"Fifteen years on, Bernie Kantak's Old Town gastropub still fills its booths — the kind of unfussy, chef-driven room that works for a relaxed team dinner or an easy date, anchored by a salad the state of Arizona made official."
9.1Food
8.8Ambience
9.0Value
About Citizen Public House
Citizen Public House is a chef-driven American gastropub in Old Town Scottsdale, opened in 2011 by chef Bernie Kantak and partner Andrew Fritz. In January 2026 PHOENIX magazine marked its 15th anniversary — rare longevity in a churn-heavy dining town.
The kitchen's calling card is comfort food cooked with restaurant precision. Kantak's most famous creation is so woven into Arizona dining that the state recognised it formally; the room reads casual but the cooking does not.
The Kitchen
The signature is The Original Chopped Salad — smoked salmon, dried corn, arugula, orzo, asiago, pepitas, currants and pesto, tossed tableside — now the official state salad of Arizona. It first appeared on the menu around $12, and remains the dish people drive in for.
Beyond it, the menu runs seasonal American: braised short rib, house pastas and shareable plates, with mains in the $$$ range. The bar program is serious, with a deep whiskey list that suits the booths.
The Room
The space is warm and clubby — dark wood, high-backed booths and a busy bar — comfortable enough for a long table of colleagues and quiet enough in the corners for a date. Happy hour and weekday evenings are the calmer windows; weekends bring the Old Town crowd.
What to Order
Start, of course, with The Original Chopped Salad for the table. Move to the short rib and a house pasta to share, lean on the bartender for a whiskey flight or a classic cocktail, and finish with whatever dessert is on the board. Book a corner booth if you want quiet.
Why Citizen Public House Works for a Team Dinner
Big booths, shareable plates, a forgiving bill and a bar deep enough to keep a group happy — it is built for a relaxed colleague dinner. See the Team Dinner guide for more.
Not for
Not for a white-tablecloth client impression or a silent, formal tasting — it is a lively gastropub, not a fine-dining stage. If you need hushed luxury and a sommelier, look to Scottsdale's steakhouses; for an easy, chef-driven group night, this is the right room.
Frequently Asked
Who is the chef at Citizen Public House?
Citizen Public House was opened in 2011 by chef Bernie Kantak and partner Andrew Fritz, and Kantak still drives the kitchen. He is one of Scottsdale's best-known chefs, and the restaurant celebrated its 15th anniversary in January 2026. The cooking is comfort-forward American food executed with fine-dining precision.
What is the famous dish at Citizen Public House?
The Original Chopped Salad is the icon: smoked salmon, dried corn, arugula, orzo, asiago, pepitas, currants and pesto, tossed tableside. It is so closely associated with Arizona dining that the state recognised it as the official state salad. It first appeared on the menu around $12.
How expensive is Citizen Public House?
Citizen Public House sits in the mid $$$ range. The Original Chopped Salad started around $12, and seasonal mains such as braised short rib and house pastas run higher, with a serious whiskey and cocktail program. It is priced for an everyday-but-refined dinner rather than a special-occasion blowout.
Where is Citizen Public House located?
Citizen Public House is at 7111 East 5th Avenue, Suite E, in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona. It is a popular, reservation-friendly gastropub; weekday evenings and happy hour are calmer, while weekends draw the Old Town crowd, so booking ahead is sensible for groups.
