Metro Phoenix Dining Thread

[exit2lef]

Well, this is a BFD: Durant's has been sold to the Mastro family.

https://durantsaz.com/

That's probably for the best. Durant's is legendary but has been running on fumes for a while. I'm hoping the Mastros can revitalize it.

[azliam]

Originally Posted by exit2lef

Well, this is a BFD: Durant's has been sold to the Mastro family.

https://durantsaz.com/

That's probably for the best. Durant's is legendary but has been running on fumes for a while. I'm hoping the Mastros can revitalize it.

Sad to see it go. Back on New Year's Day Y2K, my friends and I ate there and the restaurant asked me if I could sign my name in their reservations book.

[ASU Diablo]

Originally Posted by exit2lef

Well, this is a BFD: Durant's has been sold to the Mastro family.

https://durantsaz.com/

That's probably for the best. Durant's is legendary but has been running on fumes for a while. I'm hoping the Mastros can revitalize it.

I've seen the coverage on this but PBJ probably has the more accurate reporting on this one.

It's coming back, according to the Mastro family. They're shutting down to remodel the kitchen and everything else will remain the same, look and feel.

Now whether this actually happens or not is to be seen. But I really hope it comes back.

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news...se-durant-s-sold-to-steak-44-owners.html

The owners of the Valley’s Dominick’s Steakhouse, Steak 44 and Ocean 44 have acquired one of the longest-running restaurants in the state.

Durant’s, which has been a staple of the Valley’s fine dining scene since it opened its doors in 1950, has been operated by the same family ownership for its entirety. But Jack M. McElroy, whose father founded the restaurant with Jack Durant, told the Business Journal there weren't any family members who were going to take it over, so he sought outside ownership with expertise who were aware of the restaurant's legacy.

“It’s either we walk away, or we find someone who knows the history of Durant’s and will carry that forward,” McElroy said.

Brothers Mike and Jeff Mastro, along with their father Dennis Mastro and business partner Scott Troilo, were happy to jump on the opportunity once they were approached for the deal. It is the Mastros’ first acquisition of an existing restaurant.

The financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but the deal closed on Wednesday. The property is still owned by Mike Dye, who was supportive of the deal and wanted to keep Durant’s in the place forever.

The Steak 44 team, whose restaurants have been touted as some of the best in the Valley, agrees and wants to keep the old-school steakhouse feel with the vintage red-velvet setting and keep guests entering the restaurant though the famous kitchen’s back door.

“It's a beloved brand and is ready to move into the next chapter with our service and our food,” Jeff Mastro told the Business Journal. “We're going to do some kitchen remodel, but other than that it is going to look, feel and be all of the terrific ambiance that people love about Durant’s.”

The remodeling of and improvements to the kitchen will cause Durant’s to temporarily close. Mastro said it is unclear still how long it will be closed.

“It could be a couple of months, or it could be four or five months,” Mastro said. “It depends on what we find and what we need to do in the kitchen and getting permits from the city.”

Durant’s going into new ownership and the next phase of its life was described as “bittersweet,” by McElroy, who worked in the restaurant since he was a child. He said he remembers seeing key leaders from both business and government in Durant’s throughout the years and estimated that hundreds if not thousands of business and legal deals were decided in its booths or at its bar.

The team behind Steak 44 invested in its restaurants in April 2024 when it brought on a research chef to expand its menus.

[ASU Diablo]

The Henry Uptown has an opening date of April 2. I'm looking forward to this one.

[Phxguy]

https://dtphx.org/post/23-new-businesses-now-open-in-downtown-phoenix

The DTPHX org always puts out a good summary of newly opened businesses, great to see more retail and F&B filling up previously empty spaces. Also not listed is the bar to fill in the old Hugo’s space or the Italian bakery to open in the Derby ground floor.

[TJPHXskyscraperfan]

I’m excited about the two new breweries in the Roosevelt area but I’m really surprised there hasn’t been any announcement of any retail in Central Station and Sol Modern yet!!!

