Every single restaurant in Epicenter at Agritopia, Gilbert's megaplex of things to do
Agritopia, founded by Joe Johnston, is a 160-acre planned community in Gilbert that's modeled after a traditional, walkable village. Epicenter is meant to be its urban center, spanning around 20 acres and five stories at the junction of Ray and Higley roads.
In addition to luxury apartment living at The Tyler, Epicenter is home to a number of restaurants, cocktail and beer bars, retailers, spas and fitness studios. Many of the dining and drinking options are outposts of popular Phoenix bars and restaurants, while others are unique to the Gilbert hub.
After years of anticipation, most of the shops are now open.
Here's your guide to all the bars and restaurants at Epicenter.
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Belly Kitchen + Bar
This is the second location of Instrumental Hospitality's popular Southeast Asian-inspired bar and restaurant. Some of the food options include Vietnamese elote, green papaya salad with softshell crab, crispy white fish and grilled oysters on the half shell. Sandwiches are available for lunch.
On the drink menu find natural wines, beer and cocktails, like the K-pop espresso martini made with Japanese vodka, cold brew, espresso liqueur, herbal liqueur, sweetened condensed milk, Korean cinnamon punch and Thai chili.
Hours: Lunch daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dinner daily from 4 to 10 p.m.; Bar is open daily until 10 p.m. and until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Details: Suite 180. bellyphx.com.
Beer Barn
On the House Hospitality group opened its sixth concept with this beer-centric venue at Agritopia's Epicenter in Gilbert. Reclaimed wood, corrugated metal and a farm-house garage door are some examples of the design inspired by Gilbert's agricultural background. The menu features wine, over 30 rotating draft beers as well as a large variety of canned and bottled beers from Arizona and across the United States.
Hours: Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight; Sunday from 9:45 a.m. to midnight.
Details: Suite 150, beerbarnaz.com.
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Gadzooks Enchiladas & Soup
This is the fifth location of the fast-casual Mexican restaurant, the first of which opened in 2013 by the Pool brothers, Aaron and Jared, who also own The Green Woodpecker with Drew Pool. The Gilbert Gadzooks offers indoor and patio seating. Its menu features its award-winning build-your-own tacos, enchiladas and soups with Modelo braised bison, sweet and spicy cornbread, honey vinegar slaw, pickled onions and house-made guacamole. In addition, patrons can enjoy Osborn Oro margaritas, made in-house, and beer from Drew's Wren House Brewery. For dessert, the eatery sells fresh-baked cookies.
Details: Suite 144. gadzooksaz.com.
Peixoto Coffee Roasters
Peixoto Coffee Roasters is a crop-to-cup coffee shop. The family farm in Brazil grows 18 distinct coffee plots and the shop roasts the coffee in-house and makes house-made syrups for unique beverages like the Moroccan latte. Peixoto Coffee at Epicenter offers seating on two floors and a patio.
Hours: Daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Detail: Suite 100. peixotocoffee.com.
Source
Chef Claudio Urciuoli drew a loyal following of fans at the woodfire-themed Phoenix Pa'La restaurants, which he parted ways with in the fall of 2022 to focus on Source. Source is a causal Mediterranean restaurant where the quality of ingredients do the talking and bread is king. In addition to a menu of simple and flavorful options, like pizzas, hummus and bowls, Source also has a market corner, where people can snag pantry items like pasta and olive oil imported from Italy.
Hours: Wednesday to Monday from noon to 8 p.m., closed on Tuesday.
Details: Suite 104. eatatsource.com.
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Matt's Big Breakfast
A Guy Fieri favorite, Matt's Big Breakfast has been in business since 2004. The sixth location opened at Epicenter in February. Matt's Big Breakfast offers scratch-made breakfast and daily specials all day and lunch starting at 11 a.m. Belgian waffles with Vermont maple syrup and bacon, griddle cakes and the big papa burrito made with chorizo are some of the classic breakfast options. The menu also offers lighter options and sandwiches for lunch.
Hours: Every day from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Details: Suite 158, mattsbigbreakfast.com.
Undertow
An acclaimed Phoenix tiki bar with a nautical-inspired theme opened its second location at Epicenter. A top 10 nominee for “New American Cocktail Bar” by Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, the bar offers guests an immersive experience with drinks served in what looks like the belly of a spice trade ship. The Clipper, led by Captain John Mallory, is an unusual place to taste classic cocktails and a rare collection of rums as well as non-alcoholic beverages. UnderTow recommends reservations, which require a fee that goes towards the final bill, but they do accept some walk-ins.
Hours: Monday to Thursday from 4 to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 2 p.m. to midnight; Sunday from 2 to 10 p.m.
Details: Suite 184. drinkundertow.com.
Restaurants coming soon to Epicenter
Buck & Rider
Buck & Rider first opened in Phoenix in 2014. The Gilbert location will be its third restaurant. Known for its raw bar, the restaurant promises to "do whatever it takes to serve the finest just-caught fish and shellfish of the East, West, and Gulf coasts and beyond." They will offer lunch, brunch with live music, dinner and happy hour.
Expected opening: Summer 2023
Details: Suite 194. buckandrider.com.
Spinato's Pizzeria and Family Kitchen
The official pizza of the Suns and Mercury at the Footprint Center, Spinato's, opened in 1974 and is known for its Chicago-style pizza made with a sweet sauce. Throughout the years, family members have added new recipes. The pizzeria now has six locations around metro Phoenix and a seventh opening in Gilbert.
Expected opening: Second quarter of 2023
Details: Suite 128. 480-534-8631, spinatospizzeria.com.
Visit Epicenter at Agritopia
There is plenty of parking along with electric vehicle charging stations at Epicenter.
Details: 3150 E. Ray Road, Gilbert. shop.epicenteratagritopia.com.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Gilbert restaurant guide to Epicenter at Agritopia
