The 10 Top Rated Restaurants in Scottsdale

Matador scoured restaurant listings on both platforms. Those with the top ratings (out of five) were added together for an aggregate rating of the best places to eat in Scottsdale. To ensure businesses are well-established, only those with over 250 reviews were considered. Planning on where to eat by customer reviews alone is not always reliable, but they can offer insight. And by looking at feedback across the two popular platforms, you can gain insider tips that can help the decision of where to eat as well as offering tips on what to order.

If you’re planning a trip to the Valley, here are the best restaurants in Scottsdale according to customer ratings.

Franco’s Italian Caffe

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Rating: 9.4 (4.7 Google Maps, 4.7 Yelp)

Listed as one of the best places to get Italian food in Scottsdale by Experience Scottsdale, Franco’s is very much a local favorite. And it has been so for quite some time. Italian-born chef Franco Fazzuoli and his long-time partner in food, chef Steve Martin, have been running Franco’s in Old Town Scottsdale since 2013. This is by no means their first rodeo. Fazzuoli has managed restaurants in Florence and New York.

Homemade pasta is a must here. Whether you opt for handmade gnocchi, truffle tagliatelle, or my personal favorite, linguine vongole, you can’t go wrong. Secondis (mains) are as simple as authentic Italian cookery should be, with chicken contadin (chicken bathed in white wine with tomatoes and fresh herbs) and filet mignon being the highlights. The specials board lists half a dozen other dishes. Yelp reviewer Kat V and her husband recently enjoyed the duck ravioli and squid ink pasta specials. “We did not have leftovers,” says Kat, “and we don’t have room for desserts.” But hopefully, you do because Fazzuoli and Martin again fall back on the classics like tiramisu and mascarpone cheesecake and execute them with perfection.

Franco’s Italian Caffe: 4327 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Cafe Monarch

Rating: 9.4 (4.8 Google Maps, 4.6 Yelp)

Cafe Monarch is one of the most romantic fine dining restaurants in Scottsdale and, arguably, Arizona. Expect top-notch service, an exceptional wine list (the over 90-page menu is a weighty but an exciting read), an elegant ambiance, and a seasonal and innovative menu.

Quality produce is front and center here. The four-course dinner menu ($140 – $280) features well throughout dishes such as fennel soup with duck confit, goat cheese, pistachio, and brown butter, and pork belly with scallops topped with orange fennel and macadamia. You can add on sides or delicacies such as seared Hudson Valley foie gras and oysters with caviar. Be prepared for a steep bill, but if you want to splash out in Scottsdale, do so here. Yelp reviewers share this sentiment. “Each dish that graces the table is a masterpiece, crafted with precision and passion,” says patron E Z.

Cafe Monarch: 6939 E 1st Ave, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Craft 64

Rating: 9.2 (4.7 Google Maps, 4.5 Yelp)

Craft 64 is a great shout for a casual dinner, especially if you have a group. They are known for outstanding wood-fired pizzas and the selection of 36 local craft beers on tap. The pub/brewery runs a Happy Hour from 3:00 PM — 7:00 PM every day, where the outdoor patio fills with hungry and thirsty locals.

All produce is locally sourced, and their mozzarella cheese is hand-made on-site, along with the daily fresh dough. At first glance, the pies don’t seem to deviate from an upscale pizza menu. But details like the use of local mesquite honey in pizza “Honey Bee” show creativity and care for Arizonan ingredients. On Yelp, regular Cara M says she tucks into a honey-drizzled pepperoni slice at least once a week, and it never disappoints.

Craft 64 : 6922 E Main St, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Citizen Public House

Rating: 9.0 (4.6 Google Maps, 4.4 Yelp)

Listed as one of the best places for a cocktail in Scottsdale by Experience Scottsdale, Citizen Public House has been a downtown staple for over a decade. But there’s no resting on laurels. Bernie Kantak, co-owner and chef was recently nominated for a James Beard Award.

Stop in for a draft cocktail (or dealer’s choice) with posh bar snacks like popcorn in rendered bacon or a Social Hour (4:00 PM — 6:00 PM) beer fondue with Asian pear, sausage, and pretzel bread. The dinner menu is equally creative. The Original Chopped Salad (with Asiago cheese, currants, dried sweet corn, and a buttermilk dressing) has inspired imitations across the country. Pair that with melt-in-the-mouth pan-seared scallops over sweet corn grits.

Co-owner and operator Andrew Fritz told Matador Network Scottsdale has a lot of great options for delicious food, but “hospitality is what really sets Citizen Public House apart.” This sentiment is mirrored in Yelp reviews. “The staff is what makes this place a gem,” says patron Jennifer W. Another reviewer, Skyler P, mentioned the level of detail of service is outstanding and that they received a personal note in their takeout.

Citizen Public House: 7111 E 5th Ave, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Dilla Libre

Rating: 9.0 (4.6 Google Maps, 4.4 Yelp)

For Mexican plates head to the award-winning Dilla Libre. “We fancy ourselves the quesadilla, taco, and margarita champions of the world,” says owner Mike Baum. The bold statement is backed by numerous five-star reviews on Yelp that rave about the quality of the quesadillas and mezcal craft cocktails.

