Cowboy Seafood, chef Christopher Collins’ new 5,000-square-foot restaurant at Park Central, is scheduled to open Friday, Oct. 9, at 3112 N. Central Ave. Its menu brings smoked meats and a raw bar together in one space. The project took roughly two years of planning and construction.
The menu ranges from St. Louis-style ribs, beef ribs and brisket cooked in smokers to chicken wings and pork belly baked beans. Sweet corn crème brûlée is planned as a side. According to Phoenix New Times, Collins has 17 years of experience running restaurants. In a separate Phoenix New Times report, he connected his interest in smoking food to attending barbecue competitions with his father.
A Kitchen Built Around Fire and Smoke
The cooking line includes a custom Santa Maria grill and two rotisserie spits for chicken and pork loin, according to the station's report. Azbigmedia.com reports that the setup also includes a J&R Manufacturing smoker; the seed story says it was made in Mesquite, Texas. Diners will be able to see the kitchen at work.
The Saltwater Saint Raw Bar is slated to serve oysters and shrimp, according to the original Phoenix New Times report. The bar will also offer signature cocktails, wine and local beer.
Room for 160 Between Dining Room and Patio
The 5,000-square-foot dining area has 80 seats, including leather-wrapped booths, a long community table marked with the letters CS and a rectangular island bar. An L-shaped patio adds another 80 seats, for a total capacity of about 160. Collins has described the design as a mix of nautical and western cowboy themes.
Cowboy Seafood is on Central Avenue in midtown Phoenix. The restaurant plans to serve dinner from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, according to the business's own site.
Park Central’s Reinvention
Park Central’s history says the mall opened in 1957 and became a center of activity along Central Avenue; the property also says visitors and employees have access to two nearby light rail stations.
From Spring Target to a Fall Debut
Phoenix New Times had earlier reported that Collins planned to open Cowboy Seafood in Park Central in spring 2026. The restaurant is scheduled to open Friday, Oct. 9, at Park Central.
Cowboy Seafood marks Common Ground Culinary's first restaurant built entirely from the ground up, a notable step for a hospitality group whose Valley concepts include Grassroots Kitchen & Tap and Sweet Provisions.
Competitions and a Future Mobile Rig
Azbigmedia.com reports that the restaurant plans to enter barbecue competitions, take part in festivals and develop a mobile rig for catering and events.
Cowboy Seafood is among the fall openings covered by Phoenix New Times in a roundup that noted collaboration among hospitality groups as a trend. The restaurant brings barbecue and a raw bar together within Collins' project.
