Two new nightspot/restaurants opened late last month, right down the street from each other in Scottsdale.
Pictured above, The Lodge, 4422 N. 75th St., is a ski-lodge-themed hangout that bills itself as a "quaint, Midwestern dive bar" amid the flashy Scottsdale nightlife district.
Is townie-bar chic the new thing? I have no idea, but it's certainly a novel schtick in this part of town. And judging from the Sasquatch running across The Lodge's website, I'd say it's safely tongue-in-cheek. As for the menu, it's classic bar comfort food -- soft pretzels, fried cheese curds, bratwurst with charred onions, and meatloaf on a bun.
Nearby, American Junkie (4363 N. 75th St.) is a bar and grill from the same folks who own Dirty Pretty and the Pussycat Lounge, both scenester watering holes. That doesn't tell me anything about the eats, but the menu certainly looks extensive, with salads, sandwiches, pizzas, and comfort food-y entrees like mac and cheese, baked chicken, and roast turkey with stuffing. There's breakfast, too. -- Michele Laudig
