Southbridge ScottsdaleNewest Scottsdale Downtown District Offers an Independent Dining and Shopping SceneSouthbridge Scottsdale OverviewLooking for a good restaurant or a unique gift? Head to Southbridge Scottsdale. This downtown Scottsdale district stretches along the south side of the revamped Arizona Canal on west Stetson Drive.
The creation of developer Fred Unger, Southbridge is a $41 million urban, pedestrian-friendly development notable because it only has independently-owned boutiques and restaurants; there are no chains. Along with the Scottsdale Waterfront, it is one of the newest downtown Scottsdale revitalization projects. Although it is only 3 acres, Southbridge packs a lot into a few blocks. A waterfront park, tree-lined sidewalks and open air courtyards give it a European flair. The Southbridge Scottsdale retail area is called The Mix. This bi-level center is an eclectic collection of shops. The original development plans called for many boutiques. However, the downturn in the current economic climate meant that some Southbridge Scottsdale retailers have closed in the last six months. Future tenants may include a salon, an art gallery and a Pilates studio. Current stores include:
Across the street on the south side of Stetson Drive there is:
Southbridge Scottsdale RestaurantsShopping isn't the only reason to visit Southbridge. If you love food and wine, this is the area for you.
The south side of Stetson Drive, opposite the Waterfront, has been known for the popular Scottsdale restaurants Cowboy Ciao, Sea Saw and Kazimierz World Wine Bar. All three were the brainchildren of Peter Kasperski, an innovative restaurateur who has helped to raise the bar on the Scottsdale dining scene. Our favorite Kasperski venture is Cowboy Ciao. This unique restaurant serves an eclectic cuisine that melds the flavors of Mexico, Italy and the Southwest. If the great food wasn't reason enough to visit, adventuresome diners would come for the whimsical and creative atmosphere, which one reviewer referred to as "Addams Family meets Old West Bordello." Kazimierz Wine Bar (7137 E. Stetson Drive, Suite 8; 480-WINE-004) boasts a collection of over 2,400 wines with 20 varietals from over 40 countries. You can relax on plush couches and armchairs in a comfortable setting reminiscent of a European wine cellar. In addition to wine, Kazimierz offers a global grazing menu of flatbreads, patés, fondue, cheese plates and salads. Stop by on Sunday, Monday or Thursday evenings to hear live jazz from local musicians. As their web site says, "Like all good speakeasys, the entrance is hidden in the rear." The equally famous Sea Saw had been a 6th Avenue and Stetson fixture for several years. Originally, Sea Saw was slated to move across the street into a new Southbridge Scottsdale location. However, Chef Fukuda has decided to close Sea Saw as of June 7, 2009, in order to pursue an opportunity to open up his own restaurant in midtown Phoenix. Peter Kasperski had also planned to open four new Scottsdale Waterfront restaurants to add to his already impressive list of dining venues. Unfortunately, only one of them, Digestif had opened. But in mid-October 2009, it closed due to the departure of Chef Payton Curry. Tough economic times forced the other ventures, including Mexican Standoff, to be dropped. Besides Peter Kasperski's eateries, there are three other Southbridge Scottsdale restaurants to try. Metro Brasserie and Bar (7114 E. Stetson Dr.; 480-994-3663) is in the space formerly occupied by Foodbar, a European-style café and market that never caught on. Metro's menu blends rustic French country food with touches from the American South. Dishes include vichyssoise ($7), shrimp and grits ($18), and beef burgundy ($21). Many of the items are created in-house including pates, sausages, mustards and pickles.
It is open early for breakfast as well as staying open after-hours for dining and drinking. CANAL (7144 E. Stetson Dr.; 480-949-9000), home of the high-priced $30 lobster, boursin and chanterelle mushroom sandwich, mixes haute cuisine with haute couture. The menu blends global foods with classical French cooking techniques to create dishes like roasted chicken layered pasta with shiitake mushrooms ($21) and pan-seared sea scallops with coconut fruit salsa ($25). Diners can watch fashion shows on a state-of-the-art runway and A/V system while noshing on tiered food flights of Asian chicken taquitos ($10) and ahi tuna three ways ($21). A mixologist prepares cocktails and martinis tableside. CANAL also has a large patio overlooking the waterfront for scenic outdoor dining. The three-level, mansion-like space of The Estate House (7134 E. Stetson Dr., Ste. 200; 480-970-4099) offered fine dining the old European way when it first opened.
Now, however, it has a new chef, Gio Osso. Chef Osso’s menu is contemporary American with influences from Italy, France, the Mediterranean and Asia. Starters and salads include wild mushroom strudel with wilted greens ($11) and grilled marinated feta salad with romaine hearts and lemon oregano marmalade ($12). Entrées span a range of flavors with dishes like handmade tagliatelle pasta with oven dried tomato and roasted garlic ($21) and Medjool date-stuffed elk loin with cumin tabbouleh and eggplant caviar ($36). While the tough economy has changed the original Southbridge Scottsdale development, there is still plenty here to intrigue the most jaded shopper or gourmand. Beyond the Waterfront and Southbridge, the shops, art galleries and restaurants of Downtown Scottsdale's eclectic districts wait to be explored. Fast Facts: Southbridge Scottsdale, Scottsdale AZLocation: Southbridge Scottsdale is in downtown Scottsdale, along Stetson Drive, just west of Scottsdale Road. It is just south of the Arizona Canal.Phone: (480) 421-1004 for the Scottsdale Convention and Visitors’ Bureau. Note: This information was accurate at the time of our visit. All contact information, access, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the park, agency, business or facility before making reservations and/or travel plans. Click here for a printable Map of Downtown Scottsdale from the City of Scottsdale
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