I love the layout and ambiance of this restaurant. Beautiful outdoor areas for dining. Inside areas are equally as nice and well laid out. We recently went for Sunday Brunch, always busy at this restaurant due to the wonderful setting and it's above average food. Here's the breakdown: Food: 3.5/5. We ordered the chimichanga which was the star of the meal. Great flavor, good sized portion. Also had the sun dried strawberries with ricotta, basil etc. it was just ok. The noble bread that had been grilled had an odd flavor to it and strawberries were more like chewy gummies. Also had the ahi tuna. It was a but disappointing as well. There was nothing that really gave it any flavor. I asked for some soy sauce to enhance the dish. It was improved but not a hard me run. Featured brunch drinks were very affordable. Sangria needs an upgrade on the wine used. Would have preferred to pay more for better quality. And have had it contain some fruit for better overall drink. 3/5 Server was very nice but stretched pretty thin with indoor and patio guests to serve. 5/5 Ambiance - Note bar area seating for brunch is pretty loud. Prefer other seating areas. All in all, we will try Ocotillo again and order some other items and hopefully elevate our opinion of the restaurant. read more

Ocotillo - Brunch menu! 4/2/23 - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I was so excited to give my son a great steak dinner...wow did this disappoint! While we orders filets we got chewy fatty steaks. We came for restaurant week and my son was so excited to try one of them for a great steak. I love spoiling my kids so I got the reservation and away we go. First course was ok. I had ahi which was fine but nothing to come back for. He got wings which were good but really hard to eat as they weren't wing but messy pieces of chicken. But hey, that was just the first round. Here comes what we came here for the filet. Now the ravioli it came with was quite good, the escargot was down but an odd choice that didn't add much. As I cut into it I was disappointed that it didn't have that lovely seat to it that I've had in other great restaurants, and as I keep cutting and cutting I could tell this wasn't going to go well. It was kinda fatty, wasn't tender at all and that first piece was chewy with very little flavor. I tried maybe two more bites, but after my son took his second bite which was so fatty he had to spit it out...I was over it. The waitress came by, asked how it was and when I said it wasn't great she just said oh sorry and moved on. The manager came by and asked and seemed more concerned but didn't fix it and felt comping dessert ($10 of $55) was enough. Since I'd never go back and wouldn't recommend, in fact would recommend not going, I have to give it the lowest score. Really disappointing. read more

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I highly recommend this restaurant. Great for small and big groups. Beautiful inside and outside. I liked this place so much, I went two weeks in a row. Last week, I had a terrific cocktail, Spanish gin tonic, so pretty. For dinner I had the bucatini Americana pasta dish, spicy and good. Homemade pasta, yum. My friend had the sun choke ravioli with scallops, so elegant. She loved it. Last night, we made it to happy hour. Took advantage of the smaller appetizers and ordered 3, all creative and beautifully plated. Smoked beets, balsamic strawberries and eggplant meatballs served with a lick the bowl polenta. We then decided to split the beef ragu among the three of us. Served on pappardelle, the beef and tomatoes was luxurious and tender. I enjoyed sangria last night read more

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Went here on a whim, during resturant week! We didn't get the special but decided to try a few things. Everything we had was amazing including the drinks! Such a good spot for a date or to grab food with friends. We sat at the bar and the bartenders were very nice and knowledgeable! read more

Ocotillo - Ahi Tuna, Eggplant Meatballs, Smoked Beets and a side order of the Brussel sprouts - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I honestly don't remember everything my table ordered (we were a large group), but everything was tasty and the atmosphere here was fantastic! Our server was the stand out part of our experience though! Really great staff who is friendly and attentive read more

