Smokin Fins Grand Opening in Chandler March 6th

Ready to open on March 6th at 11am, Smokin Fins is bringing the Colorado-based restaurant which is part of an Idaho-based "Fins" restaurant group to Chandler at 900 N. 54th St. #1 Chandler, AZ, 85226.  Influenced by Asian, Mexican, and Pacific Northwest cuisine, Smokin Fins describes themselves this way:

"Smokin Fins is a regional restaurant concept featuring a unique menu that blends ocean fresh seafood, sushi and house smoked specialties such as baby back ribs, turkey and slow smoked pork"

Photo by: Smokin Fins

The extensive menu according to Smokin Fins makes them a "food and beverage destination with something for everyone!" Check it out here.  Some notables:

• Key Lime Calamari - Hand-cut calamari, lightly breaded, with Fins Signature key lime aioli
• Smoked Bison Meatballs - House made Bison meatballs blended with smoked gouda cheese and baked in a tomato ragout w/ fresh arugula and shaved parmesan
• Vegas - Lobster-crab salad, habanero cream cheese, and rice rolled in seaweed and tempura fried; topped with spicy tuna, wasabi soy sauce, eel sauce and spicy aioli
• Pulled Pork - Korabuta pork slow smoked for ten hours, topped with appleslaw, red onion, and Dr. Pepper bourbon BBQ sauce. Served with fries
• Argentinian Flank Steak - Sliced American Kobe flank steak marinated and grilled, served with house charred vegetables and mashed potatoes. Covered in red and yellow Peruvian street sauce
• Lemon Caper Halibut - Alaskan Halibut over Chef’s signature risotto with a lemon caper beurre blanc, fresh Roma tomato, basil, and parmesan cheese
• Smoked Salmon Chopped Salad - Arugula, Israeli couscous, tomato, roasted corn, pepitas, house smoked salmon, and parmesan cheese. Tossed together in bacon herb dressing.

Other menu items include burgers, soups, dessert, wine and beer, of which they have five local brews. Hours for Smokin Fins will be 11am to 10pm Monday - Saturday and 11am to 9pm Sunday.  

Culinary Dropout to Anchor New Central Phoenix Development

The development, located at 5632 N. 7th St. Phoenix, AZ 85014, is looking to open sometime late this Fall.  According to the press release, the development is described as:

...an indoor/outdoor urban dining and lounging hub...in the heart of Central Phoenix. Housed in a former auto and motorcycle dealership known for its iconic steel shade structure, the multi-use space will share a large park-like outdoor recreation area and beer garden and will be anchored by Fox Restaurant Concepts' second Arizona Culinary Dropout and a new fish house and oyster bar. The development will also include a local coffee shop and two retail spaces, which will be operated by other local companies.

This will be the second Culinary Dropout in Arizona, with the first one near Fashion Square Mall at 7135 E. Camelback Rd. #125 Scottsdale, AZ 85251. 

Hinted at above, the new unnamed fish house and oyster bar by Fox Restaurant Concepts:

...will have a Brooklyn-like vibe and be reminiscent of an old urban seafood shack. The restaurant will serve a raw bar focused menu, in addition to comfort food such as chowders, fish and chips, and po-boys. From the raw bar, order fresh seafood such as prawns, razor clams, and oysters flown in daily. Pairing well with the menu, the fish house will also serve a stand-out white wine menu and an eclectic beer list.

Besides the food, developers are hoping the large shaded park area will attract people with live music, outdoor games, and of course, ample parking.

Monsterland Bar & Grill Opening Friday the 13th

What kind of restaurant would decide to have their grand opening on Friday the 13th? A monster themed bar and grill of course.  On Friday the 13th in April, Monsterland Bar & Grill will open for business in Downtown Mesa at 18 W. Main St. Mesa, AZ 85201.  Promising signature dishes, 20 Arizona microbrews, including seasonal options, an outdoor patio, dance floor, and a premium sound system, Monsterland Bar & Grill is hoping to give their patrons a truly unique experience. 

According to the press release, "The Monsterland Bar & Grill is family friendly until 9pm so bring the whole family for lunch or dinner, but after 9pm patrons must be 21 or older."  Additionally, while there will be no cover charge for opening night, cover charges "will vary depending on events starting at 10pm most nights."

Hours and regular events for Monsterland are as follows:

• Wednesday: 11am to Midnight - Country/Southern Rock Night.
• Thursday: 11am to Midnight - Team Trivia from 7pm to 9pm with Karaoke from 9:30 to closing.
• Friday: 11am to 2am - Live music on 1st & 2nd Fridays of the month.
• Saturday: 11am to 2am - 4th Saturday of each month will have a costume theme, live music, and no cover for ladies.

