Phoenix, AZ
Restaurant Guide
The Valley of the Sun
is home to hundreds of excellent restaurants,
many of which are concentrated around the
Scottsdale Road and Biltmore Corridor sections
of the area. Whether you are looking for
a traditional Southwestern or Mexican meal,
or a taste of fusion cuisine, Phoenix has
something for everyone. Many of the area’s
restaurants and resorts offer stunning views
of the surrounding mountain ranges and desert.
Reservations are recommended.
Estimated cost per person,
including one drink and tip:
$=under
$30
$$=$30-$50
$$$=more
than $50
The JW Marriott Desert
Ridge Resort is home to many world-class
restaurants.
The first group of restaurants below are
located at the resort at 5350 E. Marriott
Drive Phoenix, AZ 85054. For reservations
or driving directions to any of the restaurants
on this list, please call the hotel concierge
at 480-293-3988.
Blue
Sage
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Celebrity
chef Mark Miller has inspired a delicious
menu of contemporary Southwest and traditional
Mexican cuisine for this innovative eatery.
Savor a margarita or a variety of specialty
drinks in the bar at this colorful and lively
setting. The restaurant's private dining
room offers an intimate area for parties
of 25 or less. Outdoor seating on the Blue
Sage patio and a delicious Sunday buffet
are also on the menu. At the entrance of
Blue Sage lies Blue Sage Marketplace, a
casual eatery that offers sandwiches and
light snacks that can be enjoyed on the
outdoor patio near the fireplace or ordered
to go.
Ristorante
Tuscany
Open for dinner, reservations recommended.
Rated AAA
4 Diamond, Tuscany's provincial cuisine
and urban elegance come together here. Specialties
include combinations of fresh, grilled meats
and seafood, delicate soups and sauces and
subtle pastas and, most importantly, a culinary
escape to this famous region of Italy. The
restaurant's dining room opens to a large
outdoor waterside patio with views of the
Resort's Isle of Capri. The elegant restaurant
captures features an open exhibition kitchen,
wood-fired oven indoor and outdoor seating,
an outdoor fireplace and an expansive wine
list of some of the best vintages Tuscany
has to offer.
Roy's
Restaurant
Open for dinner.
Famed Hawaiian
restaurateur Roy Yamaguchi's renowned Hawaiian
Fusion Cuisine is on the menu at this restaurant.
First founded in Honolulu in 1988, the highly
regarded dining establishment features locations
throughout the nation serving innovative
Asian-influenced cuisine that makes the
most of fresh local ingredients with "Aloha-style
service". An impressive wine list allows
diners to sample a wide selection of varietals
with their meal. A separate sushi bar, indoor
and outdoor dining and an outdoor fireplace
make this restaurant a favorite among Resort
guests.
Meritage
Steakhouse at Wildfire Golf Club
Open for lunch and dinner.
The perfect
marriage of fine wine and Black Angus steaks.
The menu also features chicken, seafood
and a selection of signature side dishes.
An impressive selection of wines are offered
by the glass, half and full bottles to encourage
diners to sample from the steakhouse's fine
wine cellar. The restaurant offers sweeping
views of the green fairways and outdoor
dining and a welcoming firepit. For the
sports enthusiasts, televisions will be
tuned into the latest sporting events.
Spa
Bistro
Located
at Marriott's Revive Spa, guests can dine
on healthy fare in this charming bistro.
With an Asian flair and a dedicated chef,
the Spa Bistro features fresh seasonal ingredients
and herbs from its very own herb garden.
For the health conscious, calorie counts
will be on the breakfast and lunch menus.
The eatery also features a juice bar with
fresh-squeezed juices and protein drinks.
For the vacation-minded spa goers, cheeseburgers,
beer, wine and spirits are also served.
Just
A Splash
Open for lunch.
This casual
poolside eatery serves burgers, sandwiches,
open-fire gourmet pizzas, innovative salads,
foot-long hot dogs and tropical drinks for
those looking to grab a bite to eat. Live
entertainment is also featured daily.
The
Vista Lounge
Open daily until 2 a.m.
This casual
lounge, located in the expansive, grand
lobby, serves as a great meeting spot for
guests who want to enjoy a cool drink and
conversation or listen to local entertainment.
Sample one of the delicious Martini's from
the Martini menu or enjoy our Southwest
version of High Tea in season, while taking
in views of the resort's turquoise pools
and shimmering waterways surrounded by the
majestic McDowell Mountains. A creative
selection of appetizers can be savored at
the bar or on the patio near one of two
firepits.
