Author: Jess Harter

Jason Bell, the owner of Crown Public House in downtown Phoenix, has snapped up the recently closed Switch on the northeast corner of Central and Virginia in midtown Phoenix for a new concept – Hutch Kitchen & Cocktails – scheduled

Waldo’s BBQ & Catering has closed and sold its 4-year-old Gilbert location on the northwest corner of Val Vista and Williams Field. Humble Bistro, a ‘‘neighborhood wine parlor’’ concept at High Street in northeast Phoenix from the owners of the

Calitacos, a 20-month-old Tolleson restaurant specializing in street-style tacos (especially birria tacos), has opened a second location on the southwest corner of Arizona Avenue and Warner in Chandler.

Garden Bar, a garden-to-glass cocktail experience (think fresh ingredients, artisanal spirits, and socially-responsible practices) from James Beard-honored mixologist Kim Haasarud, opens at 5 p.m. today in a 1914 bungalow on Sixth Avenue south of Roosevelt in downtown Phoenix.

High Tide Seafood Bar & Grill, which made its debut on the southwest corner of Val Vista and Williams Field in Gilbert in 2014, has opened its second location, High Tide at The Steelyard, on the southeast corner of Gilbert

NoRa Fresh Asian, a fast-growing chain of fast-casual Asian fusion restaurants, has launched its eighth Valley location – and fourth this year – on the southeast corner of Cooper and Baseline in Gilbert.

Christopher Collins, the chef-owner of the Common Ground Culinary restaurant group, has opened his latest concept, Neighborly Public House, built by Valley-based Laurshan Construction, in the former Stock & Stable space at The Colony on Seventh Street, between Camelback and Bethany

Teriyaki Madness, a Denver-based chain of fast-casual Asian restaurants, opens its fourth Valley location – and third in the East Valley – Wednesday near the northwest corner of Ray and 48th Street in Ahwatukee.

The Womack, a 1960s-themed cocktail lounge that’s been closed since the covid-19 pandemic began in March 2020, announced it finally will reopen Thursday near the southeast corner of Seventh Street and Bethany Home in uptown Phoenix.

Angie’s Lobster, a new drive-through concept featuring $9.99 lobster meals from the founders of East Valley-based Salad and Go, opened the first of its five initial locations today – albeit as a food truck (the bricks-and-mortar building behind it won’t ready

BrüCo Taproom – offering 30 craft beers on tap, wine, and a small food menu including pizza and wings – is set to open in December near the northeast corner of Power and Germann in Queen Creek.

El Fogón Taqueria, formerly located in the Chandler Fashion Center food court, has moved into the former Uno Mas Cantina space on the southeast corner of Chandler Boulevard and Desert Foothills Parkway in Ahwatukee.

Santé, a high-end organic-focused concept from EVO founder Nick Neuman and longtime friend Nico Doniele, is opening Dec. 14 in the former Brunch Cafe space near the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Greenway in north Scottsdale.

Cornish Pasty Co., a Tempe-based eatery that’s been introducing diners to the British pocket sandwiches since 2005, is opening a sixth Valley location on the northeast corner of 32nd Street and Union Hills in Paradise Valley.

By the Bucket, a Payson-based concept that sells spaghetti and meatballs by the bucket to go, is opening a location on the southeast corner of Cooper and Warner in Gilbert. Its first East Valley location debuted in Ahwatukee in May.