Introduction of why here: I was looking at something old from college and saw on old date from college at ASU way back in February 2006. Oddly enough in the wealthiest town in Arizona in Town of Paradise Valley, where the median home price even way back in 2006 was over $1 million. The date here: I had met her at a party at ASU, got her phone #, & went on 2 dates. The 2nd of those 2 dates I suggested the El Chorro Lodge. My friend & roommate told me about the excellent happy hour at this fancy restaurant. Background & History of area: The restaurant itself is a historic relic. Some of the history from the middle part of the 20th century. I didn't realize that El Chorro been around since 1937! In the 1930's, this was all vacant desert land, maybe a couple of farms here or there in what is now in Paradise Valley. In 1934, John C. Lincoln built a resort, Camelback Inn, far out in the desert relative to the small Phoenix area at that time. I assumed Lincoln Drive was named after President Abraham Lincoln. There were no schools in this area, and he built El Chorro, a one-room schoolhouse for his daughters. It was in 1937 that it became a watering hole for the resort as the Camelback Inn did not alcohol, and it was a relatively short dirt road to El Chorro for those "thirsty for spirit and some old-fashioned revelry." In the 1950's, famous people like Clark Gable & Milton Berle visited. Paradise Valley's population was starting to grow in the 50's & 60's. City of Phoenix & Scottsdale were annexing a lot of land during this time greatly growing their cities. Residents in this area were concerned about losing their quality of sustainability and wanted to avoid being absorbed by Phoenix or Scottsdale (as if being Scottsdale would've been so terrible, but compared with Paradise Valley, even Scottsdale is a downgrade) decided in 1961 to incorporate as Town of Paradise Valley. Happy Hour & Experience Here: In spite of being very expensive, their happy hour, which I think was 3-6 PM, was surprisingly a great deal. So, apparently if you brought at least one drink, you'd get a free meal; well it was happy hour food like nachos, sliders, or something like that, but when you're a relatively broke college student, it was a meal! Service was good. I really enjoyed the food, which I could tell was of good quality, even if it was just happy hour food, and I remembered my beer was delicious. My 2026 taste buds aren't into beer; I'll have a beer from time to time, but it's not a top choice. If I was coming here now, I'd probably get a wine, whiskey, or some cocktail these days, but in 2006 college days, I was all about beer! So, her name was Bri, like the cheese, except without the E in brie cheese. On that Tuesday of this date (which just so happened to be Valentine's Day), I got to her house at 3 PM. We enjoyed our free late lunch with the purchase of at least one drink. We talked about music, family, and other assorted topics, and we stayed for about 2 hours; a pretty good time. When I was ready to pay, she said she would pay for me too since she had more drinks than me. By no means was this outstanding, but still with my bad luck with woman, this was my best Valentine's in 6 years at that time. We left the restaurant at 5:36 PM, and I said that I have 4 minutes to get to my 5:40 PM class. She said I should have said something earlier, which I responded I hate that class and needed to be there to sign in for attendance. I had about 10 miles to drive to drop her off at her house on the opposite side of campus. I made it to class about an hour late at 6:40 (it was a 3-hour class; so I only missed 1/3rd of the total time, so not too bad...haha) having to fight a lot of traffic. I had to risk parking illegally nearby for 20 minutes (7 PM parking was unrestricted) to get to class only an hour late! The teacher gave me a dirty look as I was significantly late 3 consecutive times. In summary, a nice atmosphere with good happy hour albeit probably quite different 20 years later. read more

Great service. Very good food. Delightful outdoor seating options. Really good spot read more

El Chorro - Bar - American Near Me - Paradise Valley, Arizona

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Fantastic Sunday Brunch. Beautiful environment and extensive menu. Make sure you make a reservation in advance. The sticky buns are world class. Vicki our server was 5* read more

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Back for another great dinner while visiting our son in Phoenix. Sticky buns, great service (thanks Alan) and good food... fish, steak and braised beef. The patio vibe and evening weather was perfect. We will be back again. read more

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A beautiful historic venue to dine or stay. We visited the restaurant, which was cozy with candles and Christmas decorations in December. The service was a little slow given the fact that they weren't that busy indoors (most people wanted to sit on the patio despite being chilly out because it's pretty.) Other than that, we had a very nice meal! Everything tasted great, including a specialty cocktail and warm, homemade sticky buns. read more

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We came here to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday and what an amazing place!! This upscale fine dining was amazing. The ambiance was romantic, beautiful scenery and sophisticated. Service was superb. There were six of us and we had two servers attending to us. Wow!!! Cocktails and wine was delicious. Apps and entrees were Devine. I definitely want to come back. When my best friend come down to visit me I'm definitely going to bring them here. read more

