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CAVE CREEK. Butter-yellow walls hung with charming local art set the scene for precisely-prepared New American fare. Chef-owner Kevin Binkley alters the menu daily, showcasing the freshest and finest ingredients available. Personalized tasting menus can be put together for a reasonable price. Savor culinary delights like foie gras terrine, red snapper ceviche with jalapeno tempura, and tilefish in cabernet vinaigrette. A six-course tasting menu includes hot and cold appetizers, fish, meat, a cheese plate, and dessert.
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2. Sea Saw
7133 E Stetson Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 · 480-481-9463
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DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDALE. Over 2,500 wines reside patiently in Sea Saw's cellar, awaiting that perfect pairing with chef Nobuo Fukuda's dramatically-prepared sushi masterpieces. Be adventurous with shinshu mushi (sea bass with green tea soba noodles in mushroom broth) or octopus with buffalo mozzarella and tomato. For a special night out, call ahead to reserve the 10-course omakase tasting menu, which runs $125-175 with wine. Described by the chef as "Japanese tapas," these creations combine unusual textures and flavors for a truly unique culinary experience.
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3. Medizona
7217 E 4th Ave, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 · 480-947-9500
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OLD TOWN. Robust flavors collide in this intimate restaurant, warmly decorated in blue and yellow hues. The restaurant's moniker is a clever description of the cuisine, an uncommon combination of Mediterranean ingredients and Southwestern recipes from Arizona and its environs. Delight in the novelty of baklava as an appetizer – this one has rabbit, fig, and pine nuts among traditional layers of phyllo. Grilled halibut with a chorizo-potato cake and charbroiled prime tenderloin with a smoked bacon-stuffed pepper epitomize the imaginative menu. An incomparable delight.
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SCOTTSDALE. Laid-back and unpretentious, this Valley restaurant serves creative interpretations of comfort food. The interior is totally personal, an off-beat cowboy decor enlivened by hip accents. The cuisine, which has garnered a number of awards, places an emphasis on local, organic foods. The menu constantly changes and is dependent on whatever is fresh and available each day. Many of the entrees are grilled or cooked in a wood-burning oven, imparting them with a smoky flavor that seems appropriate to the region. The wine list, all 5000 bottles of it, ensures that each meal will find its best complement.
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NORTH SCOTTSDALE. In a nod to a bygone era of fine dining, Mastro's recreates the intimate, elegant, swanky ambience of steakhouses from the '50s and '60s. Accents of river rock and dark wood foster an upscale, classy atmosphere – the perfect setting for a truly exceptional dinner. Steaks are dry-aged and seasoned with a house blend of spices, resulting in tender, flavorful entrées whether you choose a bone-in filet, chef's-cut New York strip, or rib-eye chop. Seafood, lamb, veal, and pork also have a place on the menu, as does a lengthy list of sides, including ten preparations of potatoes.
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$$1 - $15
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Recommended |
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OLD TOWN. Charming red-and-white checked tablecloths, glass lamps, and inexplicably hunky waiters – welcome to Pasta Brioni. Traditional Italian dishes populate the menu; while there are no moments of culinary genius, what's delivered is solid and tasty. Homemade spaghetti and meatballs, linguini pescatore (clams, mussels, calamari, and shrimp), and heart-healthy cappellini with basil and tomato are favorites. Hefty calzones and generously-sized pizzas are pasta alternatives. Dessert involves treats like tiramisu and hazelnut ice cream.
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7. La Locanda
10201 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85253-1436 · 480-998-2822
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SCOTTSDALE. The exterior may not draw you in, but fantastic Northern Italian cuisine, attentive service, and welcoming ambience make you wish you never had to leave. From start to finish, the menu offers a wide range of excellent choices. Tonnaccio affumicato (smoked ahi with smoked salmon dressing) and calamari al carbone are among the starters; entrees include risotti alla boscaiola (porcini mushrooms, vegetables, parmigiano cheese, and white truffle oil) and ossobuco. Although dessert may seem an extravagance, diners simply can't pass up expertly prepared tiramasu.
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8. Salt Cellar
550 N Hayden Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257-4604 · 480-947-1963
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SCOTTSDALE. If seafood is calling your name, then this restaurant is the place to go. The underground eatery serves some of the freshest ocean fare in town, and from appetizers to soups to specials, the extensive menu offers a plethora of enticing options. For starters, halibut ceviche and clam chowder are guaranteed hits. Surefire entrees include salmon with cucumber dill sauce, char-broiled sea scallops, and sautéed mahi-mahi with macadamia nuts. A few non-seafood options are available as well.
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9. Deseo
6902 E Greenway Pkwy, Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, AZ 85254 · 480-624-1030
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$$$16 - $30
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Recommended |
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NORTH SCOTTSDALE. Bold, bright colors and an attractive open kitchen make Deseo an appealing prospect. Secure a much-coveted seat at the ceviche bar, where you can watch the preparation of your dish and scope out the kitchen. Seafood dominates the menu; sample shrimp marinated in roasted tomato and avocado, juicy lobster tails, or – for something different – Colombian corn cakes with a quail egg. Your server can recommend a South American wine to accompany your meal, or try a fresh, minty mojito for extra kick.
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DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDALE. Pristine tables dressed in crisp white linens line this narrow restaurant, made elegant with an abundance of rich, dark woods and recessed light fixtures. Possessed of an old-fashioned, downtown classiness, the steakhouse is a great choice for a business dinner or special night out. Choose from a delicious array of seafood appetizers, like chilled crab legs or a lobster cocktail. A New York strip, porterhouse, rib-eye, and several filets compose the well-rounded list of prime steaks and chops. A tangy, creamy slice of key lime pie is the natural culinary conclusion.
Looking for a restaurant? We've explored the options, checked with critics, and pounded the pavement to offer only the best. Recommendations come complete with contact information and a brief description highlighting the important features of the restaurant. Fit our choices to your mood, or let us guide your tastes. You'll likely find a few places that not even locals know about.
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