Beginning with one of the first gourmet food trucks in the Phoenix metropolitan area, Dilla Libre now has two locations: Dilla Libre Uno in North Phoenix (13th Street and Northern) and Dilla Libre Dos in South Scottsdale (Hayden and Thomas). The quesadilla menu is inspired. From the Dank Herb Shrimp Dilla with pico de gallo, Tapatio (hot sauce) crema, and Thai Basil to the Banh Migo with slow-cooked pulled pork, Maggi aioli, and pickled vegetables, the menu is far from the typical. Dilla Libre is also one of the better options for vegan food. Choose from the Vegan Carne Asada Fries: Hand-cut fries topped with grilled Beyond Burger, vegan chile, pico de gallo, or the Vegan Bean Burro: pinto beans, Spanish rice, onions, cilantro, and vegan cheese.

Dilla Libre: 8018 E Thomas Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Virtù Honest Craft

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Rating: 9.0 (4.6 Google Maps, 4.4 Yelp)

One of the best places for an intimate date night, Virtù Honest Craft is inside the charming Bespoke Inn bed and breakfast in the Old Town. Chef Gio Osso’s restaurant was nominated by the James Beard Foundation for “Best New Restaurant” in 2014, and since then, they’ve gone from strength to strength with Mediterranean-inspired handmade pastas and craft cocktails. “I describe my food as Van Halen meets Mozart,” shares Osso with Matador Network, “a beautiful, really loud symphony with attitude on a plate,” the chef continues.

Osso’s Mediterranean roots inspire the menu that changes frequently (sometimes daily) but always features the season’s best seafood, prime meats, fresh pasta, and regional produce. Favorites include hazelnut-crusted scallops with bacon and caramelized onion gnocchi. The 58-seat eatery is a popular choice. Booking in advance is advised. Five-star Yelp patrons recommend al fresco dining on the fairy light-draped outdoor patio.

Virtù Honest Craft:3701 N Marshall Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Sel

Rating: 8.9 (4.5 Google Maps, 4.4 Yelp)

Family-owned and operated Sel is a 100-seat fine dining restaurant on Main Street in Old Town Scottsdale. Whether you opt for the five-course seasonal tasting menu ($140) or à la carte, expect bold flavors and visually stunning beautifully crafted dishes like lump crab poached in herb-uni butter and grilled octopus with squid ink capellini.

Sel tells Matador Network that they are proud of being a neighborhood business that offers a “professional yet understated service.” The unpretentious nature at Sel is welcoming, making this one of the rare fine-dining restaurants where you can expect exceptional quality without fuss.

Sel:7044 E Main St, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Olive & Ivy

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Rating: 8.9 (4.6 Google Maps, 4.3 Yelp)

Scottsdale residents and visitors are treated to around 330 days of sunshine, so many venues have patios. One of the better is Olive & Ivy, where dining al fresco on the sun-drenched patio is a must.

Affordable and shareable dishes are the star here. Bruschetta is served for one or three with lashings of salmon lox, prosciutto with fig preserve, butternut squash with lemon ricotta, and avocado with candied lemon being some of the favorites. Flatbreads (think Brussels sprouts and pancetta), shareable grains, and classic pasta dishes are also popular. It’s great for brunch and early evening cocktails, too. Expect crowd-pleasing and colorful drinks such as the skinny spicy margarita, Sicilian spritz, and their Strawberry Crop Top (strawberry jacked Roku gin, Combier Pamplemousse, and pressed lemon).

Olive & Ivy: 7135 E Camelback Rd #195, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

FnB Restaurant

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Rating: 8.8 (4.6 Google Maps, 4.2 Yelp)

If you enjoy wine, FnB is a great shout. Pavle Milic, the beverage director and front of house manager, curated the first Arizona-only wine list. Local wine — including Vermentino, Grenache blends, and Milic’s own southern Arizonan label, Los Milics — pairs well with the regionally inspired vegetable-forward cooking of chef Charleen Badman.

FnB’s menu is seasonal. Spring 2024 saw fresh dishes such as chicory radish and fennel salad with snap peas, chicken paprikash with fingerling potatoes and dill, and bluenose bass with romano beans and roasted tomato. The venue is small. Reviewer Paul D remarks, “You feel like you are being welcomed into someone’s home.” And the service mirrors this. Whether you are a wine aficionado or a novice, the helpful staff will find a the perfect glass for you.

FnB Restaurant: 7125 E 5th Ave #31, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Roaring Fork

Rating: 8.8 (4.6 Google Maps, 4.2 Yelp)

Roaring Fork has three locations: Scottsdale, Downtown Austin, and Austin Stonelake. Perfect for groups (they cater for parties of up to 110 guests), the Scottsdale venue has been the go-to for events since 1996.

Wood-fired cooking is center stage. Flame-grilled steaks and wood-fired rotisserie chicken with sides of truffle fries, green chili mac and cheese, and greens are hearty and generous in portion. The warm and welcoming ambiance is also mentioned in Yelp reviews, as are the desert options (don’t skip the berry cheesecake). Like all venues listed here, it’s recommended to book in advance.

Roaring Fork: 4800 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251