It’s no surprise many Arizona restaurants have gained local and national acclaim through the years given the state’s reputation as a foodie destination, and it just added one more: one of the best restaurants in Phoenix by Food Network. Ghost Ranch in Tempe was recently recognized as one of Food Network’s Best Restaurants in Phoenix.
Helmed by Nogales natives, Chef Rene Andrade and Chef Roberto Centeno, they create authentic Southwestern cuisine at the inviting restaurant in Tempe. Chef Andrade has been with Ghost Ranch since it opened in August 2018.
Chef Andrade said the Food Network recognition is important for Ghost Ranch and are happy when they receive any accolades as it means their food is appreciated.
Although Chef Andrade had trouble choosing some standout dishes among their stellar menu, he mentioned some of the most popular items include the Aztec Cake with layered tortillas, chicken, roasted green chiles, sweet corn and cheese; Sample Platter with grilled skirt steak, a pork enchilada, chicken enchilada and a cheese filled chile relleno; Cowboy Steak, a 14 oz. ribeye with fingerling potatoes, roasted tomatoes, chimayo chile sauce, buttered leeks and herbs, plus their Roasted Chicken Enchiladas with green sauce and hand pressed corn tortillas (the featured dish in the Food Network article).
Using locally-sourced ingredients for their food and drinks, Ghost Ranch brings family recipes to the Valley, which Andrade said is important to them.
“For us, it’s really important to tell a story with a dish, not just make food to make food,” Andrade said. “Most of our dishes are ones we had growing up or when my cousin and I were kids. So that’s kind of the route we went with this restaurant, we tried to put a lot of stuff that we know tastes good, that we love, that we know people will fall in love with, so we put a lot of effort into telling a story of something we love.”
Ghost Ranch also follows in the same vein with their drink menu. “We try to use local spirit and beer producers as much as possible to keep promoting our amazing culture and those who work around us,” Andrade said.
Their drinks include their Prickly Pear Frose ‘Rita with Blanco tequila, rose, prickly pear and lime; their Ghost Ranch Margarita with Blanco tequila, triple sec and housemade tequila mix; their Ghost Town drink with rum, hibiscus, lime, cilantro, corn kernels and aquafaba and their Tumbleweed with rye, tuaca, cinnamon syrup and mole bitters.
Customers can enjoy these delicious flavors among the restaurant’s inviting atmosphere with lowered wood textured ceilings, bright yellow and teal accents behind a Southwest-pattern tiled bar and wood tables and accented-leather seats.
As for the future, Andrade said he wants to continue to give people opportunities to come and try Ghost Ranch’s food.
“The Sonoran Desert is a really rich part of the world; we want to tell people about it and show them who we are and how we make our food and educate people on why Arizona is so beautiful.”
Information
Ghost Ranch is located at 1006 E. Warner Rd., #102-103 in Tempe and are open Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
