The Skeptical Chymist

15688 N Pima Rd., Suite #C6
Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Max A. writes: I failed to see what was so special about this place - but I've only been there for lunch. Given how many of my friends frequently mention this place, I imagine part of the draw is the crowd at night.

During the day, this place sucks. I also wasn't…

Brookstone

3111 W Chandler Blvd
Chandler, AZ 85226

Jasmine C. writes: This store is fun!  They have lots of little trinkets for me to fill my husband Christmas stocking with.

Cornelia Park

2474 E Camelback Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85016

x x. writes: 4 Stars just because I can't always find stuff I like in Cornelia Park. But the stuff is high quality and a ton of other people must like it too because the store is never empty.

They sell fine glass, ceramics, jewelry and dinnerware, but a lot of the…

Tuesday Morning Inc Store

7919 E Thomas Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Rhonda J. writes: This location actually moved to Papago Plaza on Scottsdale Rd. and McDowell which means it is less than one mile from my house.  I really like Tuesday Morning.  Usually when I am in here I am the only person under the age of 50 but I don't care.  I…

Cache

2482 E Camelback Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85016

x x. writes: Cache is a pretty cool clothing store.  Everything is made from high quality materials and they have some trendy clothes, while the others are classic.  They seem to have an over-abundance of leather or pleather items though.

This particular store has…

Bedazzled Gallery

2560 Camelback Rd
Biltmore Fashion Park
Phoenix, AZ 85016

x x. writes: Does anyone remember the bedazzler?  It was this gun-shaped thing that allowed you to put rhinestones, stars and studs on just about anything with fabric.  I got into a lot of trouble with mine.  I bedazzled everything. Including my mom's jeans, my…

Cold Stone Creamery

12625 N Tatum Blvd
Phoenix, AZ 85032

x x. writes: Oooh, Cold Stone.  I love ice cream, so pretty much any place that serves up tasty ice cream and then lets you choose from an unlimited amount of toppings to put on it, is going to get at least 4 stars in my book.  I can't give it 5 stars though,…

Rubio's Baja Grill

4905 E Ray Rd Ste 101
Phoenix, AZ 85044

x x. writes: This Rubio's location is pretty much like any other, except I saw a girl accidentally spill her soda into the salsa and pico de gallo and a person came from behind the counter to help her clean everything up.  BUT I never saw them change out the…

Pier 1 Imports Outlet Store

301 E Bell Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85022

Calamari F. writes: ***This outlet was converted to a regular Pier 1 store in September 2007***

Pier 1 outlets are rare and wonderful places. Most of them look just like regular stores, but they carry only dramatically marked-down goodies. This is where you buy pillows…

Hi-Health

Pima & Frank Lloyd W
Scottsdale, AZ 85250

x x. writes: Need vitamins? Supplements?  Hi-Health has everything you could possibly want, and then some.  They have extracts of things I didn't even know could be extracted! And a carb-less section of food items I didn't even know could be made without carbs!…

Cost Cutters

745 W Baseline Rd
Suite 4
Tempe, AZ 85283

Kristin C. writes: I have a hilarious story about how I got a referral to this place, but I'll save that one for another time.  But my referral isn't to get my hair done - but a brow wax.  (You know you do it to...or you should)  Ya see I'd had some really messy…

InnSuites Hotel Tempe

1651 W Baseline Rd
Tempe, AZ 85281

Natalie W. writes: InnSuites is one of our personal favorite hotel/motels. In fact, they have quite effectively spoiled my kids for anywhere else. They have pleasant, clean rooms, but that isn't the real draw. It's all of the "extras." Such as: microwave (so pack…

InnSuites Phoenix North

1615 E Northern Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85073

Natalie W. writes: As I revealed in a previous review, my family loves InnSuites. This location is nestled in the Squaw Peak Mountain Preserve, close to the prestigious Biltmore area, and offers easy access to downtown Phoenix, Scottsdale and the Camelback corporate…

Tom's Bbq Chicago Style

115 E Baseline Rd Ste 5
Tempe, AZ 85283

Angelo C. writes: I've got this weird diet where I'm basically vegetarian for 1/2 the year and very carnivorous for the other 1/2.  No rules, or specific dates...that's just how it's worked out for the last few years.

