(Scottsdale, Ariz.) La Vida Fashionistas and 26 specialty flavors of martinis will compete with the contemporary artwork in Old Scottsdale’s downtown arts district when the new Urban 7 restaurant/Martini Kitchen holds its grand opening from 7 – 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27.
Models will fuse stunning looks, styles, lights, and sounds into a memorable fashion show to launch Urban 7, the next generation of Scottsdale scene nightlife.
Scottsdale restaurateur Teddy Bernal and his wife Diana Prieto-Bernal have created a multi-cultural experience at 4151 N. Marshall Way, on the southwest corner of Marshall Way and 3rd Avenue.
“Urban 7 is a new vision of a genre for a Scottsdale restaurateur,” says Bernal, who was voted the Small Business Person of the Year in 2009 by Latino Future magazine. Teddy also is the owner of the award-winning Frank & Lupe’s, also on Marshall Way.
Bernal says a key element of making U7 a “hip, fun hang-out” for the surrounding art community is the 26 varieties of martinis on its drink menu.
Grey Goose Vodka will sponsor the first-night cocktails experience in which patrons can sample martinis such as the grand opening special cocktail, the “Dirty Scottsdale,” an insider dig at a local gossip Website that features Scottsdale’s sometimes naughty nightlife. The Dirty Scottsdale features strawberry kiwi, X rated vodka, soda water, and sweet and sour flavorings.
Other specialty martinis are the Vatican Voodoo (spirits, pear lavender vodka, Gewurtztraminer, fresh pear, sage), and the Primavera (Moscato d’ Asti, Soho Lychee liquor, rose water, rose petal). For a complete list of the Martini Menu, visit the U7 Website.
Even with the emphasis on martinis at the bar, many fine wines and international beers also will be offered to the U7 party-goer, and there are drink specials throughout the week.
So as you sip your fave elixir on Saturday, sit back and enjoy the U7 Fashion Show that starts at 8 p.m. and runs through 10 p.m. Featured fashionistas include AGA Couture by Alexander Garcia, along with new arrivals from Elan Fashions among the styles mix.
Everybody on the Scottsdale scene knows that the music and the night life go hand in hand. So as you watch the fashion show’s originality, colors, and smiles, you also will listen to the night’s special sounds spun by DJ Mr. P-Body.
In addition, the Urban 7 restaurant dining experience begins with an innovative menu that melds Old World flavors with New World recipes, resulting in urban fare that offers sophisticated, stimulating tastes and textures.
“It’s a blend of American cuisine with different ethnic flavors (Latin American and Asian) in a comfortable urban setting,” says Teddy, a culinary institute trained chef.
The U7 food menu sparkles with imaginative appetizers and dishes that are permeated with the culinary talents of Executive Chef Edgar Hernandez, who has trained with some of the best chefs in the United States.
The fine art of dining at Urban 7 starts with a Garlic Shrimp individual pan pizza with pesto sauce and Feta cheese, and a Hidden Gems salad featuring baby greens, orange segments, grilled calamari and shaved fennel, with citrus/ peppercorn dressing.
For the highlight of the night, select an entrée such as Bonfire Salmon, a pan-seared salmon filet with a side of asparagus/bacon potato hash and mango/papaya relish. Or try the Confident Casserole, a seafood specialty of clams, black mussels, shrimp, scallops, spicy Merguez sausage and a garlic tomato sauce.
Executive Chef Edgar’s food blends perfectly with Urban 7’s renovated décor. The five “zones” in Urban 7 are the main dining room with polished parquet wood floors with silver toned wallpaper and chandeliers; the long bar area specializing in martinis and exotic cocktails; The Corridor zone with casual seating to sip wines, fine beers and nosh; The VIP Room with its own bar and private red-velvet booths for intimate special occasions; and an outdoor patio to enjoy mild Scottsdale nights during the neighborhood’s Thursday night Gallery Walks.
Urban 7 serves dinner Monday – Wednesday, 4 – 10 p.m.; Thursday – Saturday, 4 p.m. – Midnight; and Sunday, 4 – 9 p.m. Urban 7 will be serving lunch in late March of 2010.
Reservations for table reservations and The VIP Room may be made by calling 480.584.6327. For more information, visit the restaurant/Martini Kitchen’s innovative Website, www.azurban7.com.
... Another Flawless Implementation by Bonguilla