Here Are The 10 Most Highly Rated Restaurants In Arizona. They’re Amazing.

One of the negative aspects of trying out new restaurants is that eating a meal is always a gamble. Some days, you might find a restaurant that becomes a new favorite and other days you regret even deciding to eat out for dinner. If you're tired of playing that game, you will want to check out this list.

We took a look at some of the top rated restaurants in Arizona and came up with a list of places that are absolute favorites. For this list, we decided restaurants needed to meet two kinds of criteria. First, restaurants needed to have at least one coveted award within the last ten years, such as from the James Beard Foundation or a regional institution. Second, they also needed to have consistently high review ratings from customers on sites such as Yelp, Facebook, and Google reviews.

Please note, Cottage Place is temporarily closed.

1. Barrio Cafe, Phoenix

Located in central Phoenix, Barrio Cafe boasts multiple awards including as a two-time semifinalist for the James Beard award. The restaurant serves up an elevated version of Mexican food with both traditional and new takes on the cuisine.

Average rating: 4.26 out of 5

Address: 2816 North 16th Street, Phoenix.

2. Binkley's, Cave Creek

You only have a few weeks left before this restaurant closes its doors to move to midtown Phoenix! Binkley's received a good start in 2004 when it received an award for Best New Restaurant from Phoenix Magazine. It was also a finalist for the same James Beard award as Barrio Cafe, although in different years. The food here is both beautiful and delectable so bring your refined palate when you arrive.

Average rating: 4.33 out of 5

Address: 6920 East Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek.

3. Cottage Place, Flagstaff

One of the multiple awards Cottage Placce received included a national Top 100 recognition from Open Table in 2012. You'll find slightly more traditional continental-style fare here with hints of the Southwest in each meal.

Average rating: 4.53 out of 5

Address: 126 West Cottage Avenue, Flagstaff.

4. Fry Bread House, Phoenix

Located in an unassuming building, the Fry Bread House took up the James Beard award in 2012 for America's Classic with its fry bread-centered meals. If you want to be guaranteed a bite of some of the best fry bread and red chile stew in the state, you'll want to stop here.

Average rating: 4.26 out of 5

Address: 1003 East Indian School Road, Phoenix.

5. Kai Restaurant, Chandler

Kai is another restaurant that finds its palate roots in Native American cuisine. This restaurant is located in the Wild Horse Pass Casino and has received some spectacular awards, including a Five Star Award from Forbes' Travel Guide.

Average rating: 4.7 out of 5

Address: 5594 Wild Horse Pass Boulevard, Chandler.

6. Nobuo at the Teeter House, Phoenix

Please note, Nobuo at the Teeter House has permanently closed.

Chef Nobuo Fukuda received the James Beard award for Best Chef Southwest in 2007 and one bite of the food here will tell you that was one deserving award. The food here is refined, elegant, and delicious, all qualities of what Japanese cuisine should be.

Average rating: 4.33 out of 5

Address: 622 East Adams Street, Phoenix.

7. Pizzicletta, Flagstaff

This northern Arizona gem beat out a more popular Phoenix pizza location based solely on patron reviews (the other place barely skated by with a 4.0). It also helps that Pizzicletta won an award in 2013 for Best Restaurant in Arizona Highways. The pizzas here are wood-fired and taste incredible despite the deceptively simple ingredients. If some of the more exotic ingredients have you unsure of where to start, try the margherita pizza, a simple tomato, mozzarella, basil pie.

Average rating: 4.6 out of 5

Address: 203 West Phoenix Avenue, Flagstaff.

8. ShinBay, Scottsdale

Another James Beard semifinalist from 2012, this Scottsdale restaurant is lucky to be all around beautiful. The clean, modern look of the exterior building and interior designs reflect the refined dishes you'll find here. Arrive with an empty belly because you won't want to miss a bite of seafood here.

Average rating: 4.35 out of 5

Address: 7001 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale.

9. The Turquoise Room, Winslow

Winslow is one of those towns that somehow manages to stay alive years after the closure of Route 66. Yet it does and it surprises most visitors with its hidden gem restaurant, the Turquoise Room, which is located inside the La Posada Hotel. The restaurant has won several awards, including as Best Restaurant from Arizona Highways and the chef was a Best Chef Southwest nominee for the James Beard award in 2012. The food here is inspired by traditional Southwest fare: Mexican, Native American, and even hints of Spanish flavors are all mixed together to create something beautiful and delicious.

Average rating: 4.56 out of 5

Address: 305 East Second Street, Winslow.

10. Vivace, Tucson

Northern Italian cuisine in southern Arizona? That's right and it's a darned good meal you're in for when you get a seat here. Not only is the food ridiculously delicious but the service and building is warm and inviting, the epitome of comfort food.

Average rating: 4.36 out of 5

Address: 6440 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson.

Do you agree with our findings? Let us know what other restaurants you think should have made this list!