Hillside Spot Cafe: A beloved diner

This Ahwatukee staple offers new American cuisine with regional influences and is known for its all-day breakfast.

“We wanted to be that place where people loved to congregate but also knew they would have really high-quality food,” owner Carla Sulka said.

To achieve this high-quality level of cuisine, Hillside Spot Cafe sources all of their food locally and boasts about freezing absolutely nothing. The fries are hand-cut, the meat hand-ground, and their menu features fresh salads.

“Check, Please! Arizona” guests especially praised the Tunisian salad, with guest Sarah Sanders raving about the Thai peanut dressing.

“I could go back and drink that sauce all by myself,” Sanders said. “I’d buy it by the bottle if they sold it.”

Sanders also loved the mac ‘n cheese, saying she would order it “again and again.”

Hillside prides itself on being a restaurant creating a community, with a crowd of committed regulars who have helped form a warm and welcoming environment.

The friendliness of the service was also noted by guests, with the way the staff made them feel comfortable as soon as they walked through the door, adding they were treated like regulars even if they were not.

Guest Gloria Hills’ pro tip: Meet a friend, and really relax. Hills additionally noted the value of sitting on the patio with its fireplace and spaciousness.