Scottsdale is experiencing a restaurant renaissance with a slew of new and soon-to-debut eateries popping up in every delicious direction. Here are some of the best new spots at which to sip and savor, which opened during the first half of 2023.
Federal American Grill
Open since January at Scottsdale 101 Shopping Center, Federal American Grill offers food, wine, and a casual good time. At 7,600 square feet, the restaurant is massive, giving the brand ample space to create areas for both families and adults. There are 11 distinct sections of the food menu, and the signature cocktail menu reads like a book with 19 total offerings, many of which feature whiskey. TheFederalGrill.com
Arboleda
This highly anticipated 6,500-square-foot stunner opened at Scottsdale Quarter in February. It is a love letter to the coastal eateries that border the Mediterranean and is effortlessly chic, from its modern design to its celebration of flavors from Spain, Italy, Greece, and Morocco. Of note are several innovative dishes, including a whipped foie gras cone with quince paste puree, fry bread with Iberico pork, and Hamachi crudo. ArboledaAZ.com
STK Rooftop
While STK Steakhouse has been a staple of Old Town for years, STK Rooftop only opened in February. The rooftop offers a beautiful view of the canal, and features a patio and fireplace. Its menu focuses on elevated and shareable culinary selections, and there is live music spun by renowned DJs several days a week. Insider tip: Do not miss the dry-aged steak. STKSteakhouse.com
Night Owl
Hootie who! Night Owl, open since March, is a neighborhood hangout unlike any other in South Scottsdale. It has a pinball arcade, bar made from retired pinball machines, vintage arcade games, table and board games, pop culture art, and a small stage. The menu is primarily pizza and smashburgers, named because they are smashed flat during the cooking process to create a crispy outside while remaining juicy inside. NightOwlAZ.com
Trevor’s Liquor
Debuting in March at Scottsdale 101 Shopping Center, Trevor’s is equal parts spirit store, restaurant, cigar lounge, and golfer’s paradise. The coolest spaces are the cigar store, which features a walk-in humidor and accompanying lounge; two private golf simulation bays that rent by the hour; a full-service eatery offering charcuterie boards, pizza, sandwiches, and salads; and an expansive mixology bar with an ambitious list of 25 signature cocktails. Trevors.com
Pour Decisions Patio & Kitchen
Also open since March but in Old Town Scottsdale, Pour Decisions Patio & Kitchen is one of the only rooftop bars in Old Town Scottsdale that was not directly connected to an area hotel or resort. Its aim is to offer guests perfectly chilled drinks with quality spirits, top-notch eats with clever plating (like its chopped salad in a Mason jar), and great live entertainment with one of the best views in the area. PourDecisionsScottsdale.com
Sugo Bistro
This is SOHO Scottsdale’s newest hotspot, open since April. Modern takes on Italian classics are whipped up in its scratch kitchen. The name? It is to honor the executive chef’s Italian grandmother, who invited him into the kitchen to stir her sugo, which translates to sauce, and helped inspire his own culinary journey. Do not miss the wood-fired focaccia, bruschetta board, penne, or Sicilian doughnuts. SugoBistro.com
Fratelli la Bufala
In April, The Grove in Scottsdale welcomed this ultra-popular Southern Italian brand, marking just its second location in the United States since 2005. Sourcing many of its ingredients from its home country, the brand especially excels at airy, crave-worthy Neapolitan-style pizzas. That being said, do not sleep on its eggplant parmigiana, fried couscous, or burger (made with meatballs). FLBOfArizona.com
Tauk of the Town
As with STK Steakhouse, The Montauk has been a staple in Old Town Scottsdale for a long time. However, in May, its owners announced the debut of Tauk of the Town. Available on Thursday nights, this concept-within-a-concept completely transforms the restaurant into an electric, high-energy concept complete with shared plates, espresso martini towers, and a live DJ. TheMontaukAZ.com
Course Restaurant
Well, of course, this fine-dining concept is sensational—it says it right in the name! The brainchild of lauded chef Cory Oppold, Course opened in May near Shea 14 in Central Scottsdale, and it is not simply a dinner restaurant but a culinary experience of the highest order. There are only two options on the menu—a five- or 10-course tasting—and both leave guests in an epicurean euphoria that lasts for days. CourseRestaurantAZ.com
Morning Would
Opened just weeks after Course, Morning Would is Course’s cheeky weekend brunch concept. It is housed in the Course dining room, and like Course, it offers only a tasting menu. This one is focused on six perfect plates of wild-sounding dishes made with comforting flavors that somehow feel like being at the family breakfast table and at an avant-garde food fashion show. Bonus: The DJ spins ’90s tunes all morning long. CourseRestaurantAZ.com/Morning-Would
JoJo's ShakeBAR
This perfect spot for summer opened at Scottsdale Quarter in June and boasts modern diner favorites, as well as larger-than-life milkshakes, both for kids and some with optional spirited offerings for adults. The playful concept is named after the owner’s daughter and inspired by his favorite memories from the ’80s and ’90s. JoJosShakeBar.com
Poppy’s Office
When Paul Keeler passed in 2022, the Liberty Station and Keeler's Steakhouse restauranter left a huge culinary legacy. In the coming weeks, his family will honor it with the opening of this speakeasy (also featuring Keeler’s favorite tacos) next door to the original Liberty Station in North Scottsdale. LibertyStationTavern.com