Named after Saint Urban of Langres, the patron saint of winemaking, Saint Urban offers a selection of 30 rotating wines alongside a shareable menu of items like gourmet bar bites, charcuterie boards and sandwiches.
The 2,000-square-foot space boasts an edgy design, with black granite counters, rich woods and large chandeliers. Each week, the restaurant will feature recurring specials, like Monday’s Wine & Dine, where guests can grab a bottle and charcuterie board for $30.
The concept comes from Common Ground Culinary, founded in 2011 by chef Christopher Collins. Fans of Collins' concepts may remember his St. Urban location in Phoenix, which shuttered last year. While the new Saint Urban shares an almost identical name, Collins says that's where the similarities stop.
"[Saint Urban] has totally new branding, with a new menu and vibe. It's different," Collins says.
He mentions that one of the reasons the Uptown location closed was because he had two concepts under one roof (the Phoenix St. Urban was located directly above The Neighborly). So when a building lease opened up in the Mercado at Hayden Shopping Center, he knew it was the right time to re-introduce Saint Urban to the community.
This is Common Ground Culinary’s fourth concept in the Mercado at Hayden Shopping Center, joining Collins Brothers Public House, Grassroots Kitchen & Tap and Sweet Provisions. While Common Ground Culinary has concepts Valleywide, Collins mentions the special relationship and rapport he’s built with guests in the McCormick Ranch area.
“This is our neighborhood,” he says. “When I do open up a new concept, it’s like the neighbors find out before my staff. Everyone’s excited.”
He hopes that Saint Urban fulfills the neighborhood’s needs for an “unpretentious yet well-appointed” environment, with a large enough menu for guests to visit multiple times per week.
“We want you to hang out. I’m not here to turn and burn tables,” Collins says.
Saint Urban's menu was influenced by owner and chef Christopher Collins' travels across the West.
Saint Urban/Grace Stufkosky
A focus on the food
While Saint Urban is a wine bar, Collins wanted to ensure the food menu was just as enticing as the drinks selection. The wines all come from West Coast vineyards, the food selection primarily features ingredients sourced from the same area.“All of our charcuterie meats and cheeses will come from California, Utah, Arizona. Our Oysters will come from the Northern Washington area,” Collins explains. He adds that the team is “working with as much West Coast cuisine as we can.”
One example is the BBQ Tri Tip sandwich, a nod to the famed Cardiff Crack sandwich at Seaside Market in Encinitas, California, a dish holding personal significance to Collins.
“I have two brothers who live in Cardiff. Every trip, we go to Seaside Market for Cardiff Crack. It’s so good,” Collins says.
At Saint Urban, the dish starts with a marinated Santa Maria-style trip tip roast. The succulent meat can be served as a sandwich on Noble bread with aged white cheddar, steak sauce and garlic aioli, or as an entree.
On the shareable side, expect a mix of land and sea items, like sashimi and charcuterie boards, something Collins expressed a special enthusiasm for.
“We sourced things you would not find in your average grocery store and prepare it beautifully,” he says.
After visiting with farmers across the West Coast, Collins found unique items like porcini-dusted cheddar cheese and goat cheese brie, for guests to choose from.
“We're gonna mess around with different jams, jellies, nuts and olives,” he says. “We don’t even list what they are.”
Saint Urban's menu focuses on shareable items, like charcuterie boards, sandwiches and salads.
Saint Urban/Grace Stufkosky
At Saint Urban, “Girl Dinner” refers to any salad (preferably Caesar, as recommended by Collins) and truffle fries, another popular combo in the social sphere.
“My operating partner asked me if I knew what Girl Dinner was. After she explained it to me, we put it on Happy Hour at Collins Brothers Public House, and everyone loved it,” he says.
If you’re only in the mood for drinks, there’s a small selection of cocktails and beers to complement the wine selection, with 100% of the beers sourced from local breweries.
“We’re proud of our Arizona beers, and I want to take this opportunity to showcase them,” Collins says.
