Scottsdale AZ Real Estate & Lifestyle

Live Better in Scottsdale - eXp Realty

Where to Eat in Scottsdale

Where to Eat in Scottsdale: Grape Food and Wine – Now PNPK

By

Update May 2018: Grape Food and Wine is now PNPK. 

– Grape Food and Wine in North Scottsdale-

Grape Food and Wine MenuRecently, I met a friend for some food and drinks at Grape Food and Wine, located in the new development on the southeast corner of Pinnacle Peak and Scottsdale Road.

We got there pretty early which meant it was Happy Hour and we were able to take advantage of the food and drink specials, which was great.

Grape Food and Wine has a long list of smaller bites, salads and appetizers as well as a very strong list of entrees. Entrees range from more casual choices like burgers and pasta to items like filet mignon, scallops and lamb shank.

For wine, you can select from a lengthy wine by the glass list or opt for a bottle. Grape Food and Wine does have a full bar, so if you prefer cocktails to wine, you will be just fine. Their list of specialty cocktails looked interesting and worth a try during a future visit.

On this visit, we decided to try a few items from the starter side of the menu.

Grape Food and Wine AppetizersThe first thing we had was the Smoked Salmon small plate. The base was a fried potato pancake which was topped with smoked salmon, capers, creme fraiche and shallots. There were two portions and every bite was delicious.

From there, we had the Crab Cakes with Remoulade. The crab cakes had very little filler and were very tasty. They were highlighted with a little bit of lemon and microgreens.

To finish out our dinner, we split a Cobb Salad and added on a portion of salmon. What impressed us was that the server had the salad and salmon split in half and served in two portions so we each had our own serving. It was a nice touch and the salmon was cooked very well.

Overall, we really enjoyed everything we tried that evening. Our server was friendly and attentive, which made for an enjoyable evening.

Are You a Dog Owner? Grape Food and Wine has a dog friendly patio.

I definitely plan to return to Grape Food and Wine and try out some of their other food offerings and wines.

Grape Food and Wine ScottsdaleMore Information:
Grape Food and Wine
23335 North Scottsdale Road, Suite D-105
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Phone: 480.305.0907
Website

  • Open Daily at 11 for Lunch and Brunch on Weekends. 
  • Closes at 9PM
  • Daily Happy Hour from 3PM to 6PM

Where to Eat in Scottsdale: Kitchen West at The Scottsdale Resort

By

– Kitchen West at The Scottsdale Resort in Mc Cormick Ranch –

kitchen west menuWe were down in the Mc Cormick Ranch area this week and were looking for somewhere new to eat. A quick search turned up Kitchen West at the The Scottsdale Resort and off we went.

We were seated quickly in the lovely, open dining area that overlooks the golf course. Our server was attentive and friendly.

The kitchen is equipped with a kiln oven, so we were encouraged to try the flat bread and are so happy we did. It came out hot and lightly seasoned with herbs. It was accompanied by kitchen west scottsdale kiln breadcaramelized onions and a tomato jam. Simply delicious. The same bread is also used on their Smoke Cured Ham Kiln Flat Bread, Foraged Mushrooms Kiln Flat Bread and the Open Face Chicken Sandwich offerings.

Virtually all of the soup and salad offerings give you a choice of small or large sizes, which is great depending on your hunger level or whether you want to try a bunch of dishes. We ended up sharing two of these options. The first was a Heirloom Tomato and Fresh Burrata salad, which was light, flavorful and colorful. Miniature heirloom tomatoes were sliced in half and drizzled with a garlic vinaigrette and some basalmic vinegar and basil. The burrata was creamy and delicious.

Kitchen West Scottsdale Salad BoardOur other selection was the Salad Board, which is one of the house specialties. The ingredients of the board vary depending on what is fresh and in season. On our salad board, we had a beautiful and incredibly tasty selection of radishes, carrots, lettuces, sea beans, roasted fingerling potatoes, olives and a tomato vinaigrette. You are also able to add a protein to the salad board (and other salads) for a very reasonable $4 to $5. We opted to add a chicken breast.

To finish off our meal, we were told that the beignets were outstanding. So we ordered The Magnificent Seven, which is seven perfect pillowy beignets dusted with powdered sugar accompanied by a chocolate pudding dipping sauce. They were the best beignets I have ever had.

Kitchen West is not just a resort dining option, it is also a great neighborhood restaurant and worth a visit. Prices are very reasonable and the food is outstanding. It is a great place to stop by for a full meal or just to sample some starters and have a drink with friends and family.

