By Alexandra Cohen
The sky is cloudless and impossibly blue. There are orange and red desert mountains in the distance, with palm trees and cacti closer by. You have made it to your majestic and relaxing destination. You have arrived in Scottsdale.
Scottsdale (https://www.experiencescottsdale.com is Arizona’s premier destination for fine dining, shopping and luxury resorts, and I am fortunate to have just returned from my first visit to the region. Scottsdale has over 240,000 citizens, making it one of the fastest-growing cities and housing markets in the United States, and it borders other well-known locations such as Phoenix, Paradise Valley, and Tempe, Arizona.
Worried about the weather? There is no need, with Scottsdale boasting 330 days of sunshine per year and year-round swimming weather.
WHERE TO STAY: Scottsdale has over 70 hotels and resorts, offering travelers a plethora of options. I chose the Scottsdale Plaza Resort & Villas (scottsdaleplaza.com), where I was fortunate enough to stay in a beautiful two-story villa. The hotel is incredibly well-located, where you are a 10 to 15-minute drive from all major shopping malls, Old Town Scottsdale, and the many nearby golf courses. While some of the villas are a longer walk from the hotel lobby due to the large, sprawling property, hotel employees are always happy to drive you across the property on one of their many golf carts, which can be found at the main entrance and appear at your door within minutes of your request.
Our villa featured a private entrance, an upstairs bedroom with two queen-sized beds, and a main floor that included a living room, dining room, and kitchenette. There was a bathroom on each floor, as well as a balcony on the upper level and a patio on the main floor, where visitors may choose to eat outdoors. The unit also has a fireplace for those wishing to get cozy on one of Arizona’s rare chilly evenings.
One thing that I was looking forward to about my visit was the opportunity to lounge at the pool and enjoy the lovely weather. The Scottsdale Plaza offers visitors a total of five temperature-controlled pools to choose from, including an upper and lower deck main pool, a villa pool, a courtyard pool, and a casita pool (for those wishing for a quieter experience or those preferring to walk shorter distances from their more peripherally located rooms). All pools are open for guest use between 7 am and 11 pm daily. My traveling partner and I spent the majority of our time at the main pool, which also features a large, spa-sized hot tub, as well as fantastic food and drink service. We were able to sample many tasty menu items, including the crispy cheese quesadillas, the chicken tenders served with kettle chips, and the turkey club wrap. We also enjoyed several of their cocktails, which can be enjoyed from your seat, in the pool, or at one of the many available tables.
For an elevated pool experience, you can rent one of the hotel’s private shaded cabanas, which come equipped with sofa seating, two reserved lounge chairs, as well as an umbrella. The cabana also comes with a mini fridge that contains water bottles and snacks, a dedicated server, chilled towels infused with aromatherapy oil, as well as a complimentary round of select canned seltzers or beers. This experience can be booked by anybody, regardless of whether or not they are staying at the hotel. My cabana experience was incredibly relaxing, and I highly recommend it – we truly did not want to leave at the end of the day!
For those who are a little bit more athletically inclined, the property also offers tennis courts, which I often saw guests using to play both tennis and pickleball. The court neighbours the property’s 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center, though given the beautiful weather, some may prefer to exercise outdoors by going for a walk or run across the 40-acre property. Naturally, there are also many nearby trails for those looking to hike.
Moving back in the direction of relaxation, I had the opportunity during my stay to visit the Scottsdale Plaza’s Salon & Spa, located directly next to the main pool. While the spa offers a large menu of options, I chose the 50-minute Shea Butter Melt Massage, which I would do again on my next visit. In addition to offering the relaxation of a traditional massage, the warm shea butter is outstanding for dehydrated skin and enhances the experience. In addition to the salon and massage spaces, the spa also offers a relaxation room with tea, chilled water, and complimentary snacks, and of course, a sauna. To book your appointment, arrange a group visit, or ask any questions, you can call 480-951-5150. It is recommended to book any services two weeks before your treatment day to ensure availability.
For any dining needs while on-site, the property has a market for grab-and-go needs (which we frequented daily to pick up breakfast items such as croissants and bagels, as well as juice and other snacks), and two restaurants: JD’s Restaurant & Lounge and the Garden Court. Both are available for dine-in, to-go, and in-room delivery. This is in addition to Café Cabana, which is their poolside dining experience.
The Scottsdale Plaza is located at 7200 N. Scottsdale Road. For more information or to book your next visit, you can call 1-800-832-2025, e-mail resmail@scottsdaleplaza.com, or log on to www.scottsdaleplaza.com.
DINING OUT
LINCOLN STEAKHOUSE: My first meal of the trip was at The Lincoln Steakhouse & Bar, which is located at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa. While I was expecting the fare that one would typically see at any establishment labeled as a steakhouse, I was pleasantly surprised by the special and delicious meal that I was served.
