Talking Dish » Old Town Scottsdale

Cowboy Ciao

Michael — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:00:02 +0000

Four words can sum up Cowboy Ciao, wine, wine and great food. Notice I used the word wine twice that’s because the restaurant boasts an impressive 10,000 bottle wine list!!! It’s simply massive, but can be overwhelming to the average wine drinker. Don’t hesitate to ask the staff for recommendations as they are full of them. They also offer a variety of red and white wine flights that include three different glasses of wine for an extremely reasonable price. For this avid wine drinker though, the list is sublime. Everything from eastern and western shore Bordeaux’s to blends from Columbia Valley boutique vineyards to Malbecs from Chile. There’s a glass, bottle or magnum for anybody. Enough with the wine onto the food.

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

Oreganos Pizza Bistro

brittney — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:11:20 +0000

Anyone who is familiar with the area knows that Oregano’s is a valley-wide treasure. If you can handle the wait which greatly varies given the day, time and specific location, you’ll definitely love the food.

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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Stax Burger Bistro

Scott — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:26:06 +0000

Stax burger bistro is an awesome little place. It used to be Ibiza cafe back in the day, and is located on Scottsdale road in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona. This place is pretty chic and has a cool environment, but isn’t stuffy. The service was ok, nothing stellar, but they might have been understaffed because they are new. The menu consists of gourmet burgers of all kinds, including beef, kobe beef and others like buffalo. They have some custom recommended burgers, or you can order ala carte and design your own burger. If you order ala carte, which I did, they have a ton of options for toppings to put on the burgers. Each burger is about 1/3 the size of a regular burger that you’d order at a restaurant, but you will probably only need 2, unless you are really hungry. Each burger ranges in price from $4 to $6. There is a full selection of wines, beers and regular hard liquor drinks.

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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Bandera

Michael — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 16:39:29 +0000

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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