Best Restaurants with a Tasting Menu in Arcadia

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!

Came to Roka for Valentine’s Day dinner and was immediately given a red rose upon arrival. 🌹 Nice touch. Had drinks at the bar before being seated and the bartenders were great! Counter dining service was fun, getting to watch all the food be prepped and expo’d made for good conversation. The sushi we had was amazing, especially loved the fatty tuna sashimi served with fresh ground rock salt! The mushroom hot pot was also one of my favorites! Have been to Roka many times in the past and it keeps getting better each time!

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.

Had a wonderful time celebrating our anniversary/Valentine’s day at NOBU Scottsdale. The food was amazing and the service was top tier. The servers were attentive and very kind. The restaurant was clean and not loud at all. Overall a wonderful experience, we’ll definitely be back!

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!