Edson Madrigal and Pete Salaz got together last year to form Céntrico, one of the new Mexican-inspired food joints in dwntwn La Phoenikera.

Pete worked in the nightclub industry for many decades, co-owning Bar Smith and Monarch Theatre. He decided to stay on as an owner but leave the management part to work on a new project. The same day he stepped down, Dr. Carmen Mora, a friend of his, contacted him with the idea of opening up a small café.

Pete Salaz Centreando at Céntrico (disregard the Canadian flag). Photo: La Phoenikera.

For Edson, who also co-owns Bar Smith and Monarch Theatre, the idea of opening a restaurant had been marinating for about five years. Coming from a family deeply rooted in the industry, it was only a matter of time before that began to materialize.

Edson Madrigal, el centro de Céntrico. Photo: La Phoenikera.

It was all quite serendipitous, really. When Pete looked for the proper establishment for his café, he ran into something that he thought was “too big for him.” So he brought Edson to check it out and give him advice, knowing he had worked in the restaurant industry for many years.

It was then that they found out they were both working on something similar and decided to team up again, this time to realize Edson’s vision of a Mexican cuisine restaurant. Pete brought Dr. Mora to the team as a partner, and Edson brought on his wife Jessica.

After checking out the place, they decided not to go with it. It needed a ton of work, and the landlord wasn’t willing to cut them a deal to offset the expenses of bringing the place up to speed.

That’s when the owner of Hotel San Carlos contacted Edson to see if he was interested in the space once occupied by Rice Paper on the Northwest corner of Central Avenue and Monroe Street.

“My initial reaction was, we’re going to have to bring it if we’re going to be on this corner because there’s no hiding,’” says Pete.

They eventually took the spot, and they are doing everything in their hands to bring it and represent Mexican cuisine well in the heart of dwntwn.

Pete and Edson, two Phoenikeros holding it down! Photo: La Phoenikera.

Now that they are working together at Céntrico, the roles of this duo have been reversed. When Edson began his career in the club industry, Pete and his other partners showed him the ropes of event promotion and all the different things that go into managing a club.

Now, having worked in the restaurant industry for many years under acclaimed chefs like Richard Sandoval and his father, Leo Madrigal, Edson shows Pete, who had never considered becoming a restaurateur, the ins and outs of managing a restaurant.

“Clubs and restaurants are two totally different environments,” says Edson. “In one, people are in the dark, drinking, vibing on the music, dancing; it’s a different atmosphere. In a restaurant, you have to be more attentive and pay more attention to detail and execution, you know?”

Céntrico’s bar is stacked with your favorite poison. Photo: La Phoenikera.

Edson explains that restaurateurs have to focus on vital service steps: making sure the kitchen is on point, running an efficient front and back of the house, and personally making sure that everything is executed thinking about the guests’ experience.

“I feel that, especially because of our standards, we want to make sure people come in here and get quality service in hopes that they not only enjoy the food but also repeat the visit for the rest of their experience,” says Edson.

Both Pete and Edson think that they’re not above anything. They want to learn more about their customers and apply that knowledge to this new project.

Theses tacos de Tinga are lyf! Photo: La phoenikera

“We’re not know-it-alls; we can always grow and improve. We love to get educated and hear about cool new information and new stuff,” says Edson.

They both have been doing business in dwntwn for decades, and they’re excited to have another project in the heart of La Phoenikera. They were there before the lightrail, and when no one saw any potential for the scene, they did. Now, the square footage in the area is higher than in Old Town Scottsdale, and they are reaping the fruits of their labor.

 Menu

Céntrico is officially open for breakfast and lunch, but a bird recently told us they might be open for dinner starting this weekend. You should call them up and see.

Edson had a fixed vision of what he wanted to offer. He discussed some of the items with Pete and the other partners, and they added things they thought people would enjoy. To materialize the vision, they recruited chefs Miguel Beltran and Alan Inocencio.

