October Restaurant Openings and Closings in Metro Phoenix

This month, the openings far outnumbered the closings as we saw several Valley dining outlets re-open and we welcomed a whole slew of new food trucks to the scene. We're waving goodbye to Aaron May's beer-centric Scottsdale restaurant, Praying Monk, but don't fret, there's something else exciting on the horizon . . .

See also: September Restaurant Openings and Closings in Metro Phoenix

Opened

• Pomo Pizzeria and Forno Fabbri Italian Market & Mozzarella Bar, Scottsdale

"Since losing their restaurant's home at The Borgata of Scottsdale shopping center early this year, the Italian trio not only made plans to re-locate Pomo, they expanded it as well -- first with a downtown location that opened in May, and now with a location in Scottsdale's Gainey Village that opens at 11 a.m. Wednesday, October 30."

• The Roasted Shallot, food truck
• Steak 'n Shake, Tempe

Find out what columnist Eric Schaefer thought of the Midwestern legacy's Arizona outlet, here.

• Chedda Truck, food truck (re-opening)

"Last June, Nick Watts' mobile kitchen of grilled cheese sandwiches, called Chedda Truck, made its debut to a huge (and unexpected) crowd at Artistic Tattoo in Central Phoenix."

• Stacy's Smoke Dem Bones Pit Stop, Phoenix

"Stacy Phipps may have taken a few hits in his restaurant career, but the Phoenix barbecue man hasn't been knocked out yet."

• Hopdoddy Burger, Scottsdale

"Heads up, burger-and-beer hounds: Hopdoddy Burger Bar, the Austin-based counter-service eatery from the owners of Roaring Fork and Salty Sow, is opening its doors in Scottsdale tomorrow."

• Wicked Six Bar and Grill, Fountain Hills

• "On the heels of opening North Scottsdale's Renegade by MOD in May, ex-Kai chef Michael O'Dowd and partners Ed Leclere and Don Misheff of Vivid Lifestyle Concepts have opened their second restaurant -- this one tucked into a golf club in Fountain Hills."

• Rock A Belly, food truck

"Talk to chef-owner Jordan Murray about his new food truck, Rock A Belly, and it isn't hard to figure out what he's passionate about."

• Four Peaks Brewing, Sky Harbor International Airport

"Beer fanatics have a new reason to get to the airport early these days. Or at least to not be so sad about delayed flights out of Phoenix."

• Bei Sushi and Bar, Scottsdale
• Tempo Urban Bistro and Coffee, Buckeye

"West Valley residents have a new spot for coffee as of last month, and this week they welcomed an adjoining urban bistro to the 'hood."

• Alo Cafe, Scottsdale

"Got a hankerin' for South African biscotti, a Cuban sandwich, or an Estonian roosamanna? You'll want to check out Alo Cafe, the globally inspired breakfast and lunch spot in downtown Scottsdale."

• Essence Bakery, Phoenix
• H&H City Pizza, Chandler

"What do chefs do when they're ready to leave the world of country club cuisine behind? Make pizza, of course."

• Queso Good, food truck
• Green Chile Grill, food truck
• Sam-mitch, food truck
• Grilled Addiction, food truck
• Frank, food truck

"Heads up, hot dog hounds: a new food truck loaded with gourmet franks and scratch-made sides will be hitting the Valley's streets in October."

Closed

• Praying Monk, Scottsdale

"When the restaurant gods shutter a Monk, they open a Bootlegger.

At least that's the case with Praying Monk, restaurateur and chef Aaron May's stylish American beer cafe in Old Town Scottsdale opened in May of last year. Shuttered last night, Praying Monk, located at 7217 East First Street, will become the second location of Bootleggers, the barbecue pit gone gastropub in North Phoenix."

• Lao Thai, Scottsdale
• Carefree Station, Carefee

"In what can now be pretty much be deemed "2013: The Year of the Landlord," another Valley restaurant has been shuttered by a building owner -- this time, it seems, much to the surprise of the staff."

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