It’s difficult to have a bad meal in North Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, which brim with foodie haunts.
Andreoli Italian Grocer
Italian
8880 E. Via Linda, 480-614-1980, andreoli-grocer.com
Giovanni Scorzo is large and in charge at this antique-furnished market-restaurant, where he makes the sort of Italian food Italians want to eat. $-$$$
Blue Adobe Santa Fe Grille
Southwestern
10885 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., 480-314-0550, blueadobegrille.com
Red or green enchiladas? Get the Christmas stack at this New Mexico-style favorite, mingling mild green chile tang with zippy red chile on a tower of chicken and corn tortillas. $$
Campo Italian Bistro and Bar
Italian
8260 N. Hayden Rd., 480-5897-9195, campoitalian.com
Every inch of space in this lovely and lively bistro is packed with locals who’ve shown up for happy hour deals, limoncello margaritas and satisfying Italian food. $$
Casa Mia
Italian
11485 N. 136th St., 480-314-0365, casamiascottsdale.com
This family-run restaurant serves authentic, modern Italian dishes. Try the excellent pasta, from fusilli and linguine to paccheri and trofie. Great antipasti and meat dishes, too. $$-$$$
Cholla Prime Steakhouse & Lounge
Contemporary American
524 N. 92nd St., 480-850-7777, casinoarizona.com
No matter what happens at the gambling tables, you’re sure to hit the jackpot in this small, quiet restaurant with steakhouse classics and exciting monthly specials. Look for elk and salmon, as well as prime steaks and lamb chops. Dinner nightly. $$$-$$$$
Collins Bros. Chophouse
New American
8220 N Hayden Rd., 480-699-0811, collinsbroschophouse.com
This McCormick Ranch haunt run by chef/owner Christopher Collins of Grassroots Kitchen & Tap features elevated American fare in a casual setting. Collins makes a mean crab cake and some killer Brussels sprouts, but you can’t go wrong with much on this menu. $$
Dominick’s
Steakhouse
15169 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-272-7271, dominickssteakhouse.com
The Mastro family, who created Mastro’s steakhouses and Mastro’s Ocean Club, spent millions constructing this lavish temple to beef at Scottsdale Quarter. Try the succulent bone-in veal chop. $$$$
De Babel
Middle Eastern
14884 N. Pima Rd., 480-9991-2022, de-babel.com
This upbeat fast-casual features Middle Eastern classics such as falafel, shawarma and lamb kafta as well as oddball dishes and ingredient combos that suggest a modern, anything-goes approach. $
Etta
New American
15301 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-939-4444, ettarestaurant.com
Bright, airy Etta specializes in wood-fired comfort food with trendy touches: meatballs, bubbling shrimp with ginger and chiles, thin-crust pizza and wood-fried chicken with potato purée.
Fata Morgana Mediterranean Cuisine
Middle Eastern
7116 E. Mercer Ln., 480-687-2243, fatamorganaaz.com
The kosher menu offers the Middle Eastern standards we all know and love – falafel, hummus, kebabs, shawarma and the like – as well as dishes far less familiar such as the Moroccan tomato salad called matboucha and the Israeli breakfast sandwich called sabich. $$
Fat Ox
American/Contempary
6316 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-307-6900, ilovefatox.com
Named for a cattle-centric food festival in Italy, Fat Ox offers modern Italian food in a gorgeous setting. Expect an expansive, amaro-focused cocktail list and some truly exquisite pasta dishes, like garganelli with black truffle butter, speck and Parmesan. Also expect nose-bleed prices. This is Scottsdale, after all. $$$-$$$$
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse
Steakhouse
6333 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-596-8265, flemingssteakhouse.com
Here’s an upscale but comfortable steakhouse, featuring all the Prime beef, chops and seafood your luxury-loving heart desires. Great wine list, too, with 100 wines by the glass. $$$
Fogo de Chão
Brazilian Steakhouse
6300 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-609-8866, fogodechao.com
This snazzy addition to Scottsdale’s Brazilian cuisine scene offers continuous tableside service of 15 different cuts of beef, pork, chicken and lamb. Seafood towers brimming with lobster tails, jumbo shrimp, crab legs and mussels are popular among pescatarians, while omnivores have an array of options including seared tofu and cauliflower steak. $$$-$$$$
The Greene House
Californian
15024 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-889-9494, thegreenehouseaz.com
This lean, clean-lined space offers sophisticated California cuisine that reflects a reverence for the simple and natural. Feast on fresh salads, Asian-inflected appetizers, house-made pastas and memorable fish entrées. $$-$$$
Grimaldi’s
Pizza
4000 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-994-1100, grimaldispizzeria.com
Look for thin-crust pies, calzones, antipasto and New York cheesecake. Thanks to colossal charcoal-fired ovens, the pizzas sport crisp, blistered crusts and a slightly charred flavor. $-$$
Hearth ’61
Modern American
5445 E. Lincoln Dr., 480-624-5400, mountainshadows.com
Housed in the Mountain Shadows Resort, casual but elegant Hearth does a splendid job of turning out modern American classics with surprising little twists.
