Food News From Around the State

The AZFoodDude knows it's been quiet here, so with a free moment today, here are some food headlines from around the state over the past week or so.  All stories are courtesy of AZCentral:

Tucson Restaurant, Janos, Closing After 29 Years

May's Vitamin T in Downtown Phoenix Shuts Down, Plans to Open Praying Monk in Scottsdale 

El Santo Cantina, Patio Bar, & Restaurant Has Opened Near Scottsdale Airport 

Three Different Restaurants Specializing in Barbecue Opening in Chandler

Chef Chu Closes Sens Asian Tapas & Sake Bar, Opening SoChu House and Lantern

Ranch House Grille in Arcadia, Closed Since November 2010, Has Now Reopened

Two New Babbo Italian Eatery Locations Opening in the East Valley

Dickey's Barbecue Pit Opening Second Scottsdale Location

The Dallas-based barbecue chain is set to have their third Arizona location open this June.  Located at 7919 E. Thomas Rd. #111 Scottsdale, AZ 85257, this spot will be the second in Scottsdale.  With over 15 years in the restaurant industry, local franchisee Erik Forrest hopes to "bring great authentic barbecue with a family friendly environment to the area." 

An additional location opened last August in Mesa, meanwhile the Dickey's in Phoenix closed late last year.  Find out more about their food by checking out the Dickey's menu. 

Cheesecake Factory Adds 14 New Items

There are currently six Cheesecake Factory locations in Arizona, one in Tucson and five in the Valley, and now, available at all of them, are 14 new items on top of the over 200 dishes already offered. 

The new items are:

SkinnyLicious(TM) Shrimp Creole - Photo by: The Cheesecake Factory

• Santorini Farro Salad - A fresh light combination of farro, cucumbers, tomatoes, beets, red onion, Feta cheese and tzatziki. Tossed with vinaigrette
• SkinnyLicious™ Chicken Enchiladas - Covered with our red chile sauce and melted cheese. Served with escabeche vegetable salad
• SkinnyLicious™ Pasta - Gemelli pasta with sautéed chicken, fresh tomato, marinara sauce and fresh basil
• Island Grilled Chicken - Grilled soy glazed chicken breasts topped with macadamia nuts. Served with fresh vegetables and a little white rice
• Shrimp Creole - Shrimp simmered in a spicy Tasso-tomato sauce with sautéed peppers, onions and garlic. Served with a little white rice
• Shrimp Toast Lollipops - With ginger, garlic, green onion, cilantro and sesame oil, lightly breaded and fried crisp
• Shrimp and Grits - Sweet corn-white cheddar grits, covered with sautéed shrimp and spicy Tasso sauce
• Fresh Kale Salad - Cranberries, apples, Marcona almonds and green beans. Tossed with our buttermilk-black pepper dressing
• Papas Bravas - A Spanish favorite. Crispy, golden brown potatoes served with garlic aioli and spicy bravas sauce
• Over the Top Meatloaf Sandwich - Covered with Guinness® marinated Swiss cheese, portabella mushrooms, caramelized onions, aioli and arugula on grilled brioche. Served with housemade tomato-bacon jam
• Green Chilaquiles with Carnitas and Eggs - Tender slow-cooked pork with roasted poblano peppers, cheese, onions, cilantro and crisp corn tortillas. Garnished with tomatillo-chile sauce, tomato and sour cream
• Sweet Corn-White Cheddar Grits
• Coffee Mocha Chip Shake - Creamy coffee ice cream blended with chocolate chips
• Nutty Chocolate Marshmallow Shake - Our Chocolate Shake with marshmallow and toasted almonds

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."

Freddy's Scottsdale Location Revealed

Freddy's Mint 'n Cookie Concrete

After almost 10 months of reporting on a promised Scottsdale location by Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, the AZFoodDude can now report that the restaurant will be located at 9890 N. 90th St. Scottsdale, AZ 85258.  In the same shopping center as IHOP, Schlotzsky's, Taco Bell, etc, Freddy's is hoping to take its own share in an area busy with food options.

An opening date is not known at this time, however, providing the Scottsdale location opens before the proposed Mesa location mentioned here, this will be the eighth Freddy's in the state.  Stay tuned for updates.

You can check out other stories on previous Freddy's openings here and here.

Update (7-15-12): Freddy's has removed the upcoming(?) Scottsdale location from their website with no further details available.

Phoenix Eaters in the Top 10 in Taxes, Tucson & Mesa Not Far Behind

NRN has a report out by a Washington, D.C. based think tank which ranked cities with the highest taxes when purchasing restaurant meals.  According to the survey by the Tax Foundation:

During the recession, an increasing number of municipalities, ranging from Omaha, to 146 of Massachusetts’ 351 cities and towns, enacted meals taxes in addition to regular sales taxes to help make up for revenue shortfalls.

The #1 city on the list was Minneapolis with a 7.775% sales tax and then an additional 3% meals tax creating a 10.775% tax on the bill.  Also of note is #3 Virginia Beach, VA which came in with a 5% sales tax but a whopping 5.5% meals tax for a total of 10.5% in taxes.

