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| Distrito/Hahnefeld |
| Before and after: Distrito dining area. |
Two weeks ago, Old Town Whiskey, Jose Garces' upscale saloon inside The Saguaro hotel in Old Town, shuttered
to be used as event space. But unbeknownst to Garces' fans, his modern
Mexican restaurant just down the hall was undergoing an arguably worse
fate: getting its cojones cut off.
See also:
- Gallo Blanco's Doug Robson Opens New Mexican Restaurant in Phoenix
- At La Merced in Mesa, Bigger Is Better
In what appears to be more or less a reverse makeover, Distrito has
gone from colorful and lively to brown and boring. But, hey, at least
there's the
barbacoa. Nope, that's gone, too.
 |
| Distrito/Hahnefeld |
| Before and after: Distrito bar |
The
sprawling space, once filled with an array of bright pink and glitter,
as well as plaid and floral patterns on tables, seating, and walls, has
been replaced by taupe paint and the wicker and leather furniture from
Old Town Whiskey, a few potted plants, and wood tables with centerpieces
involving stalks of wheat.
 |
| Laura Hahnefeld |
| Old Distrito graveyard |
In
addition, Distrito's marquee over the bar has vanished, the guacamole
and tortilla stand is now a DJ booth (actually, it has been for a year),
and the entryway, once filled with brightly painted Día de los Muertos
skull masks, has been replaced by a ubiquitous piece of desert art.
Where has the old Distrito gone? For a glimpse of its past, one need
only take a peek into the private dining area in the back. There, some
of the splashy tables, chairs, and lounge cushions have been crammed
together in what feels like more of a storage space than a place to eat.
So what gives with the nondescript hotel-restaurant look? For the answer, I went straight to the source.
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