Like the wine, the food can also be overwhelming to the average foodie. Don’t get me wrong, this place serves modern American classics like short ribs, filet mignon, salmon, lamb etc etc, but Chef Bernie Kantak and his team have put a Southwestern or Global twist on just about every dish. The filet mignon is espresso rubbed, the salmon is pistachio crusted and the shorts ribs are doused in a cherry BBQ sauce that is simply divine. Okay enough with the over flowery sentences here I am getting carried away. Onto the honest review.

We’ve visited Cowboy Ciao twice and enjoyed (for the most part) the following:

• Stetson Chopped Salad…Odd, but tasty take on the classic salad
• Testosterone Salad…A meal unto itself loaded with beef tenderloin and Maytag blue cheese
• Exotic Mushroom Pan Fry…A mushroom lover’s (i.e. My Mum) dream
• Slow-Roasted Short Ribs…Tasty, but a little too much fat on the ribs
• “We’re Number One” Ahi Tuna…Not worth it. Tuna was overcooked.
• Pistachio Crusted Salmon…Best cooked salmon I have ever tasted.

Now for some things we didn’t enjoy. While the desserts have wordy titles and the wait staff sing their praises, neither myself or my dining partners were impressed. Walk over to Sprinkles or Gellato Spot if you want to enjoy some post dinner indulgence. Reservations are a must and if you don’t have one, don’t expect to get seated before 9 or 10pm on the weekends.

Check Please:

• Appetizers: $6-$20
• Main Dish: $20-$36
• Desserts: $4-$10

Last Thoughts:

• It’s all about the wine
• Reservations are a must! Utilize OpenTable.com
• Friendly, attentive service
• Desserts are wordy, but not impressive

www.cowboyciao.com
Click here to for directions to Cowboy Ciao

Last Friday night we went to Javinos Wine Bar and Restaurant (which is in Scottsdale near the airpark). They had a $19 special for two lobster tails, asparagus and freshly cut grilled red potatoes – which was enough to get me to go there. My fiance had a personal pizza that was made to order and grilled in their wood-fire grill. They also had live music, and a huge wine bar. The cost of our meal was about $60 total, which was pretty awesome considering what we ate, and the quality of the food.

The food is new american food, which is a little of everything. They have seafood, pizza, red meat and chicken dishes. Overall the quality really was excellent, perhaps not quite as good at Eddie Matney’s place in Old Town (which is perhaps the best i’ve had yet in Arizona), but right up there – top notch. And a heck of a lot less expensive. The wine bar selection was extremely extensive as you can see in the picture, and the prices were standard Scottsdale wine prices – about $7 to $11 per glass for decent wine. The interior decor was great, and they really went all out, with the flooring, the bar supplies and the overall mood.

We were really pleased with the whole thing, but it was bizarre – there was almost no one there. We kind of felt bad for them. They had clearly done their homework and pulled out all the stops to bring a great dining environment to Scottsdale. After a little discussion, we felt it was probably the location (they are in front of a strip mall, although in a stand-along building), so maybe it “cheapens” the feel for most people. Hopefully more people go there so they can stay open long enough for me to head back again, it’s definitely worth it. I heard they do well for lunch since it’s in a pretty high traffic business area. Good luck Javinos!

Check Please:

• Appetizers: $7-$13
• Main Dish: $12-$30
• Desserts: don’t know, we were stuffed

Last Thoughts:

• We really wanted to go back
• It’s all about the wine
• Good pricing for high quality courses
• No need for a reservation, at least not on a Friday

Map:

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The atmosphere is one of a small, casual, intimate diner set in the 40s and 50s.  Unfortunately the music is from that time period as well and they play it over and over and over.  However if you’re not one of the wait staff it probably won’t bother you over the course of your meal.

The menu is extensive with pizza/salad/pasta as their specialties.  Every dish is huge and easily split between two or more people.  They are also known for their cookie/ice cream dessert Pizza Cookie as well as their Bellinis.  Best of all, the price is extremely cheap!

The local chain recently merged with a national resturant company.  There is a good possibility you will see Oregano’s Pizza Bistros across the U.S.  Hopefully their great price and casual atmosphere stay the same.

Overall Cost Estimate:

• Appetizer’s: $4-$7
• Entrees:  $8-12
• Beer: $4 – $5
• Wine: $5-7

Overall Thoughts:

• Great inexpensive food
• Wonderful place to take someone visiting from out of town
• Be prepared to search for a parking spot and possibly wait in line

www.oreganos.com
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I liked the atmosphere because it was half indoor half outdoor and was pretty chill especially for a Scottsdale Restaurant on Scottsdale road, which are often a bit stuffy. If you are looking for a first date spot this could be good, or just a good “let’s catch up” kind of restaurant to meet friends at. It could be a bit tough for a large group, and definitey not for a work function.

Overall Cost Estimate:

• Appetizer’s: $4-$7
• Entre’s: $4-6 per burger, you’ll need at least 2
• Beer: $4 – $5
• Wine: $7-12
• Cocktails: $6 – $10

Overall Rating & Recommendation:

• Great for a bite with a friend
• Good for a casual/different first date
• Good for a quick dinner before a night out in old town Scottsdale

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Awesome food/drinks and unmatched service make Bandera one of our favorite restaurants in the Valley, let alone the country. They are known for their rotisserie chicken, but everything on the menu is worthy of praise. This is a great place to take the family, visitors or business associates when they come to town. Definitely recommend getting a reservation ahead of time, or come early. Parking can be a bit of a challange, as Bandera is in the middle of Old Town Scottsdale. Valet is always an option and they have it curb-side. Not sold yet…check out there menu here.

Overall Cost Estimates:

• Appetizers: $5-$12
• Entree’s: $12-$MKT
• Cocktails: $7-$10
• Beer: $5-$6

Overall Rating & Suggestion:

• Rating: 9.75
• Best for dinner with a significant other, family or business associates.

Must haves:

• House Specialty Margarita
• Old-Town Cheeseburger
• Oreo Ice Cream Sandwiches
• Cornbread

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Z Tejas serves southwestern style cuisine which seems to be contemporary cross between American and Mexican, but without the traditional Mexican feel. The food is really quite good for a quasi-chain restaurant, with multiple locations and a consistent menu from location to location. I got the diabalo chicken pasta, which is about 1 grilled chicken breast, sliced and prepared over a linguine type pasta. It’s a bit spicy if you eat the peppers, but is amazing in the taste department. Since the place has a contemporary southwest/mex feel, you might want to go with the margaritas, which have a serious dose of tequila, probably about 2.5 shots per margarita, so make sure not to have more than two unless you feel like getting a little out of control. I usually get the Patron fuzion margarita, which literally has a shot of patron floating on top – excellent if you like patron! They have multiple restaurant locations, my favorites being in Tempe Arizona and Scottsdale Arizona, since they are my local spots.

Overall Cost Estimates:

• Appetizers: $4-$9
• Entre’s: $12-$20
• Margaritas: $5-$9
• Beer: $4-$5

Overall Rating & Suggestion:

• Rating: 8.5 TD’s (Tasty Dishes)
• Best for quite bite to eat before a night of drinking, a good lunch, a night out with a big group or a dinner with visitors in town (when you don’t want to blow your budget).

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