Here are the best tasting menus in Scottsdale for all your culinary desires!
Gourmet eatery ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho. PHOTO COURTESY OF: HOTEL VALLEY HOHOTEL VALLEY HO.
Bourbon & Bones Get scene with a side of steak from almost a dozen different cuts customizable with premium toppings (foie gras, pork belly) and sauces (chimichurri, ghost chile butter). Peruse the 75-bottle bourbon list for liquid dessert. 4200 N. Scottsdale Road, bourbonandbonesaz.com
Bourbon Steak Celeb chef Michael Mina and local exec chef Sara Garrant send forth luxurious fare: oysters, foie gras, Maine lobster, wagyu beef, Kurobuta pork and signature butter-poached steaks. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort, 7575 E. Princess Drive, scottsdaleprincess.com
Cafe Monarch The prix fixe menu changes weekly and always features New American influences and seasonal, local ingredients. All servers are certified sommeliers who participate in weekly wine tastings to ensure optimal pairing recommendations. Cafe Monarch is by reservation only and offers accommodations for patrons with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free preferences. 6939 E. First Ave., cafemonarch.com
Citizen Public House The most important things to order here: the Original Chopped Salad, which chef Bernie Kantak invented decades ago at another restaurant; mac and cheese of Gorgonzola and Emmental; short ribs rubbed with coffee and sauced with dried cherries; and any—absolutely any—barrel-aged cocktail judged ready for tapping. 7111 E. Fifth Ave., citizenpublichouse.com
deseo Experience deseo’s interpretations of Latin flavors in the lounge, with seven ceviches and cocktails named The Girl from Ipanema and O Samba, or in the restaurant proper, where surf and turf is jumbo lump crab and Argentine sausage, and scallops are delivered with a chorizo-lima bean ragout. Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, 6902 E. Greenway Parkway, kierlandresort.com
Dominick’s Steakhouse Each dining room is prettier than the last, but perhaps the favorite tables are those along the perimeter of a shallow pool that’s open to the sky. Steaks, sides and service are on point. Scottsdale Quarter, 15169 N. Scottsdale Road, dominickssteakhouse.com
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood Champagne recommendations accompany certain oysters; a trio of caviars (Siberian, kaluga, osetra) is a toast to diversity; Misoyaki butterfish with snap peas and shiitakes is one of many can’t-lose entree propositions. The sociable lounge furnishes live jazz. Scottsdale Quarter, 15323 N. Scottsdale Road, eddiev.com
Fat Ox Region-hopping Italian cuisine features grilled vegetables, pastas dressed with truffle butter or bolognese, slow-roasted meats and crispy-skinned salmon. The sharp 7,000-square-foot space can seat 350 guests. 6316 N. Scottsdale Road, ilovefatox.com
Franco’s Italian Caffe Franco Fazzuoli transports guests to Italy by way of his kitchen, offering seafood risotto, ravioli and veal chops. 4327 N. Scottsdale Road, francosscottsdale.com
The House Brasserie For an eclectic experience, select from a New American menu while ensconced in Victorian-inspired decor. 6936 E. Main St., thehousebrasserie.com
Isabella’s Kitchen An indoor-outdoor dining environment and rooftop patio overlook Grayhawk Golf Club’s Talon course, while the kitchen keeps guests in all spaces sated with Italian farm cuisine. 8623 E. Thompson Peak Parkway, grayhawkgolf.com
J&G Steakhouse This sleek, handsome restaurant delivers brag-worthy beef with buttoned-up service while nonchalantly perching on the south side of Camelback Mountain. The Phoenician, 6000 E. Camelback Road, jgsteakhousescottsdale.com
Kyoto Scottsdale Old Town’s original performance griller has been retooled and rejuvenated; modernized ventilation systems above the teppanyaki tables mean fresher indoor air quality; and sleek furnishings mean cleaner sightlines. Menus reflect 21st-century trends with shishito peppers and creative takes on poké and ramen. Sushi and sake are also abundant. 7170 E. Stetson Drive, kyotoscottsdale.com
La Hacienda Mexican cuisine designed by celebrity chef Richard Sandoval delivers bold flavors in not-so-heavy presentations. A specialty is Tampiqueña, an interpretation of a 1939 recipe; this one’s done with skirt steak and cactus salsa. Choose among three smoked cocktails, three shandies, and numerous tequila-based margaritas and flights to fuel the foray. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, 7575 E. Princess Drive, fairmont.com/scottsdale
Lincoln–A JW Steakhouse A la carte steaks have many options in sauces, add-ons and sides in this contemporary resort setting. JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, 5402 E. Lincoln Drive, marriott.com
Maple & Ash This highly anticipated restaurant helmed by two-Michelin-starred chef Danny Grant has opened at the new Scottsdale Waterfront. Expect a modern, wood-fired take on the classic American steakhouse. 7135 E. Camelback Road, mapleandash.com
Marcellino Ristorante It’s a good night when osso buco makes it to the menu. Then again, any of Marcellino Verzino’s handmade-daily pastas are a treat, and wife Sima’s songs and hospitality are nourishing in their own right. 7114 E. Stetson Drive, marcellinoristorante.com
Mastro’s City Hall Steakhouse Black leather, textured glass and red accent lighting set the scene for celebrating corporate anniversaries and closing big business deals. The dress code is smart; the service is spot-on. 6991 E. Camelback Road, mastrosrestaurants.com
Mastro’s Ocean Club This see-and-be-seen spot always seems to be packed. Don’t miss the mile-high seafood tower. Kierland Commons, 15045 N. Kierland Blvd., mastrosrestaurants.com
The Mission A wall of amber bricks of salt gives the Brown Avenue dining room a romantic glow; at Kierland, it’s a heaven-reaching centerpiece bar that beckons and beams. Latin influences (and good taste) are the reasons for ham on chicken tostadas, and raisins and cashews on barbacoa ribs. Huitlacoche is the sleeper hit: a corn fungus that becomes a luscious, earthy sauce in either capable kitchen. 3815 N. Brown Ave., Scottsdale, 480.636.5005; Kierland Commons, 7122 E. Greenway Parkway, themissionaz.com
MODERN Oyster Bar + Chophouse With elevated surf and turf, an impressive oyster bar, and a signature cocktail program, Modern Oyster Bar + Chophouse can seat up to 299 guests in its lush, deep blue interior or on its grand patio, complete with a full bar and fire pit. 10050 N. Scottsdale Road, Ste. 127, modernoysterbarchophouse.com
Mowry & Cotton Vegetables get caramelized or charred, sized-to-share Pacific striped bass is served whole, and spare ribs are smoked and sided with a clever cranberry-snap pea slaw. Traditionalists can still get crab dip, mixed-greens salads and ribeye. New Mexico winery Gruet makes a sparkling blanc de noirs exclusively for the resort property. The Phoenician, 6000 E. Camelback Road, mowryandcotton.com
Ocean 44 With seafood from around the world, dining settings that range from grand tables to intimate enclaves, and an over-the-top selection of fresh seafood, this coastal eatery is the place to see and be seen. 4748 N. Goldwater Blvd., ocean44.com
Orange Sky The fine dining restaurant at Talking Stick Resort sits on the 15th floor, yielding vast mountain and sunset views. Share caviar and cured meats before a steak, chop or loin, or request tableside carving of wagyu, elk or 24-ounce beef tenderloin. 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, talkingstickresort.com
Pasta Brioni In a restaurant landscape that loves its latest and greatest trends and superfoods, Brioni is a stubborn, pleasingly spaghetti-stained rebel. Visit for serious starches, veal dishes and chance celebrity sightings (actor Dennis Farina was a cool customer here in his day). 4416 N. Miller Road, pastabrioni.com
Prado The effects of fire on flavor profiles are so appreciated here, the restaurant designates the month of October “The Season of Smoke” and rolls out a dedicated menu of food and drink. At any time of year, appraise the nightly parade of Spanish tapas from the bar or commit to big plates of scallops with saffron risotto, filet mignon with tobacco onions, or Rioja-braised short ribs with gnocchi. Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia, 4949 E. Lincoln Drive, omnihotels.com
Preston’s Steakhouse Rare is the sophisticated steakhouse that offers a children’s menu; here, four ounces of sirloin or salmon or a spread of chicken fingers are the options. Full-grown guests get beef servings of 10 to 44 ounces and sauteed and creamed a la carte sides. Upstairs, there’s a piano lounge and big-sky patio. The Citadel, 8700 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, prestonsscottsdale.com
Pure Sushi Bar & Dining Panko-fried, pan-roasted and teriyaki-treated meats counterbalance the artistic raw seafood selections on this menu. 20567 N. Hayden Road, puresushibar.com
Rancho Pinot Grill For a quarter of a century, Chrysa Robertson has taken care of wine-friendly cuisine business, slyly coaxing Wild West dwellers to try (and love) creations like persimmon-fennel-hazelnut salads, roasted chicken paired with savory bread pudding, and cake studded with Arizona dates. 6208 N. Scottsdale Road, ranchopinot.com
Roka Akor Japanese rolls, robata-grilled meats, sakes and shochu spirits form the foundation of this concept, which now has six U.S. locations. Order bit by bit as whims of the table dictate or submit to the omakase experience—let the chef make the decisions. 7299 N. Scottsdale Road, rokaakor.com/scottsdale
The Salt Cellar Restaurant In addition to serving sea species from all over the globe, this well-connected (and underground) destination delivers warm hospitality from husband-wife owners and good-natured witticisms from bartenders who’ve poured here forever. 500 N. Hayden Road, saltcellarrestaurant.com
Sel By sitting on Scottsdale’s major art gallery avenue, this classy and ever-changing restaurant plays frequent host to vacationing collectors, area gallerists and artists with representation. (And you thought big deals were negotiated on the golf course.) Yield to the featured prix fixe; it’s a veritable parade of fine art. 7044 E. Main St., selrestaurant.com
Shinbay Arizona’s first and only omakase restaurant, Shinbay is led by two-time James Beard semifinalist chef Shinji Kurita. The multicourse Japanese dining experience ($185 per person), which amounts to six to seven courses (or about 15 plates total), takes about two hours and invites guests to explore new flavors from around the world. 3720 N. Scottsdale Road, Ste. 201, shin-bay.com
Soi 4 Bangkok Eatery There’s something sexy about this place. It might be the diffused amber light and intimate tables or the easy-to-share plates, heaps of shimmying noodles and sassy mashups of wokked vegetables and proteins. The Shops Gainey Village, 8787 N. Scottsdale Road, soifour.com
ZuZu Intelligent, seasonal fare stars at breakfast, lunch and dinner—but things can never get too serious in the presence of a vodka-based cocktail called Happy Pineapple. At dinnertime, go for pan-seared diver scallops, berbere-spiced pork tenderloin or Mary’s half chicken. Hotel Valley Ho, 6850 E. Main St., hotelvalleyho.com/zuzu
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