Category: New Restaurant Alert

S. Maranto’s Italian Bar & Market, an Italian grocery with a bar that serves house-made pastas and artisan sandwiches, has opened in the former Blast & Brew space on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and the 101 in north Scottsdale.

Fata Morgana Mediterranean Cuisine, a kosher restaurant offering dishes from Morocco to the Middle East (and even sushi), has opened in the former Aunt Abby’s Confections space near the northwest corner of Scottsdale and Shea in Scottsdale.

414 Pub & Pizza in downtown Tempe is planning to open a second, larger location with an expanded menu later this month in the Honey Baked Ham strip mall near the northeast corner of Extension and Southern in Mesa.

Espiritu Cocktails & Comida, a Mexican cocktail bar and seaf00d-focused eatery from the owners of Tacos Chiwas and Bacanora, has opened in the short-lived Herb n Smoke space on the south side of Main between MacDonald and Robson in downtown

Brunch Snob, a breakfast and lunch restaurant with a full bar, has opened in the former Irish Hare space next to Safeway on the southwest corner of Elliot and 48th Street in Ahwatukee. Co-owner Celene Hillsbery also owns the Sacks Sandwiches

California-based Mountain Mike’s Pizza, a 44-year-old chain known for its signature ‘‘crispy curly’’ pepperoni, has launched its first Arizona restaurant in the former Rosati’s Pizza space at Mesa Riverview on the southeast corner of Dobson and the 202 in Mesa.

Matty G’s Steakburgers & Spirits, a locally owned group of popular bar and grills, has opened its sixth restaurant – and fourth in the East Valley – in the former BurgerIM building near the northeast corner of Gilbert and the

Badlands Bar & Grill, an all-day American comfort food restaurant from the owners of Chicago’s Dakota 94, has opened in the former Tres space on the west side of Price, about a quarter-mile south of Guadalupe, in Tempe.

Award-winning Arizona Stronghold Vineyards will open its second tasting room – and first in the Valley – at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 7, in the former Sugar & Spro space near the southeast corner of Marshall Way and Fifth Avenue

Popular food truck Tacos Barbon has opened a bricks-and-mortar restaurant with an expanded menu inside the Holiday Inn & Suites on the northwest corner of  I-10 and Dysart in Goodyear.

Scott and Melissa McIntire, owners of The Ainsworth in downtown Phoenix and The Lola at Westgate, and 101.5 FM radio personality “Joey Boy” Rodriguez have opened an Asian-American fusion restaurant, Buddha’s Ritual, at Soho Scottsdale on the southwest corner of

Eggstasy, a local chain of breakfast-and-lunch restaurants, has opened its fifth Valley location at The Shops at Norterra on the northeast corner of the I-17 and Happy Valley in north Phoenix.

Point 22 Tavern, an all-day American grill with a full bar, is coming to Cadence at Gateway on the southeast corner of Ellsworth and Ray in southeast Mesa next summer.

Rosie’s Taco Shop, a new concept from the founders of Oscar’s Taco Shop (which has 13 family-run locations in Arizona and Tennesee), is coming to a new development on the southeast corner of McQueen and Guadalupe in Gilbert.

Bonfire Craft Kitchen & Tap House, a 2-year-old restaurant and sports bar in Surprise, will open its second location in the former Tilted Kilt building near the southwest corner of Priest and Warner in south Tempe.

Mae Khong Thai Tapas & Bar, a family-run traditional Thai restaurant, has had its soft opening in the former Thai Time Kitchen space next to the AMC Mesa Grand 14 theaters on northeast corner of Stapley and Baseline in Mesa.

Washington-based Trapper’s Sushi Co. has opened its second Arizona location in the former Squid Ink sushi bar space at CityScape in downtown Phoenix. The first made its Arizona debut in Avondale in March.

Myungrang Hot Dog, a restaurant specializing in Korean-style battered hot dogs, has opened at Westgate on the northwest corner of Glendale and 91st Avenue in Glendale.

Espiritu, a new but yet to be revealed concept from Chiwas Tacos owners Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin, is taking over the short-lived Herb n Smoke space on the south side of Main between MacDonald and Robson in downtown Mesa.

After making its long-awaited return the Valley with restaurants in Gilbert and east Mesa this year, Tucson-based Eegee’s will open a third location on the northwest corner of Peoria and 35th Avenue in west Phoenix this spring.