Chef Scott Conant is expanding his Arizona restaurant portfolio with the announcement that he and his SC Culinary Inc. team have partnered with Creation Hospitality, led by Bob Agahi and David Sellers, for the ownership and operation of The Americano, an Italian-inspired steakhouse, in North Scottsdale.
Through this new relationship, Conant will exclusively lead the culinary vision and operation of the restaurant along with Paride Guerra, director of operations and operating partner. Similarly, SC Culinary and Creation Hospitality will now co-own Mora Italian in Phoenix where Conant will continue in his executive chef and active-ownership role.
“Over the past four years, Arizona has become home to me and The Americano gives me an elevated, creative outlet to really hone in on a more refined style of cooking, one that is a culmination of my travels, especially from around lesser-known regions of Italy and Japan,” said Conant. “Guests will recognize some dishes that have helped define my career as well as many others in that same spirit of crave-ability and refinement. When you arrive at The Americano, there’s an unmistakable energy and I look forward to bringing that same excitement, precision and sincerity to the menu.”
Starting in mid-October, Conant will debut a new menu at The Americano, that will range from fine steaks, including prime and American Wagyu beef, to house-made pasta, organic salads, Italian antipasti and Mediterranean seafoods including Italian crudi.
The Americano blends a European style of highly personalized, tableside service with contemporary Italian-inspired dining to create an unmistakable, convivial experience. Conant’s culinary offering shares the spotlight with an inventive cocktail program that is playful and intricately devised. The Americano also features a carefully curated selection of 200 distinct wines from iconic, established and emerging Italian and American labels, including Conant’s private label, SC Wines.
Hip and humble, the restaurant offers a chic, moody atmosphere adorned with striking custom art and sculptures. The modern supper-club style dining room, with cozy crescent-shaped booths, rich leather chairs and butcher-block tables, has a front-row seat to the open kitchen and wood-fired grill where Conant’s team puts on a nightly display.
Conant was originally an integral part of The Americano’s concept development leading up to the restaurant’s opening in February 2020. His active travel and filming schedule began to conflict with the restaurant’s opening timeline, and he had to step away. Once the pandemic hit, Conant found himself in Scottsdale full-time with his family and was eager to re-engage at The Americano.
“The character of The Americano is a strong one,” said Conant. “Our idea is to really tap into the energy of Scottsdale and help set a benchmark within the city’s dining scene for refined service and memorable Italian-inspired and American dishes. It’s our intent to potentially open other Americanos across the country that would take-on the spirit of the city in which it resides. Our partnership with Creation Hospitality will allow us to do this on a broader level while still protecting the integrity of the restaurant’s soul.”