Anyway, when I'm eating meat, I like it to be of…

Illuminations

7014 E Camelback Rd Ste 1224
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

x x. writes: Candles galore!  Illuminations sells all kinds of nice smelling home fragrance products, from any color/shape/size candle you can dream up to aromatherapy.

It's a cute store and it's a good place to find a gift for someone.  They have floating…

AM/PM

1631 S Val Vista Rd
Gilbert, AZ 85233

Natalie W. writes: A review of a gas station and convenience store? Why not, when the service here is so much above par. This AMPM is clean, well laid-out (although not one of the bigger stores), and in a pleasant little strip mall. The owner is often present in the…

Gilbert Central Trail System

Gilbert, AZ 85299

Natalie W. writes: Gilbert's central trail system offers 135 miles of trails for walking, running, biking, and horseback riding. There are 40 mi. of equestrian trails, 54 miles of marked bike trails, and the rest are unmarked multi-use trails. Trails generally follow…

Maggiemoo's Ice Cream & Treatery

4940 E Ray Rd Ste 40
Phoenix, AZ 85044

x x. writes: Maggie Moo's is yet another great place to curb your ice cream craving.  They have a ton of flavors and even more mix-in's to add to them.  My favorite flavor is the chocolate peanut butter or the moocha.  Both are deelish.

They're definitely a kid…

Hale Center Theater

50 W Page Ave
Gilbert, AZ 85299

Natalie W. writes: The Hale Center Theater is a real rarity. Live, local theater-- outside of Phoenix! They play a wide range of material, with many musicals and family-friendly fare (this IS Gilbert after all). And each year, they present the Christmas Classic, A…

Big Surf

1500 N McClintock Dr
Tempe, AZ 85281

Natalie W. writes: Big Surf has been the Valley's premiere water park for years. I know I went here when I was a kid (I won't admit to how long ago THAT was...) Long before there were water slides, the wave pool was the place to be in the summer. They call it Waikiki…

Chuparosa Park

2400 S Dobson Rd.
Chandler, AZ 85249

Natalie W. writes: The Chuparosa Park and Spray Pad is located at Dobson Rd. south of Germann Rd.. The best thing about the park is the spray pad. If you don't know what that is, it's a public area (usually in a park) where spraying and shooting water comes out of the…

Happy Dragon

2820 S Alma School Rd
# 6-8
Chandler, AZ 85248

Natalie W. writes: The Happy Dragon is a better-than-average Americanized Chinese restaurant. But it's near us, the food is made fresh, the service is always pleasant, and it is right next to one of our places for dessert (See my review of Fresco's Bing Soo). It's a…

Shangri-La de Red Mountain

4410 E University Dr
Mesa, AZ 85277

Natalie W. writes: Shangri-La de Red Mountain will not be the best Chinese you will eat in the Phoenix area. But since great Chinese food is hard to find (or so I hear), this is a pretty decent choice. The Moo Goo Gai Pan (sorry I probably spelled that wrong) and the…

Rosy Bay

9617 N. Metro Parkway West
Phoenix, AZ 85051

Kristin C. writes: This is a review about maternity and plus sized clothing.  You've been warned.

So, I'm going on a brief tangent, but I hope you'll stay with me. The girl who loved to go to the club and happy hour with her friends did NOT go away when she got knocked…

DEB

9617 N Metro Pkwy W
Ste 1052
Phoenix, AZ 85051

Kristin C. writes: One store, catering to the teen to 30 set (if they can pull it off) of simple and easy every day fashionable clothes.  Normally this wouldn't even pop up on my radar but....  It is one store, divided into 2 - Junior (0-13), and Plus (14-24).  Well…

Back East Bagel Co

1628 E Southern Ave Ste 2
Tempe, AZ 85282

joe i. writes: I thought this bagel shop was ok. The bagel sandwich I got was relatively lackluster. I think I will stick to Einsteins for the time being.

The Buttes, A Marriott Resort

2000 W Westcourt Way
Tempe, AZ 85282

Mercy B. writes: The educational conference that I attended this weekend was at The Buttes, Marriott. A cool place to be, but I couldn't afford to stay here.