Houston’s
American
6113 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-922-7775, houstons.com
Yupsters drop by this popular and amazingly consistent corporate restaurant after work, but you don’t have to sport a Rolex to love the spinach-artichoke dip, the Caesar salad or the good steaks and ribs. $$
Hush Public House
New American
14202 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-758-5172, hushpublichouse.com
Everything is delicious and comforting at this dim, narrow and noisy strip mall restaurant run by industry vets Dom Ruggiero and Charles Barber. The menu, which skews New American, features lots of shared plates, so come with a food-loving friend or three and order in quantity. Don’t miss the chicken liver mousse, ricotta gnocchi, luscious Italian beef sandwich or New York strip – all excellent, all a bargain. $$-$$$
J&G Steakhouse
Steak
6000 E. Camelback Rd., 480-214-8000, jgsteakhousescottsdale.com
J&G serves stellar steak and seafood in a setting with custom-made furniture, private dining areas and sweeping desert vistas viewable through floor-to-ceiling windows. Expect premium cuts of meat, fresh fish, comfort-food sides and an award-winning wine list. Reservations ecommended. $$$$
Kasai Japanese Steakhouse
Steak/sushi/Teppanyaki
14344 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-607-1114, kasaiteppan.com
The Asian-inspired hot spot offers sashimi and sushi rolls, terrific teppanyaki and plenty of Pacific Rim dishes. Highlights include Wagyu filet mignon, panko-crusted sea bass and Mongolian glazed lamb chops. $$-$$$
LAMP Wood Oven Pizzeria
Pizza
8900 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd., 480-292-8773, lamppizza.com
Lindsay and Matt Pilato turn out some of the best wood-fired pies in the Valley, and like pizza god Chris Bianco, they’ve got the crust down: light but substantial, with a little chew. $$
Local Bistro
Italian
20581 N. Hayden Rd., 480-302-6050, localbistroaz.com
Seasonal, chef-driven fare sparkles at this chic Italian eatery. Wood-fired pizzas and premium steaks hold court with an extensive wine and cocktail menu. $$-$$$
The Mick Brasserie
French
9719 N. Hayden Rd., 480-210-5500, themickaz.com
The Mick is a midcentury watering hole with a lovely French-inspired menu that’s all over the map — literally. Graze on char-siu pork belly banh mi sliders, Moroccan duck confit pastilla, chicken liver mousse, escargots or (best of all) butternut squash tartine. One of the city’s best fusion eateries. $-$$
Namaste Indian Restaurant
Indian
20851 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-264-5499, namastescottsdale.com
Namaste is attractively furnished with murals, upholstered chairs and a crystal chandelier.The chicken tikka masala is lush and faintly spicy amd the lamb kadai is deeper and more complex. $$
Nick’s
Italian
13910 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., 480-314-9445, nicks-italian.com
A longtime neighborhood favorite, this friendly Italian spot serves more than 28 homemade pasta dishes and pizzas, as well as an extensive selection of chicken, veal and seafood. $$
North Italia
Italian
15024 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-948-2055, northitaliarestaurant.com
Hungry for a snug New York loft setting, rustic Italian food given a modern spin and a great glass of wine? Go North. $$
Parma Italian Roots
California-Italian
20831 N. Scottsdale Rd., 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. $$
Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen
Pizza/Italian
7325 E. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., 480-990-2212, picazzos.com
Feast on scratch-made, gluten-free focaccia, lasagna Bolognese, stone-oven-baked pizzas, tiramisu and more. $-$$
Postino
Wine Bar
7030 E. Greenway Pkwy., 602-899-1111, postinowinecafe.com
