So many great restaurants, so little time in South/Old Town Scottsdale.
Arcadia Farms Cafe
french/american
7025 E. First Ave.
480-941-5665, arcadiafarmscafe.com
Cozy and cluttered, this quaint cottage is where everyone goes for the quintessential grazer lunch. Try the strawberry chicken salad or the yummy turkey and Brie sandwich. $-$$
Atlas Bistro
ECLECTIC
2515 N. Scottsdale Rd.
480-990-2433, atlasbistrobyob.com
Tucked away inside AZ Wine Co., this tiny BYOB feels cozy and a little quirky, thanks to an eclectic menu and wine-geek servers. The Southwestern-edged menu changes frequently, but always includes red meat, seafood and vegetarian options. $$$
Barrio Queen
Mexican
Seven Valley locations, barrioqueen.com
Gourmet Mexican food is on la mesa at this Old Town Scottsdale hot spot. Don’t miss the elote or fresh guacamole sprinkled with pomegranate seeds. $-$$$
Beverly on Main
American
7018 E. Main St.
480-889-5580,beverlyonmain.com
This buzzy, cheeky spot might have the most eyebrow-raising cocktail names in the Valley: M.I.L.F. (tequila, agave nectar, orange Cognac, lime, chile rim) and Pirate Hooker (rum, mead, orange Cognac, lime, passion fruit), to name a few printable ones. $$
Berdena’s
coffee
7100 E. Fifth Ave.
480-256-1403, berdenas.com
This cute corner coffee shop is bright, airy and flush with delicious pastries and coffee creations. Try the honey-lavender latte. $
Café Monarch
New American
6939 E. First Ave.
480-970-7682, cafemonarch.com
Feeling flush? You’ll need to be to partake of a scrumptious four-course prix fixe dinner at this elegant fine dining restaurant, where the atmosphere is quiet, the wine list is deep and every server and sommelier is ultra-attentive. In short: it’s a primo anniversary- or proposal-date spot. $$$-$$$$
Cien Agaves Tacos & Tequila
MEXICAN
7228 E. First Ave.
480-970-9002, cienagaves.com
This lively, colorful cantina serves up fresh, excellent margaritas (made with more than 100 premium tequilas). Tacos come 13 different ways and can be ordered by the platter. The Kahlúa flan, sopapillas and churro sundae are crave-worthy. $-$$
Citizen Public House
NEW American
7111 E. Fifth Ave.
480-398-4208, citizenpublichouse.com
Old Town’s original gastropub still has it going on. Updated menu items like seared venison with burnt honey jus, and Mediterranean sea bass with rainbow chard promise palate satisfaction. The trailblazing cocktails remain first-rate, including the Valley’s first and most esteemed cocktail-barrelling program. $$-$$$
Cornish Pasty Co.
BRITISH/PUB GRUB
3800 N. Goldwater Blvd.
480-945-1220, cornishpastyco.com
Everything is better when it’s encased in flaky pastry dough, right? That’s the prevailing philosophy behind Cornish Pasty Co. The local mini-chain has been slugging out pasties – big, calzone-like British pastries filled with savory, stew-y fillings – since 2005. $-$$
DeFalco’s Italian Grocery
Italian
2334 N. Scottsdale Rd.
480-990-8660, defalcosdeli.com
This classic, family-owned market and lunch spot is a great place to grab a fat Italian sandwich or the fixings to make Italian specialties at home. Sturdy takeout entrées include lasagna and eggplant Parmesan. $
Diego Pops
MEXICAN
4338 N. Scottsdale Rd.
480-970-1007, diegopops.com
This breezy Old Town eatery serves tacos, appetizers and salads along with a mindful cocktail list perfect for midday sipping. Try one of more than 30 tequilas that range in price from $7 to $80 a shot. They pair well with the Brussels sprouts nachos with beet crema. $-$$
