My 5 Favorite Restaurants in Gilbert, Arizona: Where I Actually Love to Eat
If you know me, you know I love a good meal almost as much as I love talking about real estate. And one of the best things about living in Gilbert, Arizona, is that we have no shortage of great places to eat.
Whether you’re looking for a fancy date night, amazing Indian food, fresh seafood, wine with friends, or a sushi spot you’ll want to keep in your regular rotation, Gilbert has you covered.
These aren’t necessarily the “official” five best restaurants in Gilbert, because food opinions can start arguments faster than real estate commissions. These are five of my personal favorites and places I’m happy to recommend when someone asks me, “Tammy, where should we eat in Gilbert?”
1. Bourbon & Bones Chophouse & Bar
Bourbon & Bones Chophouse | Bar
Best for: Date night, celebrations, client dinners and when you’re feeling a little fancy
Located at SanTan Village, Bourbon & Bones is my pick when dinner needs to feel like an event.
This contemporary steakhouse specializes in USDA Prime steaks, Wagyu, seafood and all the decadent steakhouse sides you’d expect. And, as the name suggests, bourbon is kind of a big deal here. Their whiskey collection includes hundreds of bourbons, whiskeys and scotches, along with smoked and barrel-aged cocktails.
The atmosphere is upscale, modern and energetic rather than stuffy. Think polished steakhouse meets lively night out. It works just as well for an anniversary or birthday as it does for an impressive business dinner.
If your idea of a great evening involves a fantastic steak, a beautiful cocktail and absolutely no desire to calculate the calories involved, Bourbon & Bones deserves a spot on your list.
2. Tap N Tikka
Best for: Flavor, casual dinners with friends and ordering way too much food “for the table”
Tap N Tikka is one of those Gilbert restaurants that makes dinner more interesting.
The menu is centered around Indian cuisine, with dishes ranging from butter chicken and chicken tikka masala to biryani, lamb and goat dishes, tandoori specialties, curries, vegetarian options, samosas, chaat and plenty of naan—which, in my opinion, should always be ordered in quantities larger than you originally planned.
The restaurant was created around family recipes and traditional Indian flavors, including recipes that have been passed down through generations.
But this isn't a super-formal Indian restaurant. Tap N Tikka combines those flavors with a full bar and a comfortable, modern atmosphere. It's warm, casual and welcoming, making it an easy choice for lunch, dinner or meeting friends when you want something more exciting than the usual dinner options.
If you've been wanting to explore Indian food but don't know where to start, this is a great place to do it.
3. Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
Best for: Girls' night, date night, celebrations and anyone who believes wine tasting counts as an activity
Cooper's Hawk gives you dinner and an experience in one place.
Located near SanTan Village, the concept combines an upscale-casual American restaurant with a winery-inspired tasting room. You can stop at the tasting bar, explore different wines and then head into the restaurant for dinner.
The food is contemporary American with plenty of variety, including steaks, seafood, chicken, pork, pasta, salads and shareable appetizers. It's one of those menus where a group of people with completely different tastes can usually all find something they want.
But the wine experience is what makes Cooper's Hawk different. The Gilbert location features a Napa-style tasting room, wine flights and the brand's popular Wine Club.
The atmosphere is lively and social without feeling overly formal, which makes it especially good for a night out with friends or a celebration where you actually want to hang out for a while instead of eating and immediately heading home.
And if someone suggests doing the wine tasting before dinner, I certainly wouldn't argue.
4. High Tide Seafood Bar & Grill
Best for: Seafood lovers, happy hour and convincing yourself you're somewhere near the ocean
Arizona may be a desert, but High Tide does its best to make us forget that little geographical detail.
High Tide specializes in seafood, with everything from oysters and sushi to fish, shellfish and their signature steam-kettle creations. Their seafood-focused menu includes dishes like Chilean sea bass, fish and chips, seafood pasta, lobster bisque and larger seafood combinations for when you're ready to commit.
The atmosphere hits a nice middle ground: polished enough for date night or a celebration, but relaxed enough that you don't feel like you need a special occasion to go.
It's lively, approachable and also a great choice for happy hour. If you're someone who wants good seafood without the overly formal fine-dining experience, High Tide is an easy recommendation.
5. Temari Sushi
Best for: Sushi cravings, casual date nights and finding your new favorite roll
Every good restaurant list needs a sushi option, and Temari has been part of Gilbert's restaurant scene for more than 25 years.
Located on Val Vista Drive, Temari—now branded as Temaris Sushi—is known for Japanese cuisine ranging from classic nigiri and sashimi to creative specialty rolls. The restaurant emphasizes fresh ingredients, inventive Japanese flavors and a family-friendly experience.
You'll find plenty for the sushi lover, but there are also cooked Japanese dishes for the person in your group who responds to “Want to get sushi?” with “Do they have anything that's cooked?”
The atmosphere is more neighborhood sushi spot than ultra-fancy restaurant, which is part of the appeal. It's comfortable and casual enough to become one of those places you return to whenever the sushi craving hits.
So…Where Are We Eating?
One of the things I love about Gilbert is how much the community has grown while still giving us places that can become our places—the restaurant you choose for birthdays, the spot where you meet friends for happy hour or the sushi place where you don't even need to look at the menu anymore.
My Gilbert favorites each serve a different purpose:
Feeling fancy? Bourbon & Bones.
Craving big flavors? Tap N Tikka.
Wine with friends? Cooper's Hawk.
Seafood night? High Tide.
Sushi craving? Temari.
And this is exactly what I love about helping people buy and sell homes in Gilbert and throughout the East Valley. Real estate isn't just about bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage. It's about finding the community where you want to build your life—and knowing where you're going for dinner once you get there.
If you're considering a move to Gilbert, Arizona, or anywhere in the Phoenix East Valley, I'd love to help you find both your next home and a few new favorite restaurants along the way.
And if you have a Gilbert restaurant you think should have made my list, tell me. I'm always willing to conduct additional “research.”
