Scottsdale, a city famous for its western charm, is part of the Valley of the Sun metropolitan area. From the pedestrians-only old town area to the modern South Bridge, Scottsdale is making a name for itself as a destination for holidaymakers, golf lovers and foodies. We explore 10 of the best places to eat in and around Scottsdale, from cafes to local restaurants and fine dining venues.
Café Monarch
Cafe, Restaurant, American, Vegetarian, Vegan
With seasonal ingredients served by candlelight, it is easy to mistake Café Monarch for a cosy dinner at a friend’s house. But enjoying the 3-course set menu at Café Monarch is very much a grand affair; some of the most inspiring highlights include a starter of poached pear and brie that leads on to an elegant main course, with the dining experience culminating in a rum cake bonanza, served with caramelised white chocolate. Mains are typically your choice of meat or fish. The on-site sommelier is happy to suggest a wine to accompany any meal, while the owner-chef often wanders the dining room, greeting guests. Café Monarch has two lovely dining rooms, but it is the tree-filled outdoor patio that makes the experience even more memorable.
Afternoon Tea at The Phoenician
The Phoenician’s highlight offers a taste of tradition: the classic English afternoon tea. At The Phoenician resort, tea is served in the elegant beige and cream lobby along with classic finger sandwiches, scones with preserves and bite-sized sweets all looking too pretty to eat. And, of course, some of the best tea west of the Atlantic Ocean, served in delicate china cups. The Phoenician has received many accolades for their dining venues, including OpenTable Diner’s Choice Award for Top Restaurants in America 2013.
The wood-panelled country-style dining room of Arcadia Farms Cafe instantly sets the scene for a generous and mouth-watering meal, filled with home-grown goodness. Seasonal specialties are its focus and in-season treats find their way into the cafe’s famed omelettes and gourmet sandwiches. You may want to consider stopping by just for one of their signature desserts; their individually made, so-called ‘baby cakes’ include delectable coconut creams and tantalising red velvet cake.
Citizen Public House
Gastropub, Bar, Pub, Restaurant, American, Contemporary, Cocktails, Wine, Beer
This is the place to come when you are looking for something reminiscent of American ‘home-cooked by mom’ type of food. Piggy and waffles (chicken-fried pork and a roasted corn bread waffle) as an appetiser, Amaro meatloaf as a main (beef and pork meatloaf prepared with Amaro liqueur) and, for dessert, a choco-chilli corn bread pudding with tortilla chip ice cream. That bizarre and incredibly generous meal could be yours at Citizen Public House, which also boasts a notable selection of micro-brews. The decor is pub-modern, with a stainless steel bar and leather booths indoors, plus a smaller patio for a couple of beers in the sunshine.
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Franco’s Italian Caffe
Italian food and the Old West may seem like an odd combination, but the Italian Caffe’s owner Franco Fazzuoli manages to bring original Tuscany spirit to the heart of Arizona, and he does it in style. The simple dining room is the perfect backdrop to the gorgeous, colourful food placed in front of anticipating diners. What to choose is the worst part of dining here, it all sounds (and tastes) delicious. Franco is rumoured as being one of the first chefs to introduce true Italian risotto to the Valley, and his seafood risotto is still an excellent choice. The fettuccini tartufo, velvety and aromatic, is practically unmanageable for one person, while the rustic chicken contadina would make Fazzuoli’s fellow Florence citizens proud, and his veal, Milanese-style, is another sure winner.
Olive & Ivy
Restaurant, Mediterranean
Enjoy an al fresco meal on Olive & Ivy’s welcoming patio. All their meals are infused with the vibe of the Mediterranean; recommended dishes include their parmesan ravioli, grilled prawn risotto, chicken scaloppini and the rib eye. And be sure to enjoy a bottle of wine, the restaurant has won a Wine Spectator award. There is also an on-site marketplace where you can pick up freshly baked muffins and croissants.
At The Mission, the chefs focus on modern Latin cuisine, with a sharp emphasis on the grill. The dining room is modern with touches of authenticity, including a salt rock wall and a seeming forest of candles. The outdoor patio is a wonderful place to be on a warm summer evening. Peruvian and Mexican influences criss-cross the food, making The Mission the perfect place to experience ‘southwest’ cuisine. The chefs’ goal seems to take familiar dishes such as tacos and reinvent them with unusual flavours, for example by adding butternut squash. The margarita is quite a treat, using only organic tequila, agave nectar instead of sugar and fresh limes.
Virtu
Esquire magazine named Virtu one of the 20 best new restaurants in the USA. The restaurant is actually located in a luxury bed and breakfast, and Chef Gio Osso’s motto for Virtu is ‘honest craft.’ Mediterranean-inspired contemporary cuisine may not sound too original, but Virtu’s homemade pastas, fresh seafood and rustic herbs bring a comforting smile to diners’ faces, and a warm glow to their bellies. It is near-impossible to recommend one specific dish; the grilled octopus with fennel makes for a perfect starter, the spaghetti with Napolitana-style lamb ragout is a filling yet elegant main course, while the whole dining experience can be crowned with a portion of the velvety Virtu tiramisu.
Jacy is an American journalist who's been in Prague since 2004. Making the move to Europe has given her the opportunity to do the two things she loves most: write and travel. She's contributed to a number of international newspapers, magazines, websites, in-flight publications and guidebooks, and enjoys most writing about art, culture and design. When not writing or reading about these things, she enjoys traveling to new cities to check out their art, design and cafes. She’s not all artsy though, she also enjoys walking and running long distances – neither done particularly quickly.
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