Across Old Town patios and neighborhood bakeries, Scottsdale’s woman-owned restaurants have defined much of the city’s culinary voice. Whether it’s a James Beard Award winner elevating vegetables, a French-trained pastry chef perfecting croissants, or a caterer-turned-restaurateur setting the brunch standard, these spots show how women continue to set the pace for dining in Scottsdale.
FnB
Since opening FnB in 2009, Charleen Badman has helped redefine Scottsdale dining with a restaurant that prizes local produce and seasonal cooking. Badman, the chef and co-owner alongside Pavle Milic, is known as the “veggie whisperer” for her inventive, vegetable-driven menus (including dishes like chanterelle mushroom frittatas and scarpaccia tarts) that highlight Arizona farms. In 2019, she earned the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest, cementing her reputation as one of the region’s leading chefs. FnB’s menu changes often, sometimes weekly, reflecting what local growers deliver. The restaurant is tucked into Craftsman Court in Old Town Scottsdale, where its intimate dining room blends casual comfort with polished service. And after more than 15 years, FnB stands as a cornerstone of Scottsdale’s dining scene.
The Herb Box
Susan Wilcox turned a catering side hustle into one of Scottsdale’s most recognizable restaurants. She launched The Herb Box in 1995 as a whole-foods catering business, serving Paradise Valley and North Scottsdale events before opening a brick-and-mortar location in response to client demand. Nearly 30 years later, The Herb Box has grown into a three-tiered concept with two restaurants in Old Town and on Shea Boulevard, private dining spaces and a full-service catering arm. The seasonal menus highlight fresh ingredients (try the Butternut squash enchiladas with roasted peppers and cotija) and include thoughtful options for gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian and non-dairy diners. Through its growth, Wilcox has kept the focus on nutritious, flavorful food served in a space that feels lively, approachable and distinctly local.
Marcellino Ristorante
At Marcellino Ristorante, co-owner Sima Verzino has shaped one of Old Town’s most enduring Italian dining rooms alongside chef and husband Marcellino Verzino. Open since 2003, the restaurant builds its reputation on handmade pastas like orecchiette with broccoli rabe, pappardelle Bolognese, and gnocchi in gorgonzola cream, served alongside seasonal antipasti and a wine list that leans Italian. A fixture in the business, Sima guides the front of the house with warmth and polish, creating a setting that feels equal parts neighborhood trattoria and special-occasion destination.
The Fry Bread Lounge
Opened in 2022, The Fry Bread Lounge brings a contemporary lens to Indigenous cooking under chef-owner Denise Rosales of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. At its heart is fry bread: golden, chewy, and versatile, layered with toppings like green chile pork, smoky beans, or sweetened with cinnamon sugar and honey. The menu also stretches into shareable plates, cocktails with native ingredients, and rotating specials. In Old Town Scottsdale, Rosales has built a lounge that honors heritage while shaping Scottsdale’s dining voice.
Daily Dose
Breakfast and brunch take center stage at Daily Dose Old Town Bar & Grill, the downtown Scottsdale staple launched by JenLyn Long in 2008. The menu leans hearty yet playful, think cinnamon roll pancakes, chilaquiles and spiked coffee cocktails alongside lighter options like acai bowls and fresh-pressed juices. That mix of indulgence and balance has kept the restaurant buzzing through mornings and afternoons, cementing its place as one of Old Town’s go-to brunch spots.
Pour Decisions
In 2021, Monique Armstrong turned a South Scottsdale corner into Pour Decisions Patio & Kitchen, a lively hangout that blurs the line between bar and restaurant. The menu riffs on pub fare with heft like brisket grilled cheese, sauced wings, and burgers stacked high meant for pairing with Arizona beers or house cocktails. With its roomy patio and steady calendar of live music, Armstrong’s spot has become a casual hangout for locals and visitors alike.
Chin Up Donuts
Alex McEntire traded spreadsheets for sprinkles when she left her corporate job to launch Chin Up Donuts, a Scottsdale donut shop known for creative brioche sweets. She first ran the business from her apartment before opening at The Promenade in North Scottsdale in 2020 and later expanding to Old Town. The donuts are made from scratch with butter, milk and eggs, giving them a rich texture that carries savory, spicy and unexpected toppings such as Hot Cheetos, bacon and espresso glaze. The shop reflects McEntire’s mission to elevate a childhood favorite while creating a fun, welcoming space for the community decorated in bright colors and retro decor. Chin Up also serves its own Pony Up Coffee; the perfect pairing for McEntire’s lineup of donuts.
