Best Restaurants for Foodies in Arcadia

Cafe Monarch in Scottsdale provides an unforgettable dining experience, even though we had a small hiccup at the start. We arrived for our reservation and had to wait about 20 minutes to be seated, which was a bit frustrating given that I was dressed in “dinner” heels. IYKYK. However, once we were seated, everything more than made up for the delay. We opted for the prix fixe menu, which was an absolute delight. The blood orange salmon aguachile, braised lamb, venison, shrimp, and ahi tuna were all bursting with flavor. I had the filet mignon, while my boyfriend enjoyed the Japanese Wagyu, which was truly exceptional—unbelievably tender and flavorful, cooked to absolute perfection. The sauces and sides were perfectly balanced, and my picky eater boyfriend couldn’t get enough of everything! We also added oysters and caviar to start, which were so fresh and crisp, and charred octopus, which was cooked to perfection with a lovely char but still wonderfully tender. For dessert, the chocolate strawberry cake was a showstopper—beautifully presented and delicious, with the Valentine's theme executed flawlessly. The cocktails were beautifully crafted, each with a perfect balance of flavors and a nice kick. If you enjoy wine, the pairings were spot on, and I was also impressed by their unique selection of zero-proof drinks, which my boyfriend really enjoyed. The service was impeccable throughout the meal. Even with the minor seating delay at the beginning, the staff’s attention to detail and hospitality made the experience one to remember. Highly recommend Cafe Monarch for a special evening out—it’s truly a Scottsdale gem!

My wife has been wanting to try for some time so we booked with our BIL & SIL for Valentine's Day. We got there about 35 min early to enjoy a drink prior to dinner but they had one bartender, one, on a Friday on Valentine's Day. We waited in line for 15 minutes and didn't end up getting a drink because our table was ready a bit early. I wasn't very pleased but the hostess just sort of shrugged it off when I mentioned it. Other than that one hiccup, we had a great experience. Our server was friendly and patient with us as we ordered a round of drinks and chatted a bit before ordering because we didn't get to prior to dinner. Our table ordered the two orders of Chicken Sausage Pasta, Beef Tenderloin and a Ribeye along with a couple shareable sides. Every person in our group had nothing but positive things to say about their food. The atmosphere was a nice quiet environment with great views of Camelback and the sunset. We felt that the prices were alright. $77 for a Ribeye and $66 for an 8oz tenderloin seems a bit high but overall we were ok with the total. I think it's somewhere that we would definitely return to though.

We had a wonderful meal on a Thursday evening. Just two of us. It was bustling as they have a solid happy hour daily 3:30-6:30. Started with beef tartare and octopus. Loved the endive vessel for the tartare instead of typical bread. Next course, gigli pasta - so simple yet full of flavor. I enjoyed the portion size for two people (smallish), allowing us to try a number of dishes. We are not big eaters but enjoy a variety. Lastly, as an entree we shared the branzino. Perfectly prepared, filleted, no head, no bones. The sauce was a compliment but did not take away the taste of the fish. Highly recommended! Service was spectacular too.

The Ends is an incredible restaurant. I love that they don’t use any seed oils and instead focus on cooking with tallow. The food is amazing, and I think their pasta is better than any Italian restaurant here in the Valley. I know everyone says this, but the Cacio e Pepe is definitely something to write home about. It’s really, really good. Almost equivalent to the one I had at Osteria Da Fortunata in Rome. The thick noodles and sauce are very similar. Absolutely delicious. We also had the mushroom pasta, meatballs, Hamachi crudo, and beet burrata. All excellent. The only downside was that they were out of multiple dishes, which was a bit disappointing. However, they made it up to us by giving us a $45 gift card, which we appreciated. Overall, it was a great experience, and I would definitely recommend it to friends and family.

Another wonderful dinner at Olive & Ivy! We ordered the crispy brussels sprouts as and appetizer and it was an excellent start. We also split a beet salad, and it didn’t disappoint for those who love beets. My wife then ordered the chicken scallopini and she loved it. I dined on the filet and it was cooked perfectly. The sauce was delicious and the scalloped potatoes which accompanied the steak made it a totally enjoyable meal. Service was again outstanding. Certainly will be going back during our stay in the Scottsdale area.