Unraveled Pasta + Bar to open in Sam Hughes neighborhood

Unraveled Pasta + Bar confirmed plans to open in spring or summer 2026 on the east end of The Village at Sam Hughes, taking over the 2,200-square-foot space at 2527 E. Sixth St. that formerly housed Ampersand Old & New. The restaurant will seat roughly 65 guests, including a 14-seat bar, and aims to bring a casual, elevated pasta experience to the neighborhood.

The concept is led by husband-and-wife restaurateurs Sally and Glenn Murphy, who also operate Cork Tucson and UnCork’d Kitchen & Cocktails. The Murphys adapted the idea from a neighborhood spot they once owned in Perth, Australia. “I’ve been waiting for the right time and place to launch the concept in the U.S., and this is it,” Glenn said. Visual touches will reinforce that origin story: the brand’s logo was drawn by the Australian owners’ six-year-old niece, and the interior will feature a whimsical mural inspired by a European village.

Unraveled’s core offering is a customizable pasta menu with house-made pastas, proteins, and sauces. A signature element will be pasta made by hand in front of guests, adding a bit of counter-side theater to dinners. The Murphys describe the restaurant as an elevated pasta experience that still keeps prices low to moderate to match neighborhood needs. In addition to the build-your-own pasta approach, each night will feature two or three non-pasta dinner specials, and European-style coffee will round out the menu.

Planned hours are daily from 3 to 10 p.m., signaling a focus on late-afternoon to evening service that complements nearby retail and residential rhythms. The team plans to work with a local architect and local vendors on the fit-out, keeping sourcing and labor within the community where possible.

For the Sam Hughes crowd this matters on several fronts: it brings a new, approachable dinner destination with counter-side craft and bar seating; it preserves a modest price point in a neighborhood that favors walkable, everyday dining; and it reuses a familiar storefront rather than leaving it vacant. Expect an intimate, convivial room where ordered pasta arrives tailored to your twirl, an easy pick for date nights, small groups, or solo bar-side meals.

The takeaway? If you like watching pasta crafted by hand and prefer dinner spots that feel neighborly rather than flashy, mark your calendar for spring or summer 2026 and aim for the bar seats to see the action up close. Our two cents? Bring a few friends, order different sauces, and swap plates, variety is the fastest route to carb happiness.