By Molly Cerreta Smith
It seems every time I head over to High Street, something new is a brew! No pun intended, but thanks to the recent opening of Rick Bronson’s The Stir Coffee Shop, there is now an official coffee house… and Hula’s Modern Tiki brings a bit of aloha spirit to the area. But there’s more…
In fact, The Stir Coffee Shop has a hidden portion —Gin & Reel Speakeasy — located at the back of the old school style coffee house so it’s perfect for daytime java, and nighttime gin… Whether craving a cuppa Joe, an inspired nosh, an over-the-top ice cream delight, a creative cocktail or a vintage nightcap, one can have it all here. With this latest concept, Owner/Proprietor Rick Bronson, who also owns Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy on High Street has created an establishment that can instantaneously spark sensations of joy, comfort and nostalgia in every customer from the moment they walk through the door. With its own hidden entrance, the intimate Gin & Reel speakeasy located at the back of The Stir takes guests back in time with an unparalleled Old Hollywood vibe including vintage projectors and old school images of red carpet affairs adding to the ambiance, throwback black-and-white films on rotation, and perhaps even a cocktail waitress dressed impeccably representative of the times.
Yogi’s Grill is also set to open its doors on High Street, taking over the space formerly occupied by Firehouse Subs. This quick-casual concept brings healthy and casual Japanese dining to our ‘hood. With a variety of bowls that are customizable with various proteins and add-ons, along with stir-fry, udon noodles, tempura and a full sushi menu, diners have a variety to choose from on any given day.
While details are still largely under wraps, The Nemesis Club is set to bring escape-room style entertainment to High Street, hopefully by this summer. Owner Dustin Smith says The Nemesis Club will offer three immersive game experiences. After some interactive adventure, guests can go next door to the Soda Jerk Co. Milkshake Bar, an old-fashioned style soda fountain also owned by Smith, to slurp down a craft soda, float, or decadent milkshake.
Rocky Point Restaurant and Bar is now filling up 17,000 square feet of High Street with a little taste of Rocky Point right here in Phoenix – occupying the space formerly taken by High & Rye. With a full bar featuring more than 150 whiskeys and even a wide selection of sake, Rocky Point Restaurant and Bar has a complete menu of not only Mexican food but Italian food and a sushi menu too — all scratch made. Beyond that, much like the city itself, Rocky Point Restaurant and Bar is designed for fun — featuring a game area, pool table, DJs, and a full event center for private parties. For more about this new hit on High Street, check out our cover story on page 16.
Finally, we are still crossing our fingers that the Boozy Breakfast will hurry up and open … because it’s occupying a prime location in the area and who doesn’t love a little eye-opener with their morning meal? Who’s with me?
Enjoy Patio Season on High Street at These Local Favorites
Growler USA is a neighborhood pub that offers over 100 fresh local and regional craft beers along with other hand-crafted beverages including draught wine and hard ciders. Enjoy their outdoor patio and delicious food with a beer flight and get to know their friendly Cicerone-certified beer servers. Make sure to have a Sunday Funday at Growler USA with their all-day happy hour and receive $3 off large appetizers and $2 off most beers and wines.
La Bocca offers another wonderful patio for lounging. Beautiful outdoor seating, along with a cozy fireplace makes it a great place for evenings. Don’t be surprised if the wine and food are so good that you find it hard to leave! Catch their happy hour Mon-Sun from 3-6:30 p.m. and stop by anytime from open to close on Sundays for half-price bottles of wine.
Mellow Mushroom’s hoppin’ patio is always a great place to gather with friends. Not only do they have phenomenal pizza, but their happy hour is definitely hard to pass up. On weekdays, spend your late afternoons from 3-6 p.m. enjoying half-off select alcohol and appetizers. If you’re looking for a late-night watering hole, stop by their reverse happy hour from 10 p.m. -2 a.m. every day to receive half-off select alcohol and appetizers.
Modern Margarita hits it out of the park when it comes to tacos and margs. There is just something about tequila that goes in hand in hand with sunshine. Sipping on margaritas on the patio is one of our favorite pastimes here on High Street, especially on Sundays for all day happy hour or on Thursdays when it’s 2 for 1 OG Rustic Margaritas from 8 p.m. to close.
Torch Cigar Bar is home to 200 premium cigars, 100 whiskeys, 200 total spirits and eight taps. Their spacious resort-style patio and cozy fireplace make for a great hangout to enjoy a cigar and a few drinks during the day or under the stars around the fire. Catch their happy hour all day on Sundays.
Updates courtesy of HighStreetAZ.com
