Best Contemporary American Restaurants in Fountain Hills / Rio Verde

Very solid food and service. Second dinner of stay was A+. Server and hostess staff went above and beyond. Value at Cielo is excellent. Views stellar. We feel the menus are ‘cheap’ and encourage management to ‘up’ the quality of printing and formatting. Frankly they are hard to read and appear very amateurish. But…a small detail compared to the food and service. If someone steps in to handle all the fine details, Cielo could be a Valley gem not to miss.

One of my very favorite patios to eat at in Fountain Hills. Incredible views!!! Live music is good. Can still hold a conversation with your dinner guests. Plenty of heaters to keep you toasty warm. Food is good. I personally recommend the pork chop. Great experience all around.

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!

My wife and I can’t remember the last time we enjoyed every aspect of our night out to eat. Grassroots Kitchen & Tap Scottsdale is the real deal! The Brisket plate and the Braised short ribs were to die for. Thank you so much!

General consensus from the party were outstanding. Appetizers were next level which included the bone marrow, bluefin tartare and the king crab stuff oysters. It really set the tone for the rest of the mains. Service was great from the staff and kept the tables clear and drinks full. The only exception to the meal was some of the mains. Over cooked and undercooked steaks that appeared to have been sitting for some time. Coming from a place where we have world class steak, the inconstancy we experienced was disappointing given the prices charged and what precluded this portion of the meal which many raves about. Overall pleasure and happy to recommend.