So Scottsdale January 2019

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NEW IN TOWN
DESTINATION DINING
Ocean 44 makes its triumphant debut in Scottsdale
BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ / PHOTOS BY J. MARTIN HARRIS PHOTOGRAPHY
After more than a year of anticipation,
Ocean 44 has opened its doors. And the
12,000-square-foot ultra-luxe seafood
restaurant, located in the former Harkins
Camelview Theatre adjacent to Scottsdale
Fashion Square, and owned by the lauded
Mastro family, was worth the wait.
“This is different than anything we
have done in the past,” says co-founder
Mike Mastro, who owns Dominick’s
Steakhouse and Steak 44 along with his
brother Jeff, father Dennis, and partner
Scott Troilo. “The atmosphere is second to
none, featuring dramatic and intimate dining
settings. At the core of the Ocean 44 experience
is our chef-sourced, highest-grade,
sustainable, fresh seafood from around
from the world, enhanced with unique and
interesting appetizers and side dishes that
go beyond the traditional seafood menu.”
The concept marks the Mastro’s first
foray back into a seafood concept since
their massively successful Mastro’s Ocean
Club in 2007. Leading the culinary program
is Siegfried Hohaus, who helped launch
Mastro’s Ocean Club before the family sold
the concept, and Mark Lupino, the executive
chef for the family’s current brands.
Much of the menu is served a la carte
so guests can mix and match. To start,
there is a raw bar menu as well as shellfish
and appetizer menus. Offerings in these
categories run the gamut from iced whole
Maine lobster (MP) and Prince Edward
Island mussels ($27) to New England lobster
rolls ($29) and crispy shrimp deviled
eggs ($18). There are also non-seafood
highlights on these menus including prime
steakhouse meatballs ($10-$14) and
wagyu beef tartare ($29).
“For main course offerings, there is
an a la carte fresh fish menu as well as a
lobster and crab menu, and all items are
sourced from sustainable fisheries when
available,” Jeff says.
Standouts include pepper-crusted
bigeye tuna ($49), twin whole live Maine
lobsters (MP), New Bedford sea scallops
($44), and Shetland Island salmon ($39).
“There are also several options for
meat lovers, including nearly a dozen
steaks from the Steak 44 menu,” Mike says.
Several of Steak 44’s potato dishes
and side items also made the Ocean
44 menu, but there are some Ocean 44
exclusives, too, notably Maine lobster and
browned butter noodles ($36).
“The wine and cocktails are also a
point of pride as we feature more than 40
wines by the glass and 750 by the bottle
as well as all of our most popular signature
cocktails from Steak 44, along with some
new options,” Jeff says.
Visually, the massive-yet-intimate
space similarly impresses – especially the
glass expo kitchen where guests can watch
the culinary team at work – and the large
bar with modern, sleek finishes.
Ocean 44 is open for dinner 4 to
9 p.m. Sunday, 4 to 10 p.m. Monday to
Thursday, and 4 to 11 p.m. Friday and
Saturday. The bar stays open later nightly.
Ocean 44 is located at 4748
N. Goldwater Blvd., Scottsdale;
480.867.0044; www.ocean44.com.
146 So Scottsdale! January ‘19