Renowned Phoenix chef/restaurateur, Doug Robson, is opened an all-new restaurant, Tesota, in the heart of Uptown Phoenix. Open daily for lunch, dinner and happy hour, Tesota (300 W Camelback Rd., Phoenix, AZ) is the newest creation from Robson, the chef/partner behind Gallo Blanco and Otro Café in Phoenix. Nestled inside the stunning indoor-outdoor space that previously housed Southern Rail, and was also the longtime home of the historic Beefeater’s Steakhouse, Tesota expands upon Robson’s Latin-centric menus with a globe-straddling approach to nimble, ingredient-focused dishes, ranging from premium steaks and seafoods, to Mediterranean, Asian and South American fare.
Tesota, which is the Spanish word for ‘desert ironwood tree’, will also temp with an ever-changing menu of craft cocktails and beers, plus a premium wine list, highlighted by an extensive selection of Arizona wines.
Chef/Restaurateur Doug Robson.
“Having previously focused on Mexican and Latin fare, I was excited to expand our boundaries, literally.” Chef Robson says. “Tesota is as much a neighborhood restaurant as it is a destination restaurant, with a chef-driven, seasonal menu with lots of fun ingredients that explore different culinary traditions across borders.” For example, Tesota has incorporated the existing pizza oven to make fold-over sandwiches, starting with fresh-baked pizza dough that’s split apart and stuffed with delicious ingredients such as an Argentinean Choripan, which is a simple yet delicious dish made with Phoenix’s own Schreiner’s sausage and chimichurri sauce. Tesota also tempts with a seasonal menu of Pizzettas, or individual pizzas, including chorizo, asparagus, margarita and an Iberian Salumi. Plus, Robson has also partnered with Tesota’s Executive Chef, Jared Porter to incorporate exciting Asian elements, including fresh seafood and crudo dishes.
And as a nod to Beefeater’s, Tesota will also offer premium cuts of steak, from Prime Ribeye to Flatiron Steak and a delicious Wagyu Burger. Robson & Porter have an extensive history working together off and on since 2000 working at Micheal’s at the Citadel & La Grande Orange. Since then, Porter had been working for Fox concepts as regional chef for the company.
Located on the NW corner of 3rd Avenue and Camelback, Tesota’s interior design is built around color, warmth and greenery, and seeks to be an extension of home similar to what you’d experience in Mexico City, says Robson. The welcoming space tempts with a cozy and light-filled interior that invites guests to linger at the bar, or unwind on the spacious year-round patio.
Longtime guests will recognize the preserved Beefeater’s tufted black leather booth seating, but otherwise this 150-seat space has been completely redesigned, including verdant living plants, stylized wallpaper, warm plank wood accents and brown leather banquette seating, and high-backed wooden bar seating at the expansive bar top. And speaking of the bar, Tesota also offers a daily happy hour from 3-6 pm featuring a full menu of handcrafted cocktails, plus specially priced drinks and bar bites. Plus, Tesota will be offering a weekend brunch later this summer.
Tesota restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 11 am to 9 pm, Friday from 11 am to 10 pm, Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 9 pm.
