Grassroots - New Concept by Wally's Owners to Open Soon in Scottsdale

The owners of Wally's American Pub N' Grille at Gainey Ranch and Arcadia are set to open their "next generation concept" named Grassroots at 8120 N. Hayden Rd. Suite E-100 Scottsdale, AZ 85258.

One of the goals of the new concept is to provide great tasting dishes that cater to the health and cost conscious while also offering a socially inviting atmosphere.

Grassroots aims to use locally grown vegetables and will offer "spit-fire roasting, wood-chip smoking and open-flame grilling as flavorful methods of preparing made-from-scratch classics."

The AZFoodDude will pass along more information as it becomes available.

UPDATE (12-13-11): Check out a sample of menu items obtained by the AZFoodDude.
UPDATE (12-16-11): Grassroots is now open.

Bloom Closes in Scottsdale, Highgrove Grill to Take Place

Bloom, over at 8877 N. Scottsdale Rd. #402 Scottsdale, AZ 85253 closed over the weekend.  From AZCentral:

According to Fox, the move resulted from a combination of circumstances. On the one hand, Fox acknowledged that after a decade, Bloom needed to be "remodeled and renovated." On the other hand, he said, "we were at a crossroads," because Bloom "is not a brand we are going to grow." So when he got an offer from Highgrove Grill to take over the lease and buy the furnishings and equipment, he accepted "with mixed emotions."

Hoping to open in a few weeks, Highgrove Grill will be an "American eatery and wine bar."

Cooking Classes at Phoenix Public Market, Public Invited to Register

Phoenix Public Market has been hosting cooking classes since late last month and has five more to go over the next few Saturdays from 2pm to 4pm. Each class costs $45 and is taught by a local valley chef. In general, each class is described as a:

Two-hour cooking class, including tastings, two beverages of the chef’s choice and take-home recipes. Each chef will have their own unique theme for summertime cooking.

The Phoenix Public Market is located at 14 E. Pierce St. Phoenix, AZ 85004. The remaining classes are scheduled as follows:

• 8/13 - Chef Doug Robson - Gallo Blanco Cafe & Bar
• 8/20 - Chef Tracy Dempsey - Tracy Dempsey Originals
• 8/27 - Chef Jen Anderson - Windsor
• 9/03 - Chef John Hall - Canela Bistro
• 9/10 - Chef Michael Brown - Jamburritos Cajun Grille

If you would like to attend any of the classes, be sure to register here, where you can also find additional details about each specific class.

Postino Winecafé Coming to Gilbert

Postino Winecafé already has two locations in Phoenix and come October, they will have a third. To be located at 302 N. Gilbert Rd. Gilbert, AZ 85233, Postino Winecafé will be taking over a spot that has had five different restaurants in the past 14 years. For those of you trying to remember what restaurants have been in the building, the East Valley Tribune has the past tenants:

Original tenant Mohogany Run lasted the longest, three years. Hearthrob Cafe, Rock City Bar & Grill and GrainBelt GrillHouse failed quickly. Even a place named for Arizona Diamondbacks legend Luis Gonzalez — Gonzo’s All-American Grill — was open for only 11 months.

Other businesses in the area have high hopes for Postino due to its reputation at the other two locations at 3939 E. Campbell Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85018 and 5144 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85012.

In addition to the wine, Postino has soup, salad, paninis and desserts. You can check out the menu here and have a look at the Saturday and Sunday Brunch menu.

Scottsdale Getting Multiple New Restaurants Later This Year

AZCentral seems to be rolling in stories about new restaurants coming to Scottsdale. So, let's get started:

Lamp Wood Oven Pizzeria - Specializing in Neapolitan pizza, Lamp Wood Oven Pizzeria will be firing up pizzas in their oven at no less than the required temperature of 905 degrees. The menu isn't finished just yet, but there will be a few appetizers like zucchini cakes as well as beer and wine and of course a lot of pizzas. From the article,

...The Scientist (thinly sliced Italian-cured meats and green olives), The Simple (wild arugula, shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, olive oil and prosciutto crudo), and a white pie called The Gordon (dried capacolla, spinach, crimini mushrooms, goat cheese, garlic and sharp provolone). 

Lamp Wood Oven Pizzeria will be located at 8900 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85255 and is looking to open in late September or the first part of October.

