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Snacking Across Scottsdale
SCOTTSDALE DINING REPORT
© 2002
by Darryl Musick
(NOTE: You can click the following link to see our Scottsdale Trip Report )
Scottsdale, Phoenix's tonier next door neighbor, continues to be a big draw for us. It's a wonderful, accessible city with some truly world-class hotels. In the off season (the hot summertime), those hotels can be had for a song.
It's also a place where dozens of outstanding restaurants call home. Here are some favorites we've found along the way...
THE GOOD EGG is a local chain of coffee shops. Although open all day, the specialty here is breakfast. We've had some delicious omelettes along with more traditional fare such as pancakes and bacon & eggs. All were very delicious and the service was top notch with reasonable prices.
COYOTE GRILL located on Bell Road in the northern end of the city near the airport serves up wonderful Southwestern influenced dishes. The menu changes frequently but we've had such entrees as apple baked pork chops, a Southwestern seafood pasta, and grilled salmon. Tim can't get enough of their lavosh served with a habanero cream cheese. If it's not too hot, a dinner on their outdoor patio is wonderful thing. If it's a cold winter night, there's an outdoor fireplace to cozy up to. Prices are a little higher than moderate but well worth the delicious food, great surroundings, and good service the Coyote Grill provides.
REATA PASS used to be located way out in the middle of nowhere. It's an old stagecoach stop from the old west days that is now a steakhouse and bar. The middle of nowhere has now turned into just another neighborhood of huge, sprawling Scottsdale but this short stretch of Alma School Road will take you back to the days gone by. In the warm months, big juicy steaks are grilled under the stars while you're serenaded by country & western singers. The food's delicious and the view of the mountains and stars can't be beat. Prices here are very reasonable but you need to check with the bartender for the accessible route to the dining area. It's also a very long drive from downtown Scottsdale. Don't come here in the off season before April, though. The outdoor section is closed in the cooler weather.
OLD TOWN TORTILLA FACTORY has an unfortunate name. It's kind of corny like the Old Spaghetti Factory and makes me think it will be kitschy...and maybe fun...but the food might not be so good. Nothing could be farther from the truth at this dinner only restaurant in downtown Scottsdale. The restaurant is housed in an old adobe residence with outdoor dining available on a cool tiled patio. There's a really neat fountain out there that spews fire along with the water. The bar (the tequilaria as it's called here) is located in another building across the patio from the restaurant proper. We had some delicious chorizo laced nachos for an appetizer followed by saucy chicken enchiladas and a Mexican style chicken croquette dish laced with Mexican crema. Very delicious and reasonably price at around ten dollars.
THE VILLAGE TAVERN located at the Gainey Village shopping center is like one of those classic national park lodges inside. The high ceiling is held aloft with huge, wooden beams with a big fireplace at one end of the dining room and the open kitchen at the other. Portions are huge here and prices are a little north of the mid-teens but the staff does not frown upon splitting entrees. My wife and I split the rib eye steak dinner here, which was very succulent, and had a double decker cheesecake for desert (cheesecake on one layer, chocolate mouse on the other...mmmmm!) and left with a bill under $35 dollars.
RISTORANTE SANDOLINO located in the Hyatt Regency Resort is one of the most unique restaurants in Scottsdale. Yes, they have delicious Italian food served in more-than-we-could-eat portions. I had a huge veal chop while my wife had a salmon pasta. Desert was a delicious thing called a Sandolino with berries covered in creamy custard served in a flaky pastry shell shaped like an Italian gondola with a chocolate stick for the gondola pole (the sandolo in the restaurant's name refers to a shallow-draft type of gondola in Venice). The waiters sing...constantly. It takes a little getting used to but you do and they are very talented along with being good servers. The crowning glory after all this is that after dinner, you are escorted to the adjacent lake where you are treated to a gondola ride around the lake serenaded by the gondolier. The prices here are reasonable for a good Italian dinner and include the gondola ride afterward. With that thrown in, I'd call this place one of the biggest dinner bargains around.
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