
For years, Ahwatukee Foothills residents have lamented the community’s lack of a proper fine-dining restaurant. A new concept promises to change that.
American Way Pasta opened on Nov. 22 in the Ahwatukee Mercado plaza on East Elliot Road at South 48th Street. The primarily Italian-style dishes are made from scratch daily, and the sophisticated, contemporary decor offers an atmosphere unlike any other in Ahwatukee.
The owners are two Scottsdale couples who immigrated to the U.S. from Cuba: Jose Chavez and his wife, Wendy Gómez, and Osmany Diaz and his wife, Yamary Llorente.
Their goal, said Chavez, was to create an eatery where “it won’t hurt the wallet to come by and enjoy a nice place and high-quality food.”
Chef Diaz helms the kitchen and creates most of the recipes, while Chavez handles logistics and maintenance. Chavez also contributes some dishes and helps with food presentation.
Gómez is in charge of marketing, and Llorente is the manager. The two women designed the inviting classic-meets-modern space, which looks nothing like its previous incarnation as Ghett Yo Wings. Chavez, who has a background in construction, and Diaz did the buildout themselves.
Chavez said they called the place American Way Pasta because they love the United States.
“We love this country a lot,” he said. “The opportunities and the doors that you get open in this country, they’re not even comparable with the rest of the world.”
He also noted that Diaz—who owned a restaurant in Cuba and worked at the Versace Mansion in Miami—adds an American touch to many of the dishes. For example, the spaghetti carbonara is made with bacon instead of guanciale.
Diaz makes some dishes to order, like the signature cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper) tagliotini, served tableside in a Pecorino Romano cheese wheel. He makes vegan and gluten-free pasta, too.
“We went through several tests to get the right consistency and quality he was looking for,” Chavez said. “He found the right ratio to make it awesome.”
Other menu items include starters like beef carpaccio, burrata bruschetta and asparagus soup; main dishes like fettuccine Bolognese, rigatoni chicken, seafood risotto and filet mignon; and desserts such as tiramisu. A full bar features specialty cocktails, mocktails and beer and wine.
Dinner prices range from $10 to $24 for starters, $16 to $28 for pasta and risotto, $30 to $40 for entrees, and $12 for desserts. Reservations are not accepted for now.
A prix fixe lunch menu with an entree, dessert, and coffee or tea is $18.99. It includes a choice of spaghetti pomodoro, chicken fettuccine pesto, burrata caprese sandwich, Atlantic cod, or New York steak.
The menu will change every six months, Chavez explained, with 30 to 40 percent of the items rotating off so it doesn’t get dull. They also plan to feature a few dishes made with 100 percent local products.
In addition to the upscale food, the ambiance is serene and inviting. The matte teal bar features a gold-framed mirror, rich wood shelves and caramel-colored tufted barstools. A long banquette boasts warm wood accents, dark brown tufted seat cushions and chocolate-colored high-backed chairs.
The owners took care with details like cut crystal cocktail glasses, petite table lamps, dim lighting, and a superior sound system, which delivers soothing ambient music. A wall of nostalgic photos is expertly arranged.
All of the special touches took “teamwork,” Chavez said.
Customers started raving about American Way Pasta on social media shortly after it opened, and it drew crowds almost immediately.
Stormie Wilson of Tempe, who works in the plaza, went for lunch the first week it was open and enjoyed a fried shrimp and calamari starter, Caesar salad and cucumber and kiwi gin and tonic.
“They were very warm and welcoming,” Wilson said of the owners. “They get really engaged, all of them, with their customers. It was a great experience across the board.”
She also raved about the sticky toffee pudding and complimented the classy, intimate vibe.
“I think it’s an amazing addition to the neighborhood,” Wilson said.
It took determination for the four owners to bring American Way Pasta to Ahwatukee. Chavez said he knew Diaz when they lived in Cuba, but they weren’t close until they all moved to the U.S. in the mid-2010s.
He and Gómez, who settled in Arizona, went to Miami on vacation and visited Diaz and Llorente.
“I tried his food, and my God, it was amazing,” Chavez said.
The couples began traveling together and sharing business ideas. Chavez saved every penny to invest in the restaurant, and Diaz and Llorente moved from Miami to Arizona in 2023.
The four earned citizenship in 2020, and Chavez said naming the restaurant American Way Pasta shows their gratitude toward the country.
“We believe the American system and the way the American people do things is the best way in the world,” he stated.