The 15 Best Restaurants In Scottsdale, Arizona

When it comes to culinary hubs across the United States, major metropolitan cities like New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago often dominate the conversation. Unbeknownst to most, many smaller cities have become underground enclaves for some of the most inspired, creative, and delicious restaurants to flourish. Over the last decade, Scottsdale, Arizona has become home to one of the most exciting and elevated food scenes in the country.

Many of these exciting new restaurants in Scottsdale are moving away from the area's stereotypical Tex-Mex influence and have shifted focus to modern styles and seasonal flavors. Sourcing ingredients from Arizona's wealth of local produce and farmers, chefs across the city are working to highlight not only their own taste and skills but also the impressive and delicious regional flavors, creating a dynamic and exciting restaurant community for locals and visitors to enjoy. That said, we have rounded up must-try restaurants in Scottsdale!

In the heart of downtown Scottsdale, FnB brings Arizona's rich farming and agricultural community to the forefront of its stellar menu. This local and nationally celebrated establishment has been recognized for its excellence in food, wine, and service. That said, it is definitely best to play it safe and make a reservation beforehand.

The ever-changing menu focuses on local ingredients and seasonal specialties, so guests are guaranteed an exciting and unique dining experience each and every time. The menu is a true masterclass in refined cuisine, featuring dishes like roasted eggplant with fermented pineapple sauce, jerk chicken with fresh dug yellow potatoes, shishitos with confit albacore tuna, Meyer lemon kosho aioli, and more. At FnB, the wine list is just as important as the dinner menu. Beverage director Pavle Milic works tirelessly with local wineries and Chef Charleen Badman to create the ultimate tasting and pairing experience for guests to enjoy.

For over a decade, The Roaring Fork has been serving bold American cuisine that highlights wood-fired cooking. Its rustic menu pays homage to an old Western style of cooking, allowing the smoke and high heat of the wood fire to shine through in the cookery of each and every protein. The Roaring Fork Kitchen features a wood fire rotisserie, a wood oven for roasting, and an open flame grill that allows each dish to be prepared to perfection.

Swing by The Roaring Fork for its impressive happy hour offering $7 specialty cocktails and an extensive list of some of the most popular appetizers and small bites. Standout specialties from the dinner menu include a selection of all-natural black Angus steaks served with caramelized shallot butter and a chipotle demi glaze. Try the 8-ounce filet for a more delicate cut, or dive into the impressive 22-ounce bone-in rib eye for a classic cowboy-style dinner.

Roka Akor brings a modern twist to classic Japanese robata cuisine. A sleek interior featuring local design elements mixed with deep wood tones and streamlined lighting reflects the clean yet flavorful style of cooking presented across the menu. Guests are invited to watch and interact with the highly-skilled chefs preparing their meals on the traditional robata grill in this one-of-a-kind dining room.

Roka Akor's chef-driven menu offers contemporary preparations of traditional Japanese food designed to be shared. Standout favorites from the impressive menu include the highest quality cuts of rare Wagyu steak from across Japan, decadent grilled seafood, and delicate yet bold sushi preparations. Pair with a drink from the extensive selection of signature cocktails, wine, sake, and a famed whiskey list for the complete Roka Akor experience. The restaurant also offers an Omakase or "to entrust the chef" tasting menu designed to bring the most special dishes and drinks for the table to taste, share, and enjoy.

Owned and operated by a husband and wife duo, Sel is bringing elevated and innovative seasonal fare to Scottsdale. The globally inspired menu focuses on simple yet sophisticated flavors designed to let the high-quality ingredients shine. Spicy, bold, international influences come together to create the restaurant's signature New American menu featuring the best produce and protein Scottsdale has to offer.

In addition to the traditional menu boasting impressive steak dishes like the ultimately luxe prime tomahawk steak and the Miyazaki wagyu sirloin, Sel also offers a full vegetarian tasting menu. This impressive six-course experience with an optional wine pairing takes diners through a full meal of bright and bold meatless dishes. From a delicate ever-changing amuse bouche to a rich roasted squash and porcini mushroom risotto entree, and finishing with a beautiful interpretation of a strawberry marzipan shortcake, diners enjoy a full-tasting experience of plant-based culinary mastery right in Arizona.

Conveniently located in the La Mirada Shopping Center in the North Scottsdale neighborhood, Lamp Pizzeria is elevating classic wood-fired pizzas with high-temperature cookery and bold Italian flavors. The rustic yet stylish interior dining space offers views of the beautiful wood oven boasting the restaurant's name in terracotta tiles. This open-concept design allows the guests to enjoy a casual sense of involvement in the fast-paced cooking process.

Start off your no-fuss, big-flavor meal with one of The Lamp Pizzeria's many different appetizers, such as the famed Mignulata, a traditional Sicilian stuffed bread dish made with the restaurant's house-made pizza dough and filled with Sicilian sausage, pecorino, and cauliflower. For the star of the meal, Lamp Pizzeria offers a wide array of red and white pizzas to choose from. Enjoy a Sicilian classic with the Red Pizza featuring homemade charred pizza dough, tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, and Parmigiano Reggiano. Alternatively, get creative with one of the more unique pizzas for a one-of-a-kind Lamp Pizzeria experience, like The Gordon, a white pizza topped with dry cured capicola, spinach, roasted crimini mushrooms, garlic, goat cheese, and sharp provolone.

Located in Old Town Scottsdale is the refined and critically acclaimed hotspot, Virtù Honest Craft. Operated and owned by Chef Gio Osso, Virtù Honest Craft has received some of the most prestigious recognition in the culinary world, including a James Beard Award nomination for Best New Restaurant in 2014, as well as recognition immediately upon its establishment as one of the 20 best new restaurants in the United States by Esquire Magazine (how cool!).

Taking a look at the Virtù Honest Craft menu, it is easy to understand the overwhelming praise the restaurant continues to receive. Chef Osso describes Virtù Honest Craft's menu as "a wandering, Mediterranean-inspired menu that changes almost weekly, sometimes daily." The ever-changing menu often features a variety of handmade pastas, seasonal produce from local Arizona farmers, seafood from globally respected fish markets, and a seasonal cocktail program that offers pressed juices and rare spirits.

Located in the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, A Gurney's Resort and Spa, elements restaurant focuses on freshness and flavor. With incredible desert views at the base of the stunning mountain landscape, guests are able to enjoy elements' farm-fresh American cuisine with touches of Asian influence in a serene and uplifting setting.

The chef-driven menu at elements focuses on seasonal, local, and organic produce as well as sustainable and fresh seafood. Its diverse menu features dishes accommodating a wide array of dietary preferences, including a selection of vegetarian and gluten-free options to ensure that all guests enjoy the same high-quality meal. Some menu standouts include the miso-glazed Chilean sea bass which is a bright and exciting dish served with cilantro avocado rice, sesame shiitake mushrooms, and bok choy. You can also enjoy a veggie-forward favorite such as the green curry hot pot which is a rich blend of tofu, coconut black rice, and an array of perfectly seasoned vegetables.