Midtown Phoenix gets a new neighborhood anchor Friday when Cowboy Seafood opens at Park Central on the northwest corner of Central Avenue and Earll Drive.
The latest from Christopher Collins’ Common Ground Culinary – the group behind Grassroots Kitchen & Tap, The Macintosh, Wally’s American Gastropub, and The Neighborly – pairs Southern BBQ Belt barbecue with fresh coastal seafood under one roof.
Collins, a fourth-generation restaurateur who calls Midtown home, says the goal is a place that fits any kind of day: oysters and a drink, a quick lunch, a family dinner, or a night out with friends. He wants it ‘‘to feel special, but never like you need a special occasion.’’
The 5,000-square-foot space, designed with Park Central developer Plaza Companies, seats 80 in the dining room, 22 at an island bar, 12 at a community table, and another 80 on the patio.
What’s on the menu
The menu splits into two camps. On the smoke side, the Misfit BBQ Smoke Yard runs a competition-grade J&R smoker and a custom dual-spit Santa Maria grill, turning out pecan-smoked St. Louis ribs, whole hog pork, and prime brisket with a trio of sauces.
Go big with The Whole Truth: two meats, sausage, smoked wings, a bacon-cheddar drop biscuit, and two sides. Also look for fried ‘‘Bama’’ ribs with Alabama white sauce, burnt ends mac ‘n’ cheese, and smoked jalapeño cheddar grits.
On the surf side, Saltwater Saint Raw Bar offers a daily rotating lineup: oysters, Old Bay shrimp cocktail, sashimi, poke, and seafood platters stacked with Florida stone crab and Maine lobster. Entrées include Alaskan halibut, blackened swordfish, Parmesan-crusted Idaho trout, and Cajun Texas redfish.
From the bar
Cocktails lean Western-meets-coastal, including Smoke on the Water (tequila, mezcal, grapefruit soda, smoked Hawaiian salt) and Thunder Rolls, a pecan fat-washed rye drink. Frozen cocktails, Arizona craft beer, and wine round out the list.
Hours
Cowboy Seafood is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
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