Scottsdale
and Biltmore Corridor
Approximately 15-25 minutes from the JW
Marriott Desert Ridge Resort.
$$
Bloom
8877 N. Scottsdale Rd.; open Mon.-Thurs.
11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat.
11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-10:30 p.m.; Sun. 5-9:30
p.m.; 480-922-5666
Bloom offers
a bistro-style menu that offers a variety
of New American dishes with blends of European
and Asian cuisine. The menu changes seasonally.
Bloom also has an extensive, award-winning
wine list that allows guests to select among
75 wines by the glass daily, in addition
to a full bar and indoor and outdoor seating.
$$
Deseo
Westin Kierland Resort, 6902 E. Greenway
Pkwy.; open daily from 6-10 p.m.; 480-624-1030
Your tastebuds
will receive a jolt of flavor at Deseo.
Offering imaginative Latin-influenced cuisine,
Deseo’s menu features a distinctive
blend of flavors to create dishes that are
bold and intriguing. For starters, the rainbow,
hamachi and lobster ceviche are highly recommended
as well as the Kobe-beef meatballs with
wild mushrooms, jalapenos and scallions.
Main dishes include the Alaskan salmon with
honey rum glaze, organic lentils and plantains;
dorado ajilloor mahi-mahi with calamari,
shrimp and scallops; muscovy duck breast,
with Asian pear, mango and boysenberry chimichurri;
and pollo mulato with jicama, cucumber,
mulato pepper and Cuban oregano. Deseo’s
Muddle Bar offers exotic cocktails created
by smashing together fruit and herbs using
a wooden mallet called a “muddle”
to release their flavors.
$$
Los Olivos
7328 E 2nd St, Scottsdale, AZ 85251; open
daily; 480-946-2256
Locally
owned and operated, Los Olivos offers traditional
Mexican cuisine with a unique architectural
character. This casual eatery offers a huge
assortment of entrees to choose from. Noteworthy
dishes include the Mexican Flag, featuring
a combination of a beef enchilada and two
cheese enchiladas covered with sauces; Spanish
Steak, featuring ground sirloin topped with
a delicious Spanish tomato and vegetable
sauce, served with beans and rice and the
Camarones al Mojo de Ajo, sauteed shrimp
in garlic and butter with a blend of fine
Mexican spices, served with rice, garlic
toast and guacamole salad.
$$ Razz’s
Restaurant
10315 N. Scottsdale Rd.; open Tues.-Thurs.
5-9 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 5-10 p.m.; 480-905-1308
Chef/owner,
Erasmo "Razz" Kamnitzer has been
hailed as one of the most creative chefs
in Scottsdale. Razz’s has won several
awards including one of the Top 20 Restaurants
in Arizona and, in a Gourmet Readers Poll,
as one of the Best Places to Entertain Foodies.
Situated in a nondescript shopping center,
Razz’s menu offers both casual and
fine dining options. Casual dining notables
include lobster with arepitas de queso,
a Venezuelan-style corn cake with cheese
and chili, mango and vegetable sauce and
the shrimp and clams a La Portuguese, which
comes with Saffron rice, Portuguese sausage
tomatoes and vegetables. For fine dining,
try Razz's Bouillabaisse, a mixed seafood
stew or the double-roasted duck breast,
which comes with lingonberry sauce and sautéed
mixed greens.
$$
Roaring Fork
4800 N. Scottsdale Rd. (in the Finova Building
at the corner of Chaparral Rd.); open Mon.-Sat.
5-10 p.m.; Sun. 5-9 p.m., Happy hour runs
Mon.-Sat. 4 p.m.-7 p.m.; 480-947-0795
This restaurant
is a creation of a local celebrity chef,
Robert McGrath, and is reputed to be the
most creative Southwestern fare in the Valley.
An American Western Bistro and Wine Bar,
Roaring Fork is known for its duck breast
with onion jam and sour-cherry mustard and
the beef tenderloin, which comes with a
green-chile macaroni. If you can’t
get a table, dine in the saloon or the saloon
patio.
$$$
Vu
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa
at Gainey Ranch, 7500 E. Doubletree Ranch
Rd.; open Mon.-Thurs. 6-9:30 p.m.; Fri-Sat
6-10 p.m.; 480-444-1234, Ext. 79
A waterside
restaurant, Vu is one of the most artistic
places in the entire Valley. Tasting menus
are highly recommended, as you will get
to sample a variety of small servings such
as the lamb with almonds, onions and watercress.
