When I wanted to buy my first gun back in 2005, I started looking for information on the intarwebs for legal and technical advice. I was determined not to go into the decision uninformed about my rights and responsibilities. I got most of my initial gun information from four sources: Kim du Toit‘s Nation of Riflemen (now retired from blogging), Kevin Baker, Alan Korwin’s Gun Owners Guide, and Chris Byrne. From the three blogs in that list I found most of the others that I read today.

Some of their best blog posts are their Recipies for Real Men series. I’ve often thought that I would gladly pay for a cookbook of those recipes, and now I can! I encourage you to help them in their fight by doing the same.

With the Second Amendment Blog Bash just around the corner, I figure that now is a good time to highlight some of my favorite restaurants in or near downtown Phoenix. Exurban Kevin already has a good run-down of the big attractions in Arizona, including some of the best restaurants in the East Valley, but with the exception of Friday’s Front Row^[1] and Alice Cooperstown^[2], none of them are very near the Phoenix Convention Center.

• Starting with one of the closest restaurants, Stoudemire’s is owned by Phoenix Suns player Amare Stoudemire. The food here is a bit expensive, considering the limited menu, but good. From fish tacos to filet mignon, you can find something here for everyone.
• Also within walking distance of the Convention Center, you can find Kincaid’s. With similar pricing to Stoudemire’s, Kincaid’s has a better selection and better-tasting food. Of the two, I recommend this one.
• One of my personal favorite downtown restaurants, just southwest of Chase Field, is Coach and Willie’s. Serving a truly impressive array of burgers, pizzas, pastas, salads, and steak, along with a well-stocked bar, this restaurant is not to be missed.
• North of the Convention Center, along the light rail on Central Ave, you will find Durant’s, a well-known Phoenix steakhouse. While you can find better steak in Scottsdale, Durant’s is the best steakhouse in Downtown Phoenix.
• What if all you want is a burger? The Original Hamburger Works has you covered. Juicy 1/3, 1/2, and 2/3 lb burgers with a do-it-yourself toppings bar greet you at this Phoenix legend. They also serve great chicken sandwiches.
• In the mood for Greek? Athenian Express is a family-owned Greek restaurant at Central and Roosevelt. Their gyros are very popular lunch fare.
• Although it’s a couple of miles from the Center, if you’re looking for pizza or other Italian-style food I cannot recommend Oreganos (Phoenix or Scottsdale locations) enough. Their food is great, their menu is vast, and their potions are enormous.
• For Chinese food, you can’t go wrong with China Chili. The service at this restaurant is amazingly fast.
• If you are looking for a bar or pub to wind down the evening, check out George and Dragon. G&D is an English pub owned by an actual English ex-pat, and their pub food is top-knotch.
• On the sushi front, Ninja in Chandler is the restaurant of choice.

There are my recommendations for Downtown Phoenix dining. You might notice a lack of Mexican food, which is because I’m not a fan of south-of-the-border cooking so I don’t really know what’s worth eating in the area. Suggest your own favorite downtown restaurants in comments!

I should echo Kevin’s warning that you can only carry a firearm in restaurants that do not serve alcohol and are not posted with a no weapons sign. Of the restaurants on this list, only Athenian Express, China Chili, and Oreganos (Update 5/1: I had lunch at Oreganos today and they do serve alcohol. My bad.) do not serve alcohol. None of these are posted.

1. location of the NRA-ILA Public Affairs Blogger Mix & Mingle on Thursday night
2. Which is a really good restaurant, I recommend checking it out while you’re here