It’s difficult to have a bad meal in North Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, which brim with foodie haunts.
Parma Italian Roots
California-Italian
20831 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, 480-292-9900, parmaitalianaz.com
This pretty import from San Diego hits the sweet spot for its North Scottsdale neighbors, who like right-priced snacks and small plates, including crispy Brussels sprouts, wood-fired pizza and house-made pasta. $$
Andreoli Italian Grocer
Italian
8880 E. Via Linda, 480-614-1980, andreoli-grocer.com
Giovanni Scorzo is large and in charge at this comfy, antique-furnished market-restaurant, where he makes the sort of Italian food Italians want to eat: house-made salumi, focaccia, pizzetta and bresaola. $-$$$
Blue Adobe Santa Fe Grille
Southwestern
10885 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., 480-314-0550, blueadobegrille.com
Red or green enchiladas? Get the Christmas stack at this New Mexico-style favorite, mingling mild green chile tang with zippy red chile on a tower of chicken and corn tortillas. $$
Bourbon Steak
Steakhouse
7575 E. Princess Dr., 480-513-6002, fairmont.com/scottsdale
Michelin-starred, James Beard Award-winning owner Michael Mina is the brains behind this upscale resort steakhouse. Expect buttery, lick-the-plate steaks, like the imported Grade A5 Japanese Kobe strip-cut steak. Open for dinner daily. $$$$
Campo Italian Bistro and Bar
Italian
8260 N. Hayden Rd., 480-5897-9195, campoitalian.com
The second time’s the charm for James Beard Award-winning chef Alex Stratta, who wisely pulled the plug on faltering Stratta Kitchen and partnered with Genuine Concepts to create this lovely and lively bistro. Every inch of space is packed with locals who’ve shown up for happy hour deals, limoncello margaritas and satisfying Italian food. $$
Casa Mia
Italian
11485 N. 136th St., 480-314-0365, casamiascottsdale.com
This family-run neighborhood restaurant serves authentic, modern Italian dishes. Try the excellent pasta, from fusilli and linguine to paccheri and trofie. Great antipasti and meat dishes, too. $$-$$$
Cholla Prime Steakhouse & Lounge
Contemporary American
524 N. 92nd St., 480-850-7777, casinoarizona.com
No matter what happens at the gambling tables, you’re sure to hit the jackpot in this small, quiet restaurant. $$-$$$
Cielo
New American
13225 N. Eagle Ridge Dr., 480-333-1900, aderoscottsdale.com
Cielo is Spanish for “sky,” something you’ll see a lot of on the expansive patio. Enjoy fare like Sonoran shrimp with polenta, and pistachio cheesecake. $$$
Collins Bros. Chophouse
New American
8220 N Hayden Rd., 480-699-0811, collinsbroschophouse.com
Replacing one of award-winning restauranteur Christopher Collins’ early concepts, this McCormick Ranch haunt carried over a few menu favorites and introduced the Butcher’s Shop, a curated list of cuts of meat. $$
Dominick’s
Steakhouse
15169 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-272-7271, dominickssteakhouse.com
The Mastro family spent millions constructing this lavish temple to beef. The steaks are stellar, but try the 14-ounce bone-in veal chop. $$$$
De Babel
Middle Eastern
14884 N. Pima Rd., 480-9991-2022, de-babel.com
This upbeat fast-casual features Middle Eastern classics such as falafel, shawarma and lamb kafta as well as oddball dishes and ingredient combos that suggest a modern, anything-goes approach. $
Etta
New American
15301 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, 480-939-4444, ettarestaurant.com
Bright, airy Etta specializes in wood-fired comfort food with trendy touches: meatballs, bubbling shrimp with ginger and chiles, thin-crust pizza and wood-fried chicken with potato puree. $$
Fata Morgana Mediterranean Cuisine
Middle Eastern
7116 E. Mercer Ln., 480-687-2243, fatamorganaaz.com
The kosher menu offers the Middle Eastern standards we all know and love – falafel, hummus, kebabs, shawarma and the like – as well as dishes far less familiar such as the Moroccan tomato salad called matboucha and the Israeli breakfast sandwich called sabich. $$
Fat Ox
American/contempary
6316 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-307-6900, ilovefatox.com
Expect an amaro-focused cocktail list and exquisite pasta dishes, like tortellini filled with ricotta, drizzled with honey and accented with fermented cranberry. $$$-$$$$
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse
Steakhouse
6333 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-596-8265, flemingssteakhouse.com
Upscale but comfortable steakhouse, featuring all the Prime beef, chops and seafood your heart desires. $$$
North Italia
Italian
15024 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-948-2055, northitaliarestaurant.com
Hungry for a snug New York loft setting, rustic Italian food given a modern spin and a great glass of wine? Go North. $$
Tottie’s Asian Fusion 2
Pan-Asian
6204 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, 480-998-8220, tottiesasianfusion.com
Elegantly decorated with treasures from the owner’s country of origin, Laos, and other Asian nations, Tottie’s serves the best of Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. Owner Tottie Kaya ensures that everything is fresh and delicious by personally grocery shopping and assisting in the kitchen. Other location: Scottsdale (480-970-0633). $$
Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen
Pizza/Italian
7325 E. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., 480-990-2212, picazzos.com
