– Where to Eat in Scottsdale AZ: Crudo –
I had been reading a lot of accolades about Crudo and finally had an opportunity to dine there. (Crudo is actually located in Phoenix’s 85018 zip code, but it is a quick trip from Scottsdale.)
Crudo’s menu is quite straightforward, but the flavors in the dishes themselves are complex and delicious. And while all items can be purchased a la carte, most diners opt to do one of the tasting menus that come with three, four or five course options.
The menu is divided into four sections:
- Crudo – “Raw” preparations of various fish
- Cotto – “Cooked” items, including pastas
- Mozza – “Mozzarella” and other cheese selections
- Griglia – “Grilled” which is where you will find the meats and seafood
There are also several side dishes that you can select from. One of the ones that kept coming up as a favorite among diners was the crispy pigs ears, but unfortunately, I am not brave enough to try them…
My dining companion and I both opted for the tasting menu and we are glad we did. We both thought the albacore crudo was outstanding. It comes with slices of albacore that are layered with truffle, black garlic and thinly sliced apples. I also tried the ahi tuna crudo that came with smoked olives, lemon and egg. It was another good choice.
From the mozza category, I tried the burrata which they paired with arugula and a light vinaigrette. It was excellent.
Moving onto cotto, we had two dishes. I opted for the mushroom dish which was mushrooms and truffle with mozzarella cheese and an egg on top. It was decadent and delicious, but not too heavy. My dining companion had the gnocchi with cauliflower and spicy tomatoes and really enjoyed it.
Overall, it was an excellent meal and the portions were just right. We were full, but not overly so.
On the drink side, they have a selection of creative cocktails as well as wine and beer offerings. And, there are Happy Hour specials from 5-7 PM daily.
Since Crudo focuses on only using fresh, seasonal ingredients, the menu will evolve over the course of the year. However, based on what we experienced, any other preparations are going to be just as good.
More Information:
Crudo
3603 East Indian School Suite B
Phoenix, AZ 85018
– Restaurant is located on the rear side of the Gaslight Shopping complex
(602) 358-8666
www.crudoaz.com
Dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Happy Hour from 5-7PM.