Named after the Lincoln Red, which is a famous English breed of cattle, this steakhouse serves up locally sourced American cuisine, shareable plates, and craft cocktails. Its menu changes slightly along with the seasons. I arrived just in time for their recently unveiled fall menu, prepared by the very talented Chef John Fraser, who has been at the helm since November 2022.
Visitors may wish to dine indoors or on one of their several patios. I arrived for my meal just as the sun was setting, and the mountain view, along with the twinkle lights above the dining area, was truly a site to behold.
To start our meal, we shared some of the chef’s favourite starters, which included the incredibly fresh and light-tasting Hamachi crudo, served with white soy, orange blossom vinegar, pickled grapes, and serrano peppers. We also tasted the creatively plated lobster escargot, which includes pieces of lobster served in traditional escargot format with scampi butter and pieces of noble sourdough bread on the side, and a truly delicious steak tartare dish, which was served with bone marrow alongside capers, cornichons, black garlic aioli, crispy garlic chips, and shaved quail egg.
The restaurant is located at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn, Resort and Spa (https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/phxcb-jw-marriott-scottsdale-camelback-inn-resort-and-spa/overview/) at 5402 E Lincoln Drive. For reservations, please call 1 480-948-1700. It is open seven days a week, from 5 pm to 10 pm.
HOUSE BRASSERIE: Tucked away in a quiet corner of Old Town Scottsdale, you will find The House Brasserie, where we enjoyed an excellent meal under the stars. Built in 1939 and nestled in one of Scottsdale’s more historic blocks, The House Brasserie is indeed one of the region’s oldest-standing residences. Aside from having constructed an add-on to their kitchen a decade ago, the building’s exterior is still in its original form. Whether you choose to eat inside the comfortable and air-conditioned dining room or outdoors on the large patio, which truly feels like the well-decorated backyard of somebody’s home, you will undoubtedly feel at ease dining at this establishment.
For dinner, we of course ordered one of the restaurant’s signature prime steaks, a 14 oz ribeye which was truly cooked to perfection. This steak was one of the best that I have had the privilege to taste; it verged on Wagyu in terms of its quality and truly could have been cut with a butter knife if needed. With the steak, we also enjoyed the goat cheese potato gratin and the wild mushroom risotto, one of the new dishes from the fall menu, which was served with crispy enoki, sherry gastrique, and a spinach foam with an earthy flavour and hints of parmesan. Finally, for dessert we savored the JW cheesecake with raspberry sauce, which was truly delectable, and the Lincoln Rocher, a rich and incredibly tasty chocolate cake.
While the property is old and historic, the restaurant itself opened in 2012 and was purchased by its current owner, Joseph Ieraci, in 2018. He manages the restaurant alongside his sister Anna and his wife Julie. Joseph told us that, unsurprisingly, he immediately fell in love with the location and its multiple outdoor patios surrounded by towering trees and gorgeous landscaping. “This is not your run-of-the-mill restaurant space,” he said. “It’s a unique indoor-outdoor setup that reminds me of the restaurants we used to own in Southern California, where you want to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather.”
Joseph said he works very closely with Chef Dustin Wheeler. “We collaborate a lot on the menu,” he said. “I grew up in the restaurant business. It has been at least 50 years since I have been in the kitchen. I remember tossing pizzas and making pasta at the age of eight. From the beginning, Dustin and I talked about similar things like creating experiences, having fun with food, and going to the farmer’s market. We connected right away through the same thought process.”
Indeed, it was clear from my time spent at this restaurant that those behind the menu were having fun with the food. We started with an amouse bouche – puff pastry topped with parmesan cheese– and the flavourful rose summer sangria. We then went on to sample some of their recommended starters, with my personal favourite being the whipped feta, described on the menu as including crow dairy farm feta, house-marinated house marinated olives, fig jam, honeycomb, and slices of toast. We also tried the escargots de Bourgogne which is served with garlic bone marrow butter, artisan bread, shallots, and fine herbs, as well as another favourite of mine, which was the Hudson Valley foie gras. While I have not always been a fan of foie gras, this dish was not to be missed. It was served with smoked peach pie, bordelaise sauce, and topped with pieces of sorghum popcorn.
For our main course, we enjoyed the branzino, which is the perfect light dish for all the fish lovers out there and comes with celery root velouté, sautéed spinach, roasted corn, oregano vert, and pickled radishes. The restaurant’s other popular fish dish, which we did not sample on that night, is the Chilean sea bass, which is served with Israeli couscous, yakitori leeks, pancetta, roasted sunchoke puree, and champagne gastrique. We also tried the filet mignon, a cut that is flown in regularly from Chicago, which was served with toasted farro, grilled cherries, marinated beech mushrooms, apples, poblano romesco, and bordelaise sauce. Finally, for dessert, we enjoyed the housemaid beignets made with smoked cinnamon, sugar, and a salted caramel foam for dipping.