Notably, October will be a special time for the restaurant:

In October, Monsterland will transform into our 2nd Annual, two story haunted house that boasts Hollywood quality sets, animated props and costumes. Our giant outdoor patio will feature live video footage of all our victims cringing in horror through our maze of creatures and monsters while you laugh and relish in a frothy beverage or grub from our signature menu. Watch your friends and family run out screaming! Our patio is family friendly until 9pm, and will be available on a first come first serve basis. Seats will be limited so please plan ahead. Your adrenaline infused experience inside the haunted house includes an experience that will keep you awake at night and spine tingling thrills! Our performers will take you to a different time where only the best of horror classics lurk! Be sure to watch our website for special times and lights on hours for the little goblins that scare easily!

Check out the restaurant's FAQ for further information on the "Scary Good Times" and "Horrific Family Fun."

Nimbus Bistro Opening in Scottsdale

Opening their second location, Nimbus American Bistro & Brewery is set to swing open their doors on March 15 at 7001 N. Scottsdale Rd. #147 Scottsdale, AZ 85253 in the Scottsdale Seville.  The Nimbus website states that they will be serving, "American grill favorites, sandwiches, pizzas, pastas, salads, cocktails and our world famous Nimbus Brewery line of delectable beers, seven days a week."  To get a better idea, check out the menus for the original location in Tucson. 

The hours for Nimbus in Scottsdale are as follows:

• Sunday - Wednesday: 11am to 11pm
• Thursday: 11am to Midnight
• Friday - Saturday: 11am to 2am
• Happy Hour: Daily from 3pm to 6pm
• Reverse Happy Hour: Friday and Saturday 10pm - 2am

Nimbus will have live entertainment on Saturdays and will show every NFL game during football season.  In terms of atmosphere, assuming the Scottsdale restaurant is similar to the Tucson spot, Nimbus "invites the entire family to enjoy the atmosphere of our nationally acclaimed brew pub, right in your backyard."

New Mesa Restaurant to Serve Hot Dogs, Bratwurst, & More

Photo by Fritz's Footlong

Opening at 10am this Friday, February 17, Fritz's Footlong is taking over the former location of Smokey's Bar & Grill at 1734 E. Main St. #5 Mesa, AZ 85203.  Fritz's will be serving Johnsonville bratwurst, all beef Sabrett hot dogs, burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries, soda, beer, and according to their Facebook page, will have over 20 toppings to choose from.

Please note, as you can see from the photo to the right, Fritz's is open from 10am to 10pm daily and does not accept credit cards or debit cards, they are cash only. 

El Pollo Loco Begins Offering Fish Tacos

Going on from now until mid-April, El Pollo Loco will be serving up two different fish tacos: the Classic Baja Fish Taco and the Spicy Chipotle Fish Taco.  According to QSR:

Both tacos feature lightly beer-battered Alaskan Pollock. Sustainably fished from the very cold waters of the Bering Sea, Alaskan Pollock is the freshest filet available. The light beer batter takes on an extra kick of flavor with heat from Cayenne pepper.  Beer-battered Pollock filets are tucked into warm corn tortillas and topped with shredded cabbage and fresh cilantro. The Classic Baja Fish Taco is drizzled with a Baja style Lime Crema sauce and the Spicy Chipotle Fish Taco is topped with smoky hot Chipotle sauce. A slice of fresh lime adds a burst of citrus flavor to each taco.

In terms of nutrition, the Classic Baja Fish Taco has 252 calories, 13.5 grams of fat and 7 grams of protein.  Meanwhile, the Spicy Chipotle Fish Taco has 254 calories, 13.5 grams of fat and 7 grams of protein.

With 17 locations in the Phoenix area and 1 location in Tucson, there is bound to be an El Pollo Loco near you. 

Scottsdale Restaurant Boom Continues

The AZFoodDude recently reported on the soon to come Grassroots Restaurant at 8120 N. Hayden Rd. Suite E-100 Scottsdale, AZ 85258, and the recently opened Caldero, but there are quite a few other restaurants coming to Scottsdale in the near future...

The House - 6936 E. Main St. Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - The owner of Zinc Bistro and The Mission is jumping into another venture.  Described as less expensive than his other restaurants, Chef Matt Carter promises, "an international menu of shareable dishes, everything from paella and poutine to charcuterie and macaroni and cheese." The House is looking to open this upcoming spring.

Au Petit Four - 7217 E. 4th Ave. Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - Planning to open by the end of the year, Au Petit Four is probably best known for their pastries, some of which include, "Bavarian flan, eclairs, brioche, apple turnovers, palmiers, scones, custard creams, tartines and pain Suisse, a sweet croissant dough folded over dark chocolate chips then baked." In addition, this French themed cafe specializes in grab-n-go dishes.

CB&C's Burger Challenge - Photo by: CB&C 

Cold Beer & Cheeseburgers - 20745 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85255 - Having opened late last month, CB&C specializes in Build Your Own Burgers.  While building your burger or eating one of the other various menu items such as Prime Rib Sliders, Asian Chicken Salad or Kosher Hot Dogs, you can watch TV on one of their 15 plasma HD televisions. 