[Obadno]

Originally Posted by Phxguy

https://dtphx.org/post/23-new-businesses-now-open-in-downtown-phoenix

The DTPHX org always puts out a good summary of newly opened businesses, great to see more retail and F&B filling up previously empty spaces. Also not listed is the bar to fill in the old Hugo’s space or the Italian bakery to open in the Derby ground floor.

Checked out a few of these places this weekend, downtown is really starting to hit that population tipping point with all the apartments that have been built coming on line and filling up lots of people everywhere all sorts of local retail businesses opining up to serve the local population. walking down Roosevelt and seeing all the new apartment towers to the south looks great!

[MMDelon]

Originally Posted by TJPHXskyscraperfan

I’m excited about the two new breweries in the Roosevelt area but I’m really surprised there hasn’t been any announcement of any retail in Central Station and Sol Modern yet!!!

Me too. I thought we would know who is taking the retail space for the Central Station project by now.

[J_PHX]

Hours will be 11am-10pm daily

[ASU Diablo]

The old FilmBar building will become a restaurant and bar.

The former FilmBar building is undergoing renovations to become a restaurant and bar, according to Phoenix building permits. Walter Sterling, the restaurateur behind Ocotillo (Third Street and Osborn Road), is involved. Renovations include replacing the storefront, remodeling the front entry overhang and front porch, and painting the exterior. Indoor capacity is expected to fit 282 guests, and outdoor, a dozen.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/loc...g-reworked-by-ocotillo-chef/83017669007/

Also, the Clive Collective group will be bringing three new restaurants in a historic downtown Phoenix bungalow. Hopefully this means the proposed Intersection development (Manzana) immediately north will also kick off soon.

Working with Intersection Development, Clive Collective plans to open three concepts at the historic Stoddard-Harmon bungalow at the corner of First Avenue and McKinley Street downtown.

Ada, named after the wife of the bungalow's builder, Arizona politician Celora Martin Stoddard, will have a coastal seafood theme with outdoor seating and green hedges.

"The patio is prime for white wines and rose with oysters," Massei said. The bar inside will also offer a cocktail program.

"We have Buck n Rider and swanky joints like Ocean 44, but that's it," Troyan said. "We wanted to bring a cool little seafood joint to Phoenix."

The menu, according to MacMillan, will draw inspiration from coastal New England. "I'm going to reimagine my New England roots," he said. "I want this to be a coastal American fare restaurant."

Next to Ada, diners will find an intimate bar called Love Call. "A cool circle bar with neon glows," Massei said. Troyan called it "an elevated neighborhood joint" rather than a cocktail bar.

The third concept is a baby sister to Kuza called Kuza Tori. Tori means street in Japanese and, according to Troyan, while Kuza is chic and vibey, Kuza Tori will be a super casual, enter-through-the-back-alley counterpart offering Japanese street food.

Expected opening: Ada and Love Call are expected to open in late January 2026.

Expected opening: Kuza Tori is expected to open in February 2026.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertai...lective-phoenix-restaurants/82993450007/

[Obadno]

Originally Posted by ASU Diablo

The old FilmBar building will become a restaurant and bar.



https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/loc...g-reworked-by-ocotillo-chef/83017669007/

Also, the Clive Collective group will be bringing three new restaurants in a historic downtown Phoenix bungalow. Hopefully this means the proposed Intersection development (Manzana) immediately north will also kick off soon.



https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertai...lective-phoenix-restaurants/82993450007/

Nice! sounds awesome! I love seeing these little bars and restaurants continue to proliferate downtown as the new apartments fill in and open. Having these neighborhoods mixed of office, apartments, restaurants all across the central city makes for an organic and walkable area. Cant wait for the first company to take a bet on new spec office space or ideally a local company investing in a major downtown office now that the residential and entertainment scene downtown is strong.

[TllrSkyline-01]

New deli opening at the Esplanade - called Little Pickle - a Jewish New York Style Deli;

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news...ddate=2025-05-06&utm_term=ep14&empos=p14

[TllrSkyline-01]

Federal Pizza at North Central Ave is expanding to PV Mall Area.