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Went here for dinner with friends and everything we had was amazing. Our favorite was the eggplant meatballs. You couldn't even tell it was made with eggplant. It also came with polenta and that made it even better, I can't even tell you which of the two I liked better. We also got the butternut squash taquitos that also tasted amazing. I tried the vegetarian pasta they had on the menu and that was also cooked very well. Others at the table tried the special pasta they had on the menu that came with burrata cheese. It looked really good, but had meat so I couldn't try it. They also ordered the chicken off the happy hour menu but it was actually a full meal unlike most other things on the happy hour menu. The ambience was also so cute, especially the outdoor area. All the trees have string lights around them so it's super romantic and photo-worthy at night. We also saw an outdoor bar area that looks like it would be a cool place to chill for drinks if you're not looking to eat. We would definitely come back next time we're in town! read more

Just had a brunch today and I was VERY impressed with the food and service! This 5 star review is for our waiter DANNY! Danny was the absolute SWEETEST! He checked in a lot, made sure our waters were filled, and at the end allowed us to do separate checks which as a big group is so important and a huge plus when a waiter offers to do it so kindly!! I had the chimichanga and OMG it hit the SPOT! I highly recommend this brunch item for anybody who is super hungry and needs a burst of flavor. I would say the ginger lemonade was way too sour so I wouldn't order that again but the food portions and fabulous. We sat on the patio and I wish where we sat there were coolers/fans. Towards the end we were a but uncomfortable with how hot it was. So definitely sit inside in the summer time! read more

Ocotillo - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Pro-tip: Make reservations. Menu items change pretty frequently. Saw them on Arizona Restaurant Week and severely regretting not dining with them. Highlights: I rarely give 5 stars, but Ocotillo has earned them! Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious in quality, flavor, texture, and presentation. It's definitely pricier, but I actually thought the food was worth it especially the wood-fired beef ribs for the portion! It also has the best ambience with lots of different seating options, great decor, and even the string-lit trees made the whole place sparkle. I'd recommend this place to anyone in a heartbeat. Lowlights: They asked if we wanted all the food brought out together and we thought that would be easiest, but they actually brought out the meats first and pastas later on which gave the meat more time to cool down making it not as tasty as the first bites. I think they should recommend bringing starters out first and then pastas and entrees together or lowering their AC so it doesn't cool the food down so quickly. read more

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Caleb was an OUTSTANDING server. So attentive & quick when we arrived 30 min before happy hour ended. Speaking of outstanding & happy hour -- Ocotillo does happy hour RIGHT. My friends and I were ravenous and we ordered EVERY item off the happy hour menu (minus a few things that were out). So so glad we did that bc there were items I never would have ordered on my own. Ocotillo gives great portions for happy hour. I mean a whole burger & those dreamy shoestring fries for $10? Such a steal! My highlight HH menu items were the beets, eggplant meatballs, and the squash flautas. So delicious! Not to mention, the drinks are simple and AMAZING! This place revived my love for Tom Collins. Happy hour love aside, I came for my birthday recently as well and tried a bite of each of my friends entrees. Sooo delicious! All the handmade pastas were scrumptious & the cocktails were so unique. Ocotillo has definitely made it into my circuit of reliable Phx restaurants to come back to! read more

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Really pretty restaurant with lots of indoor and outdoor seating - they also have the option to make reservations ahead of time on their website and you can choose which of their seating areas you want to be in! :) Would recommend their pasta dishes the most! The chicken was okay and their drinks we got were alright, but the pasta was the star! Love the outside vibes here :) There's parking in the back, but the lot is small for the size of the restaurant and can fill up quick! read more

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Had a nice dinner with friends tonight. Came in for restaurant week and for the number of vegetarian menu options! We were seated on the patio. It was a hot day but fortunately they had the misters on and dark curtains to block out the sun. It ended up being a nice setting for an outdoor meal. We arrived just in time for the end of happy hour and were able to put in some drinks and an appetizer just in time. I was worried that the dishes were too small to share among a group of four, but the portions were decent and we ordered multiple items. I recommend the burrata salad, the eggplant meatballs, and the charred sweet potato! The OG cauliflower could have used more time roasting. The tagliatelle was a bit oily and the noodles slightly over cooked. But overall, a good meal. read more

