25 March 9th–March 15th, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | cONTeNTs | feeDBacK | OPiNiON | NeWs | feaTuRe | NighT+Day | culTuRe | film | cafe | music | Scottsdale Spotlight The top 10 best restaurants in Old Town and beyond. BY NEW TIMES STAFF O ld Town Scottsdale is an epicenter of great eating. The tiny downtown cluster boasts many hotspots that have put the Valley’s dining scene on the national map. This nook of Scottsdale, however, is really only the beginning. Look beyond this buzzy stretch, and there are plenty of other finds: fine dining destinations, date-night spots, and under- the-radar neighborhood gems. Here are our top 10 favorite places to eat in Scottsdale. Andreoli Italian Grocer 8880 East Via Linda You could eat in Giovanni Scorzo’s market- meets-restaurant 50 times and still have more to discover. Up front, a glass case displays a parade of sweets, eye-catchers like cannoli, pistachio cake, torrone, brown triangles of sfogliatelle, and dark chocolate shaped into tools. The bread at Andreoli Italian Grocer is sneakily good, especially when part of a panini in the classically minimal Italian style of little more than meats or vegetables and cheese. Scorzo comes from the far Italian South, and his offerings, at the edges, reflect his origins. For one, he makes burrata from scratch. But the man can also nail northern Italian specialties, like risottos and cartoon slabs of bistecca Fiorentina. His best meals often lurk on a deep board of specials. Scorzo and his family also hand-roll some of the best fresh pasta in town. Cala 7501 East Camelback Road Cala is, at its core, a hotel restaurant. But it breaks all stereotypes at its artfully deco- rated corner of Senna House Scottsdale. The restaurant is bright, light, and filled with neutral fabrics and hanging plants. A large wrap-around patio features fire pits and cactus pots. The food, dreamed up by celebrity chef Beau MacMillan and executed by his appointed head chef Peter McQuaid, is both crowd-pleasing and inventive. For those looking to order a simple salad or flatbread, the menu has got you covered. Want to dive deeper into Mediterranean flavors? The Moroccan Braised Chicken takes a standard chicken dish and enhances it with a warming, spice-filled jus, chickpeas, baby potatoes, and a sprinkle of sesame dukkah, an Egyptian blend of herbs, nuts, and seeds. The Paccheri pasta brings diners to the Italian coast with tender homemade pasta and just-cooked rock shrimp swimming in a chile and smoked tomato cream sauce good enough to inspire an extra order of bread to dip. The Flaming Saganaki, or fried cheese set ablaze tableside, provides a photo-friendly moment and plenty of oohs and aahs, but to start, we’d recommend skipping the flaming cheese in favor of the muhammara red pepper dip or the fresh fatoush. Call Her Martina 7135 East Camelback Road, #165 From the outside, Call Her Martina looks like any other business in the fancy Scottsdale Waterfront strip mall. But inside, customers embark on an expe- rience. Take a seat at a table in the modern black-and-white-themed dining room, snag a space at the bar, or hang out with friends at a large group high-top under- neath glowing neon signs. Start with a couple of cocktails. The well-balanced creations are as beautiful as they are deli- cious, with garnishes of real flower petals and charred cinnamon sticks. Then dig into the meal. The stand-out guac comes complete with bright bursts of pome- granate seeds, cold creamy avocado, and the kicker — warm, salty, über-satisfying cubes of steak. Entrees range from extrav- agant charred octopus to simple birria tacos, but make sure to leave room for dessert. The flan, topped with shards of caramel and fresh mint leaves, is both classic and fresh — and an exceptional end to a meal at this swanky Scottsdale spot. Citizen Public House 7111 East Fifth Avenue Chef and owner Bernie Kantak’s white- tablecloth haven of inspired American food has whimsy and range. The meatloaf is flavored with amaro, the filet mignon with Little Miss BBQ brisket fat butter, the short ribs with Press coffee. At Citizen Public House, you can order one of the most famous chopped salads around, so popular it has its own Facebook page. You can also chow down on a flawless burger that throws it back to Kantak’s bygone hamburger stand in The Churchill. So many of the dishes on this menu go their own way and leave a mark. The pork belly pastrami with spaetzle? Just one of many starters, and just one example of what Kantak can do. Don’t miss the erudite cocktails, especially a selection of barrel-aged creations that go a few steps beyond the classics. Fat Ox 6316 North Scottsdale Road Fat Ox, a modern, high-end restaurant that sits on the border between Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, is a destination spot that treats customers right. Servers, who don black-tie uniforms, provide little stools to put your purse on, heaven forbid it touch the floor or hang on the back of your chair. Wine is served from individual decanters. And there’s valet parking. All of this sets an expectation for excellence in the meal. A plate of fresh bread served first is an indi- cation of what’s to come. Scallops, salmon, and Ribeye fill the entrees section of the menu, but be sure not to look past the handmade pastas. In the Rosso Creste di Gallo, the individual pieces of house-made pasta are a wine-shade of purple and maintain a sturdy and satisfying bite. The gnocchi packed with Wagyu beef cheek is a crowd favorite, and the Garganelli sings with black truffle butter. Just like the decore and drinks at this high-end restaurant, the food is fit for a special occasion FnB Restaurant 7125 East Fifth Avenue, #31 Though “seasonal” and “local” have become culinary buzzwords for many restaurants, Scottsdale’s FnB restaurant embodies the spirit of these movements. FnB also takes both to another level. James Beard Award-winning chef Charleen Badman turns simple, local produce into fare that’s at once comforting and novel. Drawing inspiration from international cuisine, she creates a menu that changes almost constantly but often includes dishes such as perfectly roasted locally raised chicken, Swiss chard falafel, and Badman’s well-loved braised leeks, topped with mozzarella, fried egg, and mustard bread crumbs. The service is always friendly, and the restaurant’s Arizona- focused wine list gives diners an oppor- tunity to explore the state’s offerings. The colorful FnBar, on one side of the restaurant, is an ideal space for opening or capping a night of eating. Francine 4710 North Goldwater Boulevard Travel to a beautiful, modern, French countryside mansion without leaving Scottsdale at Francine. This swanky, high- ceilinged spot, located at the luxury wing of Scottsdale Fashion Square mall, is the perfect destination for a date night or a celebratory meal. Start with a Jackie Mercandetti Squid from Andreoli Italian Grocer. ▼ Café >> p 26
