Noodles Ranch

Way-cheap, very satisfying Vietnamese eats, in a pleasant, casual environment that features red umbrellas hanging upside down from the ceiling and blue walls hung with black-and-white photos taken by the owner’s father. The specialty here is pho, a hearty soup of rice noodles and broth, traditionally using beef, but these days it also incorporates seafood […]

North Italia

We started coming here for the strawberry and goat cheese salad, and before you could say “Modern Italian Cuisine!” we were headed straight into a plateful of Margherita pizza (crushed tomato, fresh mozzarella and chopped basil). From there it was only minutes before we were calling for shrimp fettuccine, served with broccolini and a spicy […]

NYPD Pizza

For more than a decade the fine folks at NYPD Pizza have been putting their ovens to good use, feeding the Valley’s masses. With a large menu of pizzas, calzones, sandwiches, pasta and wings, you’d be hard pressed not to find a selection to fit your Italian-style cravings. NYPD offers great lunch deals and a […]

Ocean Trail at Talking Stick Resort

For those needing a break from the slots or roulette, this glorified kiosk on the floor of the Talking Stick casino churns out some surprisingly tasty seafood dishes. Grab one of the 19 available seats and watch the cooks prepare your seafood Creole, Louisiana gumbo, and Cajun-style boils in just minutes as you sip on […]

Octane Raceway

We haven’t broken out the measuring tape, so we’ll have to take Octane Raceway’s word that it’s the largest indoor kart-racing facility in the United States. It certainly looks large. Even the check-in area is big. Two race tracks can hold 50 drivers at a time. We have to be patient because we know we’ll […]

Old Town Tavern

Coming across Old Town Tavern is like discovering a hidden clubhouse. Ensconced among a shopping complex, eateries, and apartments, an fireplace warms patrons hanging out amid the wood and brick expanse of the Tavern, and the sound of an acoustic duo playing songs by The Who greets the ears. Climb the stairs to the crow’s […]

Old Town Tortilla Factory

Gorgeous, Southwestern-themed hacienda-like restaurant featuring a tequileria with more than 100 types of distilled agave juice, and a vast, elegant patio with a captivating, flame-spitting waterfall. The food ain’t too shabby, either. The gourmet, house-made tortillas are some of the best in the Valley, and there are various, mouth-watering items on the bill of fare, […]

Old Town Whiskey

Celebrity chef Jose Garces’s upscale saloon inside The Saguaro hotel in Old Town Scottsdale is a perfect pairing of hard pours and satisfying tavern fare. Inside a cozy and dim, wood-covered interior with caramel-colored leather couches and glass jar lights, a small but tight menu of upscale bar snacks, housemade pickled seasonal vegetables, and burgers […]