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Plenty of outdoor seating in the shade, lots of great breakfast and lunch options on the menu. Make a reservation because the place is busy on the weekends. I was a huge fan of the smoked salmon that used to be on the dinner menu (please bring it back!), so thrilled to have a version of it on avocado toast on the brunch menu. Bread is fine, avocado creamy, topped with tomatoes and radishes. The smoked salmon is a few dollars extra, but it is the key ingredient- perfectly cooked, full of flavor. Highly recommend. read more

Just popped in there with my wife and we had a nice experience. They made me a delightfully delicious food. Love the place atmosphere, lovely, and comfortably great to dine in. They also have excellent coffee with perfectly pleasant flavor. We also ordered the Beef ribs, smoked salmon, and salad. We enjoyed the food so much. Good taste and generous portions. The price was fair too. read more

My husband and I were visiting Phoenix to see his mum and ended up at Ocotillo as it was near where we were staying. We both had a great impression of it after visiting two years earlier, and the food on this visit continued to hold up our high expectations. We didn't have any reservation but were seated immediately when we came around 12pm on a Sunday. The food was served quickly and the service was pleasant. I should also add that the outdoor dining here is lovely, and situated in a tree-filled yard with lots of sun. With lots of menu options for both meat-eaters and vegetarians, this is a great spot that anyone can enjoy. read more

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We have been here several times for both brunch and dinner service. We love the outdoor patio areas with all of the different seating options. The food is always relatively tasty. We were given a charred sweet potato by mistake the last time we were here for brunch and I was pleasantly surprised how good it was. The smoked brisket brunch was good. The brisket was kind of fatty but the Parmesan polenta was delicious. We will definitely be back in the future. read more

Ocotillo - Smoked Brisket Over Creamy Parmesan Polenta - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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This review is regarding the service. Attended brunch on 12/14/24 in Phoenix, AZ. Ordered the "Brisket Brunch" which was good. My sister asked "what kind of toast is available" (not knowing if there was a variety), the server Cristina replied "white". There was an awkward silence afterward, my sister asked if that was the only option? Cristina replied "this isn't Denny's".... This response was rude and inappropriate, I was appalled. I cannot fathom why she chose to respond in this manner. As to not spoil the afternoon, I refrained from responding however, rethinking the situation, I should have requested to speak with the Manager. I don't know what her issue was but serving customers is clearly NOT a good fit with that attitude. No paying customer deserves to be spoken to in that manner/attitude. There are several options for brunch, Ocotillo will not be an option the next time I'm in Phoenix. read more

We had brunch with 2 other couples a few days back. Everyone agreed the food here is outstanding! Hats off to the chef and kitchen crew! If this review ended here it would be 5 stars. Unfortunately it does not. A word about service. It started out great. Drink orders taken and delivered fairly quickly. Food order taken and delivered in a reasonable amount of time. Once we were finished and were ready to pay, the waiting game began. We could not get our waiter to bring our bill to save our life. Once we finally waived him down and asked for it he disappeared into the building and was gone for what seemed like forever. When he finally showed back up, he realized we had asked for him to split it up. He went back into the building and was gone again for an eternity. We waited, and waited, aaaand waited. He eventually came out and drop the tabs off and again disappeared. Again with the waiting, and waiting, aaand waiting. From the time we were able to ask for our tab to being able to settle was just under an hour. That doesn't include the time waiting to get his attention to bring it. If you want great food and have nothing but time on your hands, this is the place for you. If time is an issue, may I suggest the Asian restaurant next door! read more