Like David D. said - the best part of the hotel is that it's on a big mountain and the vistas are beautiful…

Costco Wholesale

10000 W McDowell Rd
Avondale, AZ 85323

Kristin C. writes: This Costco is huge - but so is the growth all around it!  This part of town is growing so fast it's hard to remember that just a few years ago this was all farming area.  

Costco does a great job generally speaking, of making you forget where you…

Tommy Bahama's Tropical Cafe

15205 N. Kierland Blvd.
Kierland Commons
Scottsdale, AZ 85254

Sarah M. writes: Only came here for after dinner tropical drinks and dessert

Found the ambience to be nice, and we sat on the upstairs patio and were able to enjoy the beautiful weather

To drink I had a key west colada.  It was awesome.  Truly awesome.

The rest of the…

Bash Factory Outlet

26 E Baseline
#114
Phoenix, AZ 85073

Kristin C. writes: There aren't too many places like Bash in Phoenix.  There are places that try, and some that overdo, but it knows it's niche, and sticks to it.  This is the neighborhood discount fashion store.  K-MoMo tries to have that feel, but those in the mall…

Fins Restaurant

2235 S Power Rd
Mesa, AZ 85206

Daniel L. writes: The food was pretty good - i've had better even at the price.  I got their salmon and was decently impressed.

This was an excellent place for a group dinner.  We had a group of over 20 and a couple birthdays and they treated us great.  The service…

Cinnabon

Metro Ctr
Phoenix, AZ 85003

Kristin C. writes: What kind of cinnamon crack does this place use?  I'm totally serious!!  What is it about the smell of this place that makes an otherwise normal person suddenly close their eyes, breath deeply and start veering to the other side of the mall?  And how…

Dillard's

10002 N Metro Pkwy W
Phoenix, AZ 85051

Laura R. writes: How does an extra 50% off of some of the already reduced merch sound?!?! This is also one of my local secrets so listen carefully Yelper's. This location does this sale unadvertised as they use this one as a semi clearance outlet. This means some of…

Rumbi Island Grill

9915 W McDowell Rd
Suite 107
Avondale, AZ 85323

Traclyn P. writes: I totally agree w/Kristin!  My husband and I wondered if the same people that brought us Pei Wei brought us Rumbi.  Rumbi, Rumbi, Rumbi!  It's good, good, good.  I got the chicken rice bowl and my husband got a salad.  He was thrilled with the non…

Jason's Deli

7230 W Ray Rd
Chandler, AZ 85226

Erica O. writes: The only thing I would change about Jason's Deli is the location. I want it much, much closer to where I work so I don't have to travel fifteen minutes to lunch there, indulge in an massive, awesome meal and end up trying to sneak a super extended…

Goldmans Deli

6929 N Hayden Rd Ste C2
Scottsdale, AZ 85250

Gabi K. writes: Chicago Style Traditional Jewish Cuisine is what the menu says...
and that is exactly what you get!

I don't think many people know about this little spot hiding in a strip mall off of Hayden and Indian Bend... the only reason I thought to give it a…

Arizona Museum For Youth

35 N Robson
Mesa, AZ 85201

Lisa N. writes: This isn't  a review of the museum itself, but of the special exhibit they were hosting - Jim Henson's Fantastic World.  I couldn't find somewhere to post a review of jus the exhibit.

The exhibit is traveling around the country for the next few years…

Spay & Neuter Clinic

1425 W Southern Ave Ste 12
Tempe, AZ 85282

Chad H. writes: I give them three stars because they work cheap and are non-profit. Not exactly service with a smile, though.
I got two of my cats spayed (one neutered there a year prior) and it was pretty cheap and the common surgery was a success. No problems…

Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits

457 West Broadway Rd
Tempe, AZ 85282

Kristin C. writes: I shouldn't love it as much as I do.  But Popeye's makes me happy.  SO happy!  On a cold day - nothing better than some hot fried chicken and some mashed potatoes or mac 'n cheese.  I'm a big fan of the chicken strips personally - but they have some…