Highlights
- Nadu, the Michelin-starred Indian restaurant from Chicago chef Sujan Sarkar, opened at Desert Ridge Marketplace in Phoenix.
- Old Town's Liquor Pig rebranded as Wayward following an ownership fallout, with executive chef CJ Kahley launching a Western-inspired, global-fusion menu.
- Ponderosa House replaced Frank and Lupe's on Marshall Way in Scottsdale, with Jacob Finley of Karsen's Grill as owner.
- Native Grill and Wings closed its Tempe location after 47 years, corroborated by AZ Central and Mouth by Southwest.
Two Scottsdale-area openings and a high-profile Phoenix import headline June's restaurant activity, as Phoenix Magazine tallied more than 20 new Valley concepts for the month.
Nadu, the regional Indian restaurant from Chicago chef Sujan Sarkar, opened at Desert Ridge Marketplace at 21001 N. Tatum Blvd. in Phoenix. The concept carries a Michelin star from its Chicago operation and arrives in a space Phoenix Magazine describes as beautifully designed.
In Old Town Scottsdale, Liquor Pig has rebranded as Wayward at 7217 E. Fourth St. following what Phoenix Magazine describes as an ownership fallout. Executive chef CJ Kahley leads the kitchen with a Western-inspired, global-fusion menu. Signature items include a bone-in short rib taco board and birria kushiyaki, described as a beef skewer and flour tortilla.
Also in Scottsdale, Ponderosa House has taken over the former Frank and Lupe's space at 4121 N. Marshall Way. Phoenix Magazine identifies Jacob Finley of Karsen's Grill in Old Town Scottsdale as the owner, with the concept offering scratch-made American and Mexican cuisine.
On the closure side, the month's most-noted exit was Native Grill and Wings in Tempe, which shut its doors after 47 years in business, as Phoenix Magazine reported and AZ Central and Mouth by Southwest independently confirmed. The Mesa location remains open. Also closing: Arizona Stronghold Vineyard's Old Town Scottsdale tasting room after four years, with the Cottonwood location continuing to operate; and Mark Tarbell's Cultivate in the Bond office building at 32nd Street and Camelback Road, after less than a year.
Who is behind Wayward in Old Town?
Wayward at 7217 E. Fourth St. emerged from an ownership fallout at Liquor Pig, the previous concept at the same address. Executive chef CJ Kahley now runs the kitchen, with a menu built around Western-inspired, global-fusion dishes including a bone-in short rib taco board and birria kushiyaki.
Nadu's Desert Ridge location is targeting an audience already familiar with the brand's Michelin-starred Chicago original. Reservations and further details are available at naduphoenix.com.
Where to find them
- Native Grill · nativegrillandwings.com
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- Phoenix Magazine retrieved 09/07/2026 00:05
- Native Grill (official site) retrieved 09/07/2026 00:05
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 09/07/2026 00:05. Every claim traces to a source.
