Noteworthy restaurants finally descend on Mesa By CRYSTAL PETROCELLI
GET OUT
This ain't your momma's Mesa anymore.
The nation's biggest little city — it's a few subdivisions away from hitting the half-million population mark — sports its very own P.F. Chang's, Oregano's, BJ's Brewery, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sakana Sushi & Grill, Sauce and Salty Senorita, as well as a buffet of other noteworthy new eateries.
The culinary kick-start began when the how-long's-the-expletive-wait?! Oregano's braved the legally dead dining scene earlier this year. At the time, the move was major for Mesa.
Fast-forward six months, and the city has been the spot for expansion and the testing of new-to-Arizona restaurants.
Scottsdale's Salty Senorita, for example, opened its second location last month on Stapley Drive, just south of U.S. 60.
“Mesa's a big city,” says Salty owner John Casale. “Second-biggest city in the state, right? They just spent $90 million on the Mesa Arts Center, and they're bringing in huge names. It's cool; I mean, there's some cool revival going on around here, and Scottsdale is built out.”
Casale claims there are more restaurants per capita in Scottsdale than in New York City.
“You have to go where the people are, and you have to give them what they want. This is where everybody's at — it's growing so fast,” he says.
‘FIRST ONE IN'
Three miles east at Val Vista Drive and Baseline Road, Molly Brannigans popped open its first bottle of whiskey last week. The Pennsylvania-based Irish eatery has four locations in its home state, one in Las Vegas and one in Mesa.
That's right: Mesa landed right after Sin City as a prime pub place.
“I think we're very aware of the Scottsdales and the Chandlers — I don't know if they're saturated or they're not saturated — but we're all for coming in and doing our thing and being the first one in,” says Molly founder John Melody, an Irishman who's kept his killer accent despite 20 years in the States. “We'll test the waters, so to speak.”
Molly's is one of a handful of restaurants to open in swanky Dana Park near Val Vista and Baseline this year.
Sau'tee — a new concept hoping to play in the same arena as Z Tejas and P.F. Chang's — will be taking shape soon.
“We targeted the East Valley because they have a huge need,” says Sau'tee owner Dan Chaon. “You still see a lot of people from the East Valley traveling up to Kierland Commons and north Scottsdale for some of the unique dining experiences. Our goal at Sau'tee is to bring that into areas where we think we have a competitive advantage where they don't offer that now.”
UNLIKELY SCENES
The Superstition Springs and Village at Las Sendas retail areas aren't doing too shabby themselves.
On a recent Sunday night at the 6-month-old D'Vine Wine Bar & Bistro, Ski Broman and Lisa Zangger sip from a shiraz wine flight while an acoustic duo serenades a packed patio. It's an unlikely scene to stumble across in Mesa.
“Buffalo, swordfish and a cello . . . in Mesa. I like it,” says Broman, who lives nearby. “It's our favorite place out here.”
And, unlike years past, that's actually saying something.
Sidebar:
FAMILIAR FACES
1. Big City BBQ, 1425 S. Alma School Road
2. BJ's Brewery, 6622 E. Superstition Springs Blvd.
3. Buffalo Wild Wings, 4425 E. McKellips Road
4. The Egg & I Cafe, 2823 N. Power Road
5. Frank & Lupe's Old Mexico, 118 E. McKellips Road
6. Oregano's, 1130 S. Dobson Road
7. P.F. Chang's, 6610 E. Superstition Springs Blvd.
8. Sakana Sushi & Grill, 1853 S. Power Road
9. Salty Senorita, 1860 S. Stapley Drive
10. Sauce, 3426 E. Baseline Road
NEW-TO-AZ PLACES
11. Amazing Jake's Food & Fun, 1830 E. Baseline Road
12. Cafe Rumba, 1315 S. Gilbert Road
13. Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill, 3426 E. Baseline Road
14. D'Vine Wine Bar & Bistro, 2837 N. Power Road
15. Indigo Joe's, 2855 N. Power Road
16. Manny's Original New York Deli & Restaurant, 2837 N. Power Road
17. Molly Brannigans, 1744 S. Val Vista Drive
18. Oasian Noodle Bar, 1935 S. Val Vista Drive
19. Thai House Restaurant, 1155 S. Power Road
20. Zócalo Spanish Fusion, 2831 N. Power Road
COMING SOON
My Big Fat Creek Restaurant: early November on Southern Avenue, west of Power Road
Comstock Jake's: early November on Power Road, north of McKellips Road
America's Cheesecake Café: late November on Alma School Road, south of Southern Avenue
Crackers and Co. Café: late December on Greenfield Road, north of Brown Road
Sau'tee: late December on Val Vista Drive, north of Baseline Road