All summer, there are daily specials going on including drink and food specials. The adjoining bar, Bar Six 40, has Happy Hour nightly with excellent wine, beer and cocktail specials as well as a selection of appetizers from Kitchen West.

We really enjoyed our lunch here and look forward to returning again and again.

More Information:
Kitchen West at the Scottsdale Resort in Mc Cormick Ranch
7700 E McCormick Parkway
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Website
Phone: 800-540-0727
Open daily for lunch and dinner and serving brunch on weekends.

Where to Eat in Scottsdale: Eddie Merlot’s Lounge

By

– Eddie Merlot’s Lounge – North Scottsdale Dining –

Eddie Merlot CalamariLast month, I wrote about our first visit to the new Eddie Merlot’s restaurant which had opened its first Arizona location in North Scottsdale. Last week, we decided to try out the lounge for dinner this time.

Eddie Merlot’s large lounge consists of a bar with lots of additional table seating. We went mid-week around 6:30 and the lounge was bustling with activity and quite full, but we were able to be seated right away. Since it was a nice evening, we elected to sit on the patio.

When dining in the lounge, you have the option to order off of the regular menu, the lounge menu or a combination of both, which is what we did.

Eddie Merlot Tuna NicoiseThe lounge menu consists of several options with smaller portion sizes and some more casual, but high-quality offerings. There is a snack section, a burger and slider section and a small plates section.

We decided to try a variety of items from the lounge menu and supplement them with some items from the dinner menu.  We started with the House-Made Potato Chips, which did not last very long and can also be ordered with blue cheese crumbles, and the Sesame Calamari. The Sesame Calamari was prepared tempura-style and came with three dipping sauces. It was served in an edible rice bowl, which our non-calamari eating companion and appreciated and sampled. We also ordered the The Merlot Iceberg Salad, which was a wedge salad that came with pickled onions, eggs, bacon, tomatoes and more.

For our entrees, we all opted for small plates from the lounge menu. Two of us had the Tuna Nicoise, which was a play on a traditional Nicoise. Seared tuna, fried onion strings, olives, tomato and egg came placed on a bed of spinach dressed with an excellent tarragon vinaigrette. The final dish we ordered was the Vegetarian Gnocchi. The freshly-prepared gnocchi was paired with spinach and mushrooms and was placed on a sweet corn beurre blanc.  Both of the small plates we sampled were excellent.

If you are looking for an excellent meal with a lot of flexibility on the offerings, you should definitely visit the lounge at Eddie Merlot’s.

More Information: 
Eddie Merlot’s
23143 N Scottsdale Rd,
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
– In the Silverstone shopping plaza
Phone:(480) 699-0480
Website
The lounge opens daily at 4PM

 

 

Where to Eat in Scottsdale: Egg N’ Joe

By

– Egg N’ Joe – Breakfast and Lunch in North Scottsdale –

I had a chance to visit a recent entrant into the Scottsdale breakfast and lunch scene last week. The restaurant, Egg N’ Joe is a new concept from the Elmer’s Restaurants family based out of the northwest and is the first of four planned locations in the Phoenix area.

Egg n Joe Scottsdale AZIt opened in the newly developed Silverstone shopping and dining development on the southeast corner of Scottsdale Road and Pinnacle Peak Road and faces Pinnacle Peak. (This development is also home to a large Sprouts Farmers Market grocery store and Eddie Merlot’s.)

Egg N’ Joe is a casual and modern breakfast and lunch diner. The interior is open and bright with lots of of color. And, there is an enclosed patio off to the side of restaurant for folks who want to enjoy their meals outdoors.

On the day I visited, I was doing takeout lunch, but what little time I had interacting with the staff indicates that service is friendly and efficient. When I entered, I was greeted promptly and when I mentioned I was there to pick up my order, the employee was on top of it and I was taken care of and out the door in two minutes or less.

For breakfast, you will find a large number of offerings that range from skillets, to omelets, to benedicts and crepes and waffles. What looks really tasty are their German pancakes where the pancake takes up the entire plate, which you can then top with butter, powdered sugar and lemon or pick from a variety of fruit toppings.

For lunch, they have a good selection of sandwiches, burgers, salads and soups as well as combination dishes. We ended up ordering the Cobb Salad and the Mesquite-Grilled Chicken Tortilla Salad. The tortilla salad comes served in a tortilla shell and since we were doing takeout, I said they could skip it. But, they assured me they would be able to include it. When we got the salads home, they had wrapped it perfectly and it was all in one piece. Nice work! Both of the salads were great and the vegetables and toppings were very fresh.