Calistro California Bistro - Scottsdale Rd. & McDonald Dr. - Set to open at the Hilton Village Shopping Center in January or February, Calistro will feature, "earth-friendly, farm-to-table Mediterranean theme with wood-fired oven dishes and healthy touches, such as using silken tofu instead of butter, cream or mayonnaise." This will be Calistro's second location and the prices are aiming to be near or lower than Houston's and J. Alexander's.

Cask 63 American Eatery and Wine Bar - 8877 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85258 - Slated to open in January, Cask 63, which was first reported to be "Highgrove Grill," will be opening where Bloom recently closed.  AZCentral got a look at a preview menu which included, "wild mushroom flatbread layered in Fontina cheese sauce, caramelized onion, balsamic reduction and truffle oil ($11), tuna Nicoise salad ($14), Clear Springs Farms rainbow trout Meuniere or Amandine ($15, $18), Madeira braised beef short ribs with warm beet salad and candied apple and fig ($16, $23), filet mignon with parsnip puree ($28), and lobster pot pie ($26)."  Along with these items, there will be a daily taco special, a daily sea bass recipe and a daily oyster bar.

A Taste of Greece: 2011 Greek Festival This Weekend (11/11-11/13)

Beginning today (11/11) and going through Sunday (11/13), St. Katherine Church at 2716 N. Dobson Rd. Chandler, AZ 85224 will be hosting the '2011 A Taste of Greece Festival.'  The hours for the event are 11am to 9pm Friday and Saturday and 11am to 7pm on Sunday with free parking on the northeast corner of Dobson and Elliot Roads. Admission for the general public is $3, Veterans showing their military ID will get in for free and children under 12 will also get in for free.

The event will have Greek food, pastries, beer, wine tasting, live Greek music, a kid's zone and a raffle.  You can check out the menu for the event to get an idea of the prices.

AMC Esplanade 14 Set to Open as Dine-In Theater on September 7

Starting September 7, the AMC Esplanade 14 at 2515 E Camelback Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85016 will be reopening for business. When they closed for renovations they were just another AMC Theater in the valley, but now the AMC Esplanade will become the ninth theater in the country by AMC to have dine-in service. According to the press release, 9 of the 14 theaters will be known as "Fork & Screen" with amenities such as:

• Casual, in-theatre dining
• Upgraded, comfortable reserved seating
• Table-top dining
• Seat-side service and a personal call button that discreetly alerts a server
• An extensive menu including entrees such as quesadillas, burgers, flatbread pizzas, grilled sandwiches and house specialties as well as appetizers and desserts
• A wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic specialty drinks, beer and wine
• Fork & Screen guests must be at least 18 years old unless accompanied by a parent or guardian

The remaining five theaters are under the "Cinema Suites" banner, which includes:

• Premium, upscale in-theatre dining
• Reserved seating in luxury recliners
• Up to nine feet of row spacing
• A personal call button that discreetly alerts a server
• The entire Fork & Screen menu, plus Cinema Suites specialties such as Bleu Cheese Chips, Blackened Salmon and Lobster Ravioli served on unique swivel tables via seat-side service
• A wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic specialty drinks, beer and wine
• Cinema Suites guests must be at least 21 years old

In addition, located within the AMC Esplanade 14 will be MacGuffins, a bar and lounge area where AMC hopes people will hang out before and/or after the movie. MacGuffins will serve the entire theater menu, beer, wine and cocktails. It is noted that minors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older.

Wondering how much tickets and food will cost?

Ticket prices range from $6-15, depending on day of week and showtime, for the Dine-in Theatre experience. Menu items start at $6.59-8.99 for appetizers and adult entrees range from $8.59-11.99.

Coal Burger Opening Second Arizona Restaurant

Coal Burger is the creation of the Grimaldi's Pizzeria folks and that creation is about to have its second opening in Arizona. With the first one at the Scottsdale Quarter area, the new location will be at 7131 W. Ray Rd. #25 Chandler, AZ 85226 next to the recently opened Grimaldi's.

Looking at an August opening, Coal Burger uses a coal-fired oven and has varieties of burgers, chicken, sides, salads, gelato shakes, beer and wine on the menu. We'll know shortly what the hours of the Chandler location will be, but the Scottsdale location is open from 11am to 9pm.

You can also find out more about Coal Burger on Facebook.

Tilted Kilt Opening at Phoenix CityScape in Late June

Tempe-based Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery is almost ready to open in downtown Phoenix at 2 E. Jefferson St. #22-217 Phoenix, AZ 85004. According to their Twitter feed, they are headed for a late June opening in the CityScape development.

Currently, Tilted Kilt has four valley locations with one each in Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe and Peoria. Never been to the one of their eateries? You can check out the large menu here, which includes Irish Nachos, Drunken Clams, roasted garlic fries, burgers, chicken, the Tilted Guilt dessert and plenty of alcohol.