The dining scene is hotter than ever, with 2024 ushering in an array of exciting new restaurants in Scottsdale. From a local legend debuting a fresh concept to acclaimed chefs from across the country setting up shop, these five new hotspots showcase the diverse flavors that make Scottsdale a true foodie destination.
Beginner’s Luck
Valley icon Chef Bernie Kantak’s latest addition to his restaurant group features a winning hand of family recipes and favorites from his other spots, including his famous Stetson Chopped Salad. Start your morning with shakshuka (baked eggs in a rich tomato sauce with local Noble Bread for dipping) or My Rich Uncle’s French Toast with coconut-pecan streusel and butterscotch syrup. Or enjoy lunch and dinner savoring the Lucky Burger gilded with Grandma Francis’ chili sauce or the 12-hour pork bowl (pictured in header), a delicious mélange of slow-roasted pork, blue corn grits, avocado, chicharrónes, queso fresco and more which earned a double gold at the Devour food festival.
La Fogata Kitchen & Bar
La Fogata Kitchen & Bar has arrived as part of The Scottsdale Resort & Spa’s $40 million makeover. The dining room, anchored by a wood-fire grill, or the patio overlooking the lush McCormick Ranch Golf Club greens set the stage for a menu melding modern Sonoran cuisine with global influences. Dive into standouts like meatballs bathed in mole and served with hand-pressed tortillas, scallops and grilled street corn topped with chimichurri and drizzled with cauliflower bisque, or Meat and Potatoes - an unassuming name for a dish that’s a total indulgence, featuring gnocchi, braised oxtail, mushrooms, and black truffle cheese.
Luna by Giada at Caesars
Luna by Giada has landed at the luxe Caesars Republic Scottsdale, and it's as chic as you'd expect from celebrity Chef Giada De Laurentiis. The elegant restaurant offers coastal Italian fare, pizzas and pastas in a sophisticated setting with Giada’s personal touches like the LED pattern in the ceiling representing the constellations seen the night her daughter was born. Stand-outs include Sicilian focaccia, carpaccio with bresaola (an Italian cured, air-dried beef) and her signature lemon spaghetti with mascarpone cheese. But you also don’t want to miss the lemon pizza with garlic creme or pork and veal agnolotti in a parmesan broth, two exclusive dishes created by De Laurentiis for Scottsdale.
Tell Your Friends
The Americano, already one of Scottsdale's hottest dining destinations, has upped the ante with an underground secret. Enter through a mirrored panel in a hallway and you’ll descend the stairs to find a swanky supper club where live music sets the mood and guests are dressed to impress. In addition to a stellar beverage program, you’ll find a mouthwatering menu with specialties such as fire-roasted oysters topped with spinach and Chinese sausage, kimchi honey-glazed Korean fried chicken with smoked bacon ranch (and optional caviar!), and a splurge-worthy Steak Foie Poivre for two showcasing a 16-oz New York strip steak draped in a decadent green peppercorn and foie gras sauce.
Uchi Scottsdale
Uchi, the first Arizona outpost from James Beard Award-winning Chef Tyson Cole’s renowned Austin-based restaurant group, has opened in Old Town and it’s every bit as spectacular as you’d expect. Let the expert staff guide you through the menu or go all in with a multicourse omakase for a surprise adventure. Uchi’s greatest hits include hama chili (yellowtail with chile and orange supremes), sake tom kha (salmon with coconut and lime leaf), and kinoko nigiri (brown butter-basted mushrooms), but also look out for daily specials like Wagyu striploin with maitake mushrooms and Hollandaise. And be sure to save room for dessert – they’re just as stunning.
