Now Open: Centrico, Lively Mexican Eats in Downtown Phoenix

Chris Malloy January 17, 2018 6:00AM

Centrico serves Mexican food and is currently open for breakfast and lunch. Courtesy of Pete Salaz

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Centrico has opened in the Hotel San Carlos in downtown Phoenix.

The restaurant serves Mexican food with a modern flair. During its current soft opening, the spot is keeping wonky hours. It's open for breakfast and lunch but not dinner. (Fridays are different — more on that in a sec.)

Four owners have a hand in the restaurant, including Pete Salaz. Salaz has been a a DJ in the Valley for three decades, and he spins "Latin-flavored dance music" at Centrico. Salaz owns the nightclubs Bar Smith and Monarch Theatre in part with Edson Madrigal. The two own Centrico with Jessica Madrigal (Edson's wife) and Carmen Mora. Centrico's chef, Miguel Beltran, is related to the Madrigals and has a background in catering.

There are plans to serve dinner. Currently, on Fridays, the restaurant opens after lunch for happy hour at 4 p.m. The kitchen stays open until 2 a.m., serving small bites and cocktails. Some tunes are live, some are provided by Salaz.

click to enlarge

Red chilaquiles

Courtesy of Pete Salaz

Centrico. 202 North Central Avenue; 602-254-8226
Monday to Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Chris Malloy, former food editor and current food critic at Phoenix New Times, has written for various local and national outlets. He has scrubbed pots in a restaurant kitchen, earned graduate credit for a class about cheese, harvested garlic in Le Marche, and rolled pastas like cappellacci stuffed with chicken liver. He writes reviews but also narrative stories on the food world's margins.

Contact: Chris Malloy

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