El Chorro - American Near Me - Paradise Valley, Arizona

Tried the place out this weekend and it was ok . The service was extremely slow in my opinion. The food presentation was really nice and I really enjoyed my Benedict read more

El Chorro - American Near Me - Paradise Valley, Arizona

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I had another work dinner at this location. After the chicken pot pie disappointment last time I went with a salad. I'm not sure how you can mess up a salad but it was not good. The chicken was overcooked. Other than that it was piles of ingredients and not much dressing. It's such a beautiful venue. And the sticky rolls and the shrimp with butter and bread are great. But not loving anything else. The servers are very attentive, constantly refilling water and offering to get more drinks. But I'm just not sold on the food. Or I am not ordering well each time. read more

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I don't have great pictures as we were with friends last night. The ambiance here is just gorgeous and that is what I wanted my friends to experience as they are visiting for just a few days. They do have a wonderful bar so we had pre dinner cocktails then moved to our patio table. Service from Vicki was efficient and friendly. I ordered the vegetable cassoulet, two people had the legendary fried lobster and my husband had the pork chop. Everything was fantastic. It's expensive. Portions are large and I couldn't even eat 1/3 of the cassoulet so it will be lunch for us tomorrow. Bill for 4 was around $500. Definitely a special place to take your out of towners to experience 'Arizona' read more

El Chorro - Patio - American Near Me - Paradise Valley, Arizona

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How is this place not 5 stars?!? They have FANTASTIC and DELICIOUS food. Service is attentive and the staff are very welcoming and kind. ANNNDDD, the ambience cannot be beat!!! You can sit inside the cozy restaurant or sit outside in a wide open space surrounded by sounds of nature or their water fountain, both of which are relaxing. Another fun add: instead of chips and salsa or bread service, each table gets an order of cinnamon rolls!!!! You MUST come here for brunch!!!! Strongly recommend their lemon ricotta pancakes and their tamale breakfast bowl. For dinner, try a steak or one of their specials. Delicious! read more

Let me begin by saying that the place is absolutely gorgeous! I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere! The service was spot on. Our waitress was phenomenal. Her name was Jennifer and she was very attentive without being intrusive. Now let's talk about the food. I had the shrimp cocktail and they were pretty good. I had to put a little bit of salt on there because it felt like the shrimp needed a little bit of flavor. But they were good. The sticky buns that come with every meal were outstanding. I thoroughly enjoyed that. I ordered the eggs Benedict, but I did ask for one of them to use salmon instead of Canadian bacon. I enjoy the traditional eggs Benedict very much. The salmon one was very good as well, but I'm just a eggs Benedict snob and I just prefer the traditional eggs Benedict. However, it was very good. The salmon Benedict that is. What I did not like were the breakfast potatoes. I'm just not a fan of fried potatoes for breakfast. I prefer sautéed potatoes with onions and garlic and bell peppers. But just dicing up some potatoes and frying them doesn't really impress me too much. My spicy margarita was not spicy at all. Luckily Jennifer, our waitress took it back and they we made it. It still wasn't spicy, but I didn't want to return it for a second time. It was tasty, but it was not a spicy margarita. When I have a spicy margarita, I want to fill that tickle in my throat from the spice of the jalapeños or Serrano peppers or whatever you need to put in there to make it spicy. Sometimes just muddling jalapeños in there doesn't really make it spicy. There is an art to making a spicy margarita and let's just say that wasn't their jam. Would I go back? Yes I definitely would go back. It's a beautiful place and well worth the money. read more

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Went on New Year's Eve to celebrate my husband's birthday. Food was delicious and the service was impeccable! Our waitress was both friendly and attentive. We chose to sit outside, it was very comfortable. It had been almost 10 years since our last dining experience and we found it to be just as amazing as the last! read more

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El Chorro truly is the full package. Beautiful views, delicious food, and a unique venue. The venue is nearly 100 years old. Nestled at the base between camelback and mummy mountain, the views are spectacular. Let me start off by saying the sticky bun thing is a nice touch. The warm and gooey sticky buns pre meal got everyone's juices flowing. The shrimp appetizer with bread was incredible. Everyone enjoyed their entrees. I ordered the short rib with polenta and squash which was home run. When I come back I will order that again. read more

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Jackson was our server and was very sweet and kind. The avocado bruschetta was very refreshing. The beef stroganoff was the best I have ever had. The seasonal risotto with vegetables was good but the beef stroganoff was the top winner tonight. read more

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We had a nice dinner at El Chorro, we ate inside but noticed the outdoor tables had coolers so we may try that next time. Our server was excellent, food was made with care and tasted amazing. The macaroni and cheese side is to die for and a must try. read more

El Chorro - Salmon, Creamy Mac & Cheese - American Near Me - Paradise Valley, Arizona

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Came in for my birthday/ secret santa get together on the 12-15-24 Had a great time great service , food , atmosphere. Love this place really laid back , beautiful design... and the food was to die for . Definitely recommend this spot for any occasion ... read more

El Chorro - Just before we left - American Near Me - Paradise Valley, Arizona

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Great food, great service, and great ambience! No wonder they have lasted for many decades!

