Tue. 8 February '11

For Fox’s Sake

We promise this will be our last Sam Fox post for a while, but seriously, can anyone stop this guy?

phoenix-sky-harbor

Another day, another cool-sounding new Sam Fox restaurant is landing in the Valley. Yes, the talented Mr. Fox just announced that BarFly, his upscale tavern inside Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport will officially open on Feb 18. (Funny coincidence, he’s replacing the former Fox Sports Grill). Of course, this is just five days before the grand opening of The Arrogant Butcher in Downtown Phoenix, and mere weeks after we broke the news that he’s also under construction on an all-new version of his popular Italian eatery, NoRTH in Arcadia.

Sam Fox + Great Name + Thirsty Travelers + Captive Audience. What could go wrong? Well for one, a famed local chef already tried the whole Barfly thing. Twelve years ago, Mark Tarbell was riding high from the success of his eponymous Tarbell’s restaurant in Phoenix, and decided to expand his mini empire with a sleek, stylish and candle-lit lounge located just across 32nd St. from his original eatery. Named Barmouche (Mouche is French for Fly) it was heralded as the next new thing in local dining; cozy comfort food served  (’til midnight or later) in a sexy environment. Sort of a gastropub long before that term became popular.

Unfortunately, the restaurant struggled for various reasons (too dark, too many seats, too cutesy of a name, Phoenicians don’t understand parking garages) and quietly closed a few years back. These days, it only lives on in the memories of local foodies, and in the occasional special on Tarbell’s menu (Mom’s Mac n Cheese & Scottish Beef Sliders, anyone?) Meanwhile, chef Tarbell has bounced back nicely and now owns three additional restaurants across Greater Denver.

Which is also the number of restaurants Sam Fox probably opened as you read this article. But seriously, just call him butter, because this man is on a roll.

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