Zen Culinary, an Asian and American fusion restaurant, opened Friday in north Scottsdale at 15544 N. Pima Rd.
The Grand Opening celebration will be held on Friday, December 2, 2016.
Zen Culinary will be open daily for lunch and dinner from 11 am – 10 pm Sunday through Thursday, and 11 am – 11 pm, Friday and Saturday. The restaurant will have daily happy hour featuring handcrafted, Asian-inspired cocktails brimming with lychee and ginger soju, all paired with gourmet bar bites from 3 – 6 pm.
Serving an irresistible menu best described as Asian meets modern American, Zen Culinary is the brainchild of Rachel McAuley, a native of Thailand who comes from a family of restaurateurs and previously co-owned a local wholesale import company specializing in Asian foods.
Zen Culinary’s bold bill of fare includes everything from handcrafted sushi and sashimi, to thick-cut steaks and chops, all prepared with a vibrant blend of East meets West ingredients and cooking techniques. Think enticing entrées such as Smoked Tea Sea Bass with ginger-soy; Jidori Half Chicken with honey-balsamic and Brussels leaves; or Bone-in Ribeye with whole-grain mustard whipped potatoes. Serving lunch, dinner and happy hour daily, Zen Culinary also offers everything from Shu Mai dumplings, rice and curry dishes, to two-fisted sandwiches and farm-fresh salads.
Housed inside a spacious, custom-designed 300-seat location just off the 101 Freeway and Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., Zen Culinary is truly a four elemental feast for all five senses. Soothing water features abound, including a striking concrete waterfall adjacent to the entryway that’s accented with pressed bamboo shapes. Stepping inside, Zen Culinary tempts with an earthy combination of light and dark woods, accented with bold pops of gold and red. Meanwhile, guests can soak in the fresh air and stylish atmosphere of the two separate dining patios while getting cozy around the built-in fire pit.
Afternoons from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., guests are also invited to sidle up to the handsome bar area to enjoy live piano music, and special discounts on Zen Culinary’s extensive menu of chef-crafted bar bites, craft cocktails and a worldly collection of beer and wines. Zen Culinary’s bar menu tempts with irresistible concoctions featuring bold Asian ingredients and liquors such as Lime and Coconut (tequila, lemoncello, lime juice, pineapple, gomme syrup, coconut foam and lime zest); Protagonist (Japanese whisky, sangue morlocco, banana liquor, toasted sesame tincture, luxardo cherry up); Happy Beginning (gin, lemongrass and ginger soju, coconut milk, lychee liquor, vanilla simple syrup, lychee and mint spring pilsner).
Zen Culinary also offers private and semi-private dining options to accommodate corporate events, large parties and special occasions.