Scallops come with parsnips, green apple
and pistachios while the Dover sole comes
with crab, kumquats and sorrel. Well worth
the splurge.
$$$
Barcelona
15440 Greenway-Hayden Loop; open Mon.-Wed.
4-11 p.m. and Thurs.-Sat. 4 p.m.-2 a.m.;
closed Sundays for private parties; 480-603-0370
This is
the largest of the Valley’s popular
supper clubs and it looks like it was just
lifted out of Spain. Large torches illuminate
the outside area and there are several dining
areas and three bar areas, including one
outside. The main dining room faces the
bandstand and converts into a dance floor
later in the evening. Music ranges from
R&B, jazz and Top 40. This see-and-be-seen
place offers old-world cuisine with new-world
flavors. The menu ranges from steaks and
seafood to specialities such as rack of
lamb and the lobster and shrimp paella.
$$
Veneto Trattoria
6137 N. Scottsdale Road in the Hilton Village;
open for lunch Mon.-Sat., 11:30 a.m.-2:30
p.m., Dinner, Mon.-Sat., 5 -10 p.m.; 480-948-9928
Venice meets the desert at this low-key,
casual bistro. The restaurant is known for
its hand-fashioned pastas and gnocchi and
luscious risottos. One of the most requested
dishes here is the Venetian specialty, pork
and garlic sausages served with grilled
polenta and braised savoy cabbage. Pasta
favorites include lasagna, homemade ravioli
filled with fresh ricotta cheese and spinach
served with tomato and basil sauce. An extensive
wine list offers a wide selection of Italian
and California wines.
North
Scottsdale, Carefree & Cave Creek
approximately 25 minutes from the hotel
Cartwright’s
6710 E. Cave Creek Road; open 7 days a week
5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Bar open until 10:00
p.m.; 480-488-8031
Featuring
mesquite wood fired steaks, game and fresh
seafood from around the world, Cartwright’s
offers spectacular views of the Sonoran
Desert. Sample the halibut, scallops, trout,
Wild King Salmon, Chilean sea bass, sole
and ahi tuna prepared in a variety of ways,
including Southwestern, complete with Sonoran
spices, black bean refritos, grilled squash
poblano chile and red pepper coulis, or
Asian, featuring a Tamari sauce, Texmati
rice, Asian greens and wok-fried vegetables.
Other preparations include Mediterranean
and European.
$$$
Eddie V's Edgewater
Grille
Market Street at DC Ranch; 20715 N. Pima
Rd., Thompson Peak Pkwy.; open for dinner
Mon- Sat. 4:30 p.m.-11 p.m. and Sun. 4:30
p.m.-10 p.m.; 480-538-8468
Eddie V’s
is an upscale restaurant in North Scottsdale
featuring seafood dishes with an emphasis
on Gulf Coast seafood. Classic favorites
include seafood starters such as oysters-on-the-half-shell,
and famous all lump crab cakes. Located
at the base of the McDowell Mountains, steak
and chops are also carefully prepared.
$$$
Marquesa
At the Fairmont Princess, 7575 E. Princess
Dr. (About 12 miles north of downtown Scottsdale);
open Wed.-Sat. 6-9 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.-2
p.m.; 480-585-4848
Resembling
an 18th-century Spanish villa, Marquesa
offers a more romantic ambience. Contemporary
Mediterranean dishes are the focus here.
The menu changes seasonally, but always
contain the freshest ingredients. Try the
cocoa-dusted foie gras with chocolate sorbet,
duck and squab with a ragout of apricots
and pistachios. For desert, try the Salvador
Dali-inspired edible work of chocolate art.
$$
Sassi
10455 E. Pinnacle Peak Pkwy.; open Tues.-Sun.
5:30-9 or 10 p.m.; 480-502-9095
A Tuscan
villa transplanted to the middle of the
desert, Sassi was once a farmhouse. Sassi
combines breathtaking city and mountain
views and every detail has been thoughtfully
selected to replicate an Italian villa.
Five dining rooms, which each replicate
individual rooms of a villa, feature structural
and interior elements that are distinctly
Italian. With indoor and outdoor seating,
guests can dine in the library, garden terrace,
kitchen, wine cellar and main dining rooms
or on the many outdoor patios. At Sassi,
a classic style of Southern Italian dishes
are shared. Its menu is ingredient-driven
with an emphasis on handmade pastas, fresh
fish, pork and poultry.
$$
Mosaic
10600 East Jomax Rd.; open Tues.-Sat., lounge
opens at 4:30 (happy hour from 4:30 to 7:00
p.m); Dining room opens at 5:30; Tel: 480-563-9600
Mosaic is
a fairly new restaurant and offers some
of the best views of the desert, situated
in the Valley’s Pinnacle Peak area.
