606285 Mon Mar 23 20:16:36 -0700 2009 2 6 Southwest 0 4532086 I will be at a conference staying at the Wyndham downtown, with no car. Looking for good lunch and dinner options (maybe breakfast, too), low-mid range price-wise. Especially interested in mexican and fusion food... any suggestions are welcome! Mon Mar 23 20:16:36 -0700 2009 43263 rufuskink 1 4532220 Mexican -- a more difficult proposition than it might seem. Central Phoenix is teeming with good Mexican restaurants, but every place in the heart of Downtown (defined as the area bounded by 7th St, 7th Ave, I-10, and the freight railroad [not light rail] tracks) is pretty tame and aims at tourists and suburbanites. Mi Amigo's at the Arizona Center is good at what it does, but it's semi-Americanized. The Matador is across the street from your hotel, but I'd skip it. If you have a sense of adventure and are willing to walk up to a mile, you've got the following possibilities for more authentic and interesting Mexican: Tacos de Juarez La Tolteca Los Dos Molinos (actually New Mexican) Azteca Mexican Bakery If you're unfamiliar with the area, I'd make these lunch options because they are all situated in areas in which our relatively safe Downtown core borders transitional areas. Fusion -- Sens is a sort of trans-Asian tapas place. It might fit your definition of fusion. It's a good choice. Other cuisines: Pizza -- Pizzeria Bianco (short walk, long wait), Cibo -- (longer walk, shorter wait) Thai -- Thai Elephant, one block from your hotel District -- American cooking with emphasis on local ingredients, ground floor of Sheraton Many more options are available via train by taking the new light rail north along Central. See these threads: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/585934 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/593879 Mon Mar 23 21:14:07 -0700 2009 4532086 26466 silverbear 1 4532384 In addition to Silverbear's list, I would add the following: PastaBar (Nouveau Italian) Hanny's (New American Diner) Breadfruit (Jamaican) Mon Mar 23 23:28:22 -0700 2009 4532086 11583 ipsedixit