Downtowners looking for a new place to imbibe should start counting their empty martini glasses until the opening of Bitter & Twisted, the new cocktail parlor coming this fall to downtown's Luhrs Building courtesy of mixologist and co-founder of Arizona Cocktail Week, Ross Simon.

See also:
- New Wine Bar and Restaurant Opens in Scottsdale Airpark
- French-Inspired New Orleans Grocery Cafe and Market Coming Soon to Central Phoenix

Simon, who worked in restaurants and pubs in Scotland and England before coming to Arizona in 2006 to do the same, will open Bitter & Twisted as its general manager and lead bartender in September or October of this year. He'll be joined by partners Rajan Hansji, a hotel developer whose company, Hansji Corporation, owns the Luhrs City Center, and executive chef Bob Tam, former corporate chef for PF Chang's and part of the leadership team at Gertrude's at the Desert Botanical Garden.

Here's what cocktail fans can expect:

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Oenophiles can now mix a long finish with the beauty of flight thanks to a new wine bar and restaurant at the Scottsdale Airpark.

See also:
- Market Street Kitchen in Scottsdale Introduces Sunday Brunch
- Republica Empanada Will Bring Latin Comfort Food and South American Specialties to Downtown Mesa, June 21

Twisted Rose Winery and Eatery opened Friday, June 7, courtesy of Frank Yaconis and executive chef Nick Schaus, owners of Casavino Winery in Fountain Hills. The new wine bar and restaurant will offer Casavino's line of wines by the bottle or by the glass, and many varieties will be made on site.

Here's what else food and wine lovers can expect:

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All photos by Ivan Martinez

Downtown Mesa, get ready to welcome a new restaurant specializing in pan-Latin cuisine to the 'hood.

See also:
- French-Inspired New Orleans Grocery Cafe and Market Coming Soon to Central Phoenix
- May Restaurant Openings and Closings in Metro Phoenix

According to manager Marco Meraz, Republica Empanada has been in the works for a while now but is ready for a soft opening launch on Friday, June 21 from 6 to 10 p.m. And the restaurant's home is a mid-century modern building that's pretty unique for the downtown Mesa community.

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Courtesy of French Kitchen

In the next few weeks Phoenicians will say bonjour to a new Central Phoenix spot serving French-inspired New Orleans cuisine.

See also:
- Squid Ink Sushi to Open Monday, June 10, in Downtown Phoenix
- Founder of Long Wong's Opens Elvis-Themed Barbecue Joint

French Grocery, located at 7th Ave and Missouri, will soft-open to the public on Tuesday, June 18th and will offer made-from-scratch French and creole specialties including croissants, beignets, jambalaya and shrimp étouffée.

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In one week, Phoenix downtowners will have a new place to get their sushi on: Squid Ink Sushi Bar.

See also:
- New Breakfast Spot, Snooze AM Eatery, Coming to Central Phoenix
- Sam Fox's New Seafood Spot, Little Cleo's, Opens at The Yard in North Central Phoenix

The Peoria restaurant, from chef-owner Schuyler Estes, is set to open its second location in CityScape (on the southwest corner of the Hotel Palomar building at Central Avenue and Jefferson Street) on Monday, June 10.

And (bonus) this squid stays up late.

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When you've been crankin' out wings for over 35 years, sometimes you just want to do something different.

See also:
- Sam Fox's New Seafood Spot, Little Cleo's, Opens at The Yard in North Central Phoenix
- New Breakfast Spot, Snooze AM Eatery, Coming to Central Phoenix

That's what Ron Goldstein, founder of Long Wong's and brother of Two Hippies founder Andy Goldstein, tells me about Luv Me Tender, his week-old Elvis-themed 'cue joint in front of Long Wong's at 2812 East Thomas Road in Phoenix.

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Kneaders Bakery and Cafe

This Monday, Memorial Day, May 27, folks in Gilbert will be waking up to a new bakery in town.

See also:
- New Breakfast Spot, Snooze AM Eatery, Coming to Central Phoenix
- Scottsdale's Pomo Pizzeria Moving to Downtown Phoenix

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe, a Utah-based franchise specializing in European-style crusty breads and pastries, will open at 5155 East Baseline Road (Baseline Road and Higley) in Gilbert.

And, bonus, the first 100 people who show up to the restaurant and retail store on Monday (Kneaders will open at 7 a.m.) will score a free breakfast in the form of French Toast.

Here's what else to expect.

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Evo

Italian cuisine (or some form of it) has once again made its way into the space at Goldwater Boulevard and Indian School Road in Old Town Scottsdale. Perhaps the third time will be a charm.

See also:
- Ex-Kai Chef Michael O'Dowd Opens Renegade by Mod in Scottsdale This Friday
- New Breakfast Spot, Snooze AM Eatery, Coming to Central Phoenix

The former home of Cuoco Pazzo (and chef Peter DeRuvo, who spent a little over four months there) as well as the American/Italian comfort food spot T. Roosevelt's Tavern, the newest iteration is Evo, an Italian dinner spot that stays up late.

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Renegade by MOD

Chef Michael O'Dowd and partner Ed Leclere.

Even if you've never heard of chef Michael O'Dowd, you've most certainly heard of Kai, the AAA five-diamond and Forbes Travel Guide five-star restaurant that O'Dowd, during his 10-year reign at the culinary destination, put on the map.

See also:
- New Breakfast Spot, Snooze AM Eatery, Coming to Central Phoenix
- Scottsdale's Pomo Pizzeria Moving to Downtown Phoenix

Now, following almost a year as executive chef at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown (a sister property of Kai), O'Dowd, partner Ed Leclere, and their newly formed company, Vivid Lifestyle Concepts, will take on a brand new challenge: Renegade by Mod in North Scottsdale.

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Cinnamon coffee pancake with roasted almonds, cinnamon coffee cream cheese frosting, and whip.

A Colorado import is making its Phoenix debut, breakfast-style, at 2045 East Camelback Road, in the Town & Country Shopping Center in Phoenix.

See also:
- Scottsdale's Pomo Pizzeria Moving to Downtown Phoenix
- Sam Fox's New Seafood Spot, Little Cleo's, Opens at The Yard in North Central Phoenix

Set to open in late fall, Snooze AM Eatery, a Denver-based breakfast chain with five locations in Colorado and one in San Diego, is an all-day breakfast, brunch, and drinks spot with a space that's been described as The Jetsons meets Happy Days.

Here's what diners can expect:

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