We were staying at Boulders Resort and looking for something off property. what a great find!! Creative chef! Great wine list! Thoroughly enjoyed the experience! read more

We have eaten here several times. I don't particularly care for this restaurant. The service is slow, the price is very high and the food is unusual. No matter what I have ordered I have not liked it. Other people think it is okay. This is not to my taste. read more

My husband and I went to Confluence last night. We are snowbirds,so it was our first visit since it became Confluence. I wish we could give it 10 stars! We both had the ribeye and it was the best we have had in the Carefree/Cave Creek area. The mashed potatoes were scrumptious! The presentation was unique and very appealing. Our server, Donna, was attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. The other staff people, including the owners, were welcoming and accommodating. We will certainly be back! read more

Had lunch here a few weeks ago based upon recent good press. It was a chilly day so my friend and I both started with the French onion soup. It was tepid, the cheese on top wasn't melted so it was just a glob of cheese. Flavor was okay but nothing extraordinary. My friend ordered the open faced mozzarella sandwich and it was small and disappointing. I ordered the Little Gem salad as I love Green Goddess dressing. It wasn't anything special and was very bland. I had heard about the new chef/owner here and hoped his training under Binkley was a good sign. The food was just ok to poor. read more

Excellent food and service, amazing view. Food is a bit adventurous but extremely well done, loved it all.

We loved Cafe Bink. Good energy, good variety each visit but also some welcome favorites. We really wanted to like Confluence but were disappointed. Energy was low. Place half empty on a Friday nite. The kitchen team is half the size. Menu is meant to impress, felt like they are trying too hard. By way of background we like fine dining, but also some days we lighten it up (Wife loves a great burger). Confluence dropped any simple fare and just has the expense entrees and apps. She literally couldn't find anything she liked on the menu. We decided to have a glass of wine and an app ($32). Both were excellent but we won't be coming back. We ate at 3 other restaurants in town and asked around and the consensus was the restaurant is losing local support. The almost universal complaint was the menu changes too often, there are no simple (less expensive) entrees anymore and the place lost a step in terms of energy/warmth. We hope they add back a couple of burger/comfort food items and a few lower price options. We used to eat there two nights in a row (bottle of wine/higher priced entrees first nite, glass of wine and a burger next day) and would love to come back. Even if you like all their items what's the chance you will come 2 nites in a row? After the app and glass of wine we went next door and bought a pizza (very good). Next night we went to Keelers. Not as ambitious a menu but they have something for everyone. Combo of expensive and casual. Wife finally got her burger. read more

Ate there yesterday, in short this is a resturant trying to be first class but not quite making the mark. The portions are small, which is fine as long as they taste good. I had the black cod. The best thing on the plate was the shiitake mushrooms. The rest of the dish was lacking in seasoning and the purple yam was pureed. Overall most of the sides had the texture and flavor of baby food. Their prices are high, my black cod was $39. At those prices one would expect better. Upon leaving I wished I had gone to the pizza shop next door instead. I can't reccomend this one. read more

DISAPPOINTING! If zero stars were possible, that is how I'd rate this restaurant. We were regulars at cafe bink - and I understand that the new owners want an identity of their own. We were excited to try the new venue. In fact, we waited for a special occasion to go. To start, we were greeted by a lackadaisical man just exiting the restroom, and still drying his hands on the towel attached to his apron. Clearly- other people have had a similar experience Thursday night- and only 2 tables occupied, and 2 people at the bar. We started with ordering a bottle of wine. Typically we would have a bottle of Frank family cab @$75.00. is it's now $116!!! What?? The food was - sorry to say- disgusting, EXTREMELY overpriced (I don't mind paying $38-$39 for an entree if it's good) but 4 out of 4 dinners were tasteless, poorly presented, and minuscule portions. We have many wonderful options in Carefree/Cave Creek. Needless to say- we will not be back. What's more, I will tell anyone and everyone I know to avoid Confluence. read more