Ocotillo - Smoked brisket on polenta. Delicious! - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I had the opportunity of trying our Ocotillo when I was in Phoenix the other weekend. The first thing that struck me about the restaurant was it's beautiful outdoor space. There is plenty of communal picnic style tables you can share if you have a big group. We sat in another outdoor area that was off to the side of the main restaurant. Our server was warm, friendly and helpful with the menu. The menu has JUST turned over but our server recommended some staples that made the cut as well as some standout new dishes he had tried and loved. Appetizers - Burrata with broccoli rabe pesto: this was actually really good because the bitter pesto was contrasted with the sweet agrodolce - Fried tempura artichokes: not my favorite, a little heavy on the batter side - Ahi tuna tartare: night, light and refreshing but needed a little bit more flavor Dinner - Bucatini all'Amatriciana: probably my favorite of the night. Perfectly cooked and delicious - Sunchoke Ricotta Agnolotti: new dish that was full of flavor. Small portion though - Pappardelle with Beef Ragù: pretty good but the other two were better IMO TLDR: Good food, cool atmosphere and great service. Worth a try if you're in Phoenix read more

Ocotillo - Outside patio leading up to restaurant - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

This is such a cute spot on the outskirts of downtown Phoenix! I always worry about parking when going into Phx, and although the attached parking lot is small, there is a gravel lot just across the street that was perfect for overflow. The place is quite large and the outside patio was perfectly balanced with the fans and misters, but we also saw heaters for winter. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu, which was also helpful. We started with their blueberry hazy signature cocktail, which wasnt too tart or spirit forward, I highly enjoyed it. Then we had the eggplant meatballs and chicken wings appetizer. The meatballs were okay, something different to try, but not my favorite (however others at the table would disagree and really liked them). I loved the chicken wings, they were cooked perfect, charred, had some heat to them and great flavor. Although, I didn't think the dipping sauce with them complemented the flavor of the wings well and threw me off a bit, so I just left that to the side. Our friend had the bureaus salad, which was nice and refreshing for the still warm night. Then we did the ribs, which were huge and had some much meat on them. The flavor on them was very good and mostly tender however they were a little more fatty than I prefer, so I was good after one. Then we did the fillet with the ravioli. Again, our fillet was too fatty for me and I only had a few bites but the sauce and the ravioli was absolutely incredible! (Side note, my boyfriend though the meats were fine and had no issues eating those throughout our dinner). We finished with the chocolate cake, which being flourless I wasn't expecting much but was proven wrong with how smooth it was and rich. The pistachio ice cream balanced it great! I definitely would love to go back and try more, but will aim more for their chicken, pastas, and try their fish as I feel that's where their strengths were in the dishes. read more

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Ambiance is wonderful. Outdoor seating with lights and heaters. Very hip vibe. Expensive but worth the price. read more

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Ambiance is great. My friend and I sat outside, the lights gave it a cozy environment, plus the cats that roam about. Service was good as well. Ordered the large plate to share; we ordered the market fish dish, thought it would be something different but ended up being salmon. The portion was extremely small for the price. I liked the rice underneath the dish, but there wasn't anything that spoke out to me. Also ordered the kale salad, I thought this was the best plate out of everything we ordered. Lastly, we also ordered the grilled chicken wings. I was not a fan of the crema sauce. I ate it by itself, it had a bit of spicy kick to it due to the aji Amarillo, but I wished it had more. I felt that aji made it more flavorful. read more

Had some colleagues come to town and I wanted to take them to a nice dinner. I had been to Ocotillo many moons ago for a brunch and remembered how unique the restaurant layout was. So, I decided to give it a go for dinner. Made a reservation, and sure glad that I did, as it was packed. On a Wednesday. The hostess didn't have our table ready, but I happily waited. We were sat by the bar at a large table for the 6 of us and it was such a great ambiance. I ordered the Bucatini & Burrata Pasta and was impressed. You can tell the pasta is made in house, and you should absolutely add on the optional burrata. The portions were sensible and I really enjoyed the flavor of the sauce. In fact, it could use a bit more sauce, especially with the yummy bread they serve. 3 out of my 5 colleagues ordered the ribs and were filled to the brim. Very generous servings, and they were all raving about how good the ribs were. Overall, great service and a most enjoyable space. I'll be back to give the brunch another whirl! read more

