PHOENIX— The Phoenix food scene has some great gems as is but there always seems to be new eateries opening each month.
The upcoming year will be no exception. A wide variety of restaurants are opening including second locations of local favorites, the 11th location of Cold Beers and Cheeseburgers and new concepts such as an intimate French restaurant nestled in downtown Phoenix.
Who knows! Your new favorite restaurant may be on this list.
TapHouse Kitchen
What: In addition to its original Scottsdale location, TapHouse Kitchen is opening a second location in Phoenix. The robust menu and features comfort food with twists like shrimp mac-n-cheese, a salmon burger and chicken and dumplings. Come thirsty because TapHouse has 40 beers on tap including local beers from local breweries. Each dish on the menu has a craft beer and wine pairing suggestion to enhance each diner’s experience.
TapHouse’s new spot is a custom-built 7,000 square-feet interior space with an outdoor patio complete with a fireplace and views of Piestewa Peak.
Where: 32nd Street and Shea Boulevard
When: Jan. 4, 2019
Who: Chef Patrick Karvis is the mind behind TapHouse’s menu.
Casa Terra
What: This fine-dining vegan restaurant will serve plant forward cuisine and authentic Mexican and Mediterranean dishes, according to a press release. Casa Terrra will be open for dinner only. Expect to see a wide variety of small plates, wood-fired pizzas and shareable entrees.
The 2,800 square-foot restaurant in downtown Glendale will seat up to 65 guests for an intimate dining experience.
Where: 59th and Glendale avenues
When: Early January
Who: Chef Jason Wyrick, who is the first vegan chef to teach in the famed Le Cordon Bleu program at the Scottsdale Culinary Institute, is behind this elevated vegan dinind experience.
Cold Beers and Cheeseburgers at Peoria’s Park West
What: Fast-growing Phoenix chain Cold Beers and Cheeseburgers is opening its largest location to date. There new location will have not only the largest seating capacity but also the largest bar seating in any Cold Beer and Cheeseburgers location. This will be the second West Valley location and the 11th location overall.
Where: Inside the Park West shopping complex located at 99th and Northern avenues
When: End of January 2019
Who: Cold Beers and Cheeseburgers is part of Square One Concepts.
Famous 48—Moving to a new location
What: Previously in Old Town Scottsdale, Famous 48 is moving to a new location in norther Scottsdale. The restaurant’s menu is filled with comfort food but the 4,500 square-foot interior will offer a stylish atmosphere with 36 TVs, making it great for catching a game. The new location will also have an open-air patio with games.
Where: At the Shops at Gainey Village at Scottsdale and Doubletree Ranch roads
When: End of January 2019
Who: Famous48 is another restaurant that is part of Square One Concepts.
Scoopwell’s Dough Bar
What: We all know you like to eat raw cookie dough. Well skip the health risk and try Scoopwell’s from-scratch gourmet cookie dough. A “secret” recipe makes it safe to eat straight from the mixing bowl.
Where: At Uptown Plaza at Central Avenue and Camelback Road
When: Early 2019
Biscuits Café
What: Originating in Oregon City, Ore., Biscuits Café will be serving up breakfast and lunch seven days a week with a menu that includes omelets and burgers and of course, biscuits and gravy.
Where: Hayden Road and Northsight Boulevard
When: Early 2019 (late January)
Who: Owners Ed and Barbara Preston opened their first Biscuits Café in Oregon and now have locations all over Oregon, Washington and Arizona. This will be Arizona’s seventh location.
State 48 Barrel and Lager House
What: State 48 Brewery is doing something different for the brewery’s fourth location. The craft beer team will open Arizona’s first lager brewery and focus on barrel-aged beers, according to the press release. All beers will be brewed on site and the gastropub will feature a full-service kitchen. Prost!
Where: Hayden Road and Northsight Boulevard
When: Early 2019
Luci’s at the Grove
What: Luci’s kind of has it all. The restaurant will include a marketplace, cafe, coffee and juice bar, and more inside its upcoming 4,100 square-foot Scottsdale location. This is the brand’s first venture into Scottsdale. Luci’s at the Grove will serve a variety of food and drinks and open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Where: Hayden Road and McCormick Parkway, at McCormick Ranch
When: Early 2019
Who: Lucia and Ken Schnitzer and Jerry Mansoor are behind the Luci’s brand. They created Luci’s Healthy Marketplace, Luci’s at the Orchard, Splurge at the Orchard and Pomelo at the Orchard in central Phoenix.
George Lopez’s Chingon Kitchen at Gila River Hotels & Casinos
What: The fast-casual restaurant will pay homage to comedian and actor George Lopez’s heritage and feature authentic Mexican, according to a release. The restaurant will feature hand-painted graffiti murals influenced by Mexican history, folklore and culture. The menu will feature wood-fired carne asada, spit-fired al pastor and a large selection of tequila.
Where: Gila River Hotels & Casinos Vee Quiva at 51st Avenue and Komatke Lane
When: Early 2019
Who: After seeing success from their first location at San Manuel Casino in Highland, CA Lopez and restaurateur Michael Zislis decided to bring the concept to Arizona.
Arizona Wilderness downtown Phoenix
What: Phoenix fans of this Gilbert brewery known for its unique beers that are inspired by Arizona nature, rejoice! Arizona Wilderness is opening up a second location in downtown Phoenix! According to the brewery’s blog, the new location will feature large beer garden style patio. They’ll also be serving up Arizona beef burgers but chose counter service to better serve a large crowd.
Where: Roosevelt and 2nd streets
When: Spring 2019
Who: Arizona Wilderness founders Jonathan Buford and Patrick Ware first opened up the Gilbert location in 2013.
Petit Jo
What: This café will serve fresh baked croissants, pain au chocolats and palmiers along with other French pastries daily.
Where: 2nd and Portland streets
When: Spring 2019
Who: Phoenix designer Joel Contreras is teaming up with restaurateur Grace Unger of Tuck Shop to preserve the historic nature of the bungalow style building.
Josephine
What: Josephine will be an “elevated” dining experience nestled in downtown Phoenix serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, focusing on modern French cuisine, according to a press release. Expect to see small and large plates, charcuterie, artisan cheeses & twists on Southern French classics on the menu. And mais oui, Josephine will feature curated wines and champagnes.
Where: 2nd and Portland streets
When: Fall 2019
Who: Grace Unger of Tuck Shop in Phoenix’s Coronado Historic District and her partners are behind Josephine, its attached bar Coup de Grâce and café Petit Jo.
Coup de Grâce
What: The two words used to introduce Coup de Grâce on the press release are “dark” and “seductive.” The bar will offer unique cocktails and feature a full absinthe service. If la fée verte or the green fairy is not your thing, sip on some French whiskies the 500-square-feet lounge. The theme of Coup de Grâce will be France in the 1970s, invoking a time of anti-Americanism in France, according to the release.
Where: 2nd and Portland streets
When: Fall 2019