Four Downtowns in 24 Hours part 1

This was not planned; it was more like serendipity. My husband and I had visited some of our favorite places in the east valley (and a new one!) and we did not realize until we were driving to downtown Chandler that we had visited four downtown areas in 24 hours. I want to share with you some amazing places in the east valley. Let me know if you have been here before, or if not, go visit and let me know what you think!

Four Peaks Brewing Company in Tempe

Four Peaks is one of my favorite places in Tempe. There are so many great places to eat and visit in Tempe, but every time we are in the neighborhood, we seem to direct the car here. Four Peaks Brewing Company is located on 8th street between Rural and McClintock. It’s an unusual place for a bar and restaurant, but the Arizona State University college atmosphere surrounds the old building which delivers charm and a laid back ambiance. The original brick building was started as an ice factory in 1892, then it was converted to a creamery in 1927. The brew masters of Four Peaks renovated the building and opened their doors in 1996. Their goal was not only to make great beer, but to provide excellent food that no other bar could match.

Four Peaks has the staple wings and hamburgers which go great when watching football or baseball on their many televisions, but what sets them apart are the unusual fare. On a regular day, one can find menu items such as the Arizona Chicken Egg Rolls with a creamy and sweet jalapeno sauce, a grilled Salmon BLT on whole grain bread, a white pizza drizzled in olive oil with chicken, basil and pine nuts, or a hot Italian Beef Beer Bread sandwich using bread made in house. The brewery also has three specials during lunch and during dinner which is where the foodie in me goes nuts. I was looking at last night’s specials in the email I get twice a day and was pretty happy I wasn’t there…I wouldn’t have been able to choose: Short Rib Cannelloni with homemade pasta, spicy marinara and béchamel cheese and sautéed baby arugula, Confit Pork Belly with Yukon Gold potato pancake, and Blackened Ahi tuna with a pumpkin seed mole, sweet corn rice and broccolini.

The other night, we went with my husband’s family from El Paso. It is always fun to take someone there for the first time. It was a Tuesday night and the wait was still about 30 minutes, but it was worth it. This time of year is the best. The brewery is open with plenty of patio seating and they just released their famous, limited seasonal, the Pumpkin Porter for the first time in cans. The people watching is great, with a mix of college students studying or taking a break with their friends to groups of older men and women telling stories and rating the quality of the seasonal or cask conditioned brew. The only negative to Four Peaks is the parking. I recommend getting there before peak lunch or dinner times to get a spot along 8th street next to the brewery, or there is a small parking lot around the back, otherwise there may be a slight walk. Four Peaks has a location in Scottsdale with a full menu and a “Tasting Room” also in Tempe which features a different food truck parked next to it every day, but the 8th street location is the heart of it all and encompasses the spirit of Tempe.