It's showtime! Zen Culinary finally opens in Scottsdale in massive, remodeled space
The ambitious Asian-fusion Zen Culinary from first-time restaurateur Rachel McAuley has opened in the Sonoran Village shopping center in north Scottsdale.
It took nearly a year of renovations to convert the 20-year-old Los Olivos Norte space, with capacity for 379 people, into a showcase restaurant with sleek, modern Asian flair. Now it’s showtime.
The grand opening is Friday, Dec. 2. Festivities begin at 9 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane. The first 100 customers will receive a free appetizer or a penny cocktail, according to General Manager Cristina Serrano. The restaurant is on Pima Road off Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard.
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The eclectic menu is a mix of appetizers (hot wings with sesame ranch, $11, tuna mango poke, $16); sashimi and sushi rolls ($14-$26); curries ($14-$18); noodles ($12-$16), fried rice ($8-$16); and entrees, including sashimi bi bim bap ($25), bone-in rib eye with buttermilk mashed potatoes ($56), and smoked tea seabass ($36).
McAuley hired Kelly Fletcher (El Chorro) as executive chef and Bob Tam (Bitter & Twisted) as a menu consultant. Fletcher left recently. For the time being, McAuley said she is in the kitchen as executive chef and Deven Alcantara has been appointed head chef. Daniel Chong, who owned a restaurant in New York City, has been named sushi chef.
Cocktails, designed by Michael Liberatore (Citizen Public House) include the Lime and Coconut ($10), with tequila, limoncello, lime juice, pineapple, gomme (gum) syrup, coconut foam and lime zest.
Serving lunch and dinner, hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Happy hour is 3-6 p.m. daily.
Details: Zen Culinary, 15554 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale. 480-296-0030, zenculinary.com.
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