Great Restaurants in Phoenix (Scottsdale, Paradise Valley: organic, living, price)

[blisterpeanuts]

My bro & gf are coming to visit Phoenix next week and want to go to a really good restaurant. Money is no object. I'm not familiar with the top restaurants here; if it were up to me, I'd just grill up a few burgers and pocket the $400. What are the well known restaurants here, not just the see-and-be-seen variety but the places where you can get a really great meal? Thanks for any help!

Blister Peanuts

[Steve-o]

Roaring Fork
Pinnacle Peak Patio (not fancy whatsoever, but good)
Le Sans Souci
Mosaic

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Originally Posted by blisterpeanuts

My bro & gf are coming to visit Phoenix next week and want to go to a really good restaurant. Money is no object. I'm not familiar with the top restaurants here; if it were up to me, I'd just grill up a few burgers and pocket the $400. What are the well known restaurants here, not just the see-and-be-seen variety but the places where you can get a really great meal? Thanks for any help!

Blister Peanuts

Elements, on Camelback Mountain, and Talavera, at Troon North in Scottsdale, are both superb and have terrific views as well as food.

[Elmonellie]

Well I'll offer up Rancho Pinot Grill on Scottsdale Rd near Lincoln Drive. It's not the fanciest, but it's very charming in a Paradise Valley kind of low key way. Plus, it's fun to people watch there. I've had some wierd celeb sightings there, i.e., former V.P. Dan Quayle, Stevie Nicks (pretty sure it was her), Tom Hanks, John McCain. The food is prepared with an eye toward the local/organic and it's very nice. Not cheap, not the most expensive in town. If your guests are not familiar with Phx/Sctsdale it will give them a nice impression. Pretty casual to dressy is fine.

The best restaurant would be Binkleys up in Cave Creek. Very expensive...lots of courses...unique presentation. You would need a bit more than $400 for 4 if you had wine. It's one of the best restaurants in the west and the "foodies" love it.

[Rubee]

I second Binkley's. That's my number-one favorite restaurant too.

I haven't been to many of those listed above, but plan to! We've only been living here a few months, although have made frequent trips out, but other high-end places where we've had excellent meals are Elements as mentioned above (the Jade Bar here also makes some of the best cocktails around and has a cozy little patio with gorgeous views), Deseo (Nuevo Latino - Westin Kierland), and Sassi near Pinnacle Peak (beautiful villa atmosphere, Italian-Mediterranean). Other high-end places on my list to try are T. Cook's, Mosaic, Vincent on Camelback, Tarbell's, Roaring Fork, Talavera, Rancho Pinot, and Kai.

For more casual, I really like Cowboy Ciao (southwestern), Tapino (tapas), Richardson's (New Mexican, great seafood too), and a new one that's been only open 3 months called Digestif. We just took out-of-town guests there Friday for lunch and they loved it too. Digestif is small plates made for sharing, Italian-influenced, focusing on fresh seasonal ingredients. It's located in downtown Scottsdale in the new Southbridge 'waterfront" area by the canal. Excellent cocktails too and a nice wine list - you can order by the glass, quartino, or bottle. Great place for a leisurely lunch.

For more details, I just posted about it here (you have to scroll down, I hit a lot of restaurants last week!):

Phoenix - Barrio Cafe, Digestif, El Chorro, and Tradicones. Sedona - Cafe Elote, Stakes and Sticks, Cucina Rustica (long) - Southwest - Chowhound

[dogdude]

I'm not into the real money grabber joints, probably cause I don't have much.
However I like the bro's idea of pocketing the cash and making them a good steak from Safeway.
If not that, send them to "Arriba's" (18th st Camelback) they'll enjoy it and still be able to have enough money to pay for the emergency room bill after they get heat stroke from coming here in the middle of May.
Just kidding Hope they enjoy their stay.
dogdude

[Elmonellie]

Originally Posted by Rubee

I second Binkley's. That's my number-one favorite restaurant too.

I haven't been to many of those listed above, but plan to! We've only been living here a few months, although have made frequent trips out, but other high-end places where we've had excellent meals are Elements as mentioned above (the Jade Bar here also makes some of the best cocktails around and has a cozy little patio with gorgeous views), Deseo (Nuevo Latino - Westin Kierland), and Sassi near Pinnacle Peak (beautiful villa atmosphere, Italian-Mediterranean). Other high-end places on my list to try are T. Cook's, Mosaic, Vincent on Camelback, Tarbell's, Roaring Fork, Talavera, Rancho Pinot, and Kai.

For more casual, I really like Cowboy Ciao (southwestern), Tapino (tapas), Richardson's (New Mexican, great seafood too), and a new one that's been only open 3 months called Digestif. We just took out-of-town guests there Friday for lunch and they loved it too. Digestif is small plates made for sharing, Italian-influenced, focusing on fresh seasonal ingredients. It's located in downtown Scottsdale in the new Southbridge 'waterfront" area by the canal. Excellent cocktails too and a nice wine list - you can order by the glass, quartino, or bottle. Great place for a leisurely lunch.

For more details, I just posted about it here (you have to scroll down, I hit a lot of restaurants last week!):

Phoenix - Barrio Cafe, Digestif, El Chorro, and Tradicones. Sedona - Cafe Elote, Stakes and Sticks, Cucina Rustica (long) - Southwest - Chowhound

Hi Rubee...I see that you are a Chowhound person. Me too! Haven't been on that board for a while because I've been busy. Have you tried the new Binkley place in Carefree...Cafe Bink? It in the Bashas's center....much more casual than Binkleys and much cheaper of course. The french fries are fried 3 times and quite yummy. Try the mushroom soup. It is stellar. If you get a chance go check it out...perfect for lunch.

[Rubee]

Oh thanks Elmonellie for that suggestion. I will definitely check out Cafe Bink, and will definitely try the fries and the mushroom soup now, thanks to your recs. I remember reading about it, I think it opened earlier this year? Sounds great.

Tonight I'm meeting a local CH to check out the Peruvian/Ecuadorian place on W. Bell called "Mi Cocina, Mi Pais". I've heard good things about it!

[dbean]

hey guys, how about casual restaurants in N. Phoenix, around 12th st. and bell?

parents are coming to town and want to show them a nice place, not too pricey though!!

[YAZ]

Like Dogdude sez, Arriba's is good. Get a designated driver and partake in the margaritas.

Some places we like to go:

Durant's....great food & service. Plan on staying there for a good part of the evening.

Pappadeaux's...have dinner and move on to the patio for some good blues.

Bobby-Q's....best "traditional" BBQ I've had in the valley.

Mimi's Cafe....best French onion soup that I've ever had.

Moto....relatively inexpensive & very good ifya like sushi & sashimi.


During the four years that I've lived in Phoenix, I've had one bad experience with service. Red Lobster. And the food was terrible.