7366 E. Shea Blvd., Ste. 112, Scottsdale,
480-607-0677

I can’t guess what kind of rent Amy and Samy Bouzaglo are paying for their European-inspired café and patisserie in North Scottsdale, but it must be high. The Creole restaurant that occupied the space before them went down in flames for its nosebleed prices, and I worry that the same fate awaits ABC. The differences between that operation and this one are many, but people may take one look at Amy’s prices ($16 for a sandwich) and never bother to find out.

For one thing, this spotlessly clean place is really charming, thanks to black-and-white tiled floors, gilt-framed mirrors, gleaming black chandeliers and two brightly lit cases filled with absolutely gorgeous sweets – gold leaf-flecked chocolate truffles, powdered sugar-dusted fruit tarts, ornately decorated cakes and all manner of confections that sparkle with glitter. It’s a fairyland in there, too beautiful to be real.

But it’s real, and it’s really good – just really expensive. A small caramel tart, drizzled with chocolate, sells for $8.50. Now, if you consider that most upscale restaurant desserts start at $8 (and may not be all that memorable), Amy’s prices don’t seem out of line. But will people dropping in after a movie willingly spend 25 bucks on two desserts and a carafe of French press coffee?

To her credit, Amy doesn’t skimp on ingredients. A small beet salad dressed up with goat cheese, apples and candied walnuts is chock-full of goodies ($10). A delicious turkey sandwich on grilled raisin-pecan bread, piled high with roasted turkey, creamy mascarpone, cranberry chutney and dried cherries, is actually two small but filling sandwiches instead of one ($16). The Artisan Tart, composed of wonderfully flaky puff pastry, apples, pears, walnuts, fruit preserves and softened brie, is yummy too, but $15 seems high. I feel the same about almost everything: spicy Pasta Rustica (penne with shredded chicken, andouille, sweet red pepper marmalade and white wine reduction, $17), Croque Monsieur (a French ham and Gruyere cheese sandwich, drenched in Mornay sauce, $17) and a brick-size slab of outrageous chocolate cake ($12). It’s all very good, but who spends $80 on a café lunch?

Something’s gotta give or ABC may be 23 skiddoo.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday.