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.

Lou Malnati's Opening 2nd Location in Arcadia

So far, each of the three Chicago pizza joints, Lou Malnati's, Giordano's, and Gino's East, have opened in the valley well enough away from each other which has avoided direct competition. Lou Malnati's in Central Phoenix, Giordano's in Peoria, and Gino's East in Arcadia.

Coming this fall to the Arcadia area however, that is about the change.  In direct competition with Gino's East, Lou Malnati's will open their second restaurant at 3433 N. 56th St. Phoenix, AZ 85018. There is a twist, however, as the second Lou Malnati's in the valley will not offer a dine-in experience.  Carryout and delivery will be available and at the time of this writing according to ABC15, Lou Malnati's is looking at a 3 to 5 mile radius for delivery.  Stay tuned for more details such as a specific opening date as they become available.

Latest Valley Food News

Some of the latest food news from around the Valley from AZCentral:

Photo by: Matt's Big Breakfast

Pellini Italian Eatery Set for an October Opening in Scottsdale

Matt's Big Breakfast to Get Bigger Location by Late August

SoChu House Now Open in Central Phoenix

Downside Risk Coming Back to Scottsdale

Fifth Humble Pie Location Set for Peoria

NYC's Ben & Jack's Steak House Coming to Scottsdale

Mid-August Opening for Angels Trumpet Ale House in Phoenix

Jimmy Woo's Closing, May Reopen Elsewhere, Morning Squeeze Taking Over Spot

Another Valley Food News Update

In addition to yesterday's update, here are some more stories from the past couple of weeks from AZCentral and the East Valley Tribune:

Two More Asian Restaurants Open in Mesa's Mekong Plaza

'Top Chef' Finalist to Open Restaurant in Scottsdale in October

K.I.S.S. Chicago-Style Pizzeria to Open in Old Town Scottsdale by the End of July

Urban Tea Loft in Chandler Closing on July 21

Royal at the Market Coffee Shop Closes, Hopes to Reopen by End of the Year

Popular Chicago Chain, Portillo's Hot Dogs, Will Open in Tempe, Scottsdale in Early 2013

Downtown Phoenix Getting Two New Coffee Shops on July 16 & July 23

Food News From Around the Valley

In case you missed them, here are some stories from the past couple of weeks via AZCentral and the East Valley Tribune:

Brat Haus Now Open in Scottsdale

Fourth Habit Location Opened in Phoenix

Harvey American Public House Now Open in Gilbert

Il Bosco Pizza Opens Next to Handlebar J in Scottsdale

Pearl Sushi Lounge & Bomber Bar Opens Chandler Location

Third Raising Cane's Location to Open in August, Fourth Location in Works

Three Dutch Bros. Coffee Locations Opening in Mesa, Phoenix

Tucson's Legendary Zachary's Pizza is Closing

Echoing the sentiments of Tucson Weekly, which broke the story, the AZFoodDude is sad to learn that Zachary's Pizza is closing on August 1.  There is not a lot of news officially as to why the Tucson staple is closing, but it is almost assuredly because business has been rough in an economy that continues to sputter.  A Facebook post by the restaurant on June 24 gives us a clue, "We will be cash only for a bit longer.  Please help support our business.  Summer has not been kind."

Like many folks, I was brought to Zachary's by friends of mine during a visit to Tucson.  It was after that first visit that I then introduced other friends of mine in the Valley to Zachary's incredible deep dish Chicago style pizza.  The place is so good that we have made the drive from Phoenix to Tucson just for Zachary's pizza on multiple occasions.  Now, that might sound like a long drive but employees of Zachary's will tell you of folks from all over who specifically stop for their pizza, including some regulars from New Mexico.

Near the UofA campus, now is a good time for those who want one last slice and for those who've never had the opportunity to see what all the fuss is about, to experience the hole-in-the-wall charm and head over to Zachary's.  The hours are 4pm - 10pm on Monday, 11am - 10pm Tuesday - Thursday, 11am - 11pm on Friday, noon - 11pm on Saturday and noon - 10pm on Sunday.

New Buffalo Chicken Pizza at Papa John's

The world's third largest pizza purveyor has introduced a Buffalo Chicken Pizza which is described in the press release as:

...a savory combination of creamy ranch sauce, all-white sliced chicken strips, crispy bacon, fresh-sliced onions and 100% real cheese made from mozzarella, all topped with a tangy, spicy buffalo sauce.

