COURSE Earns Two Best of Phoenix 2026 Honors from Phoenix New Times

COURSE has received two honors inPhoenix New Times’ Best of Phoenix 2026, recognizing both the restaurant’s culinary experience and its creative cocktail program.

COURSE was namedBest Place to Take a Foodie, while Beverage DirectorJustin Chard was recognized asBest Cocktail Genius in the publication’s nightlife awards.

Together, the awards highlight two of the elements at the center of the COURSE experience: Chef Cory Oppold’s evolving tasting menus and a beverage program designed to be every bit as thoughtful and unexpected as the food.

TheBest Place to Take a Foodie recognition celebrates an experience built for guests who enjoy discovering something new with every course. Chef Cory Oppold’s menus are designed as a progression, bringing together seasonal ingredients, creative techniques, and unexpected combinations throughout the dining experience.

Whether guests are joining COURSE for a multi-course tasting menu or exploring another seasonal offering, each menu is created to turn dinner into an experience rather than simply a meal.

The recognition extends beyond the kitchen. COURSE Beverage Director Justin Chard was namedBest Cocktail Genius, withPhoenix New Times highlighting the creativity behind the restaurant’s rotating cocktail menus.

Justin frequently builds each menu around a recognizable theme, using movies and television as the starting point for drinks that combine storytelling, humor, and inventive flavor combinations. Recent inspiration has includedTrue Detective, while previous cocktail menus have drawn from titles includingTropic Thunder andSpaceballs.

The result is a cocktail program that complements COURSE’s culinary approach while offering guests another opportunity to experience something unexpected.

Although the awards recognize different parts of the restaurant, both reflect the philosophy behind COURSE. The food, cocktails, wine pairings, and service are designed to work together as one complete experience, with each detail contributing to the progression of the evening.

TheseBest of Phoenix 2026 honors are an exciting recognition of the creativity and work Chef Cory, Justin, and the entire COURSE team bring to the restaurant.