NORTH Italian Farmhouse

North Italian Farmhouse is the latest spot in the Phoenix valley to demonstrate the growing foodie superiority in the valley of the sun. As is the case with most ideas coming from Sam Fox's restaurant concepts, North is chic, hip, energetic, unique, and most importantly - tasty.

. A quaint, impressive setting with a two-sided bar (outdoor on one side; indoor on the other), the restaurant is known for homemade and alluring pasta, with enough chef creativity to keep you coming back for more.The braised angus beef meatballs are difficult to let go after one serving. Had I been there without witnesses (especially one I am married to) I would have been doing three or four orders.

There is plenty of room for healthy as well - especially with a little crunchy and flavorful. The Seasonal Vegetable Salad with shaved beets, carrots, radishes, kale, dried fruit, and almonds did the trick ...

I had to try the chef's famous pasta, so a little Braised beef short ribs with ricotta gnocchi and horseradish cream scratched several itches. The seasoning may have been a tad too herby, but the pasta and meat were flawless.

My wife went with a staple pizza entree, in this case, the house-made sausage with broccolini, red pepper, and olive.

I really enjoyed the setting, the food, the service, and the ambiance. Casual, fun, pleasant, with U2 and Coldplay on the PA - I will be back, and so should you.