The large Buffalo Chicken Pizza from Papa John's will cost $10 but Buffalo chicken lovers should note, this pizza is not a permanent menu offering and will only be available until the end of April. 

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."

Food Trucks at the Scottsdale Arts Festival This Weekend (3/9 - 3/11)

Starting on Friday at 10am, the 42nd Scottsdale Arts Festival will kick off at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and include 181 artists, 22 bands and entertainers from Arizona, and perhaps most importantly, 12 food trucks from the Phoenix Street Food Coalition.  The participating food trucks are:

Epic Hot Dogs - Hey Joe! Filipino Street Food - Jamburritos Cajun Grill Express - Luncha Libre - Mojo Bowl - Pin-Up Pastries - Taste Rite - Spice It Up - Sweet Republic - Tom's BBQ - Whiskey Ranch BBQ & Wood-Fired Pizzas - The Maine Lobster Lady - Not scheduled for Friday - Buzznbeez Good Food - Not scheduled for Friday

The festival takes place on Friday and Saturday from 10am to 6pm and on Sunday from 10am to 5pm.  The price of food is separate from the price of entry.  Tickets to the event are $7 for any single day and $10 for any two days.  Additional ticketing information and online purchasing can be found here.  Scroll to the bottom of this page for parking and trolley information.

Beef 'O' Brady's Opens First Restaurant in Arizona

Beef 'O' Brady's is planting roots in Arizona.  Opening recently at 13699 N. Litchfield Rd. Surprise, AZ 85374, Beef's, the name it affectionately gained from regulars in 1985 when it first opened in Brandon, Florida, is hoping to be the new place where families, friends and sports fans can gather to enjoy "good food" and "good sports."

According to the company press release:

The Surprise Beef ‘O’ Brady’s...will feature large screen TVs, complemented by smaller screens for viewing from anywhere in the restaurant. It will also have interactive video games for children an outdoor patio and a menu offering Buffalo wings, pizza, hand-breaded chicken tenders, salads, a variety of sandwiches and burgers and mix-and-match desserts.

You can view the full menu here. With over 210 locations nationwide already, all indications point to the fact that this will not be Beef 'O' Brady's only Arizona location.

New Menu Items: Popeyes, Domino's, Whataburger, Cinnabon, Dunkin'

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen - Garlic Pepper Wicked Chicken - "Garlic Pepper Wicked Chicken includes thin strips of marinated, all white-meat chicken, hand-battered and breaded. Popeyes is also introducing its new Garlic Pepper Parmesan Dipping Sauce." A $3.99 combo with the chicken and dipping sauce, Cajun fries, a buttermilk biscuit, and a mini bottle of Tabasco pepper sauce is available until February 19.

Domino's Pizza - Parmesan Bread Bites - "The bite (or two) size, brand new, permanent menu item is there for the sharing - which, based on the goodness of freshly baked bread topped with garlic and Parmesan, may not be easy."  Also, if you order the two medium, two topping pizzas deal for $5.99 each, Domino's is offering the Parmesan Bread Bites for $1.

Whataburger - Chicken Fajita Taco - Coming in at 420 calories, the Chicken Fajita Taco "features sliced, grilled chicken breast; roasted poblano and red bell peppers; and grilled onions wrapped in a tortilla." 

Cinnabon - Cinnabon Flavored Iced Coffee & Cinnabon Flavored Coffee Chillatta - Available through May 20, "The Cinnabon Flavored Iced Coffee has hints of brown sugar, vanilla and Makara® cinnamon, making it the most bon-like coffee yet. The Cinnabon Flavored Coffee Chillatta is a frozen, blended beverage that contains Makara cinnamon and vanilla flavors blended with a ribbon of caramel and topped with whipped cream."

Dunkin' Donuts - New Bakery Sandwiches - The four new sandwiches are described in the press release, "Dunkin' Donuts' new Ham & Cheese Bakery Sandwich features Black Forest ham, white cheddar cheese and Creamy Dijon sauce on a French roll, while the new Turkey, Cheddar & Bacon Bakery Sandwich features turkey, white cheddar cheese, bacon and Ancho Chipotle sauce on a French roll. Customers can also order Chicken Salad and Tuna Salad Bakery Sandwiches, featuring chicken salad or tuna salad on a bagel...All bakery sandwiches are served oven-toasted and made-to-order on a French roll, bagel, or croissant."