This was one of the most wonderful dinners I have ever experienced. Salads, charcuterie plate, pork chops, fish and crab..each plate was beautifully presented with a depth of flavors. A bit pricy but well worth it for the fabulous experience. read more

Extremely Disappointed! Very Expensive in Every Regard. Four People, Four Cold Dinners. Bass, Monk Fish and Rib Eye. We Ordered Two Appetizers, Not Worth Discussing in Any Sense. Limited Menu...Not Many Choices. Very Little Food for the Price. The Star is for Donna. The Others Were Mundane with Little Personality. Will Not Return. read more

This has the potential to be a great spot. I'm not sure what the reviews complaining about the food and prices are about. I have always enjoyed the food at this restaurant. The lobster carpaccio left a bit to be desired, but other than that wonderful food. The problem with this restaurant is service. We went about 4 times, hoping it would get better.... and it did a little, but our last experience was the final straw. The servers don't know what they're selling and just plain don't know how to serve( proper flatware etc.). They have an octopus dish that rivals Spiga.... but the service is too frustrating. Oh, and no Sunday brunch? Weird... read more

Horrible. Simply horrible. Overpriced and minuscule portions. My fish entree arrived cold and was the size of a half dollar. Appetizers were overpriced and too small to share. Wine list prices have dramatically increased from Cafe Bink. We were faithful patrons of Cafe Bink but if the new owners were part of that, they aren't very smart to take off the best entrees and sell overpriced tiny niblets. Will not be back and no way they will last. read more

Great innovative yet classy place to dine. I appreciated all the attention paid to each dish and how friendly the staff was. The farm to table concept is also a huge plus for our local farmers. I HIGHLY recomend this place, especially if you're a foodie! read more

What a find. This place is destined for greatness. Located in a small village that also as a Bashas in it. It's not easy to find, but well worth the trek. The food is special with lovely presentations. Quail and Duck are excellent. For starters, we loved the farro served with a soft boiled egg. A big wow. The Foie Gras was wonderful too. Get there before the snowbirds invade. read more

Hands down this is one of the best restaurants I've been to...and I have eaten around the world! Unique mixture of textures and flavors that sparked just joy. The oysters are amazing; a must-try appetizer! The John Dory was fabulous...so much variety on the plate! The Dark Chocolate dessert was like no other...and so fresh! Fabulous wine selection! I highly recommend Confluence! read more

Confluence - John Dory - New American Near Me - Carefree, Arizona

Excellent food and flavors! Having been regular weekly patrons of Cafe Bink since it opened, my wife and I decided to try out the new restaurant for lunch. We started with the Cucumber Salad and Chicken and Rice soup. Both dishes had loads of flavor and quality ingredients. For the main course we had the Halibut Tacos and Prime Rib Sandwich, with the Tacos being outstanding. We will definitely be eating here on a regular basis. read more

We found this place driving by. Decided to try it based on Yelp reviews!! Pretty quiet for a Friday night but that's what we were looking for after a busy week. GREAT service, terrific food. Loved the wheat bread & duck spread. Great wine selection. Had the Octopus appetizer & Blackened Filets. Some of the best food we've ever had, cooked to perfection. We just moved to AZ area & don't know what Cafe Bink was like but we were VERY happy. You definitely get what you paid for and we look forward to going back. A+++ read more

Favorite place for a delicious luncheon! Great wait personnel. The chicken sandwich is amazing as are All of their desserts! read more

Best new restaurant in Phoenix area. Must try! Cafe Bink has been re-imagined into a daring new concept.

