I went out to eat almost every night for two MONTHS over the past two years while my husband & I lived in Scottsdale for spring training — here’s what I’ve learned…
If you like going out to eat — you will LOVE Scottsdale!
You could eat at a different restaurant every day, for A YEAR and probably never go to the same restaurant.
Although Scottsdale isn’t a huge city (it’s a suburb of Phoenix) it has SO. MANY. OPTIONS! And I don’t mean just chain restaurants!
For me, Scottsdale sets itself apart with its vast selection of HEALTHY restaurants, great outdoor options, and scenic views to go with your evening cocktail.
IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS / DATE NIGHT:
Restaurants with a VIEW!
J&G Steakhouse at The Phoenician
Orange Sky at Talking Stick
Elements at Sanctuary
Different Pointe of View (Not in Scottsdale, but driving distance)
FUN DINNER & DRINKS WITH FRIENDS
FANCY:
Steak 44
If you can only go ONE place – this is it. Hands down my favorite OVERALL restaurant in PHX / Scottsdale. Obviously get the steak, along with the creme-brulee corn. The last time we ate there, the entire Cubs team was there, along with half of the Angels. We’ve seen John Gruden and Mike Tirico (sports broadcasters, if you didn’t know) so you know this restaurant must be doing SOMETHING right!
The House Brasserie
The Mission
The BEST Latin-inspired food I’ve ever had. Not your basic tacos. Think Mexican food mixed with a fancy steakhouse. Get the pork lettuce wraps for an appetizer for sure! Popular spot for bachelorette parties, so make sure you get a reservation.
FUN: ANYWHERE in Old Town Scottsdale.
My Favorites:
Blanco (Mexican)
Olive & Ivy – my FAVORITE overall restaurant in Old Town. The BEST Kale salad / charcuterie board / great patio / good sangria / ALWAYS busy in the spring. Make a reservation! (If you didn’t, Hand Cut next door is good burgers in a very-instagrammable setting and the service is great, too)
Bandera – great homestyle dishes, like rotisserie chicken and OUTSTANDING cornbread. It doesn’t have that many tables though, so make a reservation if there during spring training.
LAID-BACK DINNER
O.H.S.O Brewery – fun vibes with outdoor seating & outdoor games (ping-pong!) dog-friendly. Also – good happy hour deals!
Scottsdale Beer Company – come for the beer, obviously, but they serve more than just typical brewery / bar food. The protein chicken bowl is really good and pretty healthy. Cancel it out with a cookie skillet. Worth it. Ha!
HopDoddy Burgers
DeFalco’s Italian Deli & Grocery – this place stays packed for a reason. Deli-style counter with good Italian, sandwiches, and MY FAVORITE cheesecake in Scottsdale.
Oregano’s – Great pizza. ‘nough said.
Cornish Pasty – my husband’s favorite restaurant. Similar to calzones, the pasties are doughy pockets filled with a variety of ingredient options. Like fancy hot pockets, I guess! The Italian and the Spicy Chicken Pasty are my favorites.
True Food Kitchen – healthy food that actually tastes good. Try the Ancient Grains Bowl. The location at Scottsdale Quarter is right in the middle of the outdoor mall, surrounded by palm trees that are lit up at night!
The Covenant – We love sitting at the bar and eating here. Get the Chef’s Mac & Cheese or the Smoked Salmon Salad. They put these cute purple flowers on a lot of their dishes!
BREAKFAST & BRUNCH:
My Morning Squeeze in Old Town
My absolute favorite breakfast spot! Outdoor seating, great cocktails & iced coffee, dog-friendly, good healthy options (Most places in Scottsdale do). My Morning Squeeze is like the less-pretentious sibling of The Montauk, another breakfast / brunch / dinner spot across the street. Try the traditional breakfast, or the protein pancakes.
Butter’s
LoLo’s Chicken & Waffles
Breakfast Kitchen & Bar at Scottsdale Quarter – Scottsdale Quarter is an upscale outdoor shopping mall with lots of good restaurants & shopping. BKB is good breakfast food in the cutest setting – think bright colors, outdoor seating surrounded by flowers.
QUICK-EATS / FAST CASUAL
The Original Chop-Shop
With multiple locations, this local hot-spot serves an array of fresh, healthy fare, along with great smoothies, cold-press juices, salads, and bowls.
D’Lite: Healthy On The GO!
Do you want something healthy without having to get out of your car?
D’Lite is a healthy DRIVE-THRU!
Health-conscious, and quick, D’Lite serves breakfast and lunch from menu of sandwiches, salads, coffee and breakfast served ALL DAY. Also, they have cool twists on breakfast sandwiches, adding avocado and pesto!
Flower Child – similar to Chop Shop – healthy options that don’t taste healthy! (translation – delicious)
Modern Market – great healthy lunch, but the portions are a little smaller. Which is great if you’re trying to stay in shape, not so great if you’re really hungry.
OTHER TIPS:
If you come during Spring Training – GET A RESERVATION! This place gets packed and you’ll end up missing out on all the good restaurants!
Make sure and try some of the craft beers & local wines. Orange Blossom Mandarin Wheat is my favorite beer ever!
Also – the food & drinks at Spring Training games are actually pretty good for ball park food. Don’t miss the sangria at the Diamondbacks games.
Looking for a way to burn off all those calories? Try a hike! Piestewa Peak (nature’s stair master), Papago Park (easy trail / dog friendly), and any trail in the McDowell Mountains are my favorite! If you’re closer to North Scottsdale — the wildflowers at Pinnacle Peak are just BEAUTIFUL in the spring!
What are your favorite places to eat in Scottsdale? Did I miss any? I’ve heard Mastro’s Ocean Club is good, but we hadn’t been there, so didn’t want to give false advice!
Blonde Moments 