Domino's Debuts Stuffed Cheesy Bread

Domino's is out today with their new line of Stuffed Cheesy Bread in three varieties, Cheese (mozzarella & cheddar) only, Bacon & Jalapeno and Spinach & Feta.  According to Domino's, the new items are permanent menu additions, but during the roll out campaign for the new items, "...cheese lovers can order any of the new Domino's Stuffed Cheesy Breads or any medium, 2-topping pizzas – choose any two for only $5.99 each."  No nutritional information is available at this time.

Five New Restaurants Around the Phoenix Area

Pete's Thai Cuisine - Located at 12032 N. Cave Creek Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85020, Pete's has a diverse menu with over 80 items to order.  Open from 11:30am - 9pm, Sunday - Thursday and 11:30am to 10pm on Friday and Saturday, a lunch buffet is offered from 11:30am - 3:30pm Sunday - Friday.  More at AZCentral.

Amalfi Pizzeria - Opening in December at Chandler Heights Rd. & Alma School Rd., according to the East Valley Tribune, "The authentic Italian menu will feature fresh, made-from scratch bread, pasta, pizza and more."

North - Sam Fox' second North restaurant in the valley opened on November 14 at 4925 N. 40th St. Phoenix, AZ 85018. According to AZCentral, "Unlike the five other Norths...the Arcadia North won't follow corporate's modern Italian template. Instead, (Chef) Curtiss has gone more traditional, and less fussy. 'It's my stripped-down interpretation of regional Italian cuisine,' says Curtiss, whose father is Italian. The fare is "really simple and fresh."

O.H.S.O. Eatery + nanoBrewery - Recently opened at 4900 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85018, the eatery will have a classic American feel with a touch of South American. AZcentral has more information, including the fact that nobody knows what "O.H.S.O." stands for.

Caldero - Taking over the spot where Banana Leaf Asian Bistro was at 7111 E. Thomas Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85257, Caldero will have, "traditional recipes spanning from Mayan to North Mexican." AZCentral has a good list of menu items.  The stated hours on Caldero's Facebook page are 11am to 2am daily.

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.

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.

Pita Jungle Opening at Norterra in September

Photo by J Group Media

Local chain, Pita Jungle, which started in Tempe in 1994, is set to open their 13th restaurant in the state at the Shops at Norterra, located on the northeast corner of W. Happy Valley Rd. and the I-17. The planned September opening will bring Pita Jungle's Mediterranean menu and healthy eating drive to another busy Phoenix area shopping center. This comes after Pita Jungle recently opened their first restaurant outside of the state in Pasadena, CA with another location soon to open in Newport Beach, CA.

Have a look at the Pita Jungle menu which includes varieties of hummus, pitas, burgers and even pizzas and check out some of their other locations, which includes one in Tucson and one in Flagstaff.

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.

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.

Grimaldi's Pizzeria to Chandler, La Casita Serves Up Mexican Food in AJ

Grimaldi's Opens Eighth Restaurant in Arizona - Earlier this week, Grimaldi's opened their eighth restaurant in Arizona at 7131 W. Ray Rd. Chandler, AZ 85226. Beginning in 1905 in New York, Grimaldi's Pizzeria is now based in Arizona. Don't let that fool you though, they've wanted to make sure the recipe stayed exactly as it was to the point that they hired a chemist to recreate the water with the same mineral composition so the dough tastes just as it does in New York.

La Casita of Apache Junction Opens - Located at 495 W. Apache Tr. Apache Junction, AZ 85120, La Casita opened up last month and is serving Mexican food 7 days a week. Check out La Casita on Facebook.

Spinato's Going Retail, Sky Harbor's Terminal 4 Getting New Restaurants

Spinato's Pizzeria nears deal to sell sauces in Valley stores - Tempe-based Spinato's hopes to sell some of their sauces such as, marinara, basilio and vodka cream sauce in local stores within weeks. In addition, Spinato's wants to put out a line of their salad dressings. In the meantime, check out the five Phoenix area locations.

New restaurants coming to Sky Harbor International Airport's Terminal 4 - Arizona Foothills Magazine has the story about the additions and changes at Terminal 4.