7th Street Row has undergone a huge makeover. Strips of restaurants and bars have popped up, offering high-quality food items and unique craft cocktails and beers. Needless to say, this has created quite a buzz amongst Phoenix foodies.
The growth of this culinary underground happened in a few renovated buildings on a small area that stretched from Missouri Avenue to the north section of Bethany Home Road.
The boom in the area is nothing like these locals have ever seen. Just ten years ago, restaurateur, Jeff Ward, opened his restaurant, Fuego Bistro. With little-to-no foot traffic during the restaurant’s first years of operation, he recalled, “I still don’t know how we survived.”
Crown Imports, the business that operated for 50 years across the street from Ward’s restaurant had closed down, signaling trying times for the neighborhood. However, the building and land surrounding it was purchased and revamped. The plot of land turned into a strip called, “Crown on 7th.” It boasts two popular hot spots, Okra’s Cookhouse & Cocktails and Phoenix Ale Brewery Kitchen.
Since then, other restaurants began opening up along the stretch between Missouri Avenue and Bethany Home Road. Here a few to check out:
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The Yard
This is an old motorcycle dealership that got turned into laid back pub. Play some ping pong while you drink craft beers.
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Culinary Dropout
A playful menu of cocktails and beers, offering up salads, cheese plates, and 36-hour pork ribs.
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Little Cleo’s
An intimate seafood restaurant that is notable for its frog legs.
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Barrio Urbano
They offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner with casual Mexican flare.
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Okra’s Cookhouse & Cocktails
This a southern-Italian fusion that offers unique dishes such as pan-roasted catfish and succotash.
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Stock & Stable
A diverse gastropub that offers variety from kung pao cauliflower to rigatoni with short rib stroganoff.
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Joe’s Midnight Run
A great place to go to soak up the drinks. This offers casual, comfortable food like shrimp Caesar salad and grilled wings.
