The restaurant ambiance is classy yet relaxed, not overly stuffy, but visually clean and inviting,…read morelike you feel better about yourself when walking in somehow. You know you are in for a true fine dining experience. We started off with some cocktails and I was very impressed with the clear ice cube in my Smokey Old Fashioned as it was branded with the "Toro" logo. It was so smooth and probably the best Old Fashioned I ever had, so I had 3 more! My wife throughly enjoyed her Espresso Martinis also. I started off with the Grilled Octopus and nearly cried because it was so good. This is a food favorite of mine and although I love the flavors, most restaurants over cook it and you need to cut it with a steak knife. Not this dish, no knife necessary, your fork will do. So tender, so flavorful, so amazingly delicious. The Mrs. ordered the crispy calamari and was thoroughly impressed as the texture was what fresh calamari should be and not the rubbery texture you get from 8 out of 10 other places. Seasoned to perfection with spices but not overly spicy. My wife can't bear spicy anymore , but she really enjoyed it. I finished it for her of course, because she always remembers to leave room for desert and never finishes anything. And I'm glad because I always get to taste her meals too. It's a win-win for me! I then had an off-the-hook Ceviches that rivaled my own. I am also a part-time cook and also wrote a cookbook. Ceviche is a particular dish that I compare to other restaurants and until now, never found another place that compares to mine. Toro doesn't disappoint my friends. Now for the entrée, Lomo Saltado for myself and a medium rare Ribeye for the Mrs. The Lomo Saltado was beef tenderloin on creamy rice, crispy potato, heirloom tomato, bell peppers, Rocoto Aioli and a Chifa Soy Sauce. It was mouth watering. The beef tenderloin was cooked a little on the well done side, but my bad for not specifying to cook it medium rare. It was still amazing and not a big enough deal to even mention it in the review, but I just want you to specify your preference when you order yours. My wife had the 14 Oz. Ribeye, medium rare ( she thought it was also medium but I found it to be medium rare myself) it was soooo good. She had a side dish of Crispy Brussels sprouts that were unworldy. We never had Brussels sprouts that good, it must be the sherry vinagrette and cotija cheese. Unreal. I had a side of shishito peppers that made my heart happy. My favorite peppers are not usually available everywhere so it was a real bonus to the meal. Desert, well the desert was worth the wait. We both ordered the Ube Basque Cheesecake. It is a dark purple colored slice of heaven with masa crumble, Yuzu espuma and coconut jam. The presentation was stunning. We even enjoyed espresso with sambucca to finish our dining experience. How many places offer espresso on their menu just to inform you the espresso machine isn't working? Just another bonus for us. Price wise, what you would expect for a high-end restaurant in a beautiful resort area of Scottsdale, no sticker shock there, but still, I'd save this place as a never can fail go to for a first date, anniversary, job promotion, marriage proposal, special occasion restaurant. They also do breakfast, brunch, lunch and Happy Hour. I hope you get to experience this place at least once. Put it on your bucket list, you'll be glad you did!

Was excited to try this place for my birthday. Especially with all the good reviews…read more We started with the empanadas which were the best! Also the complementary cheese bread was good, also the ginger shots. We got the churrasco, it had alittle bit of everything. Wish the meat was cooked alittle bit more cause it looked raw. Also wish it was hotter the food. The sausage had no flavor. We got Brussel sprouts and the mac and cheese were good. Also got a complementary dessert , chose the brownie and it was to bitter, tasted like dark chocolate. There was a fire dancer too. The server was nice.

Two thumbs up. The food was so good, I literally went here two nights in a row. The vibe is good…read moretoo. Service good. One thing I didn't care for was the Friday night DJ cussing like a sailor. I'm talking full on, over the top cussing. Not sure why they would allow that. Ended up putting in my earbuds just to drown him out. He wasn't there Saturday. Friday DJ definitely cost them a star.

Our first experience at The Mission was fantastic. We had two frozen margaritas and the…read morecola-braised pork belly, and everything was great. The bartender was amazing, and the atmosphere made us excited to come back. Because of that experience, we booked a Mother's Day reservation for five. We started with the tableside guacamole, which surprisingly ended up being the best thing we ordered all night. The street corn was also pretty good. Unfortunately, things went downhill once the entrées arrived. Everyone got unusually quiet while eating and not in a good way. I ordered the fish tacos, but for some reason all of the toppings were served on the side, leaving the tacos bland and underwhelming. The rest of the table felt the same about their meals: everything lacked seasoning and flavor. For a $400 dinner, we all agreed we would've had a better meal at Rubio's. The churros were excellent, which is the only reason I'm giving two stars instead of one.

This place is such a hidden gem. Absolutely stunning decor and ambience and music is upbeat and…read morefabulous. Food is even better. Been several times and every single dish has been on point. I am notoriously a harsh critic and have nothing bad to say. The elote and the brisket quesadilla is phenomenal. Honorable mention for the lobster enchiladas.

