Wow, it’s the end of an era at House of Tricks, where executive chef Kelly Fletcher has left the highly regarded Tempe restaurant after 10 years – reportedly to open his own restaurant in the East Valley this summer.
According to Arizona Republic dining critic Howard Seftel, Fletcher’s new restaurant will have a similar style to the upscale House of Tricks, but a lower price point.
For the immediate future, Fletcher is planning to collaborate with other Valley chefs for dinners and events, including this weekend’s Devoured Culinary Classic, where he’ll cook with Bernie Kantak of Citizen Public House on Sunday.
The Scottsdale Culinary Institute alum’s resume also includes stints at the Wyndham Resort in Phoenix and the now-defunct 6th Avenue Bistro in Scottsdale.
Robert and Robin Trick opened one of Tempe’s first fine-dining restaurants in 1987 in a remodeled 1920s cottage, then bought the 1903 adobe structure next door for additional seating. Its contemporary American menu changes seasonally.
Fletcher’s replacement has not been announced.