Food was outstanding! Big portions and everything tasted delicious! Service was great; from the host to the waitress and the person refilling the water, everyone was very attentive! The restaurant is beautiful with a great atmosphere and a large section for outdoor seating which makes it great for our cooler Arizona days! Overall a great experience. read more

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The restaurant is beautiful however that was the best part of our experience. The Ahi Tuna was frozen and by the waiters own admittance 'it was prepared too early or too late'. The sangria was white wine tequila and ice cubes. There were flies buzzing around us inside the whole time. They did comp our food which was appreciated but the whole experience was bad and we will not be returning. read more

Dined-4.6.24: The restaurant is HUGE!! Most of the space is outdoor space which is great for outside dining during this time of year. My friend had the Honey Fried Chicken Skillet pancake & the pancake was HUGE & THICK...almost the size of a 12" skillet!! She enjoyed it. I had the Breakfast Chimichanga but honestly it was bland. Btwn the green chili sauce and eggs, there was much to be desired. I don't use salt when I cook but the eggs could've used some salt and/or seasoning as could the green chili sauce. Chimichanga was almost the size of my forearm so I took 1/2 home & seasoned it to my liking & added hot suace & it was a better experience. They have a huge outside seating area. I'd return to give the Beef Rib Brisket a chance but I'd hope they're seasoned or I probably wouldn't return. Server was nice however, once we paid & stayed to chat, he never returned to ask us if water refills were needed (which I was thirsty). Prefer servers to tend to customers till they actually leave. read more

Been here 4 times. Twice for dinner and twice for lunch. Some favorite items from dinner menu sadly is not available for lunch. The Pig Wings are a must try. TheCauliflower is a great appetizer. The vive is elevated. Service is efficient. Variety of menu items is excellent. The Bone Marrow is always a nice addition. read more

If you're looking a well-rounded spot for brunch, Ocotillo is the spot for you. The food is not your typical eggs-and-hash brown breakfast. It's a little bit more fancy but not over the top or over priced either. The menu has array of sweet and savory choices, along with an extensive drink menu. The food looks good, taste great, and the portion is sharable. We got a pitcher of Mimosa, Red Sangria, and White Sangria. All very good and you can get, at least, 6 glasses out of each. Highly recommend for the brunch fans. This place has so much to offer. From the spacious outdoor patio to the unique menu, you really can't go wrong with this place. Overall, it has everything you want for brunch with friends. It definitely doesn't disappoint. read more

Ocotillo - Charred Sweet Potato and a side of French fries - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Ocotillo what can I say? I felt like I was walking into another world in the city. What a beautiful property! The server was knowledgeable and knew exactly what I could eat based on my dairy, gluten and seafood allergies. Our team ordered about 12 items off the menu and everything was so beautiful and fresh. The flavor was unique and some of the smoky flavors were enticing to all senses. I had the chicken and the spice was just right. It was tender and juicy and way more than I could eat. I would recommend this spot to anyone. I could see having a wonderful date night here. We sat outside and the lights that were strung made it so cozy as the sun went down. I will definitely be back when in Phoenix! read more

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We were completely disappointed in our meal at Ocotillo last night. Our meal started with a carrot carouse salad that lacked flavor and dressing. And ended with two out our three meals being sent back. One was the Tagliatelle pasta that had all of the noodles clumped together and no sauce. The second was the Pork belly that was flavorless with polenta that had no flavor and looked like gruel, very unappetizing. The most disappointing was the fact that no manager came out to even talk with us. I know there was a manager onsite because I asked our waitress. When we walked in, the restaurants ambiance felt off, not keep up and not many smiles from employees. This used to be a good restaurant but now might be a good time for them to either do a complete over haul, management and staff or close. read more

This place is a must try. I can for brunch but definitely want to come back for dinner at some point. The ingredients are super fresh every dish has such great attention to detail. For the table we started with all the veggie starters. I loved the tahini with the sweet potato and the flavor of the cauliflower. The eggplant meatballs were incredibly delicious and had the best polenta. My friend ordered the flautas which she really liked. I got the breakfast enchilada and I wasn't overly impressed with it but everything else was soooo good it didn't even matter --I'd probably just try something else next time. Cocktails were great I loved the mezcal Aperol combination it was super refreshing and not too heavy. read more

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Service was horrible twice and food was also horrible twice. It's shameful as a neighborhood restaurant to be so awful.