A wonderful experience from the moment we walked in! The ambiance, friendly staff, impeccable food and service was amazing!

I really loved the ambiance and food at this very classic old Phoenix restaurant. We were seated in a private area of the patio and had a fire going, even though it was hot out, and great views of Camelback Mountain. The service was exceptional for our large party and took care of us throughout the night. I had two excellent cocktails, both very different tastes so they have a wide selection of drinks available. I started off with the Caesar salad and it was very delicious and a unique take on a Caesar. For my mine I had the seabass but requested green beans instead of the roasted root vegetables and this was substituted for me. The meal was delicious and a good size and quality considering the price. I would certainly come here again for a special evening out or date night. read more

Beautiful restaurant in a historic building in Paradise Valley! The rich history and the ambience are definitely selling points for this beautiful restaurant. Came here for brunch with friends and we couldn't have had a better time. Food and service were on point! They offer a delicious brunch selection each Sunday. The sticky buns are 100% worth the hype btw! I opted for the porridge waffle with fresh fruit and it certainly didn't dissapoint- beautiful presentation of all of our meals. A wonderful spot for a celebration! read more

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Celebrated a friend's birthday dinner over the weekend in what seems to be a quintessential spot in Scottsdale. The history of El Chorro and its beautifully maintained buildings draw guests in. We enjoyed dining on the patio which had plenty of heaters on a clear but cool evening. The sticky buns add to the story and ambiance. Service was excellent. I order the filet which was cooked to perfection and accompanied by mashed potatoes and lovely vegetables. Others at the table ordered the famous trout almondine and the sea bass. We shared a number of sides including grilled asparagus, brussel sprouts and the au gratin potatoes. All were great but a special shout out to the unctuous potatoes. read more

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Came here for a birthday dinner. Have been meaning to come by for awhile and the only regret is not coming in sooner. Food was delicious. I got the NY Strip and it was perfect temp, flavorful and juicy. Very nice atmosphere overall. Service was great. Will be back. read more

El Chorro - Birthday desert - American Near Me - Paradise Valley, Arizona

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Great upscale restaurant for special family occasions the food is delicious albeit a bit pricey but the staff was outstanding very friendly.

It was beautiful, the service was great and the food was delicious. A bit overpriced but overall a wonderful evening. Wish I had taken a photo read more

My Group meets here every year the week before Christmas for Brunch. Fantastic food, drinks and service we never feel rushed a group of gals just catching up. I have been here for dinner and a wedding. Always spectacular. read more

Outstanding birthday experience! We went for a birthday brunch! You get the choice to sit inside or on patio and we sat on patio. The staff was beyond accommodating and our waiter Joe was excellent! After you finish eating they give you a little complementary birthday cake! Such a special place , delicious food and beautiful grounds. Prices were actually quite decent for brunch. I love this place ! Made for a perfect 60th birthday experience ! read more

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It is one of the beautiful court yard restaurants in paradise valley the servers and the hosts are very courteous and knowledge able . The food is rich and tasty the drinks are wonderful . It has wounded full atmosphere read more

The place is good! The food was tasty, and the staff members were helpful. The appetizers were a hit! Our drinks were okay. The ambiance was good and we loved its location. read more

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We had a brunch reservation to sit outside on the patio. The restaurant is beautiful both inside and out. It was a little chilly in the shade, so they had heat lamps and fires going which made it super cozy. Our server was wonderful and brought us a sticky bun plate as we sat down. The sticky buns were amazing and an awesome way to start the meal. Next we ordered drinks and settled into conversation. I ordered the Sunset Drip which is effectively a Paloma with mezcal which was delicious! For brunch I ordered the breakfast hash with sunny side up eggs. I was really good and exactly what I was looking for. The pork verde was fall apart succulent and the potatoes were spiced and delicious. Overall the meal was a wonderful experience. I am excited to go back for dinner at some point. read more

