Refined & Rooted

Heritage Kitchen + Cocktails offers an elevated global menu with cozy neighborhood charm

By Alison Bailin Batz

Opening this month in North Scottsdale, Heritage Kitchen + Cocktails is a modern neighborhood gathering place built around global inspiration and seasonal, local ingredients. The concept comes to life through the vision of acclaimed Valley chef and Chopped finalist Christopher Brugman, hospitality veteran Eric J. Greenwald – known for his leadership of Mastro’s, Maloney’s and Grimaldi’s – and investor Mark Goldberg. Together, these North Scottsdale residents, eager to open something special in their own backyards, have created a space designed to bring people together, where every dish tells a story.

Heritage Kitchen spans 3,200 square feet indoors with an additional 1,500-square-foot patio. Warm natural tones, herringbone wood floors, and glowing teal and green tile accents create a sophisticated yet approachable palette. The bar opens seamlessly to the patio, while a private dining room and two chef’s tables promise more exclusive experiences. A floor-to-ceiling glass wine cabinet showcasing 350 bottles from around the world serves as the dramatic focal point of the dining room, while vintage-style mirrors and textured wallpaper add warmth and character.

Brugman’s menu is inspired by coastal Mediterranean cities throughout southern Italy and Spain, and his ingredients are driven by seasonality. His fine dining background, which includes Desert Mountain Country Club, Castle Hot Springs and Mountain Shadows Resort, is reflected in every dish, without making the menu feel over-the-top extravagant.

Expect an impressive small bites menu to start with items including oysters, beef tartare and Spanish octopus, as well as a specially made bread derived from a recipe Brugman has been perfecting for a decade. There are also a smattering of additional shared plates, including wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas and signature entrees. Standouts on the opening menu include lobster fideo, which replaces the rice of traditional paella with short, toasted noodles, as well as Two Wash Ranch half chicken, and a tomahawk-style Iberico pork chop. There is also a bar menu available daily, with eight to 10 a la carte items that will change regularly.

The restaurant’s beverage program is equally ambitious. There is a curated list of 45 wines with a mix of popular brands as well as lesser-known varietals from small vineyards across California, Spain and Italy. The drink menu was developed in collaboration with Mitch Lyons and Libby Lingua, co-owners of the acclaimed Highball Cocktail Bar in Downtown Phoenix. It boasts 12 signature cocktails, each illustrated with playful artwork.

The restaurant is open from 3 to 10 p.m. daily, with the bar menu available starting at 3 p.m. and the full menu at 5 p.m.

Heritage Kitchen + Cocktails, 10121 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale; 480.630.3232; www.heritagescottsdale.com.