From high-concept tacos to high-drama steakhouses, these impressive additions among the newest additions to Scottsdale’s dining scene.
The Guest House
Low lighting, leather booths and a celebratory air define this modern American steakhouse in Scottsdale Quarter. Thick prime ribeyes and New York strips arrive with a dark sear and juicy center. Beyond the classic hits, meat gets creative. Try wagyu pastrami, chocolate-fed beef, or even a $100 cheesesteak. The seafood program is anchored by a raw bar with fresh oysters, bright yuzu-lavender scallop ceviche, and an intensive caviar service. Cocktails lean theatrical, with plenty of smoke and stagecraft. Late in the evening, DJs shift the vibes into more of a high-energy lounge.
Teleferic Barcelona
This moody, two-level space brings the vivacious spirit of a Spanish tapas bar to Scottsdale Fashion Square. Thin slices of ruby Jamón Ibérico fan out across plates. Dinners taste through charred octopus, garlic shrimp and crispy patatas bravas. Massive pans of smoky, socarrat-bottomed paella move through the dining room, turning heads. The bar stays lively, pouring cold Cava, house-made vermouth and a wonderful gin-and-tonic flight. On the way out, browse their grocery nook for imported olive oils, tinned fish and artisan Spanish chocolates to enjoy at home.
Wayward
If this Old Town eatery with modern saloon vibes had a passport tracking its culinary influences, there wouldn’t be enough pages for all the stamps. Wayward unites far-flung food traditions to build its own unique comfort foods. Think mafaldine swimming in duck bolognese, the long noodles tinged with mapo tofu and the sharp heat of Sichuan pepper. Or bone-marrow poutine oozing with foie gras gravy and cotija crema. An epic, 2- to 4-person taco board is the showstopper, boasting smoked beef ribs, warm corn tortillas, borracho beans and five salsas. Almost every dish sees food anew.
Heritage Kitchen & Cocktails
You can see the McDowell Mountains from this North Scottsdale restaurant’s back patio, but its cooking channels the breezy flavors of the Mediterranean, Italy most of all. Gourmet pizzas, fresh pastas and Happy Hour folded-pizza sandwiches draw crowds. Heritage shines off the beaten path, turning out dishes like delicate crab tortelloni and a seaside-invoking lobster-and-chorizo fideo. Chef Christopher Brugman’s refined, bold approach gives this neighborhood restaurant fresh perspective, from tender octopus with lemon curd to grilled lamb ribs paired with apricot, mint and almond.
Din Tai Fung
Dumplings. Endless dumplings. That’s why crowds flock to this Taipei-born destination in Scottsdale Fashion Square. Landing a table requires patience, but what arrives in the bamboo steamers justifies the wait. Xiao long bao (soup dumplings) hold a delicate, piping-hot broth and fragrant pork, all lovingly rolled and sealed by hand. Shrimp and pork wontons are another winner, their slippery noodles tinged red with tangy chili-oil sauce. It’s worth tasting sleepers beyond the steamer basket, including deeply charred skirt steak and a feather-light wok-fried rice that ranks among the best in town.
JING
Think it’s impossible to capture the magic of a Chinatown roast duck in a sleek, modern dining room? At JING, under polished brass and crimson light, duck’s splendidly lacquered skin snaps under your knife, giving way to deeply fragrant meat. The kitchen is a creative mishmash, combining high-end Asian fusion into a menu that’s part steak, part sushi, part YOLO. Raw-tuna pizza has a crackling crust and truffle oil punch. Wagyu arrives sizzling from its hot stone. Regal seafood towers rise high. Diners sip bubbles, premium sake, and cocktails like an expert 5-spice Old Fashioned, the classic edited with just a whisper of musk, bridging it nicely to the food.
Il Bracco
Hailing from the Lone Star State, this concept arrived on Scottsdale Road with polished ease and an airy pan-Italian style. It’s very light and breezy. Crudo lets the natural sweetness of tuna, salmon and scallop shine, with minimal touches of olive oil and capers. House-made pastas are classic or just a bit evolved, like an al limone with gentle chew and brightness. Greatest hits like burrata, meatballs, eggplant parm and chicken piccata abound. Pair it all with a house frozen Greyhound cocktail with Aperol or explore a wine list that strays off the usual path.
