Kona Grill Opening in Scottsdale Quarter

On June 12th, Locally based Kona Grill, which operates over 40 locations across the country, is set to open their newest restaurant in Arizona. The newest spot located at 15345 N. Scottsdale Rd. Suite #K-100 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 in the Scottsdale Quarter will be their fifth in the state.

Along with a menu focusing on modern American cuisine, Kona Grill has an extensive sushi menu that features fish flown in everyday.  A few highlights:

• Kona Churrasco - Flank steak, chimichurri sauce, house mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables
• Macadamia Nut Chicken - House mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, shoyu cream, pineapple-papaya marmalade
• Cuban Sandwich - Braised kalua pork, ham, swiss, homemade pickles, mustard, baguette, sweet potato fries
• Lobster & Tuna Flatbread - Avocado, red onion, tomato, citrus aioli

You can check out the rest of the menu here and look for other locations.

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.

Detours Tavern Opening in Scottsdale (Exclusive Sample Menu)

Looking to open in early April, Detours Tavern will be located at 2922 N. Hayden Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85251.  Detours will offer organic, all-natural meat selections and hopes to promote healthy food choices.  The newest restaurant and bar in South Scottsdale will have televisions, a patio, and a family friendly atmosphere.

Having seen a preliminary menu, the AZFoodDude can once again provide you with an exclusive look at a sample list which includes appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches & burgers, entrees, pizza, and dessert:

Appetizers

• Crisp Tender Calamari ($8)
• Artichoke Dip w/Flatbread ($8)
• Homemade Hummus w/Pita Chips ($7)
• Beer Battered Onion Rings ($7)

Salads

• Field Greens w/Feta Cheese & Pecans ($9) - Add Grilled Chicken ($2)
• Grilled Salmon Over Field Greens ($11)

Sandwiches/Burgers

• 1/3lb Detour Burger ($8) - Detour to a Bison Burger ($2.50) - Ground Turkey ($2) - Add Bacon ($1)
• Green Chili Burger ($8) - Detour to a Bison Burger ($3) - Ground Turkey ($2)
• California Burger on Grilled Parmesan Bread ($9) - Detour to a Bison Burger ($3) - Ground Turkey ($2)
• Chicken Salad Pita w/Sprouts ($8)
• Grilled Chicken on Sourdough ($9)
• Portobello Burger w/Roasted Red Pepper ($10)

Entrees

• Pork Loin Medallions w/Shallots & Apples ($12)
• Grilled Chicken Breast Marinated in Tequila Lime ($12)
• Sirloin Steak ($13)
• Fish of the Day ($14)

Wood Fired Pizza/Flatbread

• Roma Tomatoes, Basil, Roasted Red & Green Peppers ($7) - Add Shrimp ($2) - Chicken ($1)
• Sausage, Pepperoni, & Country Bacon ($9)
• Chicken & Artichoke Hearts ($10)
• Build Your Own ($8) - Additional toppings are ($1)

Desserts

• Assorted Pies, Cakes, & Muffins ($6-$8) 

More information can be found on the Detours Tavern Facebook page.

JITB News: New Bacon Milkshake, Phoenix Misses Out On Fish Promo

The first new promotion at Jack in the Box is the Bacon Shake...I'll let that sink in for a second...

Made with real vanilla ice cream, bacon flavored syrup, whipped topping and a maraschino cherry.

Okay, so if you are brave enough to order one, there are a few things you should know.  First, get there fast since the quantities being delivered to Jack in the Box restaurants are said to be "as limited as limited can be." Next, according to a spokesman for the restaurant, "The shake is not listed on our menus in the restaurants, so it's more of a 'secret item' that people can order."  Finally, the nutrition of the 16 oz. Bacon Milkshake includes 773 calories, 40 grams of fat (28 saturated), 75 grams of sugar, and 12 grams of protein. 

Next we have a promotion that is specifically skipping over the Phoenix metro area.  The $2.99 Fish Sandwich Combo includes small fries, a small drink, and "two lightly battered fillets of Alaskan Pollock topped with lettuce and tartar sauce and served on a warm sesame seed bun"  Along with this, for $4.59, Jack in the Box is Jack "offering Fish & Chips, which includes three fish fillets and small order of fries along with a side of tartar sauce and malt vinegar."

Sadly for those of you that enjoy something fishy in the Phoenix area, at the bottom of the press release, Jack in the Box points out, "These promotions are not available in Phoenix."  If the AZFoodDude is not mistaken, these items are on the menu, so why is it that they can do the promotion in Tucson, Flagstaff, etc. but not in Phoenix?  And if they are not on the menu anymore and this is a special limited time deal, then what's preventing the distribution trucks from stopping in Phoenix when they are moving along the I-10 from California to Tucson and further east?  What's even better is the fact that we have a distribution center in Phoenix.  Not cool for the fish-loving folks in Phoenix, Jack.

Texas-Based Sushi Restaurant to Hit Phoenix & Tucson

How Do You Roll? The Custom Sushi Shop will be opening in Phoenix at 1515 N. 7th Ave. #100 Phoenix, AZ 85003 followed one week later by their opening in Tucson at 914 E. Speedway Blvd. #110 Tucson, AZ 85719 in mid-February.  You can view the menu of the sushi shop here, but the press release offers some information as well:

How Do You Roll? offers a modern twist to the traditional Japanese cuisine. Upon entering the restaurant, consumers follow a line and build their own sushi rolls with many unique ingredient choices. Newcomers to sushi, and those who shy away from raw fish, will be surprised to find grilled chicken and beef, whereas sushi aficionados can enjoy more typical-to-sushi options like spicy tuna and unagi. How Do You Roll? also offers gluten-free and vegetarian ingredients.

The Austin, TX based company began in 2008 and the two Arizona locations are among their first ventures outside of their home state. 

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.