EVO Old Town
modern italian
4175 N. Goldwater Blvd.
480-265-9814, evoscottsdale.com
Various star chefs have elevated this Old Town eatery with handmade pastas, intensely flavored sauces and delightful specialty meat dishes. One mainstay: lovely charred octopus on romanesco. $$-$$$
Farm & Craft
fast casual
4302 N. Scottsdale Rd.,
480-568-8980, ilovefarmandcraft.com
This great-looking “farm-to-table” eatery excels at the breakfast sandwich and a fleet of sides. The indoor-outdoor bar is lively and gorgeous. $-$$
Fellow Osteria
modern italian
1455 N. Scottsdale Rd.
480-207-1864, fellowosteria.com
Brought to you by Nicholas Campisano and Joshua James of Clever Koi and Across the Pond fame, this airy osteria on South Scottsdale’s SkySong campus specializes in Americanized modern Italian cuisine, plus a handful of random dishes such as a kale salad and knock-your-calzini-off calamari fritti. $$-$$$
Franco’s Italian Caffe
ITALIAN
4327 N. Scottsdale Rd.
480-481-7614, francosscottsdale.com
Culinary legend Franco Fazzuoli (of former Scottsdale gem Franco’s Trattoria) presides over a stellar menu of Italian dishes, ranging from penne shrimp with radicchio and chicken contadina to bistecca Fiorentina and a rotating list of specials from lobster risotto to lamb osso buco. Desserts include Governor’s Chocolate Cake, concocted by former Arizona governor Fife Symington. $$$-$$$$
Frank & Lupe’s
MEXICAN
4121 N. Marshall Way
480-990-9844, frankandlupes.com
If you’ve shied away from New Mexico-style food because you’re not keen on molten lava, head for this little Old Town café, where the carne adovada and chile poblano are never damasiado caliente. The back patio is a legendary wintertime group-dinner hotspot, and the pork adobo entree is legis. $-$$
FnB
New American
7125 E. Fifth Ave.
480-284-4777, fnbrestaurant.com
James Beard Award winner Charleen Badman serves a farm-focused menu dependent on ingredients she receives from local growers. If manti – pillowy Turkish dumplings – are on the menu, order them. The beverage list includes a generous selection of Arizona beer and wines.
The Herb Box
CONTEMPORARY American
7051 E. Fifth Ave.
480-289-6160, theherbbox.com
This local favorite is a perfect fit for lunch or date night. Highlights include Korean fried cauliflower, butternut squash enchiladas and Guinness chocolate cake. $-$$
The House Brasserie
New American
6936 E. Main St.
480-634-1600, thehousebrasserie.com
Start your culinary world tour with European charcuterie paired with vino or hand-pressed cocktails, then dig into the lamb pasty, a flaky pocket of braised meat and curried potatoes. $$
Jewel of the Crown
INDIAN
7373 Scottsdale Mall
480-949-8000, jewelofthecrown.net
Small but pretty, this jewel can really sparkle, thanks to its exotic setting and authentic Indian food. Try the excellent curries, vindaloos and vegetable dishes with garlic naan. The chicken tikka masala is not to be missed. $-$$
J.T. Prime
STEAK
4216 N. Brown Ave.
480-597-5864, jtprimekitchen.com
Beef carpaccio, dressed with truffle oil, Parmigiano-Reggiano and capers, is a symphony of salt and umami, while plump, pan-seared Chilean sea bass, dolled up with a red pepper vinaigrette, is positively dreamy. $$$
Kyoto
JAPANESE
7170 E. Stetson Dr.
480-990-9374, kyotoscottsdale.com
By 6 p.m., this legendary sushi and teppanyaki restaurant is slammed with 20-somethings on their way to the clubs and Gen Xers celebrating their birthdays. $$
Los Olivos
MEXICAN
7328 E. Second St.
480-946-2256, losolivosrestaurants.com
This local landmark has been serving up good old-fashioned Mexican food for years. Great sour cream enchiladas, green corn tamales and steak picado. Also excellent margaritas. $-$$
Malee’s Thai Bistro
THAI
7131 E. Main St.
480-947-6042, maleesthaibistro.com
The most popular Thai restaurant in Scottsdale goes heavy on the sugar, light on the chiles. Thje tom kha gai and jalapeño-fried rice are wonderful. $$
