Top Restaurants in Scottsdale
While Michelin stars may not be as important anymore, they still hold much weight in fine dining. They can be a great indicator of quality and service.
Scottsdale has a wide variety of top-notch restaurants. Some are steakhouses, and others focus on upscale Italian cuisine.
1. FnB
The options are endless if you want a top-notch culinary experience in Scottsdale, Arizona. From modern American fine dining to high-end cocktails, this desert city’s food scene is rising and boasts some of the country’s finest chefs. At FnB, James Beard Award-winning chef Charleen Badman turns simple local produce into boldly flavored dishes with a global twist. She changes her menu seasonally and week-to-week, relying on what’s currently available from Arizona farmers.
2. Campo
Campo is a neighborhood hangout with fresh, authentic Italian food, a sophisticated wine menu, excellent cocktails, and exceptional service. It’s where you can eat alone, with friends, or with your family, leaving you feeling refreshed. Chef Alex Stratta’s Mediterranean-style dishes are rooted in Italy with an eclectic mix of antipasti and pasta that use organic durum wheat from Sonoran Pasta Co. You can also find wood-fired artisan pizzas, hand-helds like chicken parm and risotto made with organic and seasonal ingredients.
The ambiance here is reminiscent of an osteria but with a sophisticated and contemporary design. Elizabeth, the owner, credits Campo’s success to a great team of talented chefs, excellent managers, and a dining room that adds personal touches that help create a lively atmosphere in which people enjoy being a part.
3. Virtu
The ambiance at Virtu Honest Craft in Old Town Scottsdale is as enchanting as the food. You’ll find a wandering, Mediterranean-inspired menu that changes almost daily and serves up handmade pasta, premium produce, and superb seafood imported from Europe and North America’s most famous fish markets. Chef Gio Osso, a New Jersey native, started this restaurant with a dream of putting his take on classic dishes on the Scottsdale dining scene. During his five years here, he’s built a reputation for serving elegant dishes with robust flavors. Osso’s creations are incredibly refined, thanks to the use of octopus from Spain and components found locally. The restaurant also serves up a range of wood oven-baked pasta crafted with ingredients Osso learned from his Italian family.
4. La Perla
La Perla is an excellent spot for a date night. It is known for its good food and delicious drinks.
There are a variety of dishes here, including tacos, tamales, and enchiladas. You will also find gluten-free and low-fat options. The ambiance is cozy, and the place is full of people. The bar serves cocktails and wine. A great tequila can be found here; the drinks are shaken instead of frozen. The atmosphere attracts a broad range of people, from city boys to sassy Latina babes. The restaurant is owned by Jose “Cheo” Ortiz and his sons, Moises and Gabriel. He started the business out of a tiny convenience store and has since built up a following for his homespun Puerto Rican cuisine.
5. Etta
Etta is the newest addition to the What If Syndicate Hospitality group’s growing portfolio, led by two-time Michelin star Chef Danny Grant. Taking over the former BRIO space at Scottsdale Quarter (early 2022), this neighborhood restaurant will be centered around the wood-fired hearth. The menu is full of bold fire-licked Mediterranean dishes that are both affordable and lovely. The bubbling shrimp, for instance, is a curious little appetizer – the blistered pita triangle swizzles through a shallow cauldron of nubbly red sauce that pinches a fat, tender shrimp, then floats in a faintly spicy melange of smoked tomato, ginger, mint, and chiltepin chiles. Etta is a place to share plates, with seasonal salads, crave-worthy pizzas, and farm-fresh pasta. It’s also the place to celebrate, with various cocktails, wine, and local beer on the menu.
