Phoenix Italian Restaurant Named Among 50 Best Date Spots in US

Tratto, a James Beard Award-winning chef's restaurant, earns national recognition for romantic dining.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Cosmopolitan magazine has named Tratto, a Phoenix Italian restaurant opened by award-winning chef Chris Bianco, as one of the 50 best date spots in the United States for 2026. The restaurant is praised for its classic Italian dishes with Southwestern flair, as well as menu highlights like frozen chocolate mousse and sunset views.

Why it matters

Tratto's inclusion on this national list highlights Phoenix's growing reputation as a dining destination, particularly for romantic and special occasion meals. As the city continues to evolve, recognition from prestigious publications like Cosmopolitan can drive increased tourism and cement Phoenix's status as a culinary hotspot.

The details

Tratto opened in 2016 and blends traditional Italian cuisine with Southwestern influences. The restaurant is known for dishes like rigatoni with tomato ragu, spaghetti cacio e pepe, and desserts like persimmon sticky toffee pudding. Cosmopolitan's review specifically calls out the frozen chocolate mousse and recommends booking reservations around sunset for the "peak experience."

  • Tratto opened in 2016.
  • Tratto was named one of the 50 best date spots in the U.S. for 2026.

The players

Chris Bianco

An award-winning Phoenix chef who opened Tratto in 2016.

Tratto

A Phoenix Italian restaurant that blends classic Italian dishes with Southwestern flair.

Cosmopolitan

A magazine that released a list of the 50 best date spots in the U.S. for 2026, including Tratto.

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What they’re saying

“Tratto's frozen chocolate mousse and recommended that guests book reservations around sunset for the "peak experience.”

— Annabel Iwegbue, Cosmopolitan writer (Cosmopolitan)

The takeaway

Tratto's inclusion on Cosmopolitan's list of the 50 best date spots in the U.S. demonstrates Phoenix's growing reputation as a dining destination, particularly for romantic and special occasion meals. This recognition can help drive increased tourism and cement the city's status as a culinary hotspot.