Hush Public House
North Scottsdale’s best-kept secret is now open to the public. Chef Dom Ruggiero and Johnny Sanchez have teamed up to introduce our palates to the much-awaited New American eatery. With only 44 seats—24 in the dining room, 16 at the bar—the resto provides a contemporary, intimate space to focus on flavors like sweet ovoid hushpuppies, mouthwatering Chula swordfish steak and savory oxtail. 14202 N. Scottsdale Road Ste. 167, Scottsdale, 480.758.5172
Sapiens Paleo Kitchen
French flavor and the Paleo diet craze combine at this restaurant and bakery in Scottsdale. Sapiens Paleo Kitchen has a menu featuring duck confit, with seasonal vegetables and orange reduction; colorful vegetable Napoleon with béchamel; and rabbit civet, made with rabbits from the Appalachians. And as per Paleo nutritional guidelines, there are no grains, dairy, processed sugars, legumes, trans fat, GMOs, corn or soy, so there’s no need to analyze the menu before ordering—bon appetit! 10411 E. McDowell Mountain Ranch Road, Ste. 120, Scottsdale, 480.771.5123
Casa Terra
Vegans of the Valley, rejoice—a plant-based fine dining experience has arrived, brought by none other than vegan chef and New York Times bestselling author Jason Wyrick. At Casa Terra, Wyrick mixes Mexican and Mediterranean cuisine to create some gorgeously plated dishes that will make you feel as good as they taste. With offerings that span ceviche tostadas and saffron chorizo risotto, Casa Terra is well worth the trek to downtown Glendale. 6835 N. 58th Drive, Glendale, 623.230.2289
Sophia’s Kitchen
From the creators of Stone & Vine Urban Italian, Sophia’s Kitchen provides traditional and modern Italian fare using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Guests can enjoy piadas, wood-fired pizzas and homemade pasta while taking in the views on the restaurant’s patio at the base of the McDowell mountains. And for brunch buffs, there’s a separate menu with classic staples like omelettes, benedicts, bloody Marys, bellinis and mules. 17050 N. Thompson Peak Parkway, Ste. 125, Scottsdale, 480.351.7160
Little Rituals
Next-level cocktails await just beyond the beaded curtain at Little Rituals, where award-winning mixologists Ross Simon of Bitter & Twisted and Aaron DeFeo of Casino del Sol provide genius takes on the traditional. The retro postcard cocktail list includes a classic espresso martini, highball innovation Triple Bitter, and the lemon-mint Amalfi Frappe. There’s also a fair amount of double take-worthy tech, including a beer dispenser, carbon dioxide glass chiller, multichannel pipettes and edible prints to elevate the experience. Don’t forget to nosh on bites like the “Millionaire’s Bacon Board”, caramel claypot wings or wild gulf shrimp. And with an emphasis on environmentally safe bartending practices, Little Rituals is doing big things. 132 S. Central Ave 4th Floor, Phoenix, 602.603.2050
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