DownUnder, the Australian-themed bistro and wine bar in Gilbert, has closed, according to a notice posted on its door.
The eclectic bar and wine shop – originally called Red Kangaroo – was launched in a strip mall on the north side of Chandler Fashion Center. Owners Roger Carpenter and Phil Roberts gained renown for their stock of, and expertise about, Australian and New Zealand wines.
The wine list was paired with a small-plates menu featuring exotic meats like ostrich, kangaroo, and crocodile. The cozy venue’s decor included boomerangs and Aboriginal prints.
In 2010, DownUnder moved to bigger and nicer digs at McQueen and Warner in Gilbert and added new partners. By the end of last year, neither Carpenter nor Roberts were involved in business.
