There’s a terrific new restaurant downtown, just south of Roosevelt Row on 1st Street. Verde is a deceptively barebones affair—nothing much more than an order window, polished concrete floor, open kitchen and tortilla-making station.

Your proprietors are Joseph Aguayo and Matt Avilla. Preparations for the place took a year—"the city doesn’t make it easy,“ Aguayo sighed to us. They were originally in partnership with high-profile local chef Patrick Boll, but that fell apart last month.

There are about a half-dozen simple dishes; we had the oregano lime chicken and potatoes estofadas … both were generous and delicious, and served with simple and fresh beans and rice, and a stack of tortillas. Verde is at 825 N. 1st St., just a block below Roosevelt. The phone is 254-4400.?

martincizmarMore food news! Jess Harter, until recently the East Valley Trib’s food writer, has a new blog—Mouth by Southwest.

I am indebted to Harter for his intelligent and clear writing, impressive perspective on the Valley’s food scene. (“10 best Valley restaurants that never opened”) … and this item, which features a rare photo of the reclusive Young Martin Cizmar, Portending Rhetorical Journalist™.