Yummm! Chilaquiles rojos. Photo: Céntrico.

They serve Mexican food, including mexi-staples like chilaquiles, huevos con chorizo, and tacos (duh). For the partners at Céntrico, the region of Mexico from which the food is from is not something they think about, mainly because Mexico is vast and its cuisine is interpreted in different ways. However, you’ll definitely taste food influenced by Edson’s Oaxaqueño ancestry (¡arriba Santa Rosa de Juárez!).

Some people have asked if Céntrico’s food is authentic, which is no concern for them. The food they serve comes from their perspective, built over years of experience and their Mexican upbringing; flavors brought over from vacations in Mexico City and Oaxaca. Céntrico is doing cocina mexicana the way they know it.

Verdes! And the burrito in the background nos está haciendo ojitos. Photo: La Phoenikera.

They have some vegan and vegetarian options, so all your peeps can feel at home. If you’re in dwntwn for a quick lunch meeting, work in the area, or live nearby, this is a solid choice for a drink and a quick bite.

Pete’s favorite on the menu is El Mexicano, which is delicious chorizo made from scratch in-house, huevos revueltos con salsa bandera (scrambled eggs), and tatoes. That’s one of the top breakfast items on the menu.

Edson says his favorite menu item depends on the day and his mood, but another birdie told us he really likes the migas.

This burro tho! Home made shorizzz wut wut! Photo: La Phoenikera.

Drinks

Edson loves tequila straight, but the drink menu has some inebriating concoctions like the Paloma or the Dos Hermanos, all created by Phoenikera mixologist Irene Martinez. Pete’s choices are Tequila Don Julio 1942 or Herradura Reposado.

If you’re an agave-head, Céntrico has over 85 tequilas from 100 percent blue agave and 25 varieties of Mezcal.

R.I.P Herradura Reposado & Mezcal Bosscal. Phote: La Phoenikera.

We tried the Herradura Reposado, which sits very nice (sip it pipol, or be extra and gulp it). We also had a “young” Mezcal called Bosscal served in a pretty unique tiny bowl. The orange it came with was topped with worm salt.

Honestly, it’s sad to own a bar in La Phoenikera and not have decent staple teporocho go-tos like Mezcal, Sotol, and Bacanora. But Céntrico has your back. They carry all those poisons, and you can always stop by for a quick fixer-upper.

Soon, they will have Whiskey from Oaxaca and Gin from Sinaloa, as well as Mexican vino for las jainas.

Salú! Photo: Céntrico.

Who kicks it at Céntrico?

The restaurant attracts many locals and visitors who come in by word of mouth or because they work in the area.

“It’s hard to narrow it down to a demographic; it’s not like when I was promoting House events, and there was a niche group of people that I had to make sure loved the music so they came back,” says Pete. “This is food; we want everyone to taste it!”

Choices, choices! Photo: La Phoenikera.

Céntrico opens for breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday and Sunday, they sleep in a bit and start at 9 a.m. There is no need to open early anyway; the crudos are still sleeping it off.

Lunch starts at 11 a.m., but if it’s not too crowded and you’re craving chilaquiles, they might still make them.

On Friday and Saturday, they offer a late-night menu from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., and every First Friday, they have live music.

Teporochos rejoice! Photo: Céntrico.

Every day, you can expect a cool vibe, rock Latin Americano, and other selections of worldly beats. We heard Juan Gabriel and Antonio Aguilar when we were there, but they also play House, cumbias, and generally things you can’t hear on the radio. Pete’s girlfriend puts the playlist together.

You’ll also get a glimpse of Cantinflas or Pedro Infante movies by the bar.

Lastly and most importantly, you can expect excellent service. People greet you at the door; you’re taken care of while you’re there, and Edson tries to greet every customer personally, so you’ll most likely get to meet the owners.

If you do, tell them you read about Céntrico in La Phoenikera.

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