Author: Jess Harter

Troubled Siracha Lounge, which tried to combine Pan-Asian street food with a trendy nightclub vibe in downtown Chandler, has closed for the second time in 14 months. Siracha launched in November 2009, but closed just four months later after losing

Five months after chef Wade Moises bailed, PastaBar has closed in downtown Phoenix. Moises, who had left Sassi, and sous chef Nick Gentry launched PastaBar in February 2009. Moises left last July to head Adobe Restaurant. Closed for business: PastaBar [New

Sonoran hot dog alert! Tucson favorite El Guero Canelo plans to open three Valley locations “as soon as possible,” according to owner Daniel Contreras. El Guero Canelo is well-known for its Sonoran hot dogs, which are wrapped in bacon and topped

Phoenix City Grille and Sierra Bonita Grill (pictured) are no longer sister restaurants. Longtime Valley restaurateur Sheldon Knapp is retaining Phoenix City, which serves American fare. Nate Hopper, who opened Sierra Bonita with Knapp in 2005 as the general manager,

Citizen Public House, the long-awaited restaurant from former Cowboy Ciao chef Bernie Kantak, will have a soft opening Saturday and “officially” open on Sunday. The dinner-only (for now) menu includes entrees named Fair Trade Coffee Charred Short Ribs, Brick Grilled

FilmBar, an independent movie theater and beer/wine bar, just launched its website and is planning to open Feb. 3 in downtown. The theater will show new, classic and cult independent films in a “microcinema” setting (approximately 60-80 seats) while offering

Candy Addict, a store offering more than 1,000 kinfs of candy, has opened on Mill Avenue in downtown Tempe. The store is owned by Frank and Pam Ellis, who relocated from California’s Silicone Valley where he helped develop the Amazon

It looks like Stan’s Metro Deli, an institution on downtown Tempe’s Mill Avenue in the 1990s, has closed again. The deli had just reopened in August after several years’ absence. But a sign in the window today indicates the space is

Chef Brandon Crouser (pictured) has left Crudo to become executive chef at Avalon in Scottsdale. He says Avalon will serve “classic bistro food with world flair.” Crouser, perhaps best-known from his work at Atlas Bistro, co-launched Crudo with chef Cullen

Two restaurants are set to open this week at Scottsdale Quarter, a 28-acre retail-and-restaurant complex on Scottsdale Road and Greenway Parkway. Former Joe’s Farm Grill chef Chad Burnett’s debuts his “progressive American cuisine” menu at Parc Central Restaurant & Lounge on Wednesday.

Real estate manager Danny Little and general contractor Tim Smith are the new owners of the Pink Pony in Scottsdale. The 60-year-old landmark, which closed in 2009, recently posted a mysterious message on its website announcing it will reopen. Little and

SanTan Brewing Company will unleash its new seasonal ale – a chocolate barley wine called Sex Panther – at 11 a.m. Tuesday. We totally dig the ale’s 1970s-era logo (pictured). The downtown Chandler brewpub will celebrate the release with ’70s

The much-anticipated Citizen Public House, the new restaurant for former Cowboy Ciao chef Bernie Kantak, opens Friday in Old Town Scottsdale. CPH is just one of several new restaurant openings in downtown Scottsdale, including: Herb Box, which opened its second

Chef Shinji Kurita, who closed his acclaimed Shinbay in Ahwatukee five years ago, is working on reopening his sushi restaurant at the Scottsdale Seville. The new spot, which will seat just two dozen people, will offer omakase tasting menus and “New Tokyo-style”

James Porter, the owner-chef of French country bistro Petite Maison in Old Town Scottsdale, is branching out into barbecue. He hopes to launch Big Earl’s BBQ on Feb. 1. The restaurant, which takes over the former Nello’s building in Old

Tanzy, a modern Mediterranean restaurant, has opened next to the iPic Theaters at the Scottsdale Quarter. Chef Geoff Baumberger‘s menu includes such entrees as braised lamb shank ($28), black cod ratatouille ($26) and pineapple-glazed swordfish ($27). New in Scottsdale: Tanzy [New

After much speculation, it’s official: Former Sassi chef Peter DeRuvo is the new chef de cuisine at Prado, the upscale Italian restaurant at the InterContinental Montelucia resort in Paradise Valley. Most recently, DeRuvo served a month-long stint at the short-lived

Here’s some potentially great news: The Pink Pony, the 61-year-old landmark in Old Town Scottsdale that closed in 2009, apparently is reopening. A mysterious post on the legendary sports bar and restaurant’s new website (pictured) says: After a long, wonderful (not

Lauren and Morgan Klemp, daughters of AZ Wine Co. owner Ray Klemp, are marketing Arroyo Vodka, the Valley’s first hometown microdistilled vodka. The small-batch vodka – just 886 bottles – is available at select Valley restaurants, resorts and AZ Wine’s

Chicagoland favorite Mia Francesca is opening two locations in Scottsdale this year. The first is expected to open spring in the former San Felipe Cantina space at DC Ranch. The second is scheduled for this summer in the ex-Quilted Bear