Vecina is set to open a brand new location, bringing its modern American, Latin-inspired cuisine and outstanding hospitality to McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale on September 18.
Since its Arcadia opening in 2019, Vecina has been recognized as one of the best restaurants in Phoenix by the Phoenix New Times and Eater, and earned a James Beard nomination for Best New Restaurant in 2020. The new location will maintain the restaurant’s visual appeal while providing a welcoming space for dinner or happy hour throughout the week, as well as special events and occasions – all with lake views.
The space is over three times the size of the original location, with an impressive kitchen that allows for catering and new menu items. The interior will showcase a custom mural by artist Tato Caraveo, a colorful homage to the Arcadia location that frames the cocktail bar. The space will have private dining areas, a mezzanine, and an open patio with views of the lake.
“The size of our original location has always created some limitations, so this new location gives us the chance to expand our offerings, create new experiences for our guests, and, just as importantly, create more opportunities for our team to grow with us,” Chef James Fox said. “Being able to design this location from the ground up has been really special for us.”
Chef Fox is known for his talent for combining flavors and ingredients to provide truly unique dishes. He has popular takes on Japanese karaage and salmon tacos that will be featured on the Scottsdale menu, along with many other favorites. Karaage are tender morsels of chicken, marinated in a carne asada blend, then battered and fried to crunchy perfection, served atop an aji amarillo sauce, and garnished with a drizzle of citrus gastrique and togarashi.
The salmon tacos are made with Faroe Island salmon, garnished with yuzu kosho aioli, Cara Cara oranges, grapefruit, and pink peppercorns, and served on a flour tortilla – this dish has a cult following! Vecina’s Beverage Director, Sloane Van Zanes, has created and continued to build the cocktail menu and trained the bar staff to maintain consistency with the standard for quality and hospitality.
Regulars love one-of-a-kind takes on the classics like the Spicy Margarita or the Paloma, made with G4 Reposado Tequila, grapefruit, rosemary, lime, grapefruit soda, and salt, plus the seasonal craft cocktails, like the El Rey, made with Pisco, charred lemon, Chartreuse, pineapple, and black tea.
“When we opened the original location, our goal was to create the kind of restaurant we wanted to dine at ourselves, a place where every part of the experience, from the food and service to the cocktails and wine, was thoughtful and exceeded expectations,” Fox said. “We’re excited to build on what we’ve created in Arcadia, while also having the opportunity to do things we haven’t had the space to do.”
Visitors to the new location can expect the same classics they enjoyed at the original location, plus private dining and a lunch menu coming in the coming months. Learn more here: vecinaphx.com.
