Republic restaurant critic
CityScape, the $900 million showplace project in downtown Phoenix, has just inked a deal with New Orleans restaurateur Jason Doyle and his Doyle Restaurant Group to bring three more restaurants and a lounge to the complex.
Brian Harper, vice president for leasing for CityScape developer RED Development, calls Doyle an “independent, Sam Fox-type guy” with a knack for creating popular concepts. Fox is the brains behind popular Valley eateries Olive & Ivy, True Food, Zinburger and Modern Steak.
Harper says all the places will be “value-centric.”
The three restaurants are scheduled to open in October.
• La Crepe Nanou: The uptown New Orleans location of this restaurant has been around since 1983 and is always crowded. Look for a French café menu of soups, salads, crepes, along with a few meat, fish and poultry entrees.
• BrewPublic Craft House: Craft beers and pub grub are the focus.
• Huey’s 24/7 Diner: The kitchen will never close at this diner, which will feature inexpensive comfort food.
The final piece of the Doyle mini-empire is Rasputin Vodka Bar, which Harper compares to the dark, sexy Merc Bar in Phoenix’s Esplanade office complex. The Web site calls it a “late-night, DJ-inspired ultra lounge.”
Harper is aiming for a summer opening.
Over the past two years, CityScape has put together an impressive restaurant line-up. Among the coming attractions are LGO Public House, a gastro pub from the La Grande Orange group; two Aaron May ethnic restaurants, one Mexican, the other an Asian noodle house; a Sam Fox, Beverly Hills-style chophouse; a pan-Asian/sushi restaurant from Jimmy Carlin called Silk; and new branches of two local favorites, the Breakfast Club and Blu Burger Grille.
CityScape is bordered by First Street and First Avenue, between Washington and Jefferson streets.