Finally made it to Elvira's! The restaurant is located in DC Ranch, and there's tons of parking out…read morefront. The decor is giving 90s "Charmed", and its super moody. The playlist was jazz and contemporary, and matched the vibe perfectly. We were able to experience the Chef's Week menu. So a couple of things to mention: Our server was excellent, but the kitchen was really slow. We were served our appetizers about 30-40 mins after we ordered. Also, the cocktails weren't the best. They served them in HUGE martini goblets, and I feel like the measurements are off because of the size. However, the food was really good. We had the steak empanadas, mole chicken, seafood stew, lamb chops, and mixed vegetables. The food was delicious, it just took a while. To conclude the night, we had donuts with chocolate & caramel sauce. Lawwwd, I couldn't resist. Elvira's was good, they just need to work on prep time!

I have had Pistoleros Parrilla on my Happy Hour hit list for a while now. After seeing their…read morecontent on social media, I HAD TO add it to my bookmarks! I'm so damn glad my coworker and I went after work today. We had the best time! Everything was perfect from the moment we walked in to when we left 3 hours later. The entrance to the upstairs bar makes you feel like you're a V.I.P.! If it's your first time here like it was ours, the downstairs isn't open quite yet. Head upstairs for Happy Hour at the bar. I'd also like to point out that they are one of the rare places that have a longer HH, from 4 to 6:30 pm. Score! Do note their HH runs from Wed to Sunday only! We ordered 4 cocktails and 2 appetizers. Mine: Tropical Threesome & Pistoleros Margarita Coworker: Mexican Espressotini & Smoke and Seduction Apps: Guacamole & Pulpo a las Brasas Let me just say the drinks are on point. I love it when they know how to make then absolutely perfect with just the right amount of alcohol. Some places make them too strong, others are underwhelming, but Pistoleros nails it on the head! The appetizers were filling and the flavors meshed so well together! From presentation to our last few bites, we savored every morsel. The food and drinks were great, but the staff and ambiance really made the whole experience even better. Chef ans GM Marco was walking the restaurant and came to chat with us a few times. He told us they opened about 6 months ago, and that he is working on some special menu items for the upcoming fall season. The downstairs area, known as the Pisto Lounge, is set for a soft opening sometime next month, with a grand opening planned for September. You'll want to follow them on the gram for the actual dates! @pistolerosparrilla Our bartenders Kimmy and Jenna were so welcoming and attentive to our needs, checking in often. Fernando the security dude was super cool, too! Before we left, Chef Marco even gave us a quick tour of the Pisto Lounge downstairs. I love the details, right down to the wine cellar style inspired booths! This is going to be a poppin' spot once it opens, trust!! They even have an outdoor patio upstairs which will be so nice when the weather chills out. Thank you to the staff at Pistoleros Parrilla for an exemplary first visit. It speaks volumes when management reaches out to you and really wants to make it the best experience possible. We felt the love, so stop by and do the same!! This place deserves way more than 5 stars!

I decided to visit Pistoleros Parrilla for a special occasion for my dad, who absolutely loves a…read moregreat margarita, and I think Pistoleros definitely delivered on the food and drinks! There was a lot to enjoy here, from the nice presentation and generous portions to the tasty concoctions and those wonderfully mesquite-forward flavors. One of the highlights was the elote appetizer. It was delicious, beautifully charred, creamy, and plentiful. Definitely enough to share among 3-5 people! The Dorado Mahi-Mahi entree was another standout, and my dad really enjoyed it. The Arrachera Skirt Steak was also excellent, intensely smoky without becoming too brash or overpowering, which my partner enjoyed. The La Sonorense entree was tasty, but the execution, I thought made it a little cumbersome to eat. The chef did send out some salsa and chimichurri with our order complimentary, though, which was a really nice touch! Both sauces helped the flavors bloom even more and added some great brightness to the meal. And then there were the churros! They took forever to arrive, but once they finally made their appearance, they were a perfect ending to the meal. Super crispy, with a trio of sauces that complemented them really well. Some of the flavor combinations were ones I wouldn't normally think to pair with churros, but they surprisingly worked! Unfortunately, the service got a little wonky during the second half of our meal. The churros took a very long time to arrive, and our server seemed to pretty much disappear for a while. Overall, though, there were plenty of positives. The portions are generous, the food has some great smoky and mesquite-forward flavors, and there are definitely some memorable dishes on the menu.

Chips and salsa good. Our server was attentive. My husband had the chicken fajitas (he liked) and…read moreI have the chipotle chop salad. Husband had a fig margarita and said it was tasty! Offer valet or parking in the lot for first hour free but $9 after 1 hour. Dark ambiance. Large bar area and you can order food here as well.

La Hacienda has some strong points, but the overall experience didn't quite justify the price tag…read more The staff was friendly and attentive, and the restaurant offers an impressive selection of tequilas. The person dining with me had a skinny lime margarita and absolutely loved it, so the bar program seems to be a highlight. The atmosphere, however, was on the noisy side, which made it harder to enjoy the meal. Chips and salsa were just okay -- nothing memorable. I ordered the Filet A La Parrilla, one of their signature dishes. It was good, but not great, and definitely not worth the $58 price. The website listed it at $48, so the unexpected price increase didn't help the impression. Overall, La Hacienda delivers decent food and good service, but the pricing and noise level make it hard to fully recommend.

