The Americano
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February saw a wave of second locations sweep through the Valley, as well as more brick-and-mortar spots for well-known food stands. We also saw some spinoffs of other favorite restaurants, including Pizzeria Virtú, Copper & Logs, and The Americano. Let’s get started.
Openings
Char’d Asian Grill
1015 S Rural Rd #106, Tempe
Char’d Brisket Dogs & Burgers is now Char’d Asian Grill, which opened early last month near Arizona State University. The Asian cuisine eatery is open for lunch and dinner, and offers pork dumplings, crispy shrimp, and Spam musubi.
Copper & Logs
832 South Greenfield Road, #101, Gilbert
The people behind Cuisine & Wine Bistro have opened a new gastropub in Gilbert. Patrons can expect wood-fired pizzas, pasta, skewers, and appetizers like chorizo croquettes. Copper & Logs also offers craft cocktails, as well as draft beer and wine.
Bao looking like cute characters.
Hot Bamboo
Hot Bamboo
980 East Pecos Road, #4, Chandler
At many a food festival, the Hot Bamboo booth has served dumplings, rice bowls, and bao looking like cute characters. Now, the family-run food stand, owned by Jakarta, Indonesia-born Anna Heinbach, has opened a brick-and-mortar setup in Chandler. However, Hot Bamboo still plans to be a heavy hitter in the food festival world.
Kaleidoscope Juice
60 West Vaughn Avenue, #105, Gilbert
The first east Valley location of Kaleidoscope Juice has opened in downtown Gilbert’s Heritage Marketplace, making it the seventh location of the local juicery. The 1,100-square-foot spot serves pressed juices and smoothies, toasts, açaí and pitaya bowls, and has a gluten-free bakery
Original Golden Skone
40957 North Ironwood Road, #104, Queen Creek
Skone is something like a fry bread, which pairs well with sweet and savory toppings. If you’re curious about this, a new skone place, the Original Golden Skone, has opened in San Tan Valley.
Pedal Haus Brewery has opened its second location in Chandler.
Pedal Haus Brewery
Pedal Haus Brewery
95 West Boston Street
Downtown Chandler has recently welcoming the second location of Pedal Haus Brewery. Established by Julian Wright of Fork & Dagger Hospitality, Pedal Haus Chandler will be spread out on Arizona Avenue on 5,000 square feet – 2,000 of that being patio. Beers will be brewed at the original Tempe location and delivered daily. But it’s safe to say the food – chicken pot pie included – will be made on-site.
Pizzeria Virtú
6952 East Main Street, Scottsdale
Chef Gio Osso of Virtú Honest Craft has opened Pizzeria Virtú in the former Grazie spot in Old Town Scottsdale. Here, Osso is making Neapolitan-style pizza served on white tableclothed tables and/or out on the spacious patio. Other items include pasta dishes, amaro-heavy cocktails, and desserts like tiramisu, Nutella budino, and affogato.
Regroup Coffee & Bicycles
1207 North Scottsdale Road, Tempe
Regroup Coffee & Bicycles, an environmentally conscious bicycle-themed coffee bar, has opened a second location. The new north Tempe coffee shop serves organic coffee numbers and whole-bean coffee for retail.
A pasta dish from The Americano.
The Americano
The Americano
17797 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Opened by Pomo Restaurant Group in north Scottsdale, The Americano is an upscale Italian restaurant overseen by Executive Chef Matthew Taylor and sommelier Nicholas Padua. Offerings include tableside tuna tartare, the tagliolini all’Americano, and rigatoni salsiccia e ricotta salat. There’s also the Artiglio Bianco Spritzer, i.e. Italian for White Claw.
The Porch
1128 East Baseline Road, Tempe
The Porch, a backyard-themed restaurant if you can’t tell by the name, has opened a secondary location to its Arcadia eatery. Neighboring the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Tempe, the sports bar offers beers and drinks, and serves a variety of comfort food in the form of tacos, sandwiches, rice bowls, burgers, and salads.
Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill
3077 West Frye Road, Chandler
Thirsty Lion has opened its fifth Valley location, this time in the Chandler Viridian area near Chandler Fashion Center. The new 7,633-square-foot restaurant will serve the same pub fare of burgers, salads, and appetizers, and offer 26 taps.
Creole Cajun Bistro in Chandler has closed.
Lauren Cusimano
Closings
Arlie’s Bar & Grill
The sports bar occupying the former Club Red spot at University Drive and Price Road has closed.
Creole Cajun Bistro
The Mardi Gras-themed Cajun and Creole restaurant, Creole Cajun Bistro, has closed in Chandler.
Gordon Biersch
The SanTan Village location of Creole Cajun Bistro in Gilbert has closed. This following the Gordon Biersch locations closing in both Glendale and Tempe on Mill Avenue.
La Patrona Mexican Cuisine
The family-run Mexican restaurant near downtown Mesa was closed because of a fire.
Ocean Poke
After three years, Ocean Poke in Arcadia has closed. The spot was owned and operated by Chef J Perry of Let’s Gro Concepts.
