Travel

Four Lyft Rider–Approved Restaurants to Sample at Phoenix’s Devour Festival

Christina Barrueta - Feb 23, 2024
Image credit: Jill McNamara Photography on behalf of Carcara

The Phoenix area has become a foodie mecca in the Southwest, and there’s no better showcase of its culinary talent than Devour Week, an annual event that was named the Best Southwestern Culinary Festival by The Phoenix New Times. This year, Lyft is providing discounted rides to the festival (use code DEVOUR2024 for 30% off two rides*). 

But getting there is the easy part. Deciding which booth to hit? That can be overwhelming. So we pulled together a list of the participating restaurants most frequented by Lyft riders. Swing by, take a taste, and get to know some of Phoenix’s beloved eateries.

Rough Rider

This Teddy Roosevelt–inspired restaurant — tucked away in the basement lounge of a nondescript office building and stuffed with vintage memorabilia — is known for its modern and classic cocktails. (Patron Kirti Dwivedi recommends the Martini of Honor, made with a fennel-infused house vermouth: “It hits the spot from the first sip and pairs wonderfully with the oysters.”) At Devour Week, they’ll be showcasing a black-garlic-marinated pork belly with pickled apple and chicharrones alongside a mezcal punch.

Image credit: Juntos Media

Beginner’s Luck  

Citizen Public House — a cozy neighborhood eatery in Scottsdale known for its iconic chopped salad (it’s garnered not only accolades but also its own Facebook page) — is particularly popular with Lyft riders. At Devour Week, curious diners can get a taste of the CPH crew’s brand-new restaurant, Beginner’s Luck, which opened earlier this month. Stop by for a Niman Ranch pork bowl featuring a mix of 12-hour slow-roasted pork and blue corn grits.

Image credit: Beginner's Luck

Roka Akor 

Follow the wafting smoke to discover why Roka Akor’s booth is a perennial favorite at Devour Week. This Japanese steakhouse in Scottsdale is known for ambitious plates, like butterfish tataki and Wagyu-kimchi dumplings, but its heart is its grill, which serves up luxurious Wagyu and robata-style, charcoal-grilled skewers of seafood, meat, and vegetables. As fan Kristy Beyer Durkin raves, “The quality of ingredients and beautifully presented dishes have me coming back again and again.” 

Image credit: Darby Vance

Carcara

According to senior sous chef Angy Dykstra, Carcara honors the five C’s of Arizona: “Cattle, copper, climate, cotton, and citrus” — and the restaurant’s 2,000-square-foot patio, dotted with firepits, certainly couldn’t exist anywhere else. At Devour Week, the Carcara team will serve ancho-chile-agave-glazed pork belly with house-made tortillas and blueberry-lime verrine for dessert.  

Image credits: Werner Segarra and Jill McNamara Photography

*Going to Devour Week this weekend? Use code DEVOUR2024 for 30% off two Lyft rides to or from the Southwestern Culinary Festival (max savings of $8 per ride). Limited quantity available. Valid February 24 to 26, 2024, between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. local time. Subject to Lyft’s Terms of Service.