Even though I only had limited experience with Egg N’ Joe, I enjoyed the food and ambiance and it is a place that I plan to visit again.

 

More Information: 
Egg N’ Joe at Silverstone
23271 N Scottsdale Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Phone: (480) 265-9968
Hours:  6:30am – 2:30pm
Open Daily

Easter Brunch Ideas in Scottsdale

By

– Scottsdale Easter Brunch 2016 –

This year on March 27th, many folks will be celebrating Easter and a large number of local restaurants and resorts are going all out with special brunches and family activities.

Scottsdale Easter Brunch photoI have pulled together a list of some ideas of where to eat and visit in and around Scottsdale for Easter Sunday.

  • Sassi – Sassi in North Scottsdale is doing an Italian-inspired brunch with lots of antipasti, breakfast selections, main dishes and sweets. There is also a kids station. Cost: $65/per person for adults, $25/per child aged 4-12, free for children under 4. Reservations 10AM-1PM
  • Four Seasons Troon North – Just a little bit  away from Sassi is the Four Seasons resort. The Talavera restaurant will be serving an Easter Brunch with a seafood and raw bar, carving station, omelette bar, salads and sweets. Cost: $96/adult, $45/child aged 5-12 and free for children under 5. Reservations 10AM-3PM.  Proof Canteen is also doing a special three course menu as well as a brunch option. Onsite activities include a bouncy house, pictures with the Easter bunny, egg hunts at 10AM and 1PM, crafts and more. They are also selling  customized, pre-made Easter baskets for guests and local residents.
  • Fairmont Scottsdale Princess  – The Princess is hosting a grand Easter celebration this year. All of the restaurants (Bourbon Steak, Toro, Ironwood American Kitchen) are showcasing their food and the resort’s pastry team is preparing a number of delicious desserts. Here is a link to the menu. Cost: $95/per adult, $40/child aged 6-12, under 6 are free. Call 480-585-2694 for reservations. 9AM-3PM. And before or after brunch, be sure to stop by BunnyPalooza. It runs from 10AM to 4PM and will have live entertainment, rides, hourly egg hunts, a petting zoo, visits from the Easter bunny and more. Brunch and hotel guests receive complimentary access to BunnyPalooza.
  • Westin Kierland – Not to be outdone, the Westin Kierland is hosting its annual Eggsrtravaganza and Easter champagne brunch. The brunch will feature carving stations, an omelette bar, seafood and sushi and lots of sweet offerings. Cost: $75/adult, $25/child aged 5-12, under 5 are free. For reservations, call 480-624-1202. The Eggstravaganza is sure to please with a 25,000 egg hunt that kicks off at 9:30AM, bounce houses, petting zoo, crafts and more.
  • Roka Akor – For something a little different, head over to Roka Akor for your Easter dinner. From 4-9PM, Roka Akor has put together an Easter-inspired tasting menu. Cost: $75/person. Reservations

 

Note: Most of these require a reservation, so it is recommended to call ahead. Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

Photo by Hans

 

Where to Eat in Scottsdale: The Grayhawk Golf Club

By

– The Grayhawk Golf Club – North Scottsdale Dining –

It had been a few years, but a couple of weeks back I went to have lunch at the Grayhawk Golf Club on a gorgeous afternoon. The restaurant at Grayhawk is called the Quill Creek Cafe and is located in the clubhouse. They have ample seating indoors, but the best place to be to take advantage of Scottsdale’s incredible weather is the patio overlooking the course.

Grayhawk Golf Club Scottsdale AZWe were lucky enough to get one of the remaining tables and the views of the water and greens were great. Plus, even though it was quite busy, our server took great care of us and our food was delivered quickly.

The lunch menu has a large offering of appetizers, sandwiches, wraps, tacos and salads. If you are looking for a more substantial lunch they also offer a good amount of entrees, pastas, steaks and seafood.

We started our lunch with the Soft Pretzel Bread and added a melted cheddar dip. Four good size pieces of pretzel bread were served and the dip was decadent and tasty.

From there, we each ordered salads. One was the Filet Mignon Chop Salad, which has more or less the ingredients of a Cobb salad with filet mignon. We asked to substitute the steak with chicken and were served a well-prepared sliced chicken breast instead. The other salad was the Grayhawk Salad, which is an Thai-inspired salad with chicken, noodles, peanut sauce, carrots, cilantro and more. It too was fresh and tasty.

