The 8 most exciting Phoenix restaurant openings in September

September is always an exciting month in the metro Phoenix food scene. As the temperatures start to dip, the Valley prepares for visitors, students, snowbirds and tourists to return. It’s also a time when many new restaurants open their doors.

Last month, dozens of new eateries welcomed their first customers. Among them, a swanky out-of-towner joined Scottsdale Fashion Square, a new brewery started pouring on Roosevelt Row and a well-known local chef debuted his latest concept. Here are the eight most exciting new restaurants that opened around the Valley in September.

The Original Arcadia Tavern
3950 E. Indian School Road, #50
Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers closed on Indian School Road in early August. But its ownership group, Square One Concepts, kept the space in the family. Arcadia Tavern, another of the company’s concepts, operated just a few blocks away from 2009 to 2020. On Sept. 4, it reopened in the former Cold Beers spot. Expect classic pub fare, plenty of TVs to catch the game and a neighborhood feel.

The Delicatessen
12811 N. Tatum Blvd.
Chef Joey Maggiore opened his latest Valley restaurant, The Delicatessen, on Sept. 10. Located in the former home of The Rosticceria, and then briefly The Mexicano, the new restaurant features a customizable bagel bar, scenes of New York and a “chopped sandwich experience,” according to the menu. Inspired by Maggiore’s grandfather, a butcher in the Bronx, the new concept brings an East Coast vibe with hints of nostalgia. Expect milkshakes, old-fashioned egg creams and classic desserts.

Obon
1 E. Washington St.
Tucson-based Japanese restaurant Obon opened its third Valley location on Sept. 13. The new restaurant is located within downtown Phoenix’s CityScape, replacing Trapper’s Sushi Co. Ramen, sushi and other Japanese dishes are paired with beer, wine, sake and craft cocktails at this upscale eatery.

Catch
7014 E. Camelback Road, #612, Scottsdale
High-end steak and seafood restaurant Catch opened its first Arizona location on September 19. The new restaurant serves customers in its opulent dining room at Scottsdale Fashion Square mall. The chain also has locations in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Aspen, Miami and Dallas. The menu ranges from fresh sushi rolls to Japanese Wagyu cooked tableside on hot rocks. Martinis and specialty cocktails complete the swanky experience.

Sparrow at The Trailhead
8156 W. Happy Valley Road, Suite A100, Peoria
Peoria has a new dining destination offering a true fusion of cuisines. Described by parent company Sky Restaurant Concepts as “American Eclectic,” Sparrow offers a menu that includes a wide selection of seafood dishes, from baked crab dip to hamachi crudo, along with burgers, steaks and pasta. The pick-your-own-adventure eatery also offers a shareable seafood hot pot, alongside baby back ribs. It welcomed its first customers on Sept. 20.

Sweetgreen
15323 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
International chain Sweetgreen made its Arizona debut on Sept. 23 The new fast-casual restaurant at Scottsdale Quarter serves fresh salads, bowls and protein plates with rice or quinoa. Sweetgreen is known for its health-forward mindset and healthy, sustainable menu options. A second Arizona location is scheduled to open soon on Camelback Road and 32nd Street.

CP Coffee & Patisserie
850 N. Fifth St.
When two of the most talented food and beverage creators in the Valley announced they were partnering up, we knew Phoenix was in for a treat. Julia Peixoto Peters, the owner of Peixoto Coffee Roasters in Chandler and Gilbert, and Mark Chacón, the owner of Chacónne Patisserie in Scottsdale, have combined forces to open CP Coffee & Patisserie. The new dual-concept cafe made its downtown Phoenix debut, with lattes and croissants galore, on Sept. 25.

Formation Brewing
925 N. Fifth St.
Roosevelt Row continues to solidify its status as a craft beer hub with the addition of Formation Brewing. This new brewery, located on Fifth Street just behind Taco Chelo, opened its doors on Sept. 26. The modern mountain-style taproom offers nine beers on tap, ranging from a classic Oktoberfest marzen to a fruity peach sour. The robust food menu ranges from sturdy bar snacks like nachos and elote dip, to hearty burgers and bowls. While Formation is new to Phoenix, the brewery comes from Wilding Brands, a partnership between several Colorado-based breweries.