First & Last Brings Big Italian-American Flavor to Phoenix

The public consensus

First & Last holds a 4.5 Google rating from 755 reviews, a strong signal that its Italian-American comfort food connects with a broad audience. Recent public feedback repeatedly praises flavorful sandwiches, rich pasta and welcoming service. The restaurant also appears to operate differently by meal period: diners describe reservations and table service at dinner, while lunch is reported as open seating with orders placed at the bar.

The overall picture is lively and approachable rather than formal. Social media has clearly introduced some customers to the restaurant, but the favorable response is not based on novelty alone. Reviewers mention returning, bringing colleagues and sharing several dishes across a group. Portions, particularly the sandwiches and focaccia, are commonly described as filling.

What stands out

The Little Jerry is the most frequently discussed sandwich in the sample reviews. Its combination of pesto, vodka sauce and mozzarella earns enthusiastic praise from several diners, with specific approval for the tangy sauce, prominent pesto and focaccia bread. One reviewer also notes tender, juicy chicken. It is the clearest starting point for a first lunch visit.

That popularity does not make it universally loved. One diner found the Little Jerry merely satisfactory despite its photogenic layer of Parmesan, and another thought the sandwich arrived colder than expected. Those comments suggest that guests drawn in by social media should keep expectations measured.

The Caesar salad provides a fresher counterweight to the heavier sandwiches and pasta. Public feedback highlights its anchovy-forward character, which should appeal to diners who like a more assertive Caesar. The Cast Iron Baked Focaccia receives similarly strong enthusiasm, though one review cautions that it is substantial enough to split.

Dinner feedback points to a richer side of the menu. The Bacon Sourdough Bolognese and Truffle Cacio e Pepe are both singled out in a highly positive meal report, supporting First & Last as more than a sandwich stop. Because those dishes appear less often in the supplied review sample, the evidence for them is promising but narrower.

Service, value and planning

Service comments are consistently favorable. Dinner guests describe a good experience from arrival onward, while lunch reviewers call the setup casual and efficient. Groups may find the sandwiches particularly suited to sharing, as one party of five divided three different options, including the Little Jerry, Rochelle Rochelle and Bosco.

The moderate price category fits the restaurant’s broader positioning, but at least one reviewer considers the sandwiches expensive. That same diner still says the Little Jerry was worth ordering again, which softens the value concern without erasing it. Large portions may also make the cost feel more reasonable for guests willing to split food.

Verdict

First & Last looks strongest for a casual group lunch built around focaccia sandwiches and salad, or a dinner centered on pasta and shared bread. The 4.5 rating, repeated praise for service and recurring enthusiasm for the Little Jerry make it an easy recommendation. Minor cautions include open seating at lunch, potentially cooler sandwich temperatures and pricing that may feel high for the category.