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news...izza-second-location-pv-development.html

https://media.bizj.us/view/img/12970514/img7753.jpg

I should not judge a book by its cover based on this picture, but the central location has a nice vibe. My wife and I enjoy eating at the outdoor patio facing Central in the cooler months. Hope it succeeds and does not suck business from the uptown location.

[ASU Diablo]

I noticed this a couple of weeks ago but the old Full Speed BBQ spot will become a Culinary Gangster. I haven't been to the Scottsdale location but I've heard it's good.

The build out of the Denver-based brewery in that 2-story building (just south of the Flowers building) is making progress. Anyone know of an opening date? I'm looking forward to this one.

[Phxguy]

Originally Posted by ASU Diablo

I noticed this a couple of weeks ago but the old Full Speed BBQ spot will become a Culinary Gangster. I haven't been to the Scottsdale location but I've heard it's good.

The build out of the Denver-based brewery in that 2-story building (just south of the Flowers building) is making progress. Anyone know of an opening date? I'm looking forward to this one.

To add to your Roosevelt dining updates:

Turquoise Wine Bar will be opening in the former Pretty Penny space, which is now in the Flower's Building - 503 E Roosevelt St.

910 N 5th St has steadily seen exterior improvements for months now but couldn't find permits to indicate what work was going on. Finally got the chance to ask a worker onsite, he mentioned the space will become Rumi Café and Bookshop. I guess the owner is the same guy who owns Samsara in the old Bliss Rebar space.

New liquor license for a bar was received for 914 N 6th St a few weeks back.

Work is underway in the former Lacuna Kava space (821 N 3rd St) to '...convert a former juice bar into a pub...'

Dolce Italia, a new Italian bakery, just opened in the Derby (NWC of 2nd St and McKinley.

Proof Bread is also open at the SWC of Roosevelt and 3rd Ave.

[ASU Diablo]

Going up in the previous spot of Thrown Brewing on Central (Artisan Lofts). Hopefully this concept is successful as this retail location has had some bad luck w/ previous tenants.

https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/restaura...oom-opening-in-downtown-phoenix-21867121

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by ASU Diablo

Going up in the previous spot of Thrown Brewing on Central (Artisan Lofts). Hopefully this concept is successful as this retail location has had some bad luck w/ previous tenants.

https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/restaura...oom-opening-in-downtown-phoenix-21867121

Sounds promising. With Oro being part of this venture, the tap handles at that bar can be put to good use. Random thought: The original tenant in that space, the Cheuvront wine bar, went out of business over a decade ago, but a licensed version of it still exists in Terminal 4 at Sky Harbor. There are a growing number of restaurants at the airport that have outlived the landslide places they are based on.

[DesertRay]

Originally Posted by exit2lef

Sounds promising. With Oro being part of this venture, the tap handles at that bar can be put to good use. Random thought: The original tenant in that space, the Cheuvront wine bar, went out of business over a decade ago, but a licensed version of it still exists in Terminal 4 at Sky Harbor. There are a growing number of restaurants at the airport that have outlived the landslide places they are based on.

Met the owner of Cheuvront when Throne was Pizza People Pub a few years ago. These folks are actually a pretty supportive group of folks. Hope the new folks do well.

[muertecaza]

The owners of Glai Baan in Phoenix are going to open a restaurant in the Benjamin Baker Mouer House on 7th St in downtown Tempe:

https://www.12news.com/article/news/loca.../75-2f824e1f-1f0b-4bd0-addb-47d315e4e53b

Seems like a good opportunity to fill the void left by House of Tricks.

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by muertecaza

The owners of Glai Baan in Phoenix are going to open a restaurant in the Benjamin Baker Mouer House on 7th St in downtown Tempe:

https://www.12news.com/article/news/loca.../75-2f824e1f-1f0b-4bd0-addb-47d315e4e53b

Seems like a good opportunity to fill the void left by House of Tricks.

Good news not only for historic preservation but also in terms of bringing back a decent mix of restaurants to Downtown Tempe. So many longstanding restaurants have closed lately and new places haven't filled the void.