Best Historic Restaurants 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!

Excellent food, service and ambience. Great location. Will definitely return! Highly recommend this restaurant!!

The steaks were very good. The garlic maahed potatoes were light and fluffy with a good flavor. The squash was not fancy but perfectly cooked. The citrus burt cream was a very nice creme Brule with a wonderfully carmelized sugar top. Eric was an outstanding server. Service was outstanding. Only thing is that it can get a bit loud at times. Overall a great steakhouse with lots of history.

An absolute phenomenal experience. The service was seamless from the moment we got there until we left. Everyone was so attentive to our table and our drinks were never empty. Highly recommend the queso as an appetizer and the cheese crisp was out of this world. Can’t wait to go again!

What a fun place! Young, lively, decor great. Food delicious! Only get to Phoenix once a year and this place was not a disappointment for our only dinner out on the town. A definite do over. 4 star on staff was only because it was so busy and the bar seemed hard put to keep up. Everyone was cheerful, friendly and fun so 5 stars on the personalities!