Chandler has tacos to thank for The Stillery, a newly opened bar and restaurant concept at New Square, which was originally from Nashville and known for its scratch kitchen, mason jar cocktails, and spotlighting local spirits and live music.
“So this is funny,” says co-owner Steve Sargant. “I am a Tucson native, and my co-owners Steve and Alane Kovach have lived in Chandler for 30 years. As Arizonans, we know good tacos. Yet, the taco story is about Tennessee.”
Kovach, as it turns out, was spending significant time in Nashville in the early 2010s, working as a contractor on the Music City Center. By 2014, frustrated by the lack of fast (yet still sit-down) options in the area, he decided to develop a gourmet taco shop.
“We’d already known each other from mutual friends, but when I heard about the project I thought it was a good fit for us to do something together,” says Sargent, a 20-year veteran of the hospitality industry. “Who better to bring Tennessee good tacos than a team from Arizona, right?”
After a few years in business, the two came across a large building coming up for lease near their taco spot, and were inspired yet again.
“Nashville is nicknamed Music City USA, so we really wanted to tap into the spirit of that,” says Sargent. “In 2015, The Stillery was born.”
A sensation from day one, the first location initially had a heavy focus on moonshine cocktails, live music almost daily, an extensive pizza program, and gastropub-style takes on classic comfort foods.
“Eventually, we evolved the cocktail program to fit our clientele’s preferences for whiskey and bourbon-based cocktails as well as seasonal favorites, shining a spotlight on local distillers whenever possible,” says Sargent. “We did keep the initial moonshine vibe, however, by offering them in mason jar glasses.”
Buoyed by success, the team opened a second location in Nashville a few years later, and then their minds started wandering west.
“The building of the New Square was kismet timing, and the perfect home for The Stillery’s Arizona location,” says Sargent of the modern, sustainable mixed-use development in Historic Downtown Chandler.
“Those who have ever been to our original location will feel right at home, as will our first-time guests,” he says.
The space itself is over 7,000 square feet, with about 5,500-square-feet inside and another 1,600 outside. The interior, very much similar visually to the initial Nashville venue, is meant to pay homage to the great distilleries in the nation with reclaimed barn wood, and brick throughout. Like the flagship location, there are also copper accents throughout.
“While the copper look—to us—initially felt very much like our other locales, given it is one of the Five Cs of Arizona, it really gives it a local vibe, too,” says Sargent.
Large garage doors open to a spacious patio overlooking the New Square courtyard, and whether inside and out, it is hard to miss the showpiece of the space: the stage.
The Tunes
As the largest music venue in Chandler, The Stillery currently features live music Thursday to Sunday at dinner, as well as during brunch on the weekends. During dinner, expect local and regional solo acoustic acts, as well as some special guests the owners are flying in from Nashville from time to time. After dinner each night, there will also be a “late night” act performing—most often a popular local band or solo act.
“While we have a big focus on country music, you can also expect our performers to play a mix of classic rock, current hits, and contemporary favorites,” says Sargent, noting they hope to expand and offer even more music in 2021.
The Eats
And then there is the food.
“My team and I take great pride in the development of our menu, and we are committed to making local connections so we can use as local as ingredients as possible as we move into 2021 and beyond,” says Sargent.
The lunch and dinner menus are separated into five main categories: starters, greens, house specialties, rustic pies (aka pizza), and two-handed sandwiches (aka big ole’ sandwiches and burgers).
In the starter section, the term “elevated comfort food” comes to mind with eight to 10 tasty options, including Sriracha Devil Eggs with crispy prosciutto, parmesan cheese and chives; Jalapeño-Bacon Rangoons, which are essentially deconstructed, re-imagined jalapeño poppers wrapped in crispy wontons with house-made ranch dressing for dipping; and Brussels Sprouts roasted with garlic and parmesan cheese, and served with both ranch and a spicy firecracker sauce.
The greens section has traditional Caesar, Chop-Chop, and Wedge, as well as more exotic offerings including Thai Chicken with Napa cabbage, and a Strawberry Gorgonzola with candied pecans.
There are currently four house specialties including Mac & Cheese, Hot Chicken Tenders with house-cut fries, Catfish & ‘Chips,’ and Hangar Steak with compound butter. There will be seasonal and daily specials offered, as well.
Each of the 11 rustic pies on the menu is individually-sized, and baked in a 700-degree brick oven. Some of the options include Firehouse Pie with hot Italian sausage, grilled onions, roasted jalapeños, and red sauce; Hot Chicken Pie with Nashville hot chicken, white sauce, cheddar, mozzarella, and bacon, as well as a ranch-infused crust; and Tomato+Pesto with roasted tomato, basil pesto, red sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, and herbs.
Finally, there are eight sandwiches and burgers from which to choose, including one called The Carnivore, which has an eye-popping four patties made using brisket, chuck, and pork belly piled high, bacon, cheddar, pepper jack, roasted garlic aioli, and barbeque sauce.
The Drinks
Of course, one needs something special to wash all of the amazing food down. Enter the cocktail menu. Here, expect to see local spirits and beers shine as The Stillery proudly serves O.H.S.O. Gin, San Tan AZ Rye, Fossil Creek Whiskey, San Tan Hefe, Papago Orange Blossom, Grand Canyon Sunset Amber, The Shop Beer Co. Crispy Blond, Grand Canyon Sunset Amber, and many more.
Cocktails are served in mason jars, and of particular note are the Strawberry Rye, made with San Tan Rye, muddled strawberries, ginger beer, and lemon-lime soda; Dreamsicle with Ole Smokey Orange, vanilla-infused moonshine, orange juice, and lemon-lime soda; and the Smokin’ Mule, with Fossil Creek Whiskey, gingerbeer, amaretto, and lime.
There is wine by the bottle and glass, as well.
“With our Chandler restaurant, we strived to bring a taste of Nashville, literally and figuratively, to Arizona and mash it with the best of the Southwest through our food, drink, music, and vibe,” Sargent says. Stillerychandler.com