Marcellino Ristorante
ITALIAN
7114 E. Stetson Dr.
480-990-9500, marcellinoristorante.com
Chef-owner Marcellino Verzino brings elegance to his modern Italian cuisine by using fresh ingredients and cooking them simply. Pasta is the specialty at this intimate restaurant, but everything is first-rate, including gamberi e feta and zuppa di pesce. $$-$$$
The Mission
Mexican
3815 N. Brown Ave.
480-636-5005, themissionaz.com
This swanky Latin-style lounge serves up mouth-watering meals and exotic cocktails, all in a quaint adobe-style setting. Sip on a pineapple-ginger mojito while savoring the short rib steak. $$-$$$
Original Pancake House
American
3815 N. Brown Ave.
480-636-5005, themissionaz.com
Most people come for the pancakes, prepared in every possible permutation. But waffles, crêpes and egg dishes are worth getting up for, too. No credit cards. $ $$-$$$
Pescada
Seafood
20707 N. Pima Rd.
480-590-5735, pescadascottsdale.com
With its indoor-outdoor bar, pleasant patio and intimate dining room, Pescada makes a lovely setting for a special night out. G&Ts (offered in various permutations) arrive in cut glass, and there’s an extensive wine list to accompany everything from oysters, caviar and seafood paella to steak tartare and grilled quail. $-$$$
Pizzeria Virtú
Italian
6952 E. Main St.
480-663-9797, pizzeriavirtu.com
Casual, family-friendly sibling to chef-owner Gio Osso’s Virtù Honest Craft, this masterful Old Town pizzeria provides the antidote to bland commercial pie, turning out no-flop oven-blistered VPN pizzas with next-level toppings such as smoked scamorza. Osso’s menu has evolved to include two weekly pasta and two weekly main course specials, as well as frequently changing bruschetta and seasonal burrata. $$
Ra Sushi
Sushi
3815 N. Scottsdale Rd.
480-990-9256, rasushi.com
Although these sexy-looking sushi bars possess traditional Japanese design elements, their menus and outlook are strictly modern. Besides sushi, there’s a full menu of Japanese and Japanese-inspired dishes. $$$
Rehab Burger Therapy
HAMBURGERS
7210 E. Second St.
480-621-5358, rehabburgertherapy.com
Check in for “therapy” and scarf down one of Rehab’s 11 burgers made with 100 percent USDA ground chuck beef. For dessert, try a Pot Brownie, a gooey concoction of peanut butter cups or milk chocolate between two hot, homemade brownies, smeared with marshmallow fluff. $$ $$
Francine
French
4710 N. Goldwater Blvd.
480-690-6180, francinerestaurant.com
Brought to us by celebrity chef Laurent Halasz, this light, airy spot, specializing in dishes from the South of France, is a beautiful place for beautiful people, and they show up in droves for grilled octopus, steak tartare, salade Niçoise, steak frites and duck à la Provençale.
Starlite BBQ
American/Barbecue
7620 E. Indian School Rd.
480-553-9330, starlitebbq.com
Walter Sterling of Ocotillo has created this small, friendly neighborhood joint, devoted to barbecue and sophisticated American dishes. You won’t want to miss the swoon-worthy grilled meatloaf – crisp-edged and fatty – or any of the great veggies and sides. $-$$
Seven
New American
4747 N. Goldwater Blvd. (Caesars Republic Scottsdale)
480-903-4747, sevenscottsdale.com
Located near the seventh-story pool deck at the new Caesars Republic Scottsdale, Seven offers terrific 180-degree views of Downtown and Camelback Mountain, and mildly elevated bar food that won’t make you regret the effort to get there. Charred-onion-Gruyère dip is hard to stop eating with crispy, house-made potato chips. Drop in at “golden hour” (3-6 p.m.) for $10 passion fruit margaritas and $5 carne asada street
