Taste DINING GUIDE

daily for early risers until 1 p.m. for the late breakfast crowd. Boozy smoothies, bloody Marys and domestic beers are also available. 8620 E. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale; 480.502.3110; www. grayhawkgolf.com; $$

PERK EATERY

Three generations of restauranteurs have carried their Mid-west family recipes and love of stick-to-the-ribs food to Perk Eatery. Fresh, local, and organic ingredients go into the hearty egg dishes and scrambles, omelettes, and benedicts. The secret family recipe potato pancakes are served with applesauce and sour cream. Griddled favorites, sandwiches, and burritos satisfy the biggest breakfast appetites. 6501 E. Greenway Pkwy., Scottsdale; 480.998.6026; www.perkeatery.com; $

THE BREAKFAST CLUB

This popular spot offers breakfast and lunch daily. Menu items range from breakfast quinoa and granola to a variety of frittatas, benedicts, pancakes, waffles, and sandwiches. You’ll never look at toast the same way after sampling the sweet or savory ones here. Hit up the barista bar for hot and cold lattes, coffee, cold brew, and espresso drinks. Fresh-squeezed juices and breakfast sodas (sparkling water with fresh juice), protein shakes, and smoothies are also available. Three Valley locations, including 4400 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale; 480.222.2582; www.breakfastclub. us; $-$$

THE BREAKFAST JOYNT

The Breakfast Joynt is Scottsdale’s neighborhood diner. It’s the place for all-day breakfast or satisfying lunches with familiar favorites like eggs any way you want ‘em. You’ll find all the breakfast standards on the menu, from benedicts to burritos, country-style biscuits and gravy to heart-healthy options. Burgers, sandwiches, salads, and quinoa bowls are available for lunch; try a pancake or hash brown on the side. 10101 E. Bell Road; ghost kitchen for pick-up and delivery at 7127 E. Shea Blvd.; 480.443.5234; www.breakfastjoynt.com; $$

The Grotto Cafe

Boasting one of the most gorgeous desert patios in the Valley, The Grotto Cafe is the place for good eats and gourmet coffee. The red truck burrito and the chicken salad sandwich are some of the restaurant’s most popular items. Organic coffee is sourced locally from the Roastery of Cave Creek. 6501 E. Cave Creek Road; Cave Creek; 480.499.0140; www. grottocafe.com; $$

Breweries

BLUE CLOVER DISTILLERY

This micro-distillery in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale creates handcrafted, small-batch liquors influenced by the owners’ Danish heritage. The restaurant offers craft cocktails that pair with a globally inspired gastropub menu. Notable dishes include chorizo poutine, the green chile cheeseburger, pork shank “wings” and Yucatan jerk chicken. If looking for a cocktail, try the Scottsdale Sunset featuring Blue Clover Grapefruit Vodka. 7042 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale; 480.946.1062; www.bluecloverdistillery.com; $$

O.H.S.O. BREWERY & DISTILLERY

O.H.S.O. (which stands for Outrageous Homebrewer’s Social Outpost) has developed a reputation as a local-centric and dog-friendly social hot spot. It offers several nanobrews as well as cocktails made with vodka, rum and gin from its distillery. Happy hour offers discounted food and beverages weekdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. includes a 10-ounce Arizona beer or mimosa with each entree. Gluten-free and vegan menus are available. Two Scottsdale locations: North Scottsdale and Paradise Valley; www.ohsobrewery.com; $$

PHX BEER CO.

This scenic brewery and restaurant is located in McCormick Ranch, with a beautiful patio along Marguerite Lake. The menu offers several items made with PHX Beer Co.’s brews including ale house wings, beerbattered cod and chips, and a porter brownie, as well as its signature black iron pizzas, sandwiches, burgers, salads and soups. The patio is pup-friendly and “hoppy” hour, with specials on beer, cocktails, wine and bites, takes place weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m. 8300 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale; 480.571.8645; www.phxbeerco.com; $$

SCOTTSALE BEER COMPANY

Scottsdale Beer Company offers local brews and an extensive menu including shareables, pizza and burgers, as well as daily food and drink specials. Brunch is available Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 8608 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale; 480.219.1844; www.scottsdalebeercompany.com; $$

