Vecina brings its mesquite-fired menu to Scottsdale

• It was a delight to watch him work his magic.

My thought bubble: I learned a few things from Fox. First, nothing beats a meal that's cooked entirely on the grill. Second, there's no such thing as too much butter.

Behind the scenes: The ribeye is one of Fox's signature dishes — and part of his effort to go "toe to toe" with Arizona steakhouses.

• Pro tip: He recommends pairing it with a spicy margarita or grapefruit-rosemary Paloma.
• The bar will also have a frozen cocktail that nods to Z'Tejas, the Mexican restaurant that previously occupied the space.

What to try: Don't skip the habanero butter salsa, which is creamy, almost cheesy and packs a punch.

The vibe: Diners will hear the same cumbia and Latin music in the dining room that the cooks listen to in the kitchen.

Between the lines: The new location is nearly three times the size of the original Arcadia restaurant, giving Fox more room to experiment with the menu and host private parties and chef-led dinners.

• He plans to use the bigger kitchen to add more ceviches, crudos, oysters and other dishes.
• The restaurant also has a lakeside patio.

Zoom out: Vecina opened in Arcadia in 2019 and was a 2020 James Beard Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant.

If you go: Vecina opens Friday at 8300 N. Hayden Road in McCormick Ranch.