The Craftsman Cocktails and Kitchen opens in north Scottsdale

You can’t keep the valley’s restaurant scene down as new restaurants continue to open. In October we saw the opening of Chantico in central Phoenix and Match Market & Bar in downtown Phoenix among others. New to north Scottsdale is The Craftsman Cocktails & Kitchen with Chef Christopher Nicosia running the kitchen.

Foodies should remember Chef Nicosia from the closed Italian restaurant Sassi and his induction into the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame. “Our menu is unlike anything even seasoned foodies have seen before,” said chef Nicosia. “The Craftsman puts a modern twist on conventional American dishes. From infusing dishes with craft beer and in-house distilled spirits, to including as many locally grown ingredients as possible, this menu allows me to pair quality with creativity.”

The Craftsman Cocktails and Kitchen
Chef Christopher Nicosia

Situated in a bustling retail center at Hayden Rd. and Thompson Peak Parkway, The Craftsman serves up traditional American fare with global flavors is inspired by a hard working farmer and grandfather who loved his family, the land and working with his hands.

The Craftsman Cocktails and Kitchen dishes and spirits

On a recent visit for happy hour I couldn’t stop eating the house-made chips with queso dip, wished I’d ordered more than two AZ Hot Chicken Lollipops with barrel aged hot sauce and tasty blue cheese slaw and Scallop Toast. A full menu of innovative dishes includes Bone-In Volcano Pork, Tuna Poke Sandwich and Lamb Belly Sausage Flatbread.

AZ Hot Chicken Lollipops courtesy of Tara Schultz

The Craftsman Cocktails and Kitchen also offers its own line of distilled spirits. Vodka, gin, rum, barrel aged amaro, bourbon and coffee liquor are available to sample and purchase. Currently distilled off-site they will soon distill the spirits in-house. Craft beers and wines are available in what will be a go-to neighborhood joint for good food, drinks and atmosphere.

The Craftsman Cocktails and Kitchen is at 20469 N. Hayden Rd. Scottsdale AZ 85255. For more information visit their website.