Tag: Uptown Phoenix

Sips & Bites: News from the Phoenix restaurant community

Events & news about what’s going on around the Phoenix restaurant community, breweries and wineries.

Only Michelin one star taco stand coming to Dbacks game tonight

Tonight’s baseball game will have a pop-up taco stand from Mario Hernandez Alonso, son of the founder of Taquería El Califa de León. The Dbacks are kicking off Mexican Heritage Weekend with tacos on Chase Field’s Plaza with the famous Gaonera tacos which debuted back in 1968.

Craft 64 celebrates Cinco de Mayo all month long

Both the Scottsdale and Chandler pizza & beer restaurants is exploring Arizona’s Mexican heritage and how its ingredients work with traditional pizza. All month long get the house-made 64 Al Pastor, Tha’ Taco and 64 Fajita pizzas along with a Jicama Fresca salad and a Cinco De Pollo sope special. 3 Mexican style beers were made by co-owner James Swann are on tap and 4 seasonal cocktails including the Watermelon Margarita were created for the month-long event.

Chula Seafood Uptown offers new Tuna Tataki Salad

For a limited time, guests visiting the Central Phoenix location can enjoy a new salad. The seared tuna tataki comes served alongside a crispy medley of Napa and red cabbage, fresh cucumber, cherry tomatoes, snap peas and julienned carrots all tossed in a vibrant soy-ginger dressing and paired with chilled Udon noodles and enoki mushrooms.

Famous 48 closes its doors

The Scottsdale restaurant served its last meal on Sunday, May 4th and wanted to thank their customers that supported them over the years.

 

 

Uptown Phoenix is new location for The Bar’s 2nd location

The popular Arcadia bar and restaurant The Bar, opened its second location in late February along 7th Ave. in Uptown Phoenix. Known for its laid-back vibe and throwback nostalgia to the 1990s- early 2000s the original location opened in 2019 by restaurateur Frank Vairo, owner of Nook Kitchen and other restaurants and bars in the area.

“Due to the success and popularity of The Bar Arcadia, we wanted to bring something similar yet uniquely its own to our diners in Uptown Phoenix,” said Vairo. “We are excited to present the neighborhood with a place to eat, drink, play, interact and just have a really great time in a welcoming and inviting space.”

The Bar Uptown offers a similar menu to Arcadia that includes award-winning wings, salads, Wisconsin cheese curds, potato skins and more. A selection of sandwiches and burgers are on the menu with the Smashburger expected to steal the show. Signature house cocktails were created by The Bar’s mixologist Elia Perez and include popular drinks from Arcadia.

Weekly specials and daily features from the kitchen and the bar are offered along with happy hour specials that include $2 off drafts, $2 off full-size appetizers, $7 Tito’s, $7 glasses of wine, $5 well drinks, $6 Four Roses, $7 “Jamos” and $7 house mules. Dollar Wing Night, a hit at Arcadia will also be offered at the Uptown location.

You won’t go board at The Bar Uptown as it features darts, a pool table, karaoke, bingo & trivia nights and tournaments will be held. A game room offers video games and more and on weekends a DJ pumps up the volume. The Bar Uptown is open daily from 12:00 p.m. until 2 a.m. and is at 5504 N. 7th Ave. Phoenix. For more information visit their website.

Sips & Bites: News from the Phoenix restaurant community

Events & news about what’s going on around the Phoenix restaurant community, breweries and wineries.

Hask Kitchen raising money for Habitat LA with new Has# Pancake Trio

February is National Pancake Month and all seven valley locations celebrate with a new trio of Red Velvet, Pineapple and S’mores stacks. $2 of every trio sold in February will be donated to Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) and its disaster relief efforts.

Chula Seafood celebrates 6 years in Uptown Phx

The local seafood monger & restaurant celebrates the anniversary of its 2nd Phoenix area restaurant on tomorrow, February 1st with specials at all 3 locations. All locations will have “Two Buck Shucks” and each location will offer specials as follow….

