By local contributor
Dawson Fearnow
Scottsdale, Arizona, may be known for its desert landscapes, but it's also home to an impressive selection of seafood restaurants that bring coastal flavors to the heart of the Southwest. Whether you're craving fresh oysters, succulent lobster, or a flavorful fish taco, the city offers a variety of dining experiences that showcase the best of seafood from around the world. Use this list of the best seafood restaurants in Scottsdale to help satisfy every seafood lover’s palate.
With two locations in Scottsdale, Chula Seafood Market is a family-owned fishmonger with a simple promise: They sell the freshest seafood because they caught it themselves. It all starts off the coast of San Diego, where the Heflin family operates their own custom-built commercial fishing boat, specializing in harpoon-caught swordfish and other fruits of the California Pacific. However, after selling to restaurants for years, in 2015 the family decided to get back to its Arizona roots by opening a small storefront in South Scottsdale, followed recently by the opening of their North Scottsdale storefront. Swing by today and pick up and ever-changing selection of fresh, never frozen and sustainable fish-by-the pound, or savor made-to-order dishes such as Hawaiian-style poke, seafood salads and tuna sandwiches.
As the salt-kissed sister to the swanky Mastro’s Steakhouse, Mastro’s Ocean Club is all about over-the-top opulence, from the impeccably dressed wait staff to the sky-high Seafood Tower overflowing with the finest fruits del mer. And naturally, the entrées lean toward steak-sized chops of everything from Florida Grouper to Pacific Swordfish, alongside delicious starters like oysters on the half-shell, lobster cocktail and, for meat lovers, the Wagyu Meatballs with melted burrata cheese.
One of the local's favorite seafood restaurants is The Montauk, offering a little yacht club charm to the heart of Old Town Scottsdale. This open, whitewashed space features a large central bar and cozy booth seating, but also opens to a series of rambling dining patios. That said, this Hamptons’ inspired hotspot can get a little ‘club-y’ on weekend nights, so your best bet is lunch or especially soaking in the sun at brunch with a refreshing Prickly Pear Paloma or Watermelon Mule.
Where to begin with the Scottsdale landmark that is The Salt Cellar seafood restaurant? No seriously, you might have a hard time finding the entrance to this underground eatery because there’s only a chimney and a couple of wooden sheds aboveground. But stroll down the wooden steps and you’ll find yourself awash in nautical nirvana, from the live Maine lobsters sulking in the waiting room water tank, to the massive chalkboard listing today’s fresh catches from across the globe. And happy hour sets sail twice daily at 4 - 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight.