Word of Mouth Grill, a family-run catering service specializing in American barbecue and Argentine grilled meats, has opened a restaurant on the southwest corner of McClintock and Elliot in south Tempe.
Owner Demetrious Matel has been catering barbecue in the Valley since 2013. He now takes over a strip-mall space formerly occupied by Rita’s Italian Ice.
The official grand opening will be Friday, Feb. 1, but the soft opening began Monday.
An 8-foot, dual-chamber smoker, as well as a Santa Maria-style grill, has been set up behind the store. For now, the early version of the menu displayed on the wall (pictured below) offers only mesquite-smoked meats and sides.
Argentine dishes, reflecting his wife’s heritage, will be added in the future, as well as some vegetarian options.
The restaurant has a liquor license and sells beer in cans and bottles.
The couple’s son, Giovann, works at Word of Mouth and also runs his own healthy meal planning business, G’s Kitchen, out of the space.
Word of Mouth Grill is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1-7 p.m. Sunday.
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