With new menu items and a reinvigorated design, Chef Scott Conant and SC Culinary will reopen Mora Italian in Phoenix on April 9. Mora Italian will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m. and offer daily happy hour exclusively at the bar from 4 to 6 p.m.
The award-winning modern osteria opened in 2017 along Phoenix’s Seventh Street Stretch. In light of the pandemic, the restaurant temporarily closed in summer 2020 and underwent design renovations. During this time, Chef Conant shifted his focus to Mora’s sister restaurant, The Americano, a Scottsdale-based Italian-inspired steakhouse.
“We’re finally starting to see light at the end of the tunnel after a very challenging year and we think now is the time to welcome the community back to Mora in a safe and responsible way,” says Conant, in a press release. “Guests can expect the same level of soulful deliciousness that has made Mora a neighborhood favorite, but they will also experience some new dishes I’ve been working on, especially from the wood-burning oven such as the roasted branzino. We’ve streamlined the menu and really honed in on what makes Mora a special dining destination in Phoenix that’s casual and convivial.”
More than half of the dishes on the menu are new, including the roasted branzino alla “livornese” with tomato, capers and black olives; wood-fired porchetta spice chop with orange, confit fennel and green apple; black gemelli with cuttlefish ragu, fresno chili and pickled shallots; and stuffed sweet peppers with salumi, fontina, carnaroli and pomodoro. Conant has also perfected his wood-fired pizzas (perfect for to-go orders or dining in), now offering more texture and flavor. Favorites like pasta al pomodoro and wood-fired octopus remain on the menu.
SC Culinary is hosting a hiring event for Mora and The Americano Tuesday, April 6, through Thursday, April 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Americano in Scottsdale. The company is seeking to hire for all restaurant positions including hostesses, servers, bartenders, support staff and talented cooks and prep cooks.
For more on Mora Italian, visit MoraItalian.com.