Bar Tepo’s closure deals blow to Mesa dining scene
October 4th, 2008, 3:07 pm · 2 Comments · posted by Jess Harter
After less than six months, wonderful Bar Tepo has closed its doors at Dana Park, dealing yet another blow to Mesa’s often-lamentable dining scene.
The stylish yet casual eatery from Valley restaurateur Steve Short (Basis, Atlasta Catering) offered such tasty New American menu items as brown sugar Hoisin chicken tacos, a lobster burger, Maryland crab-crusted sunfish and a pork chop stuffed with pancetta and pepperjack.
Bar Tepo no doubt suffered from its location in the northern wing of the shopping center, virtually a ghost town of mostly vacant store spaces, on the northwest corner of Baseline Road and Val Vista Drive. Walk-by traffic, or even drive-by, was almost nil.
But the restaurant’s closing also reinforces the perception Mesa can’t or won’t support worthwhile independent eateries.
Dana Park already had lost polished urban bistro Sautee, which relocated to Chandler’s Ocotillo area, and the fantastic Asian restaurant Oasian, which closed a couple months ago across the street from Sautee and Bar Tepo.
As a result, upscale Dana Park diners now are mostly limited to chain restaurants, such as Buca di Beppo, California Pizza Kitchen and Pei Wei. How sad.
• Previous: Read my restaurant review of Bar Tepo (April 18, 2008)
• Previous: Bar Tepo among E.V.’s top restaurants of 2008 so far (July 18, 2008)
October 4th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
WHEN WILL THEY GET IT THROUGH THEIR HEADS THAT THE UNITED STATES, ARIZONA, MARICOPA COUNTY AND ESPECIALLY MESA IS IN A RECESSION. THERE IS “NO” MONEY. JUST LOOK AT THE FAST-FOOD FRANCHISES. WHEN YOU CAN GET YOUR “ILLEGAL ALIEN” CASHIER TO UNDERTAND YOU…EVERYONE IS ORDERING THE $1 DOLLAR MEALS. OUR UTILITIES ARE SKY-HIGH, GASOLINE IS SKY-HIGH, FOOD IS SKY-HIGH….THE UNITED STATES IF “BROKE”. WE ARE IN A FINANCIAL “HOLE” BUT WHAT DOES THE PRESIDENT, THE CONGRESS, OUR TWO PRESIDENTIAL OPPONENTS DO…”THEY KEEP DIGGING” ……………..WHAT A WORLD WE LIVE IN NOW…..WHAT A WORLD.
October 4th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
This is very disappointing. Bar Tepo was a beautiful, delicious, subtle restaurant with really fantastic service. It was exactly the kind of place that should be in Dana Park but that was probably doomed by its location from the very beginning. Here’s hoping that they can relocate, I’ll certainly follow.