The Mint – Priceless
Part restaurant, part ultra-lounge, The Mint even has a priceless past.
Celebrating its first anniversary this month, the 7,000-square-foot before- and after-hours Scottsdale centerpiece, 7373 E. Camelback Road, features artfully presented small plates by Chef Johnny Chu, and handcrafted cocktails, such as the Mint’s re-coining of the Dirty Martini — Dirty Money — which infuses local ingredients from Queen Creek Olive Mill in the southeast Valley.
The focal point of the 2,500-square-foot interior, which seats 109, is the vault door of the former bank building; other design details evoke a Hollywood Regency influence. The 4,500-square-foot patio, for dining and drinking, is fitted with resort-style cabanas and is the largest al fresco space in Old Town Scottsdale, accommodating 130 guests.
From his 1,000-square-foot kitchen, Chef Johnny and staff prepare pan-Asian tapas such as Loganberry Shrimp with a spicy peanut dipping sauce; Wasabi Sliders — charcoal grilled beef marinated in onions, peppers, curry seasoning topped with pickled wasabi; Flash Fried Sugar Cane Pork with pineapple ginger sauce; and Japanese Green Tea Cheesecake. Diners can pair with an extensive wine and sake list.
New from the kitchen is The Mint 24K Brunch Sundays, Noon to 4 p.m., with music featured by DJ Soloman. Every featured Brunch item is under $10, such as the Homemade Biscuits and Gravy; Poached Eggs with Barbecue Pulled Pork, Nutella French Toast; and Frittata Florentine. For drinks, enjoy the Throwback Mimosa, White Peach Bellini and The Mint’s Bloody Mary; they are $5 each, but if you pay $10, each refill is just a penny.
The Mint is another entertainment success of Dean Slover, the Valley restaurateur known for Scottsdale nightlife and dining spots such as RnR and Sandbar. Tommy Georges is the general manager, and he is assisted by Manager Mark Dow and staff.
The engaging Mint interior features rich materials including dark woods and Cohiba marble to create booth seating, fireplaces, a luxurious 30-foot bar in the main room and a specialty champagne bar in the co-ed bathroom. A third bar is outside. “Our three unique bar experiences have been designed to invite discovery and ignite excitement,” Tommy says. “Moving from one to another is like visiting different clubs under the same roof.”
Overall, the mood of interior spaces flexes according to different needs: A state-of-the-art retractable lighting system, for example, shifts the mood from intimate to expansive as the night evolves from dining to nightlife. And, above the main bar, a 6-x-6-foot custom fixture displays 32,000 LED lights with video-, logo-, word- and photo-playing capabilities in a million colors. Weighing 1,000 pounds and requiring 9,900 watts, it’s another Mint original.
So, too, music changes, including eclectic house and pop: “Energy, vibe and entertainment chic are the spirit of The Mint,” Tommy says. “The Mint changes throughout the evening, with our regular and new guests leading the process, which is surprisingly different every night.”
While every aspect of The Mint has been specially crafted for its guests, VIP areas extend this commitment to the highest standards. The private dining room has an ensuite bathroom, a dining table seating 10 people as well as additional couch seating for six others. “The room is perfect for full dining and/or bottle service, includes a personal flat screen HDTV, access to the main dining area and a private exit onto the East patio,” Tommy explains. “It works great for bridal or bachelor’s parties or other events.”
In addition, four raised DJ lounges with full-dining and bottle-service capabilities are available to serve 6–8 guests.
Finally, four semi-private cabanas on the East patio have flat screen HDTVs and ceiling fans; they accommodate 6–8 guests with full dining and bottle-service capabilities.
Hours are 3 p.m.–2 a.m. daily, with Happy Hour, 3–7 p.m., which includes $2 off food and half-off drinks.
“The Mint has become a must-stop in Scottsdale for those who enjoy the best in food, spirits and friendship,” Tommy says. “Stop in.”
For more about The Mint, call 480.947.6468 or see www.themintaz.com.
Each month, Highline Autos visits a business that exemplifies the quality its readers expect in hospitality, dining, clubbing, apparel, travel, jewelry, home décor and other exceptional services and merchandise.