“I wanted the Heritage menu to reflect the kind of food I love to cook and the kind of food I grew up around," says executive chef and co-owner Christopher Brugman. "My family is from Asturias, a coastal city in northern Spain, and those Mediterranean influences like grilled seafood, handmade pasta, bold olive oils and local seasonal vegetables have always been a part of my palate.”
The comfort and familiarity of family meals and memories also influence the restaurant's focus, says co-owner Eric Greenwald.
“We want to create the feeling like you’re dining in our home and get to know our guests,” Greenwald says.
The duo met through a mutual friend. They hit it off, and as they became close friends, Brugman shared his dream of opening a restaurant with Greenwald.
“He found a space and we’ve been working on it ever since," Greenwald says.
Brugman and Greenwald, who live in north Scottsdale, bring extensive restaurant experience to their new venture. Brugman led kitchens at Mountain Shadows Resort Scottsdale and Castle Hot Springs, north of Phoenix in Morristown.
Greenwald previously held leadership roles at Mastro’s Restaurants and Grimaldi’s and owns several ProteinHouse locations in the Valley, as well as Lorenzo’s Italian Kitchen in north Scottsdale. They're taking what they've learned from years of working in the hospitality industry to create their own concept.
“We want Heritage to be the kind of place where people can enjoy something beautiful and craveable without it feeling like a splurge,” Brugman says. “It's food that feels elevated but still approachable. The dishes at Heritage are meant to be clean, flavorful and grounded in tradition, but nothing feels overly complicated or out of reach.”
The menu features shareable appetizers, house-made pasta, pizza and entrees like steak, lamb and whole grilled fish. Signature dishes include house-made bread with charred scallion butter and harissa yogurt, Spanish octopus, beef tartare, Dungeness crab tortelloni with sweet corn and ricotta, Two Wash Ranch chicken with Tuscan white bean ragu and a Mediterranean mezze platter with Marcona almonds, Manchego cheese, jamon Iberico and marinated olives.
The menu will change seasonally and make use of products from local purveyors.
“Supporting local suppliers is paramount to us,” Brugman says. “It celebrates the bounty we have in Arizona. We're using high-quality ingredients, local when we can, cooked simply and with intention. You’ll see nods to Spain, Italy, Morocco —coastal places where the food tells a story through tradition and simplicity.”
The drinks menu includes a range of cocktails from refreshing to spirit-forward.
Heritage Kitchen + Cocktails
“The cocktail menu goes from light and refreshing to bourbon-based cocktails and a signature Heritage Vesper Martini,” Brugman says. “The cocktails are designed to be fun and creative and complement the food.”
Heritage Kitchen + Cocktails will also feature a 350-bottle wine cellar and a 1,500-square-foot patio with McDowell Mountain views.
“We want to provide a feeling of comfort to our guests,” Brugman says. “For me, it’s about celebrating the community and bringing an elevated level of cuisine and hospitality to the neighborhood I live in.”
Heritage Kitchen + Cocktails
Opening in September10121 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale
