This fall, two of Arizona’s most celebrated forces in food and hospitality will unveil an all-new restaurant, Lado A Lado. A collaboration between Chiwas Hospitality Group and Upward Projects, and set in the heart of Uptown Phoenix on The Block (the stretch of Central Ave. housing Upward’s Postino, Federal Pizza, Windsor, and Churn concepts), this ground-up concept merges Upward Projects’ approach of inspired neighborhood spaces with a culinary perspective rooted in the traditions of Northern Mexico.
Lado A Lado, Spanish for “side by side,” is intimately intertwined with the restaurant’s core philosophy. For chefs Armando Hernandez, Nadia Holguin, and Roberto Centeno, the founders of Chiwas Hospitality Group, the concept pays homage to their roots: growing up cooking and eating in the kitchen with their families, and enjoying the fruits of their labor side by side. For Upward Projects, early pioneers of Phoenix’s modern independent dining scene, it opens a new chapter on what they do best: transforming a storied space into a vibrant community hub designed around the neighborhood. Anchored by Upward Projects’ bespoke hospitality that weaves effortlessly into the community fabric, this collaboration unites the two creative teams, the environment, the culinary vision, and the people.
The restaurant will debut in the space formerly home to the Uptown Phoenix location of Joyride, marking an exciting evolution for the prominent neighborhood corner. While the iconic mid-century building begins a new culinary chapter later this summer when construction begins, So-Cal kitchen-inspired Joyride brand remains a beloved part of the Upward Projects family, continuing to welcome guests at its Gilbert, Arizona location. The Phoenix location will close end-of-day August 2, 2026.
“This partnership really just grew out of a natural connection. We’ve been big fans of Armando, Nadia and Roberto and their restaurants for a long time, and in the summer of 2025, our teams got together, started talking shop, and completely clicked,” said Lauren Bailey, CEO and co-founder of Upward Projects. “They are brilliant at what they do, and after throwing around some ideas we thought we could bring something unique and cool to the neighborhood.”
Known for their critically acclaimed concepts Tacos Chiwas, Cocina Chiwas, Tortillas Chiwas, Espiritu, Main Burger and Aruma Cafe, Chiwas Hospitality Group have earned national recognition, including multiple James Beard Award nominations, for their thoughtful, uncompromising approach to regional Mexican cuisine. At Lado A Lado, the experience and design will be inspired by familial shared meals of the Sonoran region. While more details will be revealed in the coming months, diners can expect a menu that offers a contrast of fire and sea, and smoke and citrus, with a strong emphasis on open flame, wood-fired cooking. The heartbeat of the kitchen, the parrillada and raw bar, will serve as central elements to the physical design of the restaurant.
“We have a lot of respect for the Upward Projects team and the way they connect with people and create a sense of place,” the Chiwas team shared in a joint statement. “For us, it’s always been about delivering a genuine experience and celebrating culture through food. We’ve wanted to bring our flavors to North Central Phoenix for a long time, and doing it alongside partners who care about this community as much as we do makes it really special.”
