by Beth Duckett – Nov. 27, 2009 11:38 AM
The Arizona Republic
Two new restaurants
opened in Fountain Hills this month, promising to fill a niche for unusual dining and drinking in a social atmosphere.
El Encanto de la Fuente and Fountini’s Bar & Grill both offer full-service bars and signature libations in upscale-casual settings.
Fountini’s, whose name is a fusion of fountain and martini, occupies a vacant building that once housed a bakery and cafe near La Montana Drive and Palisades Boulevard.
El Encanto, known by its sister restaurants in Cave Creek and Desert Hills, replaces the former Phil’s Filling Station restaurant at Saguaro Boulevard and Amhurst Drive.
El Encanto co-owner Christine Nelson said, “People seem to be really enjoying it.”
Fountain Hills, which lost a country-Western bar and two coffeehouses in the past year, is embracing more businesses as it works to cater to shoppers and day-trippers.
For residents, it could mean staying in town instead of heading to Phoenix to hear live music or sip on an El Encanto margarita. The popular concoctions are made with Sauza tequila and secret ingredients.
El Encanto serves Mexican food, with plans to open an outdoor kitchen that dishes out homemade street tacos and mesquite-style meat.
Fountini’s, which serves American food with a twist, is the pet project of Stacy Unger and John Giger. The sister/brother duo consider it their first venture into the restaurant business and designed a simple but unusual menu of wraps, burgers, salads and entrees that range in price from $7 to $26.
“It’s a dream for both of us,” said Giger, a Fountain Hills resident.
Fountini’s has a namesake martini made with pear vodka, fruit liqueur, pear nectar and pineapple juice. The restaurant is open Fridays and Saturdays until 2 a.m., which is later than most restaurants in the bedroom community.
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Delicious! I love these restaurants! El Encanto has always been a favorite of mine when i lived in Scottsdale. I recently moved to Fountain Hills and was not aware this restaurant has made its way here until reading this post. Thanks for the heads up.