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🍸 The Mercer, an American bistro and martini lounge, has opened at the Esplanade on the southeast corner of Camelback and 24th Street in Phoenix.
It takes over the space formerly home to the iconic MercBar, which closed last year after 27 years.
Rick Phillips, who founded MercBar in New York City, is a partner in 151 Hospitality, which owns The Mercer.
The Mercer’s menu features sushi rolls, a raw bar, and entrees such a whole grilled branzino, brick chicken, and tableside-cut prime rib.
The bar offers seven styles of martinis and a long list of classic cocktails like Cosmopolitans and Manhattans.
Open for lunch and dinner daily.
151 Hospitality also has two other concepts at the Esplanade – the recently opened Jewish-style deli Little Pickle and the opening-this-fall Mexican restaurant Camello.


International Sushi Day specials today
>> Kona Grill at Desert Ridge in Phoenix and SanTan Village in Gilbert is offering $3 California Rolls all day today, available for dine-in, curbside, and takeout. There’s no limit on how many you can order.
>> RA Sushi, which has locations in Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Ahwatukee, also is offering $3 California Rolls all day for dine-in guests only.
>> Benihana in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Chandler also has $3 California Rolls today, but only in the bar and lounge areas.
>> Trapper’s Sushi Co. in Surprise and Avondale is offering all-you-can-eat lunch for $20 all day.
>> Kura Revolving Sushi Bar in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Chandler is giving diners a free piece of tuna nigiri, salmon nigiri, or seared salmon when you buy two pieces.


Juneteenth at West Alley BBQ on Thursday
🎉 West Alley BBQ, the only Black-owned restaurant in downtown Chandler, is celebrating its seventh anniversary and Juneteenth at 6 p.m. Thursday with free tastings, live music, prize giveaways, and a variety of vendors.
The smokehouse is offering an early-bird special – buy any entree on the menu and get a second entree of equal or less value for half-off – from 3-6 p.m.
Starting at 6 p.m., food and drink specials will include BOGO mac rolls; $13.99 smoked wings; $25 buckets of Ultra, Coors, or Blue Moon; $8 Incredible Hulk Shots; $5 Green Tea Shots; and $8 margaritas.

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Elevated sports bar opening in West Valley
🚧 Westside Concepts – the hospitality group behind Haymaker and Copper & Sage – is set to introduce a new elevated sports bar concept in the West Valley. MXSW Insiders can read about it here.
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