28 March 23rd–March 29th, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | music | cafe | film | culTuRe | NighT+Day | feaTuRe | NeWs | OPiNiON | feeDBacK | cONTeNTs | legendary maritime environs. Fans of the original Phoenix location know the drill: Guests are whisked away while seated in the belly of a fictional spice trader’s turn- of-the-century clipper ship under the leadership of Captain John Malloy, who encounters a bit more than rough waters along the way. The immersive experience is complemented by libations inspired by the era. The award-winning Barter & Shake team is responsible for a lengthy list that boasts classics like the Blue Hawaii and Jungle Bird. There also are newer takes like the gin-and-rum-based Poseidon’s Court and the clarified milk punch Clear Skies & Tropical Winds. Nonalcoholic cocktails crafted with housemade spirit-free spirits are also on the menu. No food is served here, but fueling up at a nearby spot won’t be difficult. Beer Barn Suite #150 480-264-4086 If you prefer your craft beer with sides of yoga, lawn games, and trivia, Beer Barn is your jam. The sister establishment of The Sleepy Whale beer bar and bottle shop in Chandler and The Theodore beer and wine bar and bottle shop in Phoenix offers about 30 or so rotating draft brews. Selections are featured from local busi- nesses, and other Arizona breweries including Flagstaff’s Dark Sky Brewing Company and Tucson’s 1912 Brewing Company, as well as from California, Florida, and Maryland. More can be found on the extensive bottle list, too. Peixoto Coffee Roasters Suite #100 480-597-7584 Just like the original location in downtown Chandler, the second Peixoto Coffee Roasters shop thrives on its crop-to-cup coffee starting from the family farm in Brazil before reaching the desert, where it is roasted. Grab a bag of direct trade specialty beans, a warming cup of the house drip, cold brews, or espresso concoctions that incorporate housemade syrups. Seasonal specialties include the chipotle mocha, lavender latte, and orange juniper. Cafe Closure North Phoenix kosher dining staple Cafe Chenar has closed. BY SARA CROCKER C afe Chenar, a kosher restaurant that was the only place in the Valley serving Bukharian cuisine, has closed. Cafe Chenar made an impact on several levels, providing another restaurant for observant Jews to patronize and introducing diners to the food of the Jewish people of Uzbekistan. Blending flavors from Asia, Russia, Europe, and the Middle East, the menu provided an array of dumplings, along with hummus, uzbek plov — a meat and rice dish — and a large variety of shish kabobs. Cafe Chenar was named Phoenix New Times’ Best Kosher Restaurant three years in a row — 2019, 2020, and 2021 — and was among our Top 100 Restaurants in Phoenix. The Greater Phoenix Vaad HaKashruth, an Orthodox nonprofit kosher supervising organization, shared an alert on its site on January 23 noting the closure. Signage outside Cafe Chenar on East Bell Road has been removed and promises a new restaurant. The north Phoenix restaurant was the third of three kosher restaurants run by the Uvaydov family, who came to Arizona by way of New York and Uzbekistan, including Kitchen 18 and La Bella Pizzeria and Restaurant. The family has since sold those restaurants. “The intrepid diners of metro Phoenix will be stoked that the Uvaydovs have looked home for restaurant No. 3,” New Times’ Chris Malloy wrote after Cafe Chenar opened in 2018. “This gridiron stretch of north Phoenix needs better and more diverse food options.” Cafe Chenar was founded by Mazal Uvaydov and her son Natan, and their story remains on the restaurant’s website. The cafe’s latest business filing with the Arizona Corporation Commission was made by Ilya Uvaydov, who also opened Sababa Kosher Market next door in 2020, according to Phoenix Jewish News. Uvaydov, whose rela- tionship to the founders is not clear, did not respond to requests for comment. The windows of Cafe Chenar’s former north Phoenix location have been papered over. A sign says the opening of My Spot Mediterranean Grill is “coming soon.” A banner promises shawarma, falafel, burgers, and salads. In another window, Cafe Chenar’s kosher certification, which expired on February 28, is still visible. Epicenter from p 27 The Beer Barn features about 30 or so rotating draft beers plus many more on its huge bottle list. Epicenter
