RestaurantsNewcomers’ Guide to the Top Trendy Old Town Scottsdale Eateries
Editorial StaffNovember 8, 2022
Eat, drink and snap a selfie at these chic Scottsdale spots.
seafood Archives
Eat, drink and snap a selfie at these chic Scottsdale spots.
Though not as high-toned as the name suggests, this seafood-focused Scottsdale restaurant cashes in with great oysters and a raucous vibe.
Desert DigestFood & DrinkFirst Dish: Espiritu
Nikki BuchananApril 18, 2022
When Espiritu opened last January, it was cast as a bar not a restaurant, a let’s-get-crazy play place for drinkers unashamed to admit they like getting a little toasty. Under the short cocktail menu (five regular cocktails and one daily special) is a section called “Shots & Other Mistakes,” featuring nine possibly bad decisions (their verbiage, not mine). Here, you’ll find wild concoctions given hilarious names and descriptions, including Yeetlejuice (Jaeger cold brew, pineapple amaro,...
Food ReviewsReview: Pa’La Downtown
Nikki BuchananJanuary 11, 2022
Much more than a sit-down version of Claudio Urciuoli’s original seafood counter on 24th Street, this swank Downtown charmer ventures into excitingly global territory.
Desert DigestFood & DrinkHappy Hour: Buck &Rider
Leah LeMoineAugust 27, 2021
Photo courtesy Buck &Rider THE SCENE “I don’t eat seafood in landlocked states.” That sentence – along with its cousin, “Seafood in the desert? Pass.” – is up there on the list of trite refrains I regularly field from friends and relatives about dining in the Valley. When I hear someone say it, I have to fight a visceral urge to shake them and bellow, “Do you think we’re still in the 1950s?!” In a time before overnight shipping and advanced packing and cooling techniques, sure, you would have...
Desert DigestFood & DrinkFirst Dish: Ember at We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort
Madison RutherfordAugust 3, 2021
Grilled Maine Lobster | Photo by Madison Rutherford A serpentine stroll through We-Ko-Pa will take you to a calm corner of the casino that doesn’t feel like you’re in a casino at all. Such is the charm of Ember, the casino and resort’s new fine dining destination – a culinary oasis that is well worth the trek to far-flung Fort McDowell. The kitchen is helmed by critically acclaimed chef Richard E. Pelz, who places...
Desert DigestFood & DrinkFirst Dish: Lure Fish House
Craig OuthierJanuary 28, 2021
“Houston’s for seafood fans.” That was my Yelp-assisted initial impression of this high-toned California import, which debuted in upper Scottsdale’s Gainey Village area in November. It’s the latest and most-inland (by far) location in the emerging chain, which has found success delivering highly repeatable, upscale-but-not-astronomically-priced cuisine to diners in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. For his Arizona landfall, owner David Cortina – a part-time Chandler resident who, interestingly, was arrested in Taiwan two years ago...
Desert DigestDinner and a Show: Culinary Escapism at Kasai Scottsdale
Madison RutherfordSeptember 1, 2020
Call me extra, but I believe that dining out should be an experience. Sure, the food could be fantastic, but if it’s not paired with a personable server, a fun atmosphere, eclectic environs or other fanciful flourishes, I personally feel that it’s not worth it. That’s why I’m so intrigued with the concept of “dinnertainment” a la Medieval Times. It’s also why I was over the moon when I got an invite for a hosted...
Desert DigestLists10 Places to Celebrate National Seafood Month in the Valley
Madison RutherfordOctober 11, 2019
It’s finally October, and there’s much more to this month than apple pie and pumpkin spice. October is also National Seafood Month and there’s a slew of local spots serving up fishy fare. Here are a few of our favorites: Angry Crab Shack This lively Valley staple is known for its spicy seafood boils served in plastic bags. During the month of October, guests can add a lobster tail to their bag for just $10....
Desert DigestOpenings/ClosingsMichelin-Starred Chef Opens Maple & Ash in Scottsdale
Madison RutherfordAugust 5, 2019
Chicago-based steakhouse Maple & Ash opens at the Scottsdale Waterfront on August 20.
Food ReviewsMODERN Oysterbar Chophouse
Nikki BuchananJuly 25, 2019
Another high-end Valley steakhouse? Don’t scoff – this swank Scottsdale newcomer is genuinely the bomb.
Desert DigestOpenings/ClosingsBar Pesce Says Goodbye with Weeklong Celebration
Madison RutherfordJuly 23, 2019
Beloved local seafood spot Bar Pesce is closing after 7 years, but it's not going out without a bang.
Food ReviewsYou’ve Got to Try ShinBay
Nikki BuchananMay 23, 2019
Sit down, shut up and eat your impossibly good fish.
Amuse BouchesFirst Bite: Chula Seafood Uptown
Craig OuthierMarch 31, 2019
The new Chula is cramped but chic, and the seafood is still stellar.