Bernie’s Back

Scottsdale's most underrated chef sails back into town with Citizen Public House; Plus win free tix to Cirque de Soleil

After reading our story on all the shakeups over at SouthBridge Scottsdale, you were probably left wondering, “But what about Bernie?” Or not, considering Bernie Kantak might just be the best Valley chef you’ve never heard of. For years, Kantak was the secret weapon behind longtime Scottsdale favs, Cowboy Ciao and the Kaz Bar. In fact, he’s the green-thumbed genius behind Ciao’s much-loved (and much copied) Chopped Stetson Salad, a mix-it-yourself masterpiece combining couscous, corn, smoked salmon, tomatoes, pepitas, currants, arugula and Asiago cheese—all arranged in delicious little rows. (Pictured at right; see Extra Scoop below.)

However, while fellow Ciao/SouthBridge alums such as chef Justin Beckett and Pavle Milic have gone on to critical and popular successes at Beckett’s Table and FnB, repectively, Kantak’s kind of fallen off the map. Until recently, that is, when he announced plans to transform one of Scottsdale’s most famed spaces into an upscale gastro-pub and all-around foodie nirvana. Named Citizen Public House, Kantak and his partner Andrew Fritz, have set up shop inside the soaring space that used to house the Valley’s original Trader Vic’s (although most recently it’s served as a series of cheesy nightclubs such as Next and The Velvet Room.)

Scheduled to open in early January, chef Kantak promises a bill of fare best described as “eclectic comfort food,” while Fritz will oversee an extensive drinks menu featuring contemporary and classic craft cocktails, microbrew beers and boutique wines. More important, after years of being buried under adobe and plaster, the new owners are planning a minimalist decor (polished concrete floors, hardwood accents and wooden beams) that should help rescue this once-swank landmark from stuccoed-over obscurity.

Fifth Ave Fab: 7111 E. Fifth Ave.