El Chorro - Sunset Drip - American Near Me - Paradise Valley, Arizona

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5 stars does not do this place justice. Sunday brunch was stellar. From the sticky roll, to the fantastic coffee, to the coffee to the tamale bowl with eggs to order it was all FANTASTIC! The waiter was a SUPER NICE GUY TOO! read more

El Chorro - American Near Me - Paradise Valley, Arizona

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We absolutely had an amazing time at El Chorro! It was starting to rain a little bit in Phoenix so we had the patio virtually to ourselves and the view and the scenery is absolutely stunning. It's so relaxing. The food was phenomenal. Service was extremely attentive. Perfect for a casual Sunday brunch or celebrating a big milestone. read more

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We had an amazing dinner here. The vibe, the service and the food were all amazing. We sat outside and the craft cocktails and sunset were soooo good. You won't be disappointed read more

Phenomenal high end ranch style dinner place. Steak/fish type menu. Cutlery and place settings and ambiance was amazing. Had king salmon with mashed potatoes and green beans. Incredibly fresh and well presented with great flavors. Service was good. The sticky buns was a special treat. Only negative thing was we went there for Easter brunch and it was a full blown dinner menu, very strange and disappointing. read more

El Chorro has been around since 1938 and was a school before a restaurant, some of the school rooms are still available to visit. The server delivered sticky buns and scones for us to nibble on before ordering. I had the traditional eggs benedict with home fries that were seasoned to perfection. The meal was priced well, and the potions were spot on. Delightful meal and wonderful surroundings. read more

Came here for a nice dinner with some friends. After looking over the menu, we decided to start off with the crab and tuna stack to share. The crab and tuna stack was absolutely delicious. There was a nice balance of flavors and the textures between the chips, ahi tuna, crab, and avocado worked well together. For our main entrees, we ordered pork chop milanese, grilled filet mignon, and a side of creamy mac and cheese to share. The filet mignon itself was grilled to medium rare perfection. The scalloped potatoes were good, but a bit overly salty for our tastes. The vegetables accompanying the dish were standard. For dessert we decided to order the sticky bun bread pudding and the cheesecake. The flavor of the sticky bun bread pudding as a whole was good, the sticky buns themselves were a bit on the dry side, different from what we were expecting. The cheesecake was standard. Overall, service was professional and friendly, and at no point during our meal did we feel rushed at all. The restaurant itself is quite spacious, with a classic vibe indoors. The outdoor patio seating is also quite lovely with stunning views. read more

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My son worked very hard to find a great brunch place for my big birthday with family and a friend. He chose it because of the lovely patio. Of course that Sunday it poured rain. We sat inside at a round table. It was very nice inside. The tables had tablecloth's which I think always dresses up a restaurant. The wait staff were great. The sweets served at each table were tasty. A few of us had the tamales and egg dish. It was a great dish even the next day. The hamburger looked delucious and the huge plate of fries were perfect. We had a few bottles of champagne snd orange juice. It was a great birthday celebration. read more

El Chorro - The front of the restaurant - American Near Me - Paradise Valley, Arizona

Excellent atmosphere,awesome service and delicious food. Highly recommended for lunch!

Nice atmosphere on the patio. Nice presentation with great flavors. Both the fish dishes were great.

Service was amazing. Food was terrific. Ambiance was super. A hidden gem with some old school classics only grandma made. Sticky buns for a starter. Yes!! read more

El Chorro was one of three restaurants recommended to us by a local living in the Phoenix area. Upon arrival, we were delighted to see the quaint courtyard and immediately asked to be seated outside. There was a cold spell in AZ last weekend so the heaters were a warm welcome. We started with cocktails and were impressed that they offered NA beer for one in our party. This is something more restaurants need to pay attention to and offer guests. Our appetizer selection of raw oysters, deviled eggs, and Caesar Salad were a perfect combination of flavor and presentation. The salad was not soaked with dressing, which is often the case. My daughter and I chose to share the filet special, which featured a delicate crab cake on top. It was accompanied by mashed potatoes and vegetables. It was cooked perfectly to rare plus! Her boyfriend selected beef stroganoff, which was a reminder of his childhood. This did not disappoint. The flavor of the beef and texture of the noodles made this simple dish shine. And let's not forget the hot sticky buns that were brought out at the start of the evening. They shared the perfect complement of soft and sweet. We had a hard time saving some for dessert but were glad we did! Service was excellent! This dining experience will be remembered as one of the highlights of our trip to the Phoenix area, second only to our mens 4.0 tennis team winning a national championship, which is what took us to the area and prompted this celebratory meal! As an additional note, I received a phone call two days post from a team member at El Chorro. She just wanted to follow up to inquire about our experience and if we had any input for them. This was quite impressive as I've never had that happen before. read more

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