Best Restaurants with a Tasting Menu in Tempe

Cafe Monarch in Scottsdale provides an unforgettable dining experience, even though we had a small hiccup at the start. We arrived for our reservation and had to wait about 20 minutes to be seated, which was a bit frustrating given that I was dressed in “dinner” heels. IYKYK. However, once we were seated, everything more than made up for the delay. We opted for the prix fixe menu, which was an absolute delight. The blood orange salmon aguachile, braised lamb, venison, shrimp, and ahi tuna were all bursting with flavor. I had the filet mignon, while my boyfriend enjoyed the Japanese Wagyu, which was truly exceptional—unbelievably tender and flavorful, cooked to absolute perfection. The sauces and sides were perfectly balanced, and my picky eater boyfriend couldn’t get enough of everything! We also added oysters and caviar to start, which were so fresh and crisp, and charred octopus, which was cooked to perfection with a lovely char but still wonderfully tender. For dessert, the chocolate strawberry cake was a showstopper—beautifully presented and delicious, with the Valentine's theme executed flawlessly. The cocktails were beautifully crafted, each with a perfect balance of flavors and a nice kick. If you enjoy wine, the pairings were spot on, and I was also impressed by their unique selection of zero-proof drinks, which my boyfriend really enjoyed. The service was impeccable throughout the meal. Even with the minor seating delay at the beginning, the staff’s attention to detail and hospitality made the experience one to remember. Highly recommend Cafe Monarch for a special evening out—it’s truly a Scottsdale gem!

It was definitely one of the best experiences when it came to fine dining, the staff and chefs have it down to a T , they were all very attentive and provided great conversation to roll with as well. Definitely would come back.

Food was a lot tastier than I expected. Calamari was texturally perfect, not rubbery at all. Table was directly in the middle of where bartenders picked up their drinks and the kitchen door so I would have preferred another location, but it was Valentine’s Day and they were busy. Server was very good. I really liked her.

Bradley did an excellent job as our server! He was friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. We enjoyed our evening in this buzzy, unique atmosphere - akin to dining on a small street in a European town.

We sat at the sushi bar & the sushi chef was so fun to talk to. He was very knowledgeable about the food we were trying & we loved learning about all the fish he would serve us. All the chefs were kind & easy to talk to. We loved the vibes. & of course the food & cocktails were EXCELLENT. We came for our anniversary for the first time & we are so excited to come back!