Top Five Scottsdale Restaurants
April 5, 2010
•Le Cordon Bleu
•Scottsdale
• 0 Comments
Top Five Scottsdale Restaurants
Only a few miles from bustling downtown Phoenix and within stone’s throw of several vibrant college campuses, Scottsdale’s reputation as a foodie’s paradise is growing. Here are five of the top restaurants in the area ranging from Italian to Japanese to American.
Oregano’s Pizza
Oregano’s Pizza is not only a Scottsdale favorite, but an Arizona favorite. With eight locations in the metropolitan area, including this one in Old Town Scottsdale, pizza lovers flock to enjoy their thin crust Chicago-style pies.
Based on the restaurant owner’s family recipe and father’s dream to own a restaurant, Oregano’s is a family restaurant in every sense of the word. Legend has it that the family behind Oregano’s might actually be the world’s first pizza deliverers.
The menu contains ordinary pizza and pasta fare, like you’d expect, but with a few variations that set it apart from other Scottsdale pizza restaurants including stuffed cheese crust and healthy spinach salads.
Roka Akor
This Japanese restaurant remains true to its Asian influences by offering robatayaki , an open air charcoal grill in the dining area. If prime beef and spicy fried tofu are not what you are after, Roka Akor offers a selection of sushi and sashimi as well.
Roka Akor cannot be mentioned without also mentioning the adjoining Shochu Lounge. Many Scottsdale locals come here for happy hour to enjoy shochu, which is a distilled spirit made from rice, barley, and sweet potato. Shochu drinks are mixed with tonics of different fruits and herbs and chilled by ice made from purified water and carved to look like mini icebergs.
Randy’s Restaurant and Ice Cream
Despite its name, Randy’s Restaurant and Ice Cream is most known for its breakfast. However, the ice cream is extraordinary too.
The diner-style restaurant opened in 1981 and has developed a strong following over the years. Randy’s fans will tell you it’s popular because of its reliable menu of all-American comfort foods and because of its friendly ambiance.
First time guests should not expect a high brow, high priced meal. In fact, you should expect the opposite. Credit cards are not accepted here, but your dogs are welcome on the patio.
Deseo
Typically, hotel restaurants have a reputation for feeling, well, like a hotel restaurant. But the staff at Westin Kierland Resort & Spa have done a fine job creating a unique dining experience at Deseo.
It’s best to leave the kids at home when visiting Deseo. Its fine art and upscale ambiance make it an ideal date spot.
The menu has a Latin flare with a Cuban emphasis. The most popular items include the mojitos, ceviche, and lobster tacos.
Rancho Pino
Rancho Pino plays on an old western desert theme, but keeps a current, trendy menu. This unique twist brings a variety of dishes such as ricotta gnocchi, steak salad, wild salmon, and vegetarian pasta.
When dining at Rancho Pino it is obvious they have thought of every detail. The chef uses fresh, locally grown, and organic ingredients whenever possible, and the wait staff is trained to understand the extensive wine list, which includes popular favorites and vintage varieties.
This article is presented by Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Scottsdale. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Scottsdale offers Le Cordon Bleu culinary education classes and culinary training programs in Scottsdale, Arizona. To learn more about the class offerings, please visit http://www.Chefs.edu/Scottsdale for more information. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Scottsdale does not guarantee employment or salary.