The Village at Las Sendas is sprouting new restaurants in northeast Mesa

By CRYSTAL PETROCELLI Get Out

For the 127,000 people who live within a five-mile radius of the intersection of Power and McDowell roads in east Mesa, the dark skies, abundant wildlife and quick access to unspoiled desert are big perks.

The lack of sit-down restaurants, however, has left a void for residents of the area's two master-planned upscale communities, Las Sendas and Red Mountain Ranch.

“We have homes up here over a million dollars, and you have to go to Scottsdale to get a good restaurant,” says Realtor Edyi Nickola, dining at the just-opened D’Vine Wine Bar & Bistro at the Village at Las Sendas.
Relief is on the way: By the end of July, the Village will have five locally owned sit-down restaurants.

“It’s nice because over here we have Red, White & Brew and (we work) right next door,” Nickola says of her frequent lunches at one of the few full-service restaurants in the area. “But the waiting lines (at Red, White & Brew) are just forever. Especially for dinner, it’s almost impossible.”

Mark Nowicki, a Las Sendas resident, knows firsthand about the area’s dining woes, as well as its lack of interesting wine bars or stores, which is why he helped open Red, White & Brew and now his opened D’Vine.

“There’s just nothing out here,” Nowicki says. “The nearest wine bar to us is probably Kazimierz in Scottsdale, which is 25 (or) 30 miles away.”
Nowicki, who lives in Las Sendas, has spent the last 20 years touring the West Coast’s wine country and is excited to share his lesser-known vino finds with his neighbors.

“There’s so many small boutique-type wineries that have great-quality wines at the same prices or even lower than what some of these big names are doing with their advertising,’’ he says. ‘‘That’s what we want to feature. Try to show people there’s more than just the Kendall Jacksons and Gallo’s and Beringers and everybody else.”

On May 9, D’Vine will have a new neighbor with the opening of the Village’s second restaurant — Manny’s Original New York Deli & Restaurant.

Owner Bruce Dunlop says he named the deli after his father and that he’ll be using Eastern European family recipes that his mother was famous for back in New York.

Dunlop and his wife, Barbara, who also live in Las Sendas, will serve true East Coast specialties such as fried kreplach (like a wonton), matzo ball soup, egg cream (frothed chocolate syrup, milk and seltzer), sandwiches with half a pound of meat, fried clam rolls and knish (grilled pastry stuffed with onions and herbed mashed potatoes).

The final three Village at Las Sendas restaurants will open by the end of July. Zócalo Spanish Fusion is scheduled to open June 1, and The Egg & I Cafe and Indigo Joe’s Sports Pub & Restaurant in late July.

Kathleen Konzen, a Mesa resident who stopped by D’Vine on its second day, says she is looking forward to having dining options in northeast Mesa.

“We’re very excited that we’ll finally have some diverse restaurants around this area,” Konzen says.

SIDE BAR ON THE MENU

D’Vine Wine Bar & Bistro
Opening: Opened April 12.
Menu: Highlights include the shrimp rumaki starter — five teriyaki marinated jumbo shrimp wrapped in prosciutto — and the crunchy bruschettas served with three of eight topping choices. Salads, soups, paninis (try the salami, bell pepper, onion and tomato version), desserts and nightly entree specials also are offered. Twenty wines by the glass, or buy a bottle from the retail section and pay a $7 corkage fee.
Look: Softly lit by small votives and track lighting. Wood tables and chairs seat 40 inside; shiny silver set-ups make room for 40 more on the covered patio with fire pit.
Cool stuff: Wine tastings, a wine club and live acoustic music are in the works.
Hours: 4 p.m. daily for dinner, with plans to start lunch service at 11 a.m. beginning Monday. Closing times vary.
Prices: $5-$9.
Info: or www.dvinewine101.com.

Manny’s Original New York Deli & Restaurant
Opening: May 9.
Menu: Matzo ball soup, corned beef and cabbage, pot roast, shepherd’s pie, kosher hot dogs, “king-size” sandwiches, Ruth’s rugelach (cream cheese dough and raspberry jelly rolled pastry) and Doris’ pineapple upside-down cake.
Look: The restaurant will have a 1930s and ’40s jazzy style with bright taxi-yellow walls, stained concrete flooring, dark gold painted AC ducts and a forest green deli and counter area.
Cool stuff: Meats, breads and pickles will be shipped in from New York. A female blues singer will perform Friday nights.
Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Prices: $3-$13.
Info:

Zócalo Spanish Fusion
Opening: June 1.
Menu: Tuna steak tartar, pan-fried jumbo shrimp stuffed with Mexican cheese and poblano peppers wrapped in bacon, chipotle caesar salad, daily fresh fish, mesquite grilled rib eye, chocolate cake with balsamic infused pear, tres leches cake and rotating flans.
Look: Eclectic look with a myriad of deep colors, high-back booths in deep eggplant with yellow seat cushions, multiple hand-painted murals and stained concrete floors.
Cool stuff: Live music on weekends and an indoor/outdoor bar.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sun.-Wed., 11 a.m. to midnight Thu., 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fri.-Sat.
Prices: $8-$32
Info:

The Egg & I Cafe
Opening: Late July.
Menu: The Belgian strawberry waffle is delicious, as are the Denver skillet and bagel sandwich. Typical morning munchies mingle with seldom-seens such as the French Toast Surprise (fluffy egg bread stuffed with cream cheese and sausage, then grilled), Skins and Eggs (potato skins filled with scrambled eggs, then covered with melted cheese, grilled onions and mushrooms) and frittatas. Lunch is mostly sandwiches, with a couple of salads, burgers and fresh-baked cobblers.
Look: Industrial design with open duct work, warehouse lighting, cherry wood and chrome chairs, stained concrete flooring and red, black and mustard colors throughout. The Egg will be the largest village restaurant, with seating for 135 inside.
Cool stuff: Order a burger for breakfast or pancakes for lunch! The entire menu will be served all day.
Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.
Prices: $4-$7.50.
Info: .

Indigo Joe’s Sports Pub & Restaurant
Opening: Late July.
Menu: Eclectic — including chili cheese fries, guacamole club on grilled sourdough, pulled pork sandwich, burgers, salads, fish and chips, baby back ribs, swordfish and chicken fettuccine.
Look: Oak tables, chairs and floors with room for 125 inside and 50 on the patio.