Uptown

  • Tuna Katsu Sando featuring a fried panko-crusted ground tuna patty on wondrous white with cabbage and tonkatsu sauce, $16.
  • Polenta Shrimp App featuring 13 to 15 shrimp, guajillo-marinated, sauteed and served on top of polenta cakes with a lime gastrique, $14.
  • Whole Fried Thai Snapper—Crispy fried snapper with Thai basil salsa verde, herb salad and coconut rice, MP.

Rosie

  • Coconut Shrimp with fries, choice of sauce and lemon, $17 for a 3-piece/$20 for a 6-piece
  • Fried Shrimp with fries, choice of sauce and lemon, $15 for a 3-piece/$18 for a 6-piece – Sauce choices include sweet chili, spicy Kewpie, masago ranch and cocktail sauce
  • French Fries, $8
  • Green Chile Cheese Fries with cheddar cheese sauce, green chilies and cilantro, $14
  • A la Carte Coconut Shrimp Taco—A flour tortilla filled with spicy Kewpie, coconut shrimp, purple cabbage, pineapple serrano salsa and avocado, $12

Grayhawk

  • Filet O Fish—White fish brandade patty breaded in panko then deep fried and served with American cheese, malt vinegar tartar sauce, shredded iceberg and house-made pickles on a Noble slider bun. Served with a side of chips, $15
  • Lobster Grilled Cheese— Butter-poached lobster with a white cheddar mornay on toasted Noble sourdough and served with a side of tomato soup, $25
  • Tuna Bulgogi Kimchi Fries—Crispy French fries topped off with seasoned ground yellowfin tuna, caramelized onions, kimchi, American cheese and sesame mayo, $15

Let’s do lunch at…….

Fire at Will starting Monday, February 3rd from 11 a.m. – 4p.m. The Scottsdale restaurant will offer a daily menu with more than 20 Small Plates, Burgers and Sandwiches, Salads, Big Plates, Sides and Desserts to choose from. Highlights such as French Onion Dip, Italian Chopped salad, Bacon BBQ Burger and Shrimp & Grits will impress the lunchtime crowd with its locally sourced ingredients like the way the dinner menu has since it opened.

Cider Corps offers new late night hours February 3rd

The downtown Mesa cidery will be staying open later as we get into the Phoenix area’s busy season arriving. The new taproom hours will begin 7 days a week from 11 a.m. -until 10 p.m. Monday – Friday, until 12 a.m. Friday & Saturday and 8 p.m. on Sundays. Myke’s Pizza will be serving NY-style slices of Cheese, Pepperoni and Vodka Sauce with Jalapenos Friday & Saturday nights from 8 – 10 p.m.

Bourbon & Bones reschedule Rickhouse event to March, 1st

With Parada Del Sol taking over Old Town Scottsdale tomorrow the scheduled Rickhouse Bourbon event will take the day off so those can attend the western celebration. The event returns the first Saturday in March.

 

YUMBAR now Royale Kitchen + Cocktails

As the one-year anniversary of The Royale, the outdoor complex in Phoenix’s Melrose District, approaches Owners Mark Howard and Rocco Menaguale have rebranded their casual restaurant YUMBAR to Royale Kitchen + Cocktails for 2025. The new restaurant is serving serving an elevated dining experience for dinner, brunch and an extended happy hour.

“The new name better reflects our focus as a neighborhood restaurant serving a large variety of metropolitan cuisine from our culinary team led by Chef Jeff Blake,” says Howard. “New selections and re-imagined favorites, along with our expanded martini, wine, and craft cocktail menus, offer our guests an exceptional dining experience seven days a week.”

Guests dining at RKC will have a larger dinner menu to choose from with new dishes that include Thai Shrimp Coconut Curry, Peachy Keen Chicken Sandwich and BLT Eggs Benedict at brunch. Favorites such as the Yum Burger, Jalapeno Popper Sandwich and the signature Mark Daddy Martini are still available.

