End NEW IN TOWN
BETTER BARBECUE Starlite BBQ ushers in an elevated twist on classic comfort foods
BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ / PHOTOS BY ELIZABETH MARIE
Starlite’s star is bright. Now open on the corner of Miller and Indian School roads, Starlite BBQ is the brainchild of the team that brought the lauded Ocotillo restaurant to the Valley in recent years. Its mission? Options. “To say barbecue is exploding in popularity in the Valley is an understatement,” says co-founder Walt Sterling. “But, here is the thing. Not everyone wants to eat barbecue, no matter how amazing it tastes, off of paper plates on a picnic table. And not everyone wants a standard soda or beer to wash it down with.” While Sterling and his team note that they have happily stood in their share of lines and eaten off of copious paper plates to get their barbecue fix many times, they were eager to deliver a barbecue concept for wine, craft beer and whiskey lovers as well as for those who have dietary restrictions and even those who want a more elevated dining experience vibe. As such, Starlite’s interior was designed with rich wood accents, many of them charred to look like the inside of a singed whiskey barrel, and it features a gorgeous marble bar top with black and smoky
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accents throughout as well as flat-screen TVs, a chef’s table, and cozy seating (none of which are of the picnic-style variety). Plus, the patio is dog-friendly with misters and plush seating throughout. As for the food, Sterling is quick not to put their concept into any specific barbecue box. “In developing the menu, we were asked constantly if the plan was Nashvillestyle, Texas-style or Kansas City barbecue as far as flavor,” Sterling says. “We love them all, so didn’t want to choose just one, instead letting our talented chef Alex Levine, who I worked with at Ocotillo, smoke, grill and infuse all types of different flavors into our meats, sides and vegetable options.” On the menu, guests can expect several nods to the Southwest including green chile-infused items, locally sourced vegetables, and all meat derived from the nearby Creekstone Farms. They even use pecan and mesquite – two of Arizona’s most bountiful crops – to smoke the dishes. “We also wanted to give our vegetarian and vegan friends the chance to join in,” says Sterling, whose team took great care in developing options using cauliflower, smoked mushrooms and more. On the beverage side, the team boasts second-level sommelier (and fellow co-owner) Dave Johnson and award-winning mixologist Brad Twigg, who, together, dreamt up cocktails infusing whiskey, bourbon and scotch as well as cultivated 20 great wine options and 30-plus beers on tap and in bottles. Starlite BBQ is open Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 11 p.m. (bar open until midnight), Friday from 4 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from 10 a.m. to midnight (bar open Friday and Saturday until 2 a.m.), and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (bar open until midnight). It is closed Monday and Tuesday. Starlite BBQ, 7620 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale; 480.553.9330; www.starlitebbq.com.