The Foodbar is the first of seven restaurants scheduled to open this year at SouthBridge, a 5-acre parcel of boutiques and eateries on the south side of the Arizona Canal, across from the much-hyped Scottsdale Waterfront, near Camelback and Scottsdale roads.
The mood: The Foodbar is an upscale grab-and-go restaurant/market that offers soups, sandwiches, daily specials and desserts.
To the left of the industrial-looking space, there’s a short, horseshoe-shaped food line where you place your order and get your tray, drinks and silverware.
To the right, there’s a narrow space lined with two-person tables built into a wood wall on one side and side-by-side seating on leather bench cushions along windows.
At the far end of the space in a stand-and-eat community table, a coffee/juice bar, a cold case with prepackaged entrees and desserts to go and a small patio facing the canal.
The food: Specials change daily, partly based on seasonal ingredients. On this afternoon, they include strozapretti pasta with fresh asparagus, peas, prosciutto and mushrooms in a light cream sauce ($7.95). My co-worker chooses this, and it proves delicious.
I decide to try something off the everyday menu. After considering the Cuban Pressed Sandwich, I instead go with the Meatloaf Sandwich ($6.95), a 3-inch-high creation with tangy barbecue sauce, Jack cheese and a fennel slaw. It comes with chips.
The ordering process is a little confusing for first-timers, and the average East Valley diner may be unfamiliar with some of the daily specials. But the Foodbar’s staff is friendly and helpful.
The drinks: My co-worker gets an iced tea ($1.65), and I get homemade lemonade ($1.75). Both come with free refills.
The damage: $19.77. If the Foodbar is indicative of the six other restaurants to come this year, we’ll be making regular stops at SouthBridge.
The Foodbar
Where: 7114 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale
Open: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Prices: Eggs/omelets $3.95-$7.50, salads $5.25-$11.45, soups $2.25-$5.95, sandwiches $6.50-$9.95, desserts $1.50-$4.95
Info: (480) 994-3663 or southbridgescottsdale.com
Twitter
Facebook