A foodie’s paradise, the menu here
is constantly evolving. For starters, try
the rare grilled albacore with tuna sake
scented whole grain mustard sauce, shiitake,
enoki and honshimeji mushroom saute or the
Thai shrimp and coconut soup with shiitake
mushrooms, scallions and cherry tomatoes.
For the main course, choose from the prime
tenderloin of beef a’ Portuguesa,
with chorizo-braised mustard greens, sweet-smoked
paprika whipped potatoes, bay scented demi-glace
or the lemongrass marinated lobster tails
and king crab with rice, green curry buerre
blanc and Chinese long beans. There are
also several tasting menus available. It
may be hard, but save room for dessert as
bananas foster cr me brulee and s’mores
cake with chocolate sauce and chocolate-graham
cracker flame awaits.
Central
Phoenix/Camelback Corridor
$$$
Mary Elaine’s
At the Phoenician, 6000 E. Camelback Rd.;
open Tues.-Thurs. 6-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 6-11
p.m.; jackets suggested for men, evening
wear or business attire for women; 480-423-2530
At the top
of the Phoenician resort, Mary Elaine’s
is one of the most elegant restaurants in
Arizona. Home of an award-winning wine list
and master sommelier, the menu focuses on
classic French cuisine with foie gras, truffles,
lobster and caviar all making an appearance.
Soft jazz can be heard playing in the lounge.
Menus change seasonally and there are also
themed tasting menus.
$
Chelsea’s
Kitchen
5040 N. 40th Street; open Mon.-Sun. 11 a.m.-10
p.m.; 602-957-2555
Situated
on the banks of a canal just off of Camelback
Road, Chelsea’s Kitchen offers casual
dining in an upscale setting. The patio
has a wood-burning fireplace and is about
as large as its main dining room, where
getting a table can be a challenge. The
menu features tortillas made-to-order that
include ribeye steak, fresh fish and vegetarian.
Other stand outs include Executive Chef
Jay's signature short rib hash, burgers
(ground to order) and "picnic-style"
Dixie pan-fried chicken.
$$
Lon’s
At the Hermosa Inn, 5532 N. Palo Cristi
Rd.; open Mon.-Fri. 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and
6-10 p.m.; Sat. 6-10 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.-2
p.m. (Brunch) and 6-10 p.m.; 602-955-7878
Lon’s
is Arizona's only remaining authentic hacienda
that was built by cowboy artist Lon Megargee
and surrounded by colorful gardens. Its
elegant adobe dining room is surrounded
by some of the most spectacular scenery
Arizona has to offer, including Camelback
Mountain. Enjoy award-winning American cuisine
on Lon’s patio, or by one of the glowing
fireplaces discreetly located throughout
the property. Menus are designed for maximum
culinary impact with dishes that range from
the pecan-roasted pork chop to the cactus
pear lacquered breast of duck. Each month
the chef creates a multi-course prix fixe
menu that celebrates seasonality.
$$$
T. Cook’s
At the Royal Palms Resort & Spa; 5200
E. Camelback Rd.; Mon.-Sat. 6 a.m.-10 a.m.,
11 a.m-2 p.m. and 5:30-10 p.m., Sun. 6 a.m.-2
p.m. (brunch) and 5:30-10 p.m.; 602-808-0766
Reputed
to be one of the most romantic restaurants
in the Valley, T. Cook’s is surrounded
by decade-old gardens and palm trees growing
through the roof of its dining room. An
open kitchen allows diners to view the wood-fired
oven that can turn out an impressive platter
of paella. Some of the offerings include
Porcini pasta with mushrooms, asparagus
and truffle, pan-roasted duck breast with
chestnut and potato pave and huckleberry
timbale; sauteed Maine lobster with shellfish
risotto, pear tomatoes and asparagus and
the grilled New York strip with marrow custard
and braised parsnip puree.
$$
Elements
At Sanctuary on Camelback, 5700 E. McDonald
Dr., Paradise Valley; open Sun.-Thurs. 7-10:30
a.m., 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5:30-9:30 p.m.;
Fri.-Sat. 7-10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
and 5:30-9:45 p.m.; 480-607-2300
Take in
the view of the surrounding mountain ranges
as you dine on American food with Asian
accents at Elements. The menu changes regularly
and includes influences from around the
world. Past entrees have included lobster
with sweetbreads, seared diver scallops
and chili-rubbed duck breast with Asian
pearl pasta. Adjacent to Elements is a jade
bar with a secluded patio and a fire bowl
for cool desert evenings.
