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The Dish with Jess Harter ~ Pursuing food and fun across the East Valley

Archive for the 'Fired Up Grill' Tag

5 to try: Recently opened E.V. restaurants

July 9th, 2009, 9:01 pm by Jess Harter

The recession has been hard on Valley restaurants, but out of adversity comes opportunity. Amidst all the closures, a number of new eateries have risen from the ashes like Phoenix’s mythical namesake. Here are five that recently have opened:

Fired Up GrillIl Vinaio: Formerly called Valley Eatery, this massive restaurant has been remodeled, including the addition of a wine and microbrew bar. Breakfast and lunch remain basic, but chef Patrick Boll, last seen at Scottsdale fun spots Geisha a Go Go and Drift, has created a Mediterranean-influenced dinner menu. 270 W. Main St., Mesa, (480) 649-6476.

Nunthaporn’s Thai Cuisine: Former Benjarong Thai owner Treekamol Nunthaporn has taken over the Main Street space that housed Christel’s Bavarian Deli for nearly two decades. The lunch/dinner menu includes a wide variety of traditional Thai chicken, beef, pork, duck and seafood dishes, most $9 to $10. 17 W. Main St., Mesa, (480) 649-6140.

Rendezvous Point Restaurant: Longtime French restaurant Citrus Café, which closed after its most recent owner was charged with stealing diners’ credit card numbers, has re-opened under new ownership. The lunch menu features basic salads, sandwiches and burgers; the dinner menu focuses on steaks and pasta dishes. 2330 N. Alma School Road, Chandler, (480) 855-5566.

Fired Up Grill: Former Chandler Buca di Beppo manager Joe Busone takes over the nearby space (pictured above) that housed popular nightlife spot 56 East. Pasta dishes and individual pizzas lend an Italian flair to the menu; entrees range from Southwestern meatloaf ($13.99) to Caribbean grilled ahi tuna ($16.99). 7131 W. Ray Road, Chandler, (480) 940-4040.

Trophy’s Steakhouse: Nearly three dozen big-game mounts are a clue this restaurant focuses on meat, including many kinds of wild game. The eight-ounce filet mignon ($21) is one of the best values in the Valley. Other must-tries are the pork “wings” ($9), buffalo burger ($10) and buffalo and elk meatloaf ($13). 7215 S. Power Road, Queen Creek, (480) 840-3981.

Posted in: Chandler • Mesa • Queen Creek • • • • • • | 4 Comments »

Chandler’s 56 East reopens as Fired Up Grill

June 15th, 2009, 11:16 pm by Jess Harter

Fired Up Grill

Joe Busone, the manager who made headlines last October when he was fired by Buca di Beppo, prompting  his staff to stage a walkout that closed the west Chandler restaurant for a night, has opened a new eatery of his own just a few hundred feet away.

Fired Up Grill takes over the former 56 East Bar & Kitchen on the southwest corner of Chandler Boulevard and 56th Street. One of Chandler’s most popular nightspots, 56 East closed in October along with sister restaurants 98 South Wine Bar & Kitchen and KiZake Sushi & Martinis in downtown Chandler.

The reasons for Busone’s abrupt dismissal after eight years at Buca di Beppo have never been made clear. He has blamed a personality conflict with a new executive at the chain; Buca di Beppo has refused to comment.

One thing is certain: Those who’ve dined at that Buca di Beppo will see a lot of familiar faces working at Fired Up Grill. Nearly his entire staff was hired from Busone’s former restaurant.

Fired Up GrillInside, the space looks almost identical to the old 56 East, just with a new coat of burgandy and gold paint. A large sliding door still opens the cozy dining room and two-sided bar to a wrap-around patio.

The menu features a variety of Italian dishes. Pastas, which are pressed daily, include a baked rotello ($12.99, pictured), a flat piece of pasta rolled up with ricotta, spinach, red peppers and mushrooms. Another highlight is fettucine tossed with smoked ham and grilled chicken in a pink alfredo sauce ($12.99).

Chicken marsala ($13.99) topped with asparagus and provolone leads a roster of seven entrees. Individual pizzas are $8.99 to $10.50.

The most unusual thing on the menu is tabletop grilling, available only on the patio. You can order up to eight different ingredients — chicken, shrimp, asparagus, pineapple, etc. — that arrive at your table on skewers ($1.50 to $2 per skewer). You cook the skewers yourself on small Sterno stoves. Three dipping sauces are available.

The wine list has 11 whites and 19 reds, including seven and 10, respectively, by the glass ($4 to $10). Happy hour, which runs 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, offers $2 off any glass of wine or liquor and $1.50 off beers.

Fired Up Grill, 7131 W. Ray Road, Chandler, is open 3 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday. Info: (480) 940-4040.

Posted in: Chandler • | 7 Comments »
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