Confluence is NOT Cafe Bink, it's' predecessor. It is not trying to be, nor should it. The food is more complex, ingredients costlier and prices are accordingly higher. It's a wonderful restaurant with unpretentious attractive surroundings, warm professional service and outstanding creative food. It's become one of the finest restaurants in Phoenix/Scottsdale area. Fish dishes are always top notch. Often unusual fish that I've not had before are paired with impeccable accompaniments. His "chicken" dishes change (which is a plus) and are always a great choice. Unlike other restaurants that have a set menu, Chef Brandon is very ingredient driven and creates his dishes around the best available, which is why his menu is dynamic rather than static. Nice patio in good weather. Warm attractive bar. Wonderful dining experience. read more

This is suppose to be fine dining but unfortunately misses the mark. I was served food that clearly was not freshly prepared. A scallop entree contained scallops the size of nickels. I will say the staff was very nice and accommodating but the food was just not good. Enter at you own risk. read more

Great wine menu and good service. Unfortunately, the restaurant was empty of diners. We dined at 6:30 PM and there was only two other diners. Menu is varied and food was good, but not to my temperature liking. Warm at best. For $43.00 scallops, it was... Meh. Two glasses of $12 wine, 1 appetizer and 2 entrees for $190.00(this includes tip). It's difficult to review with only 3 stars as I know the owners are giving it their all. We are locals and unfortunately, we will not be returning read more

Wow! What a wonderful place! The service was wonderful and the food was outstanding! Great seafood dishes and nicely curated wine list. Best meal I have had in awhile. read more

I have eaten at restaurant in six continents, and this was one of the top five meals I ever had. The four course option is the best offer. Every course is unique and exceptional. Treat yourself and eat here. read more

Outstanding. Better than outstanding. Love the creativity in flavors and presentation. I truly don't understand why ANYONE would complain about portion size. You can buy a slab of ribs at 4 places down the street. That's not what they are doing here. I'll return. Often. read more

We were pleasantly surprised. Wanted to give it a try since Binks had left the area. We were expecting casual dining and we're very pleased to see that the menu was quite elevated. We sat at the bar. The bartender was very attentive and extremely knowledgeable of the menu and the ingredients. Had a delightful meal and fabulous wine. We plan to go back. read more

I had the Herb Roasted Lobster Mushrooms for my appetizer. They were served with a few strategically placed, light as air gnocchi. My entree was Iberica Pluma. The pork was sliced thin and incredibly tender with a savory crust. An amazing meal. read more

A great chef and rockstar in the making. His take on mushroom risotto redefines what usually is served. It arrives at your table and you wonder "is that risotto?" as it would appear to be more of a mushroom soup. Then you tuck in and find that in fact the texture is unexpectedly perfect. No standard broth graces this plate. It is rich and long simmered, dense with wild mushroom...to say nothing of the branches of wild mushrooms that are perfectly roasted/sautéed... no mere garnish. The guinea hen, again a surprise. Though at first sight the breast appeared as it might be dry, instead a knife gliding through it revealed it to be juicy and wonderful. Not at all "gamey", which they attribute to their locally grown source. The confit leg...perfect. It arrives boned, and having met either a grill or flash hot oven, has a crisp outer skin. Combined with the succulent texture and taste of its rich confit, this is a knockout dish. Even at the beginning or your meal you start not with a dab of butter next to homemade bread, but the most perfectly cooked bit of egg yolk to spread. I am now a total convert to this idea but probably wouldn't have ever tried this at home. Had a really nice glass of cava to start and it was so good I just kept ordering it through the rest of the meal. I will be going back again...and again... there is more I need to explore. And outside patio to enjoy. Bravo, CONFLUENCE...bravo!! read more

My husband and I just had lunch there today. We had the roasted sunchoke soup and shared the roasted chicken sandwich with fries. Everything was absoultely magnificent. The owners are extremly passionate about their buisness and it shows!! The service was superb and the atmosphere is lovely. It's definitely our new favorite restaurant in the valley. Check them out and you will not be disappointed. Support our small buisness owners in this very difficult time. read more

Probably one of the best chefs in the state showing his true colors with his wife Victoria and a team dedicated to excellence. The combination of amazing food and welcoming hospitality is something rare in the food world these days and should be Cherished. Their ever changing menu will bring me back many more times in the future. 5 stars for sure. Excellent. Try the roasted peach, monk Fish for sure, and that ribeye is close your eyes good. read more