Feast on scratch-made, gluten-free focaccia, lasagna Bolognese, stone-oven-baked pizzas, tiramisu and more. $-$$
Prado
Spanish
4949 E. Lincoln Dr., 480-627-3004, omnihotels.com
The signature restaurant at the lavish Montelucia in Paradise Valley offers spins on Spanish classics like vegetarian paella, Rioja-braised short ribs and pollo al ladrillo. $$$$
Proof Canteen
American
10600 E. Crescent Moon Dr., 480-513-5085, proofcanteen.com
Ralph Lauren meets Cracker Barrel at this restaurant at the Four Seasons resort. Stop in at breakfast for spiced pancakes with apple pie filling. For lunch, try the burger with Calabrian chile aioli, bacon jam and tobacco onions. Dinner brings bourbon-glazed pork ribs, smoked half-chicken and sweet potato and cauliflower gnocchi. $$$
Pure Sushi
Japanese/Sushi
20567 N. Hayden Rd., 480-355-0999, puresushibar.com
Pure is a glowing fairyland by night, a huge draw for the beautiful people who inhabit the place. Try specialty rolls, nigiri and sashimi or entrées like sea bass with lemongrass, soy and sweet miso. $$-$$$
Roka Akor
Steak/sushi
7299 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-306-8800, rokaakor.com
An open charcoal-fire robata grill anchors this chic international superstar of Asian fine dining. Robatayaki inspires a menu featuring sushi, salads and grilled entrées. $$$
Sesame Inn
Chinese
34482 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-595-8888, sesameinncarefree.com
A longtime favorite for dependable Chinese food in a pretty setting. Favorites include Grandma’s spicy salad and whole crispy fish.For dessert, don’t miss banana spring rolls filled with chocolate and peanut butter. $
Slanted Rice
Vietnamese
6149 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-696-3116, slantedrice.com
Sweet pork and crisp veggies are encased in the Tran family’s signature spring rolls, while shaken beef goes upscale with soy-marinated filet mignon served on a sizzling platter with jasmine rice. $-$$
Soi 4
Thai
8787 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-778-1999, soifour.com
Brought to the Valley by a family that runs four critically acclaimed Bay Area restaurants, this sexy space serves up authentic, complex Thai dishes. You’ll find excellent versions of the classics, plus vegetarian entrées and creative carnivorous delights. $$-$$$
Sol Cocina
Mexican
15323 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, 480-245-6708, solcocina.com
For sufferers of fajita fatigue, we suggest this upscale, modern Mexican restaurant in the Scottsdale Quarter, where one will find such charged-up Baja delights as elote tortas and deliciously crispy “canarditas” duck tacos. With a California-centric wine list and accomplished bar program, it’s also a great happy hour haunt. $$-$$$
Sushi Brokers
Japanese
17025 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-515-5000, sushibrokersaz.com
Loud music and theatrical sushi chefs make this restaurant a blast. Lots of Japanese hot foods, but don’t miss the sushi and save room for banana-nut springrolls. $$-$$$
Talavera
Steak/seafood
10600 E. Crescent Moon Dr. 480-513-5086, fourseasons.com/scottsdale
With its covered, second-story patio overlooking the desert and recently refreshed dining room, this beautiful hotel restaurant transcends the genre, offering spectacularly good Spanish cuisine, including crudo, tapas, steaks and dreamy, Latin-inspired desserts. $$$$
Toro
Latin fusion
17020 N. Hayden Rd., 480-585-4848, scottsdaleprincess.com/dining/toro
Conceived by celebrity chef Richard Sandoval, Toro specializes in Pan-Latin cuisine like tuna tiradito, a plate of thinly sliced buttery fish topped with avocado and sliced Fresno chiles. The menu includes selections from the signature exhibition suviche bar (a mash-up of ceviche and sushi) and a collection of grilled meats and chef’s specialties. $$$-$$$$
Uncle Sal’s
Italian
3370 N. Hayden Rd., 480-990-2533, unclesalsaz.com
This family-owned resto serves East Coast Italian food with flair, pairing dishes like veal marsala, zuppa de pesce, and chicken parmigiana with an award-winning wine list and custom cocktails. Lunch M-F, dinner nightly. $$
Veneto Trattoria
Italian
6137 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-948-9928, venetotrattoria.com
A charming little Italian restaurant featuring the specialties of Venice. Try the baccala Mantecato (mousse-like cod served with grilled polenta), the duck, and the risotto with pumpkin and mushrooms. $$-$$$
Village Tavern
American
8787 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-951-6445, villagetavern.com
Recognized year after year, the charming Village Tavern features certified Angus beef burgers, steaks grilled to perfection, market-fresh fish, wood-fired pizzas, a dozen fresh salads and a reputation as the best happy hour in town. $$
Weft & Warp Art Kitchen & Bar
Global
6114 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-214-4622, andazscottsdale.com
Housed in Andaz Resort, this cheery midcentury restaurant specializes in Mediterranean cuisine, reprising classics such as pesce crudo, za’atar pistaschio laffa, turkish manti and mushroom agnolotti. $$-$$$
Zinc Bistro
French
15034 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-603-0922, zincbistroaz.com
Big mirrors and soft lighting set the tone for this lively replica of a Parisian bistro, and the food by chef Matt Carter (The Mission, Fat Ox) is always terrific. Try the onion soup and the mussels with pommes frites, and don’t miss the roasted chicken. Lunch and dinner daily. $-$$$
