élephante in the room: A swanky new Italian restaurant is opening in Scottsdale
élephante, an "experiential" new Mediterranean restaurant, is set to open early next year on the south wing of Scottsdale Fashion Square. It will be the second location of élephante, the first in Arizona. The flagship in Santa Monica, California, is best known for its coastal Italian cuisine and eccentric cocktails.
Expanding to Scottsdale was "almost a no brainer" according to Thomas Lim, culinary director for Wish You Were Here Group, a hospitality company with a portfolio of restaurants in New York City, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
"It was imperative that we found someplace that was going to suit the personality of élephante and also ensure that we had the right fabric in terms of the customer base," Lim said. "Everything just sort of aligned just right."
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What to expect at élephante
According to Lim, the dining room at élephante will draw design inspiration from its new desert surroundings with towering cacti, florals, travertine floors and bespoke furniture designed to evoke the feeling of an oasis.
"When you enter the space, it takes you somewhere," Lim said.
The restaurant will span 12,000 square feet and include both indoor and outdoor seating options. There will also be a cocktail lounge within the restaurant where guests can go for drinks and small bites in a social setting.
What's on the menu at élephante
élephante is known for wood-fired pizzas, fresh pasta and its signature whipped eggplant dip, but Lim said the Scottsdale location will also feature additional menu items like grilled seafood, steaks and other premium meats.
"We're really building out this menu to sort of focus around family-style offerings that the Santa Monica version does not have, which is quite exciting," Lim said.
The Scottsdale location will also feature the addition of a cocktail lounge, which Lim described as "a bit moodier, a bit sexier."
A fancy, southern Italian restaurant 'for everyone'
"The beverage program, the stellar service, everything there is made to feel very comfortable, relaxed," said Lim, who added that despite the upscale, experiential concept and its location at Scottsdale Fashion Square, he wants the restaurant to feel approachable and comfortable to guests of all demographics.
"We build restaurants for everyone that are based on our travels," he said. "And that's how we feel restaurants should be. We're proud to open the doors to all walks of life, whether you're celebrating your 21st birthday or it's your 50th anniversary."
How to visit élephante
élephante is expected to open in Scottsdale in early 2024.
Details: elephantela.com.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Scottsdale is getting a fancy new Italian restaurant. Meet élephante