Talk about having a little something for everybody. Restaurateurs Teddy Bernal and his wife, Diana Prieto-Bernal, have not only revamped the decor of the former Bada Boom! space, but have also created five “zones” within the new Urban 7 layout to satisfy whatever mood guests might be in. (Oh, and if the Bernal name sounds familiar, it’s because they already own and operate Scottsdale Mexican food favorite Frank & Lupe’s just down the street.) Grab a casual nibble on Urban 7’s outdoor patio, where you’ll have prime people-watching seats during the Thursday night Scottsdale Gallery ArtWalks. Or, if feeling a little fancier, treat yourself to a meal in the luxurious main dining room, with its dark wood floors and eye-catching chandeliers.
If socializing with a drink in hand is more your thing, the other three zones are where you’ll spend most of your time: the long bar, specializing in exotic cocktails and, of course, martinis (but more on that later); the breezeway, an ideal spot for sipping glasses of wine or nursing a fine beer; and for nights you’re looking for a particularly decadent experience, the V.I.P. room, featuring its very own private bar and the most plush, red velvet booths anywhere in Old Town.
Foodies will be pleased to meet Executive Chef Edgar Hernandez, whose U7 dishes Bernal describes as “a blend of American cuisine with different ethnic flavors.” In other words, the menu is as varied as the restaurant’s layout. Starters include tequila-lime marinated shrimp with baby scallops and cold-poached tiger prawns, and standout entrees include the Bonfire Salmon with mango-papaya relish, the Steak Chimichurri with glazed mushrooms, and the Pandora Pasta Bowl with roasted pine nuts.
And let’s not forget the drinks. This is, after all, a martini kitchen. But you’ll have some trouble choosing just one from bartender Matthew Carfagnini’s list of more than two dozen varieties, so you had better try a few. Plus, with such catchy names as the London Bloke, Vatican Voodoo and Forbidden Fruit, your orders will be practically rolling off your tongue anyway. (Or maybe that’s the effect of the delicious libations …) Just don’t leave before trying their signature, “The Seven.”
Urban 7 Martini Kitchen is located at 4151 N. Marshall Way in Old Town Scottsdale (480) 584-6327
