By james art Breakfast Club
breakfast
4400 N. Scottsdale Rd.
480-222-2582, breakfastclub.us
Wake up and smell the coffee. This sunny, luxurious place serves breakfast all day, and the selection is great. Try the huevos rancheros, eggs benedict (in all its delicious versions), and bananas foster pancakes. Other locations: Downtown Phoenix (602-354-7284), Biltmore (602-661-3443). $-$$
Cafe Monarch
New American
6939 E. First Ave.
480-970-7682, cafemonarch.com
Indulge in a fabulous four-course prix fixe dinner at this elegant fine dining restaurant where the atmosphere is quiet, the wine list is extensive and every waiter and sommelier is extremely attentive. $$$-$$$$
Dominic
Steak
15169 N. Scottsdale Rd. (Scottsdale neighborhood)
480-272-7271, dominickssteakhouse.com
The Mastro family, who created Mastro’s Steakhouses and Mastro’s Ocean Club, spent millions building this lavish beef temple in the Scottsdale neighborhood. Try the juicy bone-in beef steak. $$$$
El Chorro
American
5550 E. Lincoln Dr.
480-948-5170, elchorro.com
A touchstone of the valley for generations, El Chorro offers an unparalleled patio and welcoming dining experience. The core of the old menu remains, with an emphasis on such mid-20th-century favorites as shrimp cocktail, beef Stroganoff and almond trout. $$$$
Fire at will
Modern American
4912 E. Shea Blvd.
480-207-1819, eatfireatwill.com
Dom and Holly Ruggiero bring sexiness to this neighborhood restaurant, serving great cocktails and elevated comfort food like lamb tartare, scotch egg, and mac and cheese. $$
Let’s have lunch
Japanese
7017 E. McDowell Rd.
480-306-4023, hainoonaz.com
The man behind this relaxed, dimly lit bar-restaurant is none other than 2007 James Beard Award winner Nobuo Fukuda. He’s created a tapas-style menu that’s effortlessly modern and remarkably affordable. Enjoy roasted eggplant with bacon miso or a soft-shell crab sandwich on stellar house-made focaccia while sipping premium sake. $$
Japanese Kasai steak
Steak/sushi/teppanyaki
14344 N. Scottsdale Rd.
480-607-1114, sappororestaurants.com
The Asian-inspired North Scottsdale hot spot formerly known as Sapporo offers dozens of sashimi and sushi rolls, great teppanyaki and plenty of Pacific dishes. $$-$$$
Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles
Food for the soul
3133 N. Scottsdale Rd.
480-945-1920, loloschickenandwaffles.com
Nestled in spacious digs, Lo-Lo’s is the Valley’s friendliest and hippest soul food spot. The fried chicken and waffles are amazing, but so are the mac and cheese, cornbread, and red velvet cake. Other locations: Phoenix (602-340-1304), Gilbert (480-207-6173), Phoenix Sky Harbor (602-273-3300). $
Mastro’s Ocean Club
seafood
15045 N. Kierland Blvd (Kierland Commons)
480-443-8555, mastrosrestaurants.com
Multiple windows and limestone walls give this sybaritic seafood restaurant an elegant atmosphere. The dimly lit lounge offers drinks and live entertainment, while the dining room focuses on ultra-fresh fish. $$$-$$$$
night owl
American
1645 N Hayden Rd.
480-687-1827, nightowlaz.com
This Midwestern basement-inspired pizzeria is destined for success, with pinball machines, mid-century lamps and family portraits on the walls. The wings are spot on, each with a perfect combination of crunch, meat and salt. You can win here with a $10 lunch special featuring a combination of grilled chicken wings and a slice of pizza, as well as $6 “ringers,” known to everyone else as shooters. $$
Old town tortilla factory
Southwest
6910 E. Main St.
480-945-4567, oldtowntortillafactory.com
There is no better place than the shady courtyard of the Old Town with its citrus trees. Dining indoors is just as enjoyable, thanks to the charm of this adobe cottage and innovative cuisine that combines Mexican and Native American influences. $$$
Pizzeria Virtù
Italian
6952 E. Main St.
480-663-9797, pizzeriavirtu.com
A casual, family-friendly sibling of chef-owner Gio Osso’s Virtù Honest Craft, this artisan pizzeria in Old Town provides the antidote to bland commercial pie, churning out no-fail oven-baked VPN pizzas with next-level toppings. like smoked scamorza. $$
Salt Cocina
Mexican
15323 N. Scottsdale Rd. (Scottsdale neighborhood)
480-245-6708, solcocina.com
For the fajita-weary, we suggest this modern Mexican restaurant in the Scottsdale neighborhood, where one will find such loaded Baja delights as elote tortas and deliciously crispy shrimp tacos “cucarachas.” $$-$$$
Toca Madera
Modern Mexican
4736 N. Goldwater Blvd.
480-478-0157, tocamadera.com
Located in the luxury wing of Scottsdale Fashion Square, this dazzling West Hollywood import offers reinvented Mexican food, much of it organic, vegetarian or vegan. Plan to spend astronomical sums on fried calamari, sashimi Mexicano and American wagyu cooked on a hot stone. $$$-$$$$
Study
Sushi
3821 N. Scottsdale Rd.
480-916-0916, uchi.uchirestaurants.com
Tyson Cole’s menu is extensive and it’s hard to go wrong here, but think kabocha tempura and crispy rice cake when you’re on a budget; and gyutoro, Santa Barbara uni and hiramasa sashimi when you’re not. $$$-$$$$
Zinc
FRENCH/CALIFORNIA
4712 N Goldwater Blvd.
623-745-9616, lezinque.com
Paris meets SoCal at this upscale bistro, café and wine bar located in the ever-evolving luxury wing of Scottsdale Fashion Square. Find French dishes such as tartines, charcuterie and ratatouille, and consider spending the entire grilled brassino on chimichurri. $-$$