I have had three recent visits to Confluence: a wine dinner, lunch with a bunch of guys and dinner for seven. I've enjoyed my meal each time and the friends I was with were equally positive. The menu choices are interesting presenting many good options. I also appreciate the wine choices which have introduced me to new makers. The kitchen seems able to source excellent ingredients and the preparation and presentation are equally fine. The host and servers are professional and the open kitchen appeals as well. We really need a restaurant of this caliber in our neighborhood and wife and I wish Confluence all the best. read more

Decided to try the new place in town and I am happy to report this place is amazing! Everything on the menu is thoughtfully picked out by the great owner/chef who makes wonderful combinations of delicious ingredients you don't normally see on a menu. I was skeptical about some of the dishes that had ingredients I didn't recognize, but decided to try a few dishes I wouldn't normally pick and they were all fantastic! Their cocktails were great as well so I definitely would not skip out on any course and don't forget a drink! read more

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This is the absolute, 100%, without a doubt BEST food I have ever had in my entire life. the mashed potatoes, the cornbread, the ribeye, the pluma, the spotted skate, the duck breast, EVERYTHING. this place is absolutely mind blowing love you thank you papa bless appreciate ya read more

Five star cuisine. Hidden gem in the north east valley. Four course tasting menu lifting you wanting more of each course. We will be back, and often! read more

This was was one of the best meals I have had. Service was amazing and Victoria the co-owner was was so sweet. I highly recommend this place! So many options! As my dad used to say "I regret I only have just one stomach to give to this meal" You have to co e enjoy Confluence! Thad read more

First time here. I love Binkley's and understand the chef at Confluence was his sous chef. I was underwhelmed by the place itself. No linen or effort to make the surroundings on par with the food. That is a shame as the food is first rate. I went with my wife and another couple. We all opted for the 4 course tasting. $65 which is VERY reasonable given the food quality. My buddy and I opted to up charge for the seared foie gras which is another $14 a person but worth every cent. I started with the arugula salad which was excellent but like many salads I get these days very shy on dressing! WTF is the case with that trend? Otherwise a solid start. The seared foie gras with potato bread, poached pear, hazelnut, mint, Yuzu, huckleberry was superb. I lusted for a glass of Sauternes but there was none on the list. They were able to get me a glass of CA white port which paired surprisingly well. I opted for the Iberico Pluma served with gnocchi which was likely the best pork I have ever tasted in half a century of eating pork of all kinds. I finished with the caramel risotto which was superb. The rice was cooked exactly as it should be. Firm with each grain maintaining its integrity. The wine list is not long. Maybe 50-60 bottles but well chosen. We had a 2017 Lucia pinot noir. I sure hope this place hangs in there. We all agreed that in dining out on a regular basis over the last 12-15 months, it was the only restaurant we all agreed we would return to. Get some linen on the tables and ensure that there are enough staff on the floor to serve the customers along with expanding the wine list and this will be a destination for all of Phoenix. I cannot wait to return. read more

Love this restaurant...the vegetable sides are always unique and tasty...fries are some of the best I've experienced...burger is particularly good, calamari is perfect small Intimate indoor space outdoor has nice views with kite shading when weather permits. Love their wine selection. I forgot to mention their tacos also fabulous.... btw I'm describing lunch...haven't been for dinner yet it's on our to do list, at their next wine tasting dinners.... looking forward to this event. read more

We have done take out at least once a week during this Covid-19 pandemic. Our first time we got the full chicken dinner. Unbelievable!! We talked about it for a week. It was the first time we had ever had fresh farm raised chicken. It was so much better than our expectations. Confluence takes take out to a whole new level. We have since had the steak dinner, chicken sandwiches to die for, soups, salads, and all types of different sides. Always great food. The best take out in the area by far!! read more

Excellent food! Located in a shopping center, which was unexpected, but nice view of mountains from certain tables. Would recommend!

We called at 1:30 pm and asked to accommodate a party of 9 knowing that they close at 2:00 pm and open up again at 4:00. We arrived at 1:50 and they had the table set for us. The food was amazing and service was excellent. We will definitely be coming back. Also they have an outdoor patio with views. Will be a great place to hangout when the weather is a little cooler. read more