Celebrating 1 year at Royale Kitchen + Cocktails

Both the restaurant and The Royale’s other concepts will be celebrating on Saturday, February 8th, 2025, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Guests will enjoy food & drink specials, live music, a live art exhibit, giveaways and a chance to win exciting prizes from other tenants in the Big Royale Raffle. Other businesses in The Royale include Window Coffee Bar, Stem Swag, Cult Hair Salon & Spa, Your Health and Wellness and others.

“Our vision for The Royale was to blend mid-century modern style with an inclusive atmosphere, transforming what was once dilapidated autobody garages surrounding a junk yard into a vibrant center for connection, creativity, and joy,” says Rocco Menaguale, the architect and designer of The Royale. “We wanted to create a space that reflects the Melrose neighborhood’s character and brings people together. We are excited to celebrate our anniversary with the community and introduce the vibrant, welcoming atmosphere that makes this space so special.”

Royale Kitchen + Cocktails is at 635 W. Glenrosa Ave. Phoenix, for more information visit their website.

 

Sips & Bites: News from the Phoenix restaurant community

Events & news about what’s going on around the Phoenix restaurant community, breweries and wineries.

National Coffee Day is this Sunday, September 29th

Need your daily fix of caffeine then head to……

Noble Ground Coffee for any hot or cold drink for just a $1. This includes new Fall flavors such as Pumpkin Pie and Maple Pancake.

Randy’s Donuts if you’re a loyalty member for a free cup of Randy’s Roast or iced coffee. No purchase is necessary, and the free drink will appear in the member’s account. Randy’s Donuts has two locations in Phoenix at 5709 N. 7th Street and 17405 S. 40th Street. Both locations are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Press Coffee is offering 25% off a yearlong coffee subscription all weekend long.

Chula Seafood Uptown celebrates Oktoberfest with schnitzel

For all 31 days in October the Uptown Plaza location celebrates the German festival with a seafood twist. The Swordfish Jägerschnitzel is served with a scrumptious mushroom leek gravy with brown apple butter spaetzle and German braised red cabbage. It’s available for both lunch and dinner for $28++.

Anhelo Restaurant hosts Burgundy wine dinner October 4th

The downtown Phoenix restaurant will welcome guests next Friday to enjoy a six-course dinner featuring the wines of Domaine Anne et Hervé Sigaut that dates to the 19th century. The dinner is $265 per person and for an additional $100 a glass of their coveted Domaine Sigaut’s 2020 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru. is available. Prefer champagne, a glass of Dom Perignon is available for $75. The dinner begins at 6 p.m. with limited seating and seat can be purchased at OpenTable.

Grand opening celebration for 3rd Stemistry location

Saturday, October 5th marks the newest coffee lab & flower shop from Dylan Capshaw at the Roadrunner Apartments at 6601 E. McDowell Rd. Scottsdale 85257. From 9-11 a.m. guests can get a $1 drip coffee, a free stem with purchase, light bites and entertainment. Additionally monthly flower subscriptions will be 20% with a 3-month minimum.

New dishes on the menu at Ling & Louie’s

The Asian bar & grill on Shea Blvd. just east of 92nd St. in Scottsdale has just released new dishes on the menu. New dishes include Almond-Crusted Pork Tenderloin, Louie’s Bao Buns, Louie’s Donut Holes and Loaded Mashed Potatoes.

Eggstasy opens newest location in Phoenix at The Colony

The 7th location of the popular brunch spot, Eggstasy has opened along 7th St. at The Colony in Uptown Phoenix. Known for their inventive takes on breakfast and lunch classics, the locally owned brunch spot looks forward to serving its high-quality dishes that use locally sourced ingredients.

“We’re really excited to join the Uptown Phoenix neighborhood and we couldn’t ask for a better spot than The Colony,” said Eggstasy owner Peter Verros. “The eclectic mix of retail, dining and residential is the perfect setting for the morning enthusiasm we bring with our food, atmosphere and staff at Eggstasy.” Verros opened the first location in 2008 using his years of experience in the kitchen and management as his inspiration.

