People in the Coronado Historic neighborhood and the surrounding area have a new spot for lunch and dinner; Well, maybe not a new spot. Please welcome Urban Vine to the neighborhood in the sweet bungalow Coronado Café called home for many years.
Urban Vine is the brainchild of Michael O’Down and John Rothstein. If these names ring a bell, you may remember them from their Five Diamond restaurant Kai in Scottsdale. It seems they caught the downtown Phoenix bug and have brought their culinary artistry to the urban core.
Here is a little piece on Urban Vine directly from O’Dowd:
Urban Vine is a 1920’s home scented with years of memories, character, creaky floors, crooked walls and ceilings that are not straight or perfect. Simply put… life. It affects our senses with the old original flooring aroma of days gone by. That’s ok for John and I because we feel we are in our element sitting on the porch sippin’ an ice cold beer. Our mantra & goals are simple. Support farming, community, local businesses and partner with our fans. We strive to exceed your expectations while instilling well-being and enlivening your senses.
You will see the Urban Vine mantra expressed in their food and beverage options. Breads from Jason Raducha’s Noble Bread, Olives from the east valley, and Arizona crafted beers.
O’Dowd and Rothstein have been getting a lot of good press; including an multi-page spread in Phoenix Magazine where Marilyn Hawkes had many good things to say:
The gazpacho was refreshing on a hot day, and I must admit: It was so good, I was still daydreaming about it days later.
The menu is concise yet filled with options. They have a small bites section that includes:
- Black Bean Hummus
- Cucumber & Pickled Carrots, Soft Pita Scented with Garlic & Meyer Lemon
- Queen Creek Marinated Olives with Garden Herbs
- Slowly Roaster Nuts, Seeds & Wasabi Peas Urban Style
- Cured Selection of Local Meats
- Olive & Basil Tapenade, Roasted Peppers, Sweet Onion Marmalade, and Grilled Artisan Bread\
- Boutique Arrangement of Global Cheeses
- Daily Bruschetta Inspiration on “Noble” Sourdough
Meat and salad lovers will not be disappointed either. The salad options are well thought and daily specials add options from land, air and sea.
Reviews on Yelp are mixed. Some sound like the opening problems a new restaurant experiences while others suggest the specials are a better choice than many of the standard fare and it being a bit pricy. That said, the bulk of the reviews are quite favorable.
Many locals are foodies on a budget and thus price conscious… something that has been the downfall for more than a few downtown eateries.
I tried one of their specials on my visit… Carne Asada Street Tacos. I found the meal to be quite tasty with a good kick. If you’re looking for wimpy, you may not find that here. O’Dowd likes to make your taste buds dance.
Urban Vine offers a full bar with emphasis on a select beer and wine menu. It’s not an extensive list, yet well researched and thought. Local’s will appreciate beers from Phoenix, Sedona, Flagstaff and Tucson. The wine menu is the pride and joy of John Rothstein and has a strong emphasis on imports.
Last but certainly not least are the desert offerings. They vary this part of the menu but Carol’s chocolate cake and Urban Vine’s fresh fruit cobblers are sure to make you smile.
Personally, I’m delighted to see top chefs bring their skills to the downtown Phoenix area. They bring a level of skill and thought that adds value to living in the urban core
Urban Vine Kitchen + Hops + Grapes
2201 N 7th Street, Phoenix AZ
602-258-5149
Open daily with varied hours for lunch and dinner.
UrbanVinePhx.com
Gene Urban
The Urban Team at Realty Executives
602-234-5777
Gene@UrbanTeamAZ.com
connecting people to the perfect place for over 20 years