Exceptional flavor combinations, modern decor and grand ambience will take over the rooftop of the new tower at Gila River Hotels & Casinos – Wild Horse Pass this fall. The rooftop destination will be home to Prime, A Shula’s Steak House, serving up a fresh twist on classic steakhouse dishes with touches of French culinary influence.

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Rising 150-feet over the desert landscape, Prime will be on the 11th floor of the new hotel tower, complete with stunning views of the Estrella Mountains and breathtaking Arizona sunsets. As guests arrive to the hotel lobby, they will ascend to the top floor by a dedicated glass elevator. From the moment guests enter Prime, they’ll be welcomed by an invigorating take on the traditional steakhouse experience including perfectly prepared steaks, bold, craveable interpretations of classic dishes and signature wines paired with attentive service that puts guests front and center. After dinner, the venue transitions to 11ven at Prime, a place where crafted cocktails and lively DJs pair effortlessly with fabulous perspective of the Valley. Late night never looked so good.

Celebrity Chef Demetrio Zavala was influenced by his European, Mediterranean and Mexican roots when creating the menu for Prime. Chef Zavala has competed in and won Food Network TV cooking shows including “Chopped” and “Chopped: Grudge Match.”

The onsite culinary team will be led by Chef Eric Arechiga who studied classic French cuisine at SCI Le Cordon Bleu. Chef Eric currently oversees a culinary staff of eight highly trained cooks that he has personally trained and mentored.

“Chef Eric Arechiga was chosen to oversee all culinary operations of our Wild Horse Pass flagship restaurant Prime due to his passion, skill and quality execution he delivers on a nightly basis,” said Kenneth Manuel, Chief Executive Officer of Gila River Hotels & Casinos. “Chef Eric is a consummate professional and highly respected culinary leader with many years of experience creating memorable moments for our valued guests.”  

The interior of Prime has been cultivated by Preen, an award winning hospitality design and architecture group. The space will feature neutral earthy tones with leather accents and stone tabletops.

“We have been partners with Shula’s Restaurant Group for 12 years and our collaboration on the inaugural Prime concept was natural. With our expansion project came an opportunity to place our crown jewel dining venue atop the new tower,” Manuel said, “Along with our continued elevation of offerings and amenities, we found the perfect synergy of dining and destination. It not only provides an incredible culinary experience to our guests, but will be a Phoenix landmark for food and wine lovers to experience a chic casual, yet sophisticated atmosphere.”

For more details on the Gila River Hotels & Casinos – Wild Horse Pass expansion project, visit www.playatgila.com/expansion.

For more information on Shula’s Restaurant Group, visit Shulas.com.