Phoenix, it should be noted, did not enact an additional meals tax, however, the 9.3% sales tax was high enough to tie Phoenix for the #7 spot.  But Phoenix is not the only Arizona city on the list.  Coming in at #11 is Tucson with a 9.1% tax and Mesa at #13 with a rate of 9.05%.  Again, both of these cities did not add a meals tax onto their sales taxes.

More information and the Tax Foundation's top 50 list can be found here.

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. 

Cousins Subs Opens 9th Arizona Location

Cousins Subs recently opened up their newest spot over at 2100 W. Chandler Blvd. Chandler, AZ 85224. Franchisee Cliff Jones decided to open another location after he found his Mesa restaurant doing so well.  In addition to being the first Arizona restaurant with the company's new look and according to the Cousins Subs website, the first in the state to allow online ordering:

Not only will Jones’ newest store offer deli-style sandwiches with freshly sliced meats and vegetables, the store is the first in the area to serve-up fries and grilled sandwiches.

According to the press release, multiple other stores are in the works over the next few years.  Check out Cousins Subs menu here and other Arizona locations here.

Freddy's Opens 2 More Restaurants, Promises Mesa Location

Photo by Freddy's - Marana, AZ

Just this past November, the AZFoodDude updated you on the newest upcoming Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers locations in the state.  Now, the AZFoodDude can report that the two Freddy's locations mentioned in the previous article, one at 3476 W. Frye Rd. Chandler, AZ 85226 and the other in the Tucson area at 3725 W. Orange Grove Rd. Marana, AZ 85741 are now open. 

While still having no further news on the previously noted Scottsdale location, Freddy's has announced the opening of their first spot in Mesa.  At this time however, there are no address details.  Stay tuned for updates.

Firehouse Subs Opening New Locations, Testing New Sandwich in Phoenix

Firehouse Subs recently began selling a new sandwich that will be available until March 4 in the Phoenix market as part of a four city test.  The new Hawaiian Pork Slaw Sandwich is priced at $5.99 here and is made of, "hardwood smoked pulled pork, pepper Jack cheese and cole slaw on a sweet Hawaiian sandwich bun."

In addition, two new Firehouse Subs Restaurants are opening soon in the Phoenix metro area.  No opening dates are yet listed, but the two locations are 1616 S. Stapley Dr. #101 Mesa, AZ 85204 and 20851 E. Rittenhouse Rd. #101 Queen Creek, AZ 85142.  This will bring the total of Firehouse Subs locations in Arizona to seven.

Five New Chipotle Restaurants in Arizona

AZCentral recently reported that there are five new Chipotle restaurants that have opened or are opening very soon in the state, four in the Phoenix Metro area and one in Prescott.  Below is a list of opening dates and addresses:

• November 9 - 3440 E. Baseline Rd. Mesa, AZ 85204
• November 22 - 3395 W. Chandler Blvd. Chandler, AZ 85226
• December 2 - 351 N. Montezuma St. Prescott, AZ 86301
• December 6 - 1 W. Washington St. Phoenix, AZ 85004
• December 14 - 1515 N. 7th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85003

Chipotle Mexican Grill first opened in Denver, CO in 1993 and now has over 1,100 restaurants worldwide, with nearly 50 of those being in Arizona once all the above mentioned stores are open.

AZ Restaurants Serving "Breakfast for Dinner" Tonight to Benefit AZCA

Tonight (11/4), Hickman's Family Farms will be sponsoring their third annual "PJ's & Eggs - Breakfast for Dinner" events at multiple restaurants around the state to benefit the Arizona's Children Association.  Participating restaurants will be open from 5pm to close for the event and according to Hickman's Family Farms:

Customers having “breakfast for dinner” will be asked to bring a pair of new pajamas to the restaurant to be donated to AzCA’s foster care children. In return, customers will be entered to win gift certificates from participating restaurants. They will also be given a “Free Dozen Eggs” certificate, courtesy of Hickman’s Eggs, to be redeemed at any grocery store where Hickman’s eggs are sold...Participating restaurants will donate a portion of the proceeds from “PJ’s & Eggs” to AzCA foster care programs, which supports purchasing basic supplies to fulfill needs of the children in its statewide foster care program.

There are 16 participating restaurants in the state, 10 in the Phoenix Metro area, four in Tucson, and one each in Prescott and Wickenburg. A full list can be found here if you scroll down on the page.

Just Opened: Capriotti's in Scottsdale

Capriotti's has opened their newest location in Arizona at 15227 N. 87th St. Scottsdale, AZ 85260. For a little background on Capriotti's:

In 1976, in Wilmington, Delaware, Lois and Alan Margolet opened up the first Capriotti's Sandwich Shop. Named after their grandfather, Phillip, Lois and Alan wanted to set themselves apart by catering to "real turkey lovers." Now, 35 years later, Capriotti's serves a whole host of sandwiches.  Everything from tuna, roast beef, salami or cheesesteak to their top-selling Bobbie, which was voted "The Greatest Sandwich in America" in an AOL-Lemondrop poll in November of 2009.

