On Sept. 29, Yelp released its list of Best New Restaurants of 2026. Two metro Phoenix restaurants, Filthy Animal and Society Swan, made the list, with Filthy Animal being named the No. 1 in the entire country.
Filthy Animal belongs to Pretty Decent Concepts, the group behind Wren and Wolf, Cleaverman, Trophy Room and the newly opened Roman God of Fire. It is known for creating spaces that transport people to another world with decor ranging from bullet chandeliers to taxidermy.
Society Swan is a Sam Fox concept inside Fashion Square Mall. Fox is another restaurateur who is big on vibe. This particular restaurant keeps the definition vague enough to fit into all categories and none. It's an American Brasserie meets East Coast meets Paris with
a menu that includes French dishes, Italian dishes and even pigs in a blanket.
How does Yelp determine which restaurants to name best?
To create this list, Yelp gathered reviews of full-service restaurants open between Jan. 1, 2025, and June 11, 2026, then ranked them by factors such as total volume and review ratings.
At least in Phoenix, it appears that vibe takes priority this year.
When I looked at the ratings on Yelp, I saw a paltry 4.2 star rating for each restaurant. A 4.2 for the cream of the crop seems low. Yet, somehow, these restaurants beat out Michelin-starred restaurants and places with 4.5 and 4.7 star ratings.
I'm a fan of Pretty Decent Concepts' Carry On, named one of the best bars in the U.S. in 2025. And I've been to Filthy Animal for brunch. The experience didn't inspire me to return.
While the pibil dumplings were successfully executed (and I wish I had more of the sauce), I found the steak slightly overcooked and under seasoned and the pancake excessively dense. The smoke in the salad drowned out all other flavors. As for the decor, I found it ambitious, yet artificial. The abundance of faux plants undercut the intended grandeur.
Similarly, I can appreciate some of Sam Fox's concepts. Thea has some of the best views in town and is a readers' choice. Le Ame steakhouse makes a delicious crab cake. I have yet to try Society Swan, mostly because the photo of the pigs-in-a-blanket on Yelp (and the menu generally) doesn't make me want to rush to the restaurant. Maybe next time I'm at the mall.
As with so many of these kinds of lists, take it with a grain of salt
I asked Yelp to explain their process to me in more detail, but all I got was, "We publish this list to help food lovers discover outstanding new spots and trends in dining, based on real diner feedback."
Cheers to the restaurants who made the cut, but we'll keep taking these lists with a grain of salt.
Details: 7014 E. Camelback Road, Suite 559, Scottsdale. 480-863-3999, societyswan.com.
Details: 740 S. Mill Ave., Ste D140, Tempe. 480-397-1046, thisisfilthyanimal.com.
Reach the restaurant critic at BAnooshahr@azcentral.com. Follow @baharcreative on Instagram.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Metro Phoenix restaurant named best new spot in the US is a wild choice