The menu at Eggstasy is full of classic brunch dishes such as pancakes, crepes, omelets and burgers. Signature dishes include Skirt Steak & Eggs which covers both breakfast and lunch cravings, Caprese Benedict and the Sunrise Sandwich with layers of egg frittata, chicken sausage, kale, Swiss cheese and pesto.

Golden Pancake grand opening at Eggstasy

Now opened, the official grand opening is Saturday, October 12th and 3 guests can win pancakes if they find the Golden Pancake in their stack. Order a stack of one of their specialty pancakes or choose pancakes on the side for chance to win pancakes for life at any Eggstasy location.

Eggstasy opens 7 days a week at 7 a.m. and is open until 2:30 p.m. Monday – Friday and until 3 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday. The Uptown Phoenix location is at 5538 N. 7th St. Phoenix 85014. For more information and to view their menu visit their website.

Phoenix City Grille is under new ownership

Sheldon Knapp founded Phoenix City Grille in 1997 and has weathered more than a few storms in those 27 years. The Great Recession of 2008 or the pandemic 12 years later, the Madison neighborhood restaurant is still going strong and Knapp felt now was a good time to turn over the reins to new owners. At least of the new owners is very familiar with PCG and isn’t new at all as Executive Chef and Managing Partner Micah Wyzlic welcome industry veteran Dennis Shaw as a partner.

“I am completely confident that Phoenix City Grille and our incredibly loyal customer base are in excellent hands with Dennis and Micah at the helm,” said Knapp, who will have a minority position in the business. “I look forward to working with Dennis and Micah in my semi-retirement as well as spending more time with my family.”

Impressive industry resumes for new owners at Phoenix City Grille

Wyzlic joined PCG in 1999 after graduating from Scottsdale Culinary Institute then going to work for The Ritz Carlton at Rancho Mirage and PGA West before returning to PCG in 2018 as Managing Partner. More than half his career in the restaurant industry has been at PCG. Shaw also has several decades in the local restaurant industry, most recently as Owner and Managing Partner at Sam & Luca Rustic Kitchen. He’s also worked at Las Sendas Golf Club, The Phoenician Resort, Lon’s at The Hermosa Inn, Desert Mountain properties and Four Seasons Resorts, all in managerial positions.

“I am so excited to be a part of the PCG community. I want to get very involved, get to know the patrons here, grow the legacy that Sheldon has built and keep PCG going for many years to come,” said Shaw. “We will continue to evolve the great food and service with the same great team that has become synonymous with PCG while enhancing the dining experience and expanding our PCG roots as we evolve.”

Guests shouldn’t expect to see many if any changes at PCG but Wyzlic and Shaw do plan to open a new bottle shop, Still and Barrel, later in the year. For more information visit the restaurants website.

 

JINYA Ramen Bar opens its new location in Uptown Phoenix

Bowls of hot ramen continue to see its popularity grow even during the triple digit temperatures of an Arizona summer. That’s no more obvious than the success with JINYA Ramen Bar that opened its first Arizona location in Chandler in 2021. Last week franchisees opened their second location in historical Uptown Phoenix expanding its ramen culture around the valley. The concept was started by Tomo Takahashi in 2010 and has over 50 locations with more set to open. The Japanese philosophy of “kaizen”, meaning “continuous improvement” has JINYA giving the best ramen guests to enjoy.

“Since opening our first location in Chandler, Arizona 2 years ago, we’ve felt so welcomed by the community,” says owner Daradee Olson. “We’re excited to be in such a lively part of the city with our newest location so close to all of the economic development in the Central Phoenix area. The JINYA experience is like no other, and we just can’t wait to continue sharing it with local residents and all the visitors that flock to Phoenix from all over the world.”

