The Ostrich Bar, a speakeasy concept owned by Michael Merendino of the Crust Restaurant Group, is eying a new location at Williams Field & Recker Road in Gilbert.
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The original Ostrich Bar, located in the basement of Crust Chandler, is meant to be a neighborhood craft cocktail lounge inspired by the city’s rich history dating back to its inception in 1912.
Back then, speakeasies became popular as underground and secret establishments, which serve as the grounds for bars like The Ostrich to create that roaring 20’s-era vibe and atmosphere.
According to the website, “If you appreciate true Classic Cocktails, you are in the right spot,” further noting that their bartenders “are connoisseurs of the lost art of classic drink making.”
As for the Crust that inspired it all, Merendino grew up as a first-generation Italian in Long Island, New York. He learned how to make pizzas from his father’s pizzeria, Francesca’s in Great Neck, and developed the Pizza Rustica that became the cornerstone of the menu for the first Crust that opened in 2007.
As of now, no official opening date has been set for the Gilbert opening, and the website still has it listed as “Coming Soon.” What Now Phoenix reached out to Merendino for more information on Tuesday, but he was unavailable for comment.