STATE 48 LAGER HOUSE

State 48 started in Surprise and has since expanded to four Valley locations, including Scottsdale, where it brews its lagers on-site. The twostory restaurant has a spacious patio with beautiful views and a menu with shareables as well as best-selling mains like beer-battered fish and chips; and the State 48 burger topped with aged cheddar, beer-battered pickles and IPA-sriracha glazed bacon. 15600 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale; 480.659.0048; www. state48brewery.com; $-$$

Coffee BERDENA’S

Berdena’s is a petite specialty coffee shop in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale that that serves organic and locally sourced food and drinks when possible. Don’t miss unique lattes such as the honey lavender and cardamom rose variations. Breakfast items include an award-winning avocado toast, a breakfast sandwich and a variety of housemade pastries. Closed Sunday. 7051 E. 5th Ave., Scottsdale; 480.256.1403; www. berdenas.com; $-$$

Cartel Coffee Lab

This hip local coffeehouse chain has several locations throughout the Valley, including one in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale. Cartel Coffee Lab sources its coffee beans from around the world, and its quality roasts have earned the roasters notoriety among local restaurants and retailers that serve the brew. Coffee drinkers can purchase coffee by the cup or whole beans to savor at home. 7124 E. 5th Ave., Scottsdale; www. cartelcoffeelab.com; $

Fourtillfour

Founded in 2007, Fourtillfour is a small coffee shop that serves Four Barrel Coffee from San Francisco. Notably, this cafe plays host to monthly meet ups for a variety of motor clubs. Stop in for a cup and admire all the vintage cars that are on display every Sunday morning. 7105 E. 1st Ave., Scottsdale; 602.888.3583; www.fourtillfour. com; $

SIP COFFEE & BEER

This neighborhood shop offers specialty coffee drinks and a large selection of rotating craft beers on tap and bottled beers. Menu items include a breakfast burrito, avocado toast, a sandwich and protein shakes. 3617 N. Goldwater Blvd., Scottsdale; 480.625.3878; www.sipcoffeeandbeerhouse.com; $-$$

Temptations Cafe

Locally owned and operated by longtime Scottsdale residents Milo and Nancy, Temptations Cafe is quiet and unassuming. Grab a seat on the pet-friendly patio and enjoy a warm breakfast and coffee while reading the morning paper. In addition to a vast breakfast menu, fresh soups, salads and sandwiches round out the lunch offerings. Coffee is roasted locally by Picasso Espresso. Closed Monday and Tuesday. 8322 E. McDowell Road, Scottsdale; 480.947.2198; www.cafeinscottsdale. com; $

The Village Coffee Shop

Locally owned by Russian native Marina Matatov, The Village was created as an establishment to share her grandmother’s famous crepe recipes. The menu offers both sweet and savory crepes. The coffee and espresso drinks are made using a fine selection of organic coffee beans from Roastery of Cave Creek. At Stagecoach Village, 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek; 480.488.3835; www.thevillagecoffeeshop.com; $$

Dessert PUSSYCAT GELATO

Pussycat Gelato opened their first location in Bisbee, in an area that was a brothel in the early 1900s. The cozy artisan gelato shop’s second location is in Old Town Scottsdale. Their “true gelato” has no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, and sorbets are vegan and gluten-free. The atmosphere is as vibrant as their smallbatch gelatos, with checkered floors, a movie screen playing Josie and the Pussycats cartoons, and posters featuring Westerns and movie icons like Raquel Welch, Brigitte Bardot, and others. Need an extra kick? Order the afternoon delight – espresso poured over butter pecan gelato. 7134 E. 5th Ave., Scottsdale; 480.203.8676; www. pussycatgelato.com; $

SCOOP & JOY

Scoop and Joy Lounge is a smallbatch ice cream and boba tea parlor. Their menu features a rotating selection of old-fashioned ice cream and sorbets dressed up in fun toppings with freshly baked waffle cups and cookies. They have an extensive list of boba teas, with the option to customize your drink with green or black tea; whole, almond, coconut, cashew, or oat milk; and a variety of flavors, including chai, rose, lavender, various fruits, and other sweet options. In addition to frozen treats, they serve fresh pastries and coffee. 10135 E. Via Linda, Scottsdale; 480.889.4901; www.scoopandjoy.com; $