Lotus Bar & Grill - Next up, the Lotus Bar & Grill will be serving up the unique fusion of Asian fare with a sports bar. It is made clear by the article that there will be two separate areas, the grill area where you can dine as in a normal restaurant and the bar area where you can eat but also take advantage of almost 30 HD TV's. The menu looks like a mix of all kinds of Asian dishes, everything from Chinese to Indian and Japanese to Korean. Open from 11am - 11pm, Sunday through Thursday and 11am - Midnight on Friday and Saturday, the Lotus Bar & Grill will be located at 9030 E. Via Linda Scottsdale, AZ 85258 and is reported to be opening within the next few days.

Barrio Queen Tequileria & Silvana Bistro - While the plans for her Gilbert restaurant fell through, Silvana Esparza will be opening a casual eatery and a high-end restaurant at the former spot of Metro Brasserie at 7114 E. Stetson Dr. Scottsdale, AZ 85251. According to AZCentral, Barrio Queen Tequileria will feature "tacos, pork al pastor, posole, pambazos (a street sandwich like a torta), mole, aguas frescas and margaritas." Meanwhile, Silvana Bistro

...will be a "Euro-Mexican" concept that is "on the elegant side of Mexican cuisine." Featured dishes will include lamb steamed in a bag made of maguey cactus, duck-confit tacos, and jalapeños stuffed with salmon escabeche.

It should be noted that Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza is behind the successful Barrio Café at 2814 N. 16th St. Phoenix, AZ 85006. According to the Barrio Culinary Concepts website, both restaurants will be opening later this year, Barrio Tequileria in late fall and Silvana in the winter.

"Portland's Friendliest" Thirsty Lion Pub & Grill Headed to Tempe

The Thirsty Lion Pub & Grill will soon have their first restaurant outside of their home state of Oregon, where they currently have two establishments. Luckily for those of you in the Phoenix area, the Tempe Marketplace is to be the new home of what is called "the friendliest pub in Portland." 

To be located where Maria Maria was at 2000 E. Rio Salado Pkwy. #K1 Tempe, AZ 85281, the Thirsty Lion Pub & Grill will offer a large menu with something for everyone. One section of the menu states, "we are committed to using local & Northwest products and ingredients." Does this mean we'll get to try some special products from Oregon in Tempe, or will they be adapting that policy to Arizona and use local Arizona ingredients in their recipes? It seems that only time will tell because the Thirsty Lion will reportedly open in October.

Update (10-14-11): According to the Thirsty Lion website, the Tempe location will be opening on Tuesday, November 1.

Señor Frog's to Open in Las Vegas

If you've been to one of the many popular Caribbean or Mexican tourist spots, such as Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, the Bahamas or Puerto Rico, then you've probably seen one. In a few months though, you'll only have to travel a few hours northwest, depending on where you live in the state. Our neighbors in Las Vegas are soon to have a Señor Frog's Bar and Grill. There's no date certain yet, but it looks to open later this year at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino.

This will be the second Señor Frog's on the U.S. mainland, with the other restaurant in Myrtle Beach, SC. Never been to one? Known for a crazy party atmosphere, they also have a very large variety on their menu even though they are Mexican-themed. Everything from BBQ, burgers and pasta, to the obvious Mexican dishes. If you'd like to see for yourself, check out Señor Frog's Menu.

Update (6-23-11): Phil Ruffin, owner of Treasure Island, hopes to open Señor Frog's in December.
Update (4-10-12): After plenty of delays and speculation it seems that we can finally count on Señor Frog's Las Vegas opening later this month.  Of note, from the time the AZFoodDude originally wrote this story to now, another Señor Frog's location was announced and opened in Orlando, thus making the Señor Frog's in Las Vegas the third location on the U.S. mainland.

Fox Sports Grill in Scottsdale is Now The Canyon Club

According to AZCentral, a slow economy hurt the Fox Sports Grill in Scottsdale over the past few years. It was either close or change things up and the Fox Sports Grill is doing just that by becoming The Canyon Club. What's on tap for the changed spot? New California business partner, Lance Sterling:

"...eventually wants to transform the current sports concept to Far Eastern decor with a more loungelike setting, live entertainment and dancing - essentially, a spin-off of his California business"

While the name has changed and there are some new people involved, according to manager Chris Waters, "a slightly different menu and some furniture rearrangements are it for now."

This is the second Canyon Club to open in the country with the original being in Agoura Hills, CA. Scottsdale's Canyon Club is located at 16203 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85260.

If you head over to the tickets section of the Canyon Club website, you can find some of the artists performing soon at the Scottsdale location. For now, it seems much of what you'll find on the main Canyon Club website is dedicated to the location in California.