosphere, which can serve as a welcome change of pace from the hustle and bustle of Arizona’s capital. Although its dining scene is still growing, an increasing number of independent venues are popping up among the restaurant chains that currently dominate the town. Here are our favorite.

Gillespie Dam near Buckeye

The Verrado Coffee Company

The Verrado Coffee Company is a laid-back café, which offers locally roasted Espresso Italia coffee along with salads, wraps, and fresh pastries. The café’s bright interior features quirky artwork, a well stocked bookshelf, a kids’ corner, and comfortable seating, including a 30 foot long sofa. It’s a great spot to grab a quick coffee to go or to hang out on a rainy afternoon. The café hosts a regular lineup of interesting events, ranging from live music and community gatherings, to puppet shows and poetry readings.
The Verrado Coffee Company, 1829 N Verrado Way, Buckeye, AZ, USA,+1 623 215 6000

Argento’s Pizza

Argento’s Pizza is a down-to-earth pizza joint with a menu featuring wings, pizzas, salads, calzones, pastas, and Italian entrées. The restaurant’s décor is basic and no frills, but Argento’s focus on fresh, house made ingredients sets it apart from Buckeye’s many chain pizza restaurants. Everything from the chicken wings and grilled chicken, to the dressings and sauces are prepared from scratch daily. The marinara sauce uses fresh plum tomatoes, while the meatballs are made with at least 90 per cent ground beef. Go for the Argento’s special pizza, which is topped with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, bell peppers, and red onions, or choose from the restaurant’s long list of toppings and create your own. Gluten free pizzas are available, and the restaurant offers daily specials.
Argento’s Pizza, 805 E Monroe Ave, Buckeye, AZ, USA, +1 623 386 9191

Verrado Grille

Located in the Verrado Golf Course’s rustic chic clubhouse, the Verrado Grille offers Southwestern-influenced clubhouse fare. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the restaurant features wonderful views of the Sonoran Desert sunsets from its open patio and indoor/outdoor bar area. The eclectic menu includes a variety of soups, salads, sandwiches, seafood, and pastas, as well as char-broiled and grilled meat entrées. Don’t miss the slow-roasted baby back ribs, which are basted with a tangy BBQ sauce. The restaurant also hosts regular special events, including live music performances.
Verrado Grille, 4242 N Golf Dr, Buckeye, AZ, USA, +1 623 388 3013

Cafe 25 35

Cafe 25 35 is a low key breakfast and lunch spot set in a charming early 20th-century brick building. The restaurant takes its name from the Bible passage Matthew 25:35, which emphasizes the importance of community and reflects the café’s desire to serve as a friendly gathering place. The menu features breakfast sandwiches, omelets, fry-ups, and house-made baked goods, in addition to burgers, sandwiches, soups, and salads for lunch, along with rotating daily specials. Try one of the restaurant’s most popular burgers, the Arlington burger, a combination of pecan-smoked bacon, caramelized onions, provolone, and house made BBQ sauce served on a grilled split-top bun.
Cafe 25 35, 409 E Monroe Ave, Buckeye, AZ, USA, +1 623 386 2535

Buckeye

Tempo Urban Bistro and Coffee Bar

Tempo Urban Bistro and Coffee Bar is a trendy restaurant with a fresh, chef-driven menu. Another newcomer to Buckeye’s dining scene, the restaurant’s airy interior features industrial glass lighting, eclectic artwork, as well as wood and steel furnishings. It offers an excellent speciality cocktail menu; try the Moscow mule made with vodka, ginger beer, and lime. Highlights of the diverse dinner menu include the chicken and waffles, which features a homemade jalapeño cornbread waffle and a whisky maple sauce, as well as the Kobe cheeseburger with roasted garlic aioli.
Tempo Urban Bistro and Coffee Bar, 21067 W Main St, Buckeye, AZ, USA, +1 623 594 6788

Lalo’s Mexican Food

Tucked in an unassuming strip mall, Lalo’s Mexican Food can be a bit difficult to locate, but it’s worth the effort. The restaurant’s cheerful interior features colorful orange and red walls as well as a bar decorated with tiles. Owner Lalo Gonzalez prepares traditional Mexican dishes, including chimichangas, enchiladas, and fajitas, which are served with classic sides such as refried beans. The restaurant’s tamales recipe is said to be over 100 years old. A special section of the menu, Para Los Gringos, includes more American-style food.
Lalo’s Mexican Food, 6213 N Miller Rd #107, Buckeye, AZ, USA, +1 623 234 9483

Millstone Café

Millstone Café is a cozy coffee house offering a light menu of sandwiches, soups, salads, and baked goods, as well as all day breakfast. The café’s comfortable, welcoming interior invites guests to linger and take advantage of the free Wi-Fi. Seating is also offered out on a lovely patio during the warmer months. Go for one of the Original Millstone Melts, which are hot open-faced sandwiches served on flatbread, or try the house made soup of the day. For drinks, the café offers coffee, espresso-based drinks, and fruit smoothies. Save room for a slice of pecan pie for dessert.
Millstone Café, 801 E Monroe Ave, Buckeye, AZ, USA, +1 623 327 3990

Indigo Grille

Located at the Copper Canyon Golf Club, Indigo Grille offers wonderful views of the golf course and White Tank Mountains from its beautiful dining room, lounge, and patio areas. The menu focuses on fresh, made-from-scratch ingredients, with everything from dressings to soups made in house. The restaurant’s seafood is sustainably raised, and its chicken and deli meats are all natural. Try the 6 oz. NY sirloin strip with a portobello mushroom sauce or the grilled salmon with a teriyaki glaze and jasmine rice. The restaurant also features different theme dinner nights Wednesday to Saturday, with menu inspirations ranging from Italian to Asian.
Indigo Grille, 26577 W Desert Vista Blvd, Buckeye, AZ, USA, +1 928 252 6783

About the author

Jessica Dawdy is a serial expat who has been slowly working her way around the world since 2011. She’s lived in 7 different countries, doing everything from painting houses to teaching English. Catch up with her travel stories and expat adventures at Ways of Wanderers.

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