Swig

Move over boba tea, the latest trend in beverages is dirty soda, made popular in part by social media and celebrities like Olivia Rodrigo. Dirty soda is essentially soda with extra ingredients like cream, fruit, and other flavoring added in. Utah-based Swig brings dirty soda, revivers, and refreshers to Scottsdale. Pair your favorite drink concoction with salted pretzel bites with strawberry cream cheese or white cheddar dip. 4635 E. Shea Blvd., Phoenix; www.swigdrinks.com; $

The City Creamery

The City Creamery is a family-ownedand-operated ice cream shop specializing in small-batch, hand-churned ice cream made in the store daily using old-fashioned rock salt and ice. There are always 16 flavors on the board, depending on the season, with a new featured flavor every Friday. Flavors are posted daily on Instagram and Facebook, but guests can count on both traditional and unique flavors like the popular huckleberry honey and lavender. Enjoy your frozen treat as a milkshake or in one of the shop’s homemade waffle cones or bowls. 6268 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek; 480.397.1130; www.citycreameryicecream.com; $

The Original Rainbow Donuts

This donut shop is a local familyowned business where donuts are baked fresh daily and handmade from scratch. Their more than two dozen flavors come in basic, round filled, specialty, and fancy varieties, with treats like M&M and Oreo donuts available only on the weekends. Old fashioned, cake, glazed, crullers, jellyfilled, or frosted and topped with sprinkles, coconut flakes, and even Fruity Pebbles — donut aficionados will find whatever your heart desires. Additionally, the bakery serves savory breakfast sandwiches. It’s a great place to stop in and pick up a dozen to bring into the office in the morning. 15834 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix; 602.867.9502; www.theoriginalrainbowdonuts.com; $

TIFFY’S DESSERTS

When you’re in the mood to sit at home and eat bon bons, be sure to get them from Tiffy’s Desserts. The sweet treats are hand rolled and dipped in a thin layer of chocolate, and come in delightful flavors like creamy coconut, caramel, cookie dough, peanut butter, fudge s’mores, and mint cream cheese. Tiffy’s also serves cupcakes in 14 signature flavors, with a special daily flavor each day of the week, rotating monthly. The shop serves ice cream in bold flavors and can make custom cakes or cupcakes for any occasion.

9699 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale; 480.282.8611; www.tiffysdesserts. com; $-$$$

Ethnic

CAVA

CAVA was started in Maryland by three friends with a love of Greek food and family time. In 2018, CAVA joined forces with Zoës Kitchen to bring its bold bowls, dips and pitas to the market. Guests can choose from chef-curated bowls or build their own, both options made with fresh ingredients like black lentils, avocado, jalapeno-infused feta, tomato and cucumber salad, tahini, harissa, proteins and more. Pita wraps are also available. Vegetarian eggplant dips, tzatziki, and a variety of hummus, spreads, and sauces are prepared daily, free of additives and preservatives. 14601 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 602.805.7957; www.cava.com; $$

PARS PERSIAN CUISINE

Pars serves fine Persian cuisine in the heart of Scottsdale. Juicy marinated kebabs and hummus and stuffed grape leaf platters are beautifully plated and served with traditional basmati rice. Persian ice cream is a delightful way to end with something sweet. Vegetarian and vegan dishes are available. 11144 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., Scottsdale; 480.551.3222; www.parspersiancuisine.com; $$

PASTRIES N CHAT

Pastries N Chaat is a charming Indian cafe meant to evoke the nostalgia of a neighborhood chaat in India where friends and family would visit to enjoy snacks and pastries with a cup of masala chai. Enjoy sweet and savory delicacies like fruit cakes and samosas. Or stop in for lunch and choose from a wide selection of biriyani. Vegetarian options available. 15050 N. Northsight Blvd., Scottsdale; 602.365.0848; www.pastriesnchaat. com; $$

French FRANCINE

With acclaimed chef Brian Archibald at the helm, Francine has quickly become a Scottsdale favorite. Located at Scottsdale Fashion Square, Francine dishes up cuisine that evokes the French Riviera. Expect casual elegance and top-notch service. Signature dishes include grilled octopus, beef carpaccio, bouillabaisse, and duck a la Provencal.