Postino offers panini, salads, interesting wines, and great snacks. Don’t miss the bruschetta sampler. $$
Proof Canteen
American
10600 E. Crescent Moon Dr., 480-513-5085, proofcanteen.com
Ralph Lauren meets Cracker Barrel at this resort restaurant. Stop in at breakfast for spiced pancakes with apple pie filling. For lunch, try the burger with Calabrian chile aioli, bacon jam and tobacco onions. Dinner brings bourbon-glazed pork ribs. $$$
Roaring Fork
American
4800 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-947-0795, roaringfork.com
Owned by Guy Villavoso and Larry Foles (of Eddie V’s and Wildfish), this chic but comfortable restaurant caters to urban cowboys and gals, featuring hearty but sophisticated dishes inspired by the American West. The happy hour, headlined by the $13 “Big Ass” burger, is the stuff of local legend. $$$
Sesame Inn
Chinese
34482 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-595-8888, sesameinncarefree.com
A longtime favorite for dependable Chinese food in a pretty setting. Favorites include Grandma’s spicy salad and whole crispy fish.For dessert, don’t miss banana spring rolls filled with chocolate and peanut butter. $
Slanted Rice
Vietnamese
6149 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-696-3116, slantedrice.com
The sister restaurant to the Tran family’s Rice Paper in Phoenix, Slanted Rice also serves Vietnamese food in a chic neighborhood restaurant setting. Sweet pork and crisp veggies are encased in the Trans’ signature spring rolls, while shaken beef goes upscale with soy-marinated filet mignon served on a sizzling platter with caramelized onions and jasmine rice$-$$
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.
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. $$-$$$
Sorso Wine Room
Wine bar
15323 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-951-4344, sorsowineroom.com
Sorso’s 32 self-pour wines are the stuff of wino dreams and its “wine map” clues customers in to where bottles fall on the taste spectrum. $$
Sushi Brokers
Japanese
17025 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-515-5000, sushibrokersaz.com
Loud music and theatrical sushi chefs make this restaurant a blast. $$-$$$
Toro
Latin Fusion
17020 N. Hayden Rd., 480-585-4848, scottsdaleprincess.com/dining/toro
Toro specializes in Pan-Latin cuisine like tuna tiradito. The menu also includes selections from the signature exhibition suviche bar (a mash-up of ceviche and sushi) and a collection of grilled meats and chef’s specialties. $$$-$$$$
Tottie’s Asian Fusion 2
Pan-Asian
6204 N. Scottsdale Rd., S480-998-8220, tottiesasianfusion.com
Elegantly decorated with treasures from the owner’s country of origin, Laos, and other Asian nations, Tottie’s serves the best of Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. Owner Tottie Kaya ensures that everything is fresh and delicious by personally grocery shopping and assisting in the kitchen. $$
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. $$
Prado
Spanish
4949 E. Lincoln Dr., 480-627-3004, omnihotels.com
The signature restaurant at the lavish Montelucia in Paradise Valley offers spins on Spanish classics like vegetarian paella, Rioja-braised short ribs and pollo al ladrillo.
Veneto Trattoria
Italian
6137 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-948-9928, venetotrattoria.com
This charming restaurant features the specialties of Venice. Try the baccala Mantecato (mousse-like cod served with grilled polenta). $$
Village Tavern
American
8787 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-951-6445, villagetavern.com
Charming Village Tavern features certified Angus beef burgers, steaks grilled to perfection, market-fresh fish, wood-fired pizzas and a dozen fresh salads. $$
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.
