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18 places to eat in Scottsdale in November and December – phoenixmag.com

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. $-$$

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