In terms of accessibility, there are 125 seats on the patio and 60 seats indoors. To enter the indoor dining room, there is one step, though a ramp is also available for wheelchairs. The patios are completely wheelchair accessible, as are the washrooms, which can be accessed directly from the outdoors and take up residence in the house’s former garage.
The House Brasserie is located at 6936 East Main Street. It is open Monday through Saturday, from 5 pm. You can call 1 480-634-1600 or log on to www.thehousebrasserie.com
MARCELLINO RISTORANTE: Seeking an authentic Italian fine dining experience during your trip? In the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, you will find Marcellino Ristorante (www.marcellinoristorante.com), helmed by Chef Marcellino Verzino and his wife Sima. While the restaurant’s patio offers a lovely view of a bustling corner of the old town, we elected to eat indoors because we were fortunate enough to visit on an evening with live music, which is often performed by Sima herself alongside her All-Star Trio. During our meal, we were therefore treated to a wonderful jazz performance.
During our meal, we were treated to a tasting menu, which featured a starter of bruschetta and cheese, followed by scallops al pesto. The Italian tradition once appetizers are complete is to start with a primi course, featuring pasta, followed by a second course, which features seafood or meat. For our prime course, we sampled two of the restaurant’s pasta dishes: the gnocchi sorrentina served with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella, a dish that truly melted in our mouth, and the spinach and ricotta ravioli topped with butter and fresh sage sauce. Before visitors make the difficult choice of which pasta dish to sample, amidst the restaurant’s many options, their server brings them a large plate that demonstrates the many special kinds of pasta available, including tortelloni stuffed with pureed filet mignon, and handcrafted porcini-infused fettucine with chunks of fresh lobster, sauteed with shiitake mushrooms and truffle oil. For our second, we were served one of the restaurant’s specials, the branzino dish, which was topped with white wine and butter sauce and was served alongside an incredibly fluffy dollop of mashed potato as well as lemon, capers, grilled carrot, and zucchini. Finally, for dessert, we tasted the restaurant’s walnut biscotti and cream, as well as the panna cotta.
Chef Marcellino Verzino was born on his family’s farm in the Campania region of Italy and began cooking at the age of 12. Throughout his career, he has been a personal chef, opened restaurants in Calabria and Abruzzo, cooked on the island of Poros, Greece, and owned trendy bistros in both Rome and New York City. Today, he and his wife proudly continue to serve historic Italian recipes, with the finest and freshest ingredients. As part of Vezino’s passion for offering a complete dining experience, the restaurant has specifically been recognized for its wine selection, including the 2023 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. The restaurant’s wine menu and reserve lists feature over 100 selections in addition to an exclusive “Secret Cellar” menu. This ultra-reserve list features a collection of rare wines that Chef Marcellino has been accumulating for the past 20 years. Wine dinners and cooking classes are presented regularly. Our meal was paired with a bottle of Falanghina, a tasty and fresh white wine that paired wonderfully with each of our courses. Remaining on the theme of the chef and his roots, this wine hails from his home region of Campania.
Marcellino Ristorante is located at 7114 E. Stetson Dr.
THINGS TO DO IN SCOTTSDALE: Looking to explore the city and its surrounding regions? There are plenty of things to do in the Scottsdale area, starting with Camelback Mountain, which is one of the most prominent outdoor destinations in Arizona. Take one of many scenic hikes in the area, or consider engaging in some rock climbing.
The Phoenix Zoo is another nearby option, with 140 animals spanning 125 acres of land. Creatures available to visit include lions, giraffes, monkeys, iguanas, wolves, bears, and more. Additionally, The Phoenix Zoo has partnered with KultureCity to improve its ability to assist and accommodate guests with sensory processing needs. Sensory bags containing fidget tools, noise-canceling headphones and other resources, are available for checkout at Reception and the Safari Cruiser Station. Weighted lap pads are also available upon request at the Safari Cruiser Station.
In the same vein, you may wish to explore Butterfly Wonderland, which is the largest indoor butterfly sanctuary in America. Butterfly Wonderland has a limited number of wheelchairs available on a first-come first come, first serve basis. Wheelchairs are located at the Guest Services desk. They also offer hearing assistance devices for people with and without hearing aids.
For those who like to shop, there are plenty of neighborhoods and shopping centers to explore. Fashion Square Mall is the largest shopping center in the American Southwest, with over 225 stores and 2,000,000 square feet of retail space. The mall, located approximately 10 minutes from the Scottsdale Plaza Resort & Spa, is anchored by Macy’s, Dillard’s, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus. Wheelchair and scooter rental are available, as well as valet parking. Kierland Commons is another beautiful, upscale outdoor lifestyle center with tons of stores and restaurants available. Finally, consider Old Town Scottsdale not only for dinner, but for boutique shopping, cozy restaurants, art galleries, and wine tastings.