In addition to the Scottsdale location, Capriott's has three other restaurants in the Phoenix area. The Scottsdale location has hours of 10am-8pm Monday-Saturday and 10am-7pm on Sundays.

Two New Papa Murphy's Locations in Mesa

 

This past Monday, Papa Murphy's opened up one of their take-and-bake pizza shops at 1229 S. Power Rd. Mesa, AZ 85206. Meanwhile, this upcoming Monday, August 22, another location will be opening at 1955 W. Baseline Rd. Mesa, AZ 85202.

With about 30 locations in Arizona already, Papa Murphy's has a large menu which includes a choice of creating your own custom pizza. Wondering what this place is all about? Think of it as a Subway type place, only for pizza, with the caveat that you take it home and bake it yourself.

New Humble Pie Location, Salty Señorita and Trader Vic's Close

Salty Señorita Closes in Mesa - Salty Señorita in Mesa at 1860 S. Stapley Dr. Mesa, AZ 85204 closed this past Friday. The two other locations, one in Old Town Scottsdale and one in Peoria, remain open.

Living Room Wine Café & Lounge in Phoenix is now Humble Pie - While the Chandler location of the Living Room will remain open, the Phoenix location is now the third Humble Pie restaurant in the Phoenix area. Check out the Humble Pie menu and Humble Pie locations.

Trader Vic's Closing at the Hotel Valley Ho - The Valley is about to be a little less Polynesian when Trader Vic's closes on July 30th. It had been in Scottsdale from 1962 to 1990 and then was brought back five years ago. Not much is known about what will take Trader Vic's place, but according to AZCentral, a new restaurant concept is in the works.

NoRTH Remodels, Caffe Boa Closes

NoRTH in Scottsdale closes temporarily for remodeling - Over at 15024 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85254, NoRTH closed down for a few short days in order to remodel. The location will now be similar in appearance to the second NoRTH location which will be opening in November at 40th Street and Camelback Road, according to AZCentral.

Mesa's Caffe Boa Bistro Closes - Lasting only 18 months, the Mesa location has closed. The eastern European themed menu can still be had at the Bistro's original valley location at 398 S. Mill Ave. #110 Tempe, AZ 85281

Carl's Jr. Opens Two New Valley Locations as Profits Rise

Carl's Jr. and Hardee's sales are up recently due in large part to a particular new item on the menu. The turkey burgers, introduced back in March by the parent company, CKE Restaurants Inc., have helped put Carl's Jr. in the black for the first time in nine quarters. According to the Los Angeles Times, CKE President Andy Pudzer stated:

...the turkey burger, developed in consultation with Men's Health magazine, was meant to be indulgent as well as more healthful. He credited it with nudging sales at Carl's Jr. into positive territory. He said the Hardee's locations are doing better, overall, than the Carl's Jr. outlets because they are in parts of the country that are having a stronger economic recovery than California, where Carl's Jr. is heavily concentrated.

In related local news, Carl's Jr. has opened up two new locations in the Phoenix area. One in Gilbert at 5378 S. Power Rd. Gilbert, AZ 85295 and one at 1015 N. Dobson Rd. Mesa, AZ 85201 in the Mesa Riverview Shopping Center.

Also, checkout the AZFoodDude's report on the new Hand-Breaded Chicken Sandwich at Carl's Jr.

August Opening for Dickey's Barbecue Pit in Mesa

Beginning in Dallas, TX in 1941, Dickey's Barbecue Pit will be coming to the southeast valley at 1914 S. Power Rd. Mesa, AZ 85206 in August. With over 147 locations across the country, this will be the third restaurant in the state. The others are located in Phoenix and Scottsdale. Check out Dickey's menu.

Guy Fieri at The Mesa Arts Center Tomorrow (6/7)

Food Network and NBC game show host, Guy Fieri, will be at the Ikeda Theater at the Mesa Arts Center on June 7th on his latest stop for the "Guy Fieri Food: The Road Show." Beginning at 7:30pm, in a show that combines rock n' roll and food, Fieri and his crew plan to put on an "entertaining performance, complete with interactive cooking stations, demos, behind the scenes stories from the road and more." General admission to the show is $40, however if you are interested in some extras, either of these two options could be for you:

"Off Da Hook" Package - $250.00 per person
Includes: SEAT ON STAGE (MUST be 21 + older for stage seating. ONLY  32 Tickets available.), a chance to sample the food prepared by Fieri, tour laminate, a copy of Fieri's upcoming book, Guy Fieri Food, plus pre-show meet and greet with Guy Fieri. 

"Kulinary Krew" Package - $150.00 per person
Includes: Premium orchestra seating, tour laminate, a copy of Fieri's upcoming book, Guy Fieri Food, plus pre-show meet and greet with Guy Fieri. 

Guy Fieri currently hosts Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives on the Food Network and Minute to Win It on NBC. Guy's TV career began when he won the second season of The Next Food Network Star back in 2006.

The Mesa Arts Center is located at 1 E. Main St. Mesa, AZ 85211.

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.