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FOOD & DRINK
SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 9, 2020
Food & Drink
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Café Monarch plans a spendy splurge
BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer
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hen Café Monarch relocated to the other side of First Avenue three years ago, the Lewkowicz family intended to use the original, smaller space. First, they considered turning it into a breakfast-and-lunch concept called the Monarch Marketplace. They also had the idea of hosting lunch and private parties while the larger, 4,500 square-foot restaurant served strictly dinner. Now, the family is �inally moving forward with a new unnamed concept that Monarch Hospitality Group Vice President of Operations Phillip Lewkowicz calls “an ultra-�ine dining experience unlike anywhere in Arizona.” “We’ve tried other concepts, but we just wanted to perfect Café Monarch,” Phillip explained. “Now that we’ve had a few years under our belt at the new restaurant, which everyone’s loved, my father just always wanted to do something exclusive like that [ultra-�ine dining concept].” With a goal of opening in November, Phillip said the intimate restaurant will have limited seating and hours. “We’re going to limit it to 15 to 20 people every night. Thursday through Saturday,” Phillip said. “We’re going to close in the summer months because most of the restaurant is located outdoors al fresco.” The new concept will do away with menus and instead offer a 12-course, ticketed dining experience. “It’ll just be chef’s choice,” Phillip said. With Phillip’s dad Gustavo as executive chef, the new concept also taps the talents of new sous chef Benjamin Wald, who spent nearly two years working at the Inn at Little Washington, a three Michelin-starred restaurant inside a AAA
they do, and they love taking care of guests. To win these kinds of awards is just a testament to our hard work, and it’s a great achievement. It’s a really honorable achievement for the whole family.” The winners were determined based on reviews and ratings collected on Tripadvisor prior to the pandemic. Café Monarch resumed dinein service with new and emphasized healthy and safety protocols. They include using one-timeuse dinner menus, mandatory masks for employees and taking their temperatures, setting tables at least six feet apart and using sterilized single-use tabletop linens. “A lot of people are reluctant to still go out. So, we are taking Café Monarch was recently recognized as one of Tripadvisor’s top 10 best fine dining all the necessary precautions and all the CDC guidelines that restaurants in America. (Café Monarch/Harley Bonham) we could do – but it’s de�initely Five Diamond hotel. would say maybe a Binkley’s.” different, especially in �ine dinThe 12-course meal will be about “We want it to be Café Monarch done ing,” Phillip said. $325 per person and the wine parings very well,” Phillip continued. “People come here and they like to just will range from between $100-$250 per The new �ine dining concept was in- be at ease and forget about what’s going person. spired by Gustavo’s recent trip to Spain, on in the world. We love that they choose “So, if you’re going to splurge, you’re where he visited a few Michelin-starred Café Monarch, and we de�initely go over looking at about $500, $550 a person,” restaurants and beyond to exceed their expectation Phillips estimated. “He took a couple people last year on as far as from the experience and from a Café Monarch across the street, on the a big culinary adventure,” Phillip said. “It sanitation perspective as well,” he added. other hand, offers a four-course prix-�ixe opened his mind on doing this very highCafé Monarch is currently hiring 20 �ine dining menu ranging from $95 for the end, elegant, world-type cuisine.” total front- and back-of-the-house posiMaple Leaf Farms Duck Breast to $150 for “This is an extension of Café Monarch, tions. Visit Café Monarch’s Facebook page the Surf and Turf Trio. if you will, but it will be a different entity,” for more information. Gustavo and Wald plan to spend a few he continued. “I think it’s a good opportunity to ... fomonths designing the menu, which will For the second year in a row, Café Mon- cus on positivity and growing and creatbe “well thought-out” and “very artistic,” arch made Tripadvisor’s top 10 list for ing more jobs in the community and givPhillips promised. best �ine dining restaurants in America. ing our guests another place to dine and “Every course has its own plates and “We give all the credit to our staff. It re- forget about all the stuff going on in the the plates are going to be art,” Phillip said. ally is a team effort,” Phillip says of the world for a couple hours,” Phillip said. “If I were to compare it to something, I recognition. “Everyone here loves what Information: cafemonarch.com