tacos. $$
ShinBay
Japanese
3720 N. Scottsdale Rd.
480-361-1021, shin-bay.com
You’ll need an open mind and some serious cash to partake in spectacular omakase, a mind-blowing, multi-course roller coaster of virtuoso Japanese cuisine, manifested in at least two dozen mostly classical preparations of seafood and exotic vegetables. $$$$
SumoMaya
Asian-mexican fusion
6560 N. Scottsdale Rd.
480-397-9520, sumomaya.com
SumoMaya lives up to the cultural seesaw of its name, with fine fusion cuisine that marries the flavors of Mexico and Asia in a high-intensity exposition kitchen. The décor includes whimsical luchador masks and a sunglasses-wearing Buddha. Menu selections are equally adventurous, from king crab guacamole to pork belly pozole ramen. End on a sweet note with fluffy tres leches cake or the eatery’s signature Green “Magic” Mojito. $$-$$$$
Sugar Bowl
American
4005 N. Scottsdale Rd.
480-946-0051, sugarbowlscottsdale.com
Known Valleywide, this pink-and-white ’50s ice cream parlor makes shakes, sundaes and banana splits. Dive into dessert first, then have soup, a sandwich or any of the offered daily specials. $
Tapas Papa Frita
SPANISH
7114 E. Stetson Dr.
480-699-5004, tapaspapafrita.com
Sitting on the patio along the bank of the Arizona Canal sipping a Spanish red is a lovely way to spend an evening. Order tapas of marinated manchego cheese, share a well-crafted paella Valenciana or cut into a filet mignon with melted Spanish blue cheese. $$-$$$
Toca Madera
Modern mexican
4736 N. Goldwater Blvd.
480-478-0157, tocamadera.com
Located in Scottsdale Fashion Square’s luxury wing, this dazzling Modern Mexican eatery, a West Hollywood import, offers reinvented Mexican food, much of it organic, vegetarian or vegan. Plan to spend astronomical sums for fried calamari, sashimi Mexicano and American Wagyu cooked on a hot rock. $$$-$$$$
Virtù Honest Craft
MEDITERRANEAN
3701 N. Marshall Way
480-946-3477, virtuscottsdale.com
Virtù offers an ever-evolving Mediterranean menu at Old Town’s iconic and charming Bespoke Inn. Head straight for the signature charred octopus (one of PHOENIX magazine’s 75 Best Dishes in the Valley) and wash it down with a handcrafted cocktail. For dinner, we recommend handcrafted pasta. Great cocktails, too, like the Confused Negroni with peach tea-infused vermouth, Meletti 1870 and orange bitters. $$-$$$
Wok ‘N Roll
JAPANESE
4412 N. Miller Rd.
480-427-2526, woknrollaz.com
Enjoy signature dishes like sticky glazed salmon and mango salsa, plus drinks like the Wok ‘-N- Rita with Cabo Wabo blanco tequila, cilantro and pineapple in a rockin’ setting complete with live music, happy hour and karaoke nights. $$-$$$
Zinqué
FRENCH/american
4712 N Goldwater Blvd.
623-745-9616, lezinque.com
Paris meets SoCal at this upscale bistro, café and wine bar located in Scottsdale Fashion Square’s ever-evolving luxury wing. Find French fare such as tartines, charcuterie and ratatouille, and consider a splurge on the grilled whole branzino with chimichurri. $-$$
ZuZu
NEW CONTEMPORARY
6850 E. Main St.
480-248-2000, hotelvalleyho.com
With updates in décor and dishes, the airy, open eatery at the retro Hotel Valley Ho offers entrées like Tuscan kale salad, pan-seared sea scallops and roasted spaghetti squash. For dessert, splurge on the doughnut sundae, warm butterscotch pudding cake in a Mason jar, or the resort’s over-the-top Showstopper Shake, which changes seasonally. $-$$$
Sel
New American
7044 E. Main St.
480-949-6296, selrestaurant.com
Within the framework of a four-course prix fixe meal, chef Branden Levine offers a repertoire of ingredients and styles, shifting into different roles every few weeks in this small, quietly chic restaurant. Outstanding regular entrées include filet, duck breast and halibut, but the purées and reductions are recombined with infinite variety.
