Despite the fact I do eat at restaurants when I travel, I do not proclaim to be a “foodie.” Scottsdale is known for their great restaurants, though, so trying at least a few is a must-do. It’s all part of the fun!

My three unofficial criteria for a great restaurant is delicious food, a fun decor or location or vibe, and old-fashioned service. All three of these blew the lid off my criteria. 😉

The first restaurant I’m showcasing is a Scottsdale icon - appropriately called The Sugar Bowl. Started in 1958 and located in a pink building, the place looks like a pink 50’s diner and soda fountain. There is a party room/small arcade in a second room. I went there twice during my trip and enjoyed both times. My mom, daughter and I went there for a late lunch and our sandwiches and soup were excellent. I had a Dutch chocolate shake with mine and it was great. We took home a quart of vegetable beef soup for a later meal and it was excellent as well. My daughter and I also went there for a dessert before catching our plane on the last day and had the best soda fountain sundae I’ve ever had. It was a cream puff just like my grandma used to make with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge with whipped cream on top. Yummmmmyyyy! 😋I thought about my grandma the whole time. ❤️

https://www.experiencescottsdale.com/listing/sugar-bowl-ice-cream-parlor-%26-restaurant/2100/

A second restaurant we enjoyed was Paul Martin’s. It is an upscale restaurant and it was fabulous! I had a rare adult beverage and it was very good. The appetizers, meal, and desserts were excellent for our party of 9. We all enjoyed our food. I would love to go back. The signature dessert is a butter cake that has won awards. Oh, my - I can see why!!! It’s a must-do!

https://paulmartinsamericangrill.com/locations/scottsdale-restaurant/

Pardon a few photos where we started eating and then I thought about taking a few photos! 😏🙄😁

The unbelievable, award-winning butter cake above! 10 ⭐️ out of 5!

The last restaurant to showcase was called Olive & Ivy. This Sam Fox concept restaurant features Mediterranean food and has a choice location on the Scottsdale canal near a scenic bridge and public area. According to one of my tour guides, Sam Fox dropped out of culinary school and was ridiculed he wouldn’t be successful in the restaurant industry as a result. Well, at least 15 wildly successful Scottsdale restaurants have proven the naysayers wrong. I was told that Fox recently sold some of his restaurant concepts to The Cheesecake Factory. My own review - the food was excellent! We ate outside on the patio on the canal. It was just my daughter and me and it was a special mother-daughter lunch. A couple of birds surprised us - one crow that popped its head up on the arm of my daughter’s chair while she went to wash her hands made me laugh. Another little hummingbird also appeared nearby and we watched it flit gracefully around. Delightful! Love me some hummingbirds! 🫶

https://www.oliveandivyrestaurant.com/