Phoenix, AZMediterranean

In Old Town Scottsdale under consulting chef Beau MacMillan, Cala pulls light, sophisticated dishes from Greece, Spain, Italy, and Morocco, including white bean hummus, baba ghanoush, and charred pizza. A flaming saganaki cheese presentation caps the meal for a bit of tableside theater.

Noor, at Tatum and Shea in north Phoenix, sets a Syrian-inspired dining room around shareable mezze. The muhamara dip runs sweet and tangy and the fattoush layers sumac, pomegranate, and fresh mint. The kitchen shines on the small plates and cocktails, which suit a group more than the entrees.

This Scottsdale Waterfront spot shifts from casual lunch and brunch to a more upscale dinner, with Mediterranean-inspired plates like crisp flatbreads, bacon-wrapped Medjool dates, garlic shrimp, and a Painted Lamb shank. An on-site marketplace turns out pastries and gelato across several dining spaces.

The Valley's classic romantic-evening restaurant at Royal Palms Resort leans Mediterranean, hand-crafting dishes with the season's finest ingredients across breakfast, brunch, and dinner. Tableside hot-stone cooking lets diners grill American Wagyu or ahi tuna themselves in a lush, courtyard setting.

A family-run fixture on North Seventh Street in Phoenix for more than 50 years, GreekTown is known for its dolmades, seasoned beef and rice rolled in grape leaves, alongside kalamaria and a full run of Greek classics. It is the kind of longtime neighborhood room that regulars return to for the standards done right.