Although it had been too long since my previous visit, I sincerely enjoyed our lunch at Grayhawk and will make an effort to get there more often, especially on sunny days.

More Information:
Quill Creek Cafe at the Grayhawk Golf Club
8620 East Thompson Peak Parkway
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
(480) 502-1800
Website

Interested in the Grayhawk community? For more information, click here or see a sampling of Grayhawk homes for sale below.

 

Where to Eat in Scottsdale: Eddie Merlot’s

By

– Eddie Merlot’s  – A North Scottsdale Seafood and Steakhouse –

Last month, the newest outpost of Eddie Merlot’s opened its first location in Arizona in North Scottsdale. Most of the other locations can be found in the Midwest.

Eddie Merlot seared tunaThe upscale restaurant is located in the new retail development on the southwest corner of Scottsdale Road and Pinnacle Peak and is known for prime aged beef and seafood. The bar area is oriented toward the south so patrons can look over the Rawhide wash and enjoy valley and city light views.

As you enter the space, the interior is serene and in desert tones. The dining area is located ahead of you and the bar is to the right after you pass a beautiful glass wine cellar. The friendly hostesses seated us right away and service throughout the meal was attentive and helpful.

We started with the Crab Cakes, which were two generously sized crab cakes served with jalapeno corn and fried sweet potato strings. It was a great way to start off the meal.

For entrees, we had a Filet Mignon, (which is offered in two sizes as well as a bone-in option), the Trio of Filet Medallions and Sesame Ahi Tuna. All of the beef is aged for at least 21 days. The Filet was expertly prepared and the Trio of Medallions was a bit hit. The trio consisted of 3 to 4 ounce steaks and each had its own preparation, which included Oscar-style, Peppercorn and Bacon Gorgonzola. The Ahi was seared perfectly and was delicious.

There is a large selection of sides to choose from and we decided to try the Creamed Spinach and Mashed Potatoes. Both were excellent.

The wine list is deep and there were some great values on the list.

One other thing they offer is a Platinum Club Membership. It is currently priced at $25 and you get a $20 dining credit upon signing up. For every $350 spent, you get another $25 dining credit. You also get members’ only access to bonus point days, special events, birthday and anniversary discounts and more.

Eddie Merlot’s is a great addition to the North Scottsdale dining scene and we look forward to returning.

More Information:
Eddie Merlot’s 
23207 North Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, Arizona, 85255
Phone: 480-699-0480
Website

Where to Eat in Scottsdale: 5th and Wine – CLOSED

By

– Old Town Scottsdale Dining – 5th & Wine –

UPDATE 4/10/2017: 5th & Wine is now closed.

============================================

While exploring Old Town Scottsdale a few weeks ago, we decided to grab a quick lunch. I had not had a chance to visit 5th & Wine yet, but had heard good things about it.

Since it was a beautiful day, we opted to sit on the back patio. However, the large, open dining area inside was also pleasant.5th and Wine Scottsdale Cobb Salad

We ended up ordering the Cobb Salad and Tortilla Soup as our main dishes. The Cobb Salad was quite interesting and included some unique elements. Rather than using hard-boiled eggs as you would in a traditional Cobb, there are fried eggs on top, which when cut into release the yolks into the salad. It also has roasted corn and peppers to give it more of a southwestern feel. It was quite good and just what we needed. The Tortilla Soup was also a winner – flavorful and with just the right amount of spice. We also had a side of sweet potato fries that disappeared quickly.

5th and Wine’s menu has a lot of interesting, diverse items. There is a long list of starters, including ahi poke, stuffed mushrooms, meatballs, hummus and brie. Perfect for sharing… They also offer a large number of bruschettas that you can mix and match. From there, they offer salads, many sandwiches, a good selection of burgers and entrees. So, whether you are in the mood for something casual or something a little more refined, 5th and Wine has it covered. Brunch is offered on Saturdays and Sundays as well.

As the name implies, wine is a big part of the equation at 5th and Wine. They offer a large selection of wines by the glass as well as by the bottle. I look forward to returning to try some of them out.

Overall, we enjoyed our lunch at 5th and Wine and will certainly be back for more!

More Information: 
5th and Wine
7051 East 5th Avenue
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(480) 699-8001
Website

Malcare WordPress Security