One of my favorite restaurants in Phoenix is North Italia. I love the friendly and knowledgeable staff, the fresh pasta and the happy hour specials. North is part of Fox Restaurants Concepts, which owns several restaurants in Arizona and other states including Zinburger, Culinary Dropout, Doughbird and many others. North has more than 10 locations in several states with Phoenix area restaurants in Arcadia and Kierland Commons in Scottsdale. I have been to both locations but I regularly visit the Arcadia location (on 40th Street south of Camelback) which is very spacious and open with a great patio and excellent staff. The bar is half inside, half outside and the crowd is mature and lively.
North Italia’s Arcadia location offers spacious interior, a comfortable patio and a view of the kitchen.
North offers happy hour Monday through Friday from 3pm until 6pm and all day on Sunday. On Sunday North also offers half-price bottles of wine, making it a true Sunday Funday. One of the great things about North’s happy hour is that it is not confined to the bar area. Although patrons can enjoy happy hour in all areas of the restaurant, I prefer to sit at the bar because the bartenders and servers are fun to watch and are happy to answer any questions about the restaurant and the food.
During happy hour, all beers are $4 and glasses of house red, rose or white wine or Sangria are $5. A bottle of house wine or pitcher of sangria is $16. Happy hour food includes Zucca chips for $3 (regularly $7), lightly fried zucchini chips, a Chef’s Board for $10 (regularly $16), tomato or prosciutto bruschetta for $5 (regularly $10), and the Margherita pizza or specialty pizza of the day for $8 (regularly $13).
Crispy Zucca chips are a great start to your meal.
My go-to happy hour item at North is the Bottle and Board for $20. This irresistible special includes a bottle of house wine and your choice of pizza, bruschetta or the Chef’s Board from the happy hour menu. I’ve enjoyed the crispy pizza and tasty bruschetta a few times but I always go back to the board because it features a variety of tastes and textures including fresh bread, two types of cheese, roasted red peppers, prosciutto, Marcona almonds, grilled asparagus with a drizzle of balsamic, apricot mostarda, olives and eggplant. What more could you want on a board?
The Chef’s Board is a happy hour treat as part of the Bottle and Board for $20 served with a bottle of house wine or pitcher of sangria.
I prefer to share the Chef’s Board as the portion is plentiful and I don’t like to fill up on happy hour at North because I always want the Bolognese, the house specialty. The tagliatelle pasta, made fresh in house, is silky with the perfect bit of chew. The sauce is tangy and meaty. Although North’s Bolognese is one of my favorite dishes in the Valley, I have enjoyed other excellent pasta dishes at North including the burrata tortelloni and the short rib radiatori. Even if I’m full from Zucca chips, meat, cheese and pasta, I like to end my meal at North with the Bombolini (note: this dessert is not available at the Kierland location), warm Italian donuts served with a lovely lemon curd. Chef’s board, Bolognese and Bombolini is one of my very favorite meals and fun to share.
Bombolini donuts with lemon curd are a perfect end to a lovely meal.
North Italia | 4925 N. 40th St. | Phoenix | 85018 | 602.324.5600 and 15024 N. Scottsdale Road | Scottsdale | 85254 | 480.948.2055
Happy Hour | 3pm unti 6pm Monday through Friday and all day Sunday
Favorite items | Bottle and Chef’s Board, Pasta Bolognese (not happy hour but a must-try)