JINYA Ramen Bar
Spicy Tuna Tacos- All photos courtesy of JINYA Ramen Bar

At JINYA Ramen bar guests will experience a modern Japanese ambiance while enjoying their slow cooked ramen. The rich broth is simmered for 20 hours before being combined with noodles and toppings including chashu pork, a seasoned poached egg and more. The menu offers signature ramen bowls along with build your own bowls. Signature ramen bowls include Spicy Chicken, Shrimp Wonton and Spicy Umami Miso ramen. Vegetarian and gluten free bowls are also on the menu along with Small Plates and Chef Specials of Spicy Tuna Tacos, a JINYA Bun and Pork Spare Ribs. Rice and Curry Bowls are also popular dishes. A full bar is available to enhance the customer experience to pair with ramen or Japanese tapas.

The Phoenix location is at 5120 N. Central Ave. and is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. For more information and to view the menu visit their website.

Check out my podcast Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast with Sandy Wasserman to hear from those in our community. Please subscribe, like & comment.

Provision refocuses its concept at Uptown and Arcadia locations

When Daniel Suh first opened Provision in 2011 as a wholesale coffee roaster he envisioned building community through coffee, food & beverages. He then opened the first location on 32nd St. in Arcadia wanting a Austrian styled cafe to help achieve his vision, as it became successful he opened a 2nd location on 7th St. in Uptown Phoenix in 2022. Since the pandemic he’s noticed changes in what customers want at each location and is refocusing to meet their desires.

“Today, it’s no secret that many in the food and beverage industry are struggling — us included,” says Suh. “These industry-wide challenges pushed us to take a look at where we’ve been, where we are today and what our mission is for the future. We realized that we’re getting further away from the experience that really did make Provision so special over the years. After a lot of deliberation, we’ve got a brand new vision.”

The 7th St. location is now a restaurant and cocktail bar focused concept. The artisan coffee program has been changed and new dishes have been added to the always evolving menu. Beverages are now served in glassware & ceramic and wi-fi is being phased out to give customers a better experience.

The Arcadia location will focus on coffee and take-out with the change taking place over the next few months. The menu will be phased out with an emphasis on coffee & tea beverages along with light foods and pastries.

The changes are Suh’s way of staying committed to the customer experience and will continue to evolve when needed.

Check out my podcast Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast with Sandy Wasserman to hear from those in our community. Please subscribe, like & comment.

Phoenix Suns Gorilla helps create new pizza with Spinato’s

As the new season for the Phoenix Suns is about to start their mascot had a busy off season. The Gorilla has been working hard at creating the new “Courtside Classic” pizza with Spinato’s Pizzeria and will be showing it off at launch party next week. After working on several recipes everybody decided the “Courtside Classic” will be made with Spinato’s classic red sauce, hot Soppressata (Italian dry salami), Spinato’s secret spice, house-pickled jalapeños, red onions and mozzarella. The pizza will be made with fresh dough and ingredients for every Suns and Mercury game.

Spinato’s co-owner Anthony Spinato was impressed with the Gorilla’s pizza making skills. “We didn’t know what to expect, but he did a pretty good job helping me in the kitchen,” Spinato said. “He’s nimble and has a good work ethic. If he wasn’t working for the Suns, we might consider hiring him.” It’s not the first time Spinato’s has partnered with someone outside the family as they just finished a collaboration with the Wizard of Za and Beer Research Institute.

Phoenix Suns
Courtside Classic Pizza

The pizza will be available at all Spinato’s locations and at The Footprint Center starting Tuesday, October 11th for $28.50. The Central Phoenix location will host a launch party on the 11th from 4-6 p.m. and will feature Phoenix Suns Gorilla, Phoenix Suns Dancers, the Mercury Scorch, State 48 and Four Peaks Brewing Company. Spinato’s ran a contest to choose the name of the new pizza and Maria Linder won a $100 gift card.

The Central Phoenix location of Spinato’s is at 5509 N. 7th St. Phoenix 85014.