Barrelhouse American Kitchen & Cocktails, whose owner describes it as a “neighborhood scratch kitchen,” will have a soft opening Saturday on the northwest corner of Alma School and Warner in Chandler.
The strip-mall space (shown above still under renovation) formerly was the longtime home of English pub Churchill’s and, most recently, gay lounge Lush.
Barrelhouse is the brainchild of Kenta Usuzawa, a University of Arizona grad whose restaurant experience includes stints at Tapino and Petite Maison in Scottsdale and Zin Bistro in Tucson.
Usuzawa’s goal is a casual, chef-driven hangout that will appeal to foodies and families alike. The term “scratch kitchen” refers to everything being made fresh from scratch.
He’s still putting final touches on the menu, but promises dishes like an eight-hour, slow-roasted, hard-cider pot roast, a pork belly BLT sandwich, an Arizona Tomato Tart, and Moroccan lemon chicken.
Also on the menu: “Our Daily Farm To Table,” a scratch local farm salad of the day, and a scratch soup of the day.
Despite the upscale fare and locally sourced ingredients, Barrelhouse aims to be wallet-friendly. Lunch prices will range from $9 for burgers and sandwiches to $13 for entrees. All but two dinner entrees will be less than $20.
The full bar will offer 13 wines by the glass, focusing on smaller, family-driven labels. There will be 18 beers on tap, a mix of local craft beers (San Tan, Four Peaks, Oak Creek) and imports (Unibroue La Fin Du Monde, Ommegang Biere d’Hougoumont).
Kitchen hours will be 4-9 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Closed Sunday.