The service was great. The drinks were ok. Paid about $15 for just a bit more than 1/2 glass. The eggplant meatballs were outstanding. The short rib raviolis you get four tiny raviolis for more than $30. The lamb pasta... pasta was wonderful. lamb meat sauce was plain tender lamb and reminded us of the taste of hamburger helper. There was nothing exciting about eating it. As nice as the restaurant looked we were hoping to be wow'd by the food. It was a no go. read more

I love the ambiance at this restaurant, and they have some good food. Unfortunately they also have some pretty big misses on their menu now. The sweet potato dish was a giant grilled yam. It was huge and didn't taste like it has any seasoning. The ahi tuna dish was also large and pretty basic. The eggplant balls were the winner. The wings were also good. Overall, I would now think twice about coming back. It felt like the food overall could have been much more exciting. read more

Awesome menu and every dish was perfect. Did brunch with girlfriends and shared many of the dishes. Yummy and high quality. read more

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Love this place! It has a nice, calm decor--great for date night. The cocktails are great, and the food is, too. We really loved the pappardelle with beef ragu--it is amazing! read more

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Great restaurant all the way around! The food was fabulous. The wait staff very attentive and helpful. The chef came to out table to make sure everything was okay and made some good recommendations. Highly recommend this restaurant. read more

This place is nice, but I have a few concerns. My family and I went here the day before Mother's Day for lunch. I got the breakfast chimichanga, and it was so good! But before we got anything, my mom found a hair in her water. Maybe 15-20 minutes later, I found one in mine. I didn't drink much anyway. Also two flies kept on harassing us. Other than this, great restaurant! read more

What a hip and stylish place for brunch! Honestly, I think coming here for dinner would be also nice since this place is so cool! They have a huge, like really huge outdoor sitting area and trees there are gorgeous. I sat inside since it's still hot in Phoenix, but the inside sitting area is also hip and cool. I had Ocotillo breakfast and my friend had pancake with fried chicken, and oh my goodness! Ocotillo breakfast comes with two small slices of avocado toast, scrambled egg, hash brown, and either a cup of drip coffee or coconut juice. I chose coconut juice and I thought it would be a juice in a cup, but they brought a whole coconut, and I was like yay inside! This was around 14 and I thought it's a bit pricey at first but after I got the food, I realized that this is a deal! And my friend's pancake and fried chicken.... seriously the size of the pancake is insane!!! So huge and thick, and the amount of fried chicken is also generous. She shared her food with me, but still couldn't finish it. Anyways definitely coming back here!!! Parking is easy as well. :) read more

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Went here for our Valentines Day date night and loved it! The food was absolutely amazing. The atmosphere was inviting and relaxing. We had a fun and amazing server make our experience even better. Highly recommend. I've heard they serve amazing brunch and am hoping to repeat! read more

Ocotillo - Beautiful interior and atmosphere. Great date location! - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

This place is a gem. The restaurant itself is beyond beautiful and highlights desert landscape. The set up is amazing and there are many different areas to sit all with individual ambiance. The drinks are super clean and fresh. My favorite thing in the menu is the charred sweet potato. It's perfectly seasoned and makes an entire meal. We also tried the squash flautas. The squash wasn't watery, the toppings were a perfect combo of crispy and fresh. It's also great for large groups. The service was good, but slightly slow. I will definitely be back. Their creative menu and beautiful presentation are unique to the area. read more

Ocotillo - Squash Flautas, soooo good! - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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