We stopped in for dinner and were impressed by both the food and the atmosphere. This is the kind…read moreof place that feels like authentic Mexican cuisine, and the restaurant itself is surprisingly spacious, with several side rooms full of cozy booths and larger dining areas. There's even a unique bird-themed room that adds a lot of character. The drinks were fantastic. My wife ordered the michelada and couldn't stop talking about how good it was, while I went with the Cadillac margarita. The bartender was very generous with the pour, and that first sip definitely caught me off guard--in the best way possible. The menu is huge, so narrowing down what to order was the hardest part. I chose the shredded beef chalupa with rice and beans, and my wife ordered the shrimp burrito combo. The rice and beans were some of the best I've had, though the chalupa itself was a little underwhelming because the beef could have used more seasoning. Thankfully, the shrimp burrito more than made up for it--it was absolutely loaded with perfectly cooked shrimp and covered in a rich, creamy sauce that was outstanding. Portion sizes are enormous, and we both ended up taking half of our meals home. We finished things off with the sopapillas, which were the perfect sweet ending and absolutely delicious. Even with one dish that didn't quite hit the mark, the excellent drinks, incredible shrimp burrito, amazing sides, huge portions, and welcoming atmosphere made this an easy five-star experience. Looking forward to coming back and trying more of the menu!

Dined for two visiting from Texas, no strangers to great Tex-mex and authentic Mexican food…read more We appreciated the story of the restaurant, the charm of the interior and exterior of the building, the friendly staff, and quick service. We ordered the chicken chimichanga combo, beef enchiladas with red sauce, and a corn tamale. The chimichanga was delicious and a large portion. The tamale was also great, not dry, and a great sauce in top. The enchiladas were not my favorite. Nothing bad about them, but nothing stood out about them either. Based on the great seasoning of the chicken chimichangas, I would rather order chicken than beef here. I do appreciate how hot and quickly the food came out though. Overall, I would recommend as a decent casual spot, but would not go out of my way to visit again.

This is my local watering hole eat here at least once a week. It's as close to what my family…read moremakes, and the best part is I don't have to cook it!! The owner is top notch, the waitstaff is exceptional. They also started having these salsa nights once a month, great energy and everyone is welcoming whether or not you have two left feet! Highly recommend! TVs to watch sports, and music is always on point.

Came back here recently and I have to say I was a little disappointed…read more We arrived and were seated on the patio right away. The hostess asked us if we wanted waters and if we wanted any apps. We said yes and ordered chips and salsa. About 10 minutes went by and our server made an appearance --without the chips and salsa. He seemed like he didn't want to be there and like we were a bother. We told him we had ordered chips and salsa with the hostess and he clearly had no idea. Then he asked us if we were ready to order, but we hadn't even received the chips & salsa yet. We told him we weren't ready.We ordered margaritas and got our appetizer. Then he disappeared for a long time again. When he came to take our order I ordered the Baja fish tacos grilled and he said they can't make them grilled. Which I found odd because the last time we were there they could. So I just ordered shrimp tacos which were excellent. He did ask us if we wanted another round of drinks which on our previous visit we were not asked. I really feel like the service just really lacked. I would say it was a 3.5 star experience. Especially when for happy hour 4 drinks, an app and 2 dishes were about $80 after tip. Side note it was a Friday afternoon and there was a band out on the patio which was nice. It wasn't too loud which I also appreciated.

Staff at this location are very polite and double check that your order is right! They make sure…read moreyou have any utensils and sauces you need - for takeout orders. I love their proximity to JL Patisserie because I can grab a meal and dessert in one stop! I ended up getting coconut shrimp, because theirs is the best. To a balance out the fried, I ordered a mahi mahi seafood salad with mango dressing. This was the best salad I've had in a long time and just hit the spot. Place is cute and tucked away. Good if you want to eat in, but I prefer takeout. I noticed they added a Baja fish taco which sounds amazing, maybe next time.

This is the first time I'm visiting since the name change from Coconuts to Maui Fish house and I'm…read morereally disappointed. I'm mourning the loss of what used to be not only AZ's best fish tacos and freshest poke, but also their S tier fries. Reading some of the reviews I thought it was just a change in name only. Unfortunately the recipes and food quality has changed as well. When I first moved here from Hawaii, I was resigned to the fact the most restaurants in AZ just didn't have the capacity to serve seafood as great as the islands. That was until I visited Coconuts at the old FLW and Scottsdale location. I continued to eat there as well as their new Shea location and also the location on Mayo, always eating consistently great fish tacos and poke. I would bring friends and family there who also enjoyed the fresh ingredients that reminded them of home. Surprisingly the fries on the side were also a standout but now the recipe changed and now taste just like every other takeout restaurant which is a shame. I know a lot of Hawaiian restaurants with fish tacos and poke have opened up in the area in the last few years, but Coconuts was always my go to for fresh fish and tacos and even their fries. I can't say the same about Maui fish tacos and will have to find somewhere else. On the plus side, the servers were excellent and friendly and they rightfully deserve some praise.