Digestif, Old Town Scottsdale restaurateur Peter Kasperski’s farm-to-table Italian restaurant, is moving across Stetson Drive later this month into the much-smaller digs of its former sister restaurant Sea Saw, which closed last month.
And, in news that won’t surprise many, Kasperski’s planned Mexican Standoff, originally scheduled to open in late 2007, won’t be opening at all. The Digestif and Mexican Standoff spaces, which share a master lease, are being sold.
The good news for Digestif fans is chef Payton Curry will remain and the menu will continue to feature his fresh pastas, hand-pulled mozzarella and charcuterie. The bad news is Sea Saw was tiny — barely accommodating 20 diners.
The stylish Digestif, which combined a “Beatnik basement” decor with an indie-rock vibe (pictured above), opened in February 2008 at developer Fred Unger’s troubled SouthBridge complex, which was to feature seven independent restaurants.
Besides Digestif and Mexican Standoff, Kasperski was supposed to open a larger Sea Saw and a companion Japanese tavern called Shell Shock at SouthBridge. Plans for the latter two were scrapped earlier this year.
SouthBridge’s first restaurant, Foodbar, opened in July 2007 and closed after just a year. It was re-launched last fall as Metro Brasserie. The remaining restaurants, high-enders Estate House and Canal, have struggled to draw diners.
Besides Digestif, Kasperski owns Cowboy Ciao and Kazimierz World Wine Bar in Old Town Scottsdale.
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Thanks for this piece Jess, and for focusing on the positive — yes, Chef Payton will continue to thrill guests with his cooking. DIGESTIF has been blessed with SO many loyal fans in one short year! Sea Saw had 28 seats; we are thinking to have about 32 and after a little remodel in Fall have closer to 50!
Peter Kasperski’s empire is falling apart. Its a shame because I hate corporate restaurants. Phoenix has always had nice privately held restaurants and its got to stop. This recession will not last forever and that South Bridge will be rejuvinated. God the pink Taco is gone, Sea Saw, so many closings. It used to be Scottsdale bad restaurants never lasted now its the opposite
The recession hits everyone. My husband and I are thrilled Digestif will still remain. We LOVE Chef Payton and his food and are so glad he will continue to delight the pallet of valley diners.