A wonderful restaurant with great staff. This was our third time at Sel and it has always been a perfect experience. The food is expertly prepared and always delicious. at our table, we had the sea menu and also the vegetarian menu, both of which were excellent. Everything was perfectly cooked and beautifully presented. The staff was extremely attentive. It was a beautiful atmosphere outdoors on the terrace. I highly recommend. read more

My husband and I celebrated our 10th anniversary at Sel and we were happy with what we ordered. I really wanted to try the Chef's Tasting Menu, but also wanted to try the foie gras and caviar - all of that together would have been too much to eat, so I decided to go the a la carte route. The food was top notch and we had a great experience. The caviar was light and surprisingly velvety and paired excellently with the deviled egg creme fraiche. I tried it with the mignonette, but the creme fraiche was by far the best. The foie gras, also velvety, but I felt the bordelaise sauce was overly salty and did not highlight the foie or the apples. The beet and roasted vegetable soup was delicious, smoky and slightly spicy - not sure if they'll ever add that to the menu, but the chef really should! Finally, the crab was tender, soft and perfectly seasoned and not butter heavy. The mushroom pappardelle was just as tasty as the other dishes. I really couldn't fit any more food in my stomach and sadly had to decline dessert. Sel is a great experience. read more

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The food and cocktails here are so good, instead of trying another restaurant, we returned here for another meal. Highly recommend the foie gras, the beetroot salad and the crispy duck. Lovely outdoor and indoor dining spaces, with friendly service. read more

We came to Sel for my birthday celebration! We were looking for a not so crazy expensive multiple course dinner. Sel has five courses for $120 and that is very good for a Scottsdale restaurant. The place was not as busy as I expected it to be for 5 pm on a Saturday. We did get sat in the corner which didn't give the best vibes but it is a cute place. My main concern was the speed of the dishes coming out because I do eat fast. They were very speedy with clearing plates and getting the next course out! The wait staff was very friendly and knowledgeable about each dish. The food had amazing flavors! The must try's are the CITRUS CURED HIRAMASA CRUDO, GRILLED WHITE ASPARAGUS and the STRAWBERRY-MARZIPAN SHORTCAKE. Some that didn't quite hit the mark for us was CRISPY COLD WATER LOBSTER TAIL and the worst tiramisu I have ever had being the FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE TIRAMISU. I do recommend this place for the experience but not every dish really wowed us like we could hope for the price tag. read more

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I came here for my birthday dinner this year and had a lovely meal. We sat out on the patio. Parking was available along the street out front. I started off with a cocktail called Old Town Candy Shop, which was a unique combination of tart flavors. For the rest of the meal, we tried a selection of various dishes on the menu, but the one that stood out to me the most was the wagyu striploin. It was so flavorful and rivaled wagyu that you would find at any steakhouse. Good food and good service! read more

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I came here for my birthday dinner with my parents during their happy hour, and it was absolutely fantastic. They were super accommodating and helpful in being able to create/modify meals for my allergies. The ambiance was so beautiful and the bathrooms are SO CUTE with the little salt shakers in the wall (as a nod to the restaurant name sel, which is salt in French). The cocktails were also absolutely fantastic too. Everything was DEFINITELY WORTH EVERY PENNY. read more

My wife & I went to SEL to celebrate our anniversary. What a gem of a restaurant. The chefs menu (sea & land) was outstanding. Our service was exceptional and the ambiance was perfect for a romantic dinner. We can't wait to go back. Cheers read more

I can't believe it took me so long to review Sel, as our visit was definitely the highlight of our Scottsdale weekend a couple of weeks ago. The decor is beautiful, and the staff was all attentive and friendly...the chef even came out to chat at the end of the meal. Also, the tables are nicely social distanced, while we're still dealing with this pandemic. If you are a foodie, I highly recommend the tasting menu with the wine pairings. Each course was amazing (starting with a delightful Amuse Bouche), but the wine pairings were perfect, and took each course to a new level. And that Elk, though. Wow. I was expecting it to be a tad tough and maybe a bit gamey, but it was as tender as wagyu beef. Phenomenal. Sel holds its own with any of the Michelin restaurants I've been to around the world. Check out my food pics, then make a rez. You can thank me later! read more

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We had a great dinner at SEL last night. This is a very unique dining experience when choosing a chef menu. Each course is perfectly prepared, the culinary creativity, presentation, and thought behind all of the small dishes is outstanding. The filet was one of the best filets we have ever enjoyed. The desserts are unique, full of great flavors and equally beautiful in the way they're prepared and served. The restaurant is small and nicely done with a very well trained staff that provides exceptional service, and knowledge of a complex list of ingredients used in the various dishes. My only complaint would be that the wine pairing for $120 per person seemed to lack the sophistication and quality that the food and the rest of the experience provided. I would not do the wine pairing, but rather choose off the wine list if we went to again. There are also several unique dishes on the à la carte menu that I would like to go back and try, and the pricing on the à la carte menu, seems reasonable for such a wonderful culinary experience. If you get a chance to go, and want an upscale date night, it would be an excellent choice. The four dollar signs is accurate as this is an upscale and expensive experience. read more

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My sister was in town and wanted to have a girls night, that was until my significant other and buddy were free for the night and we decided to do fancy dinner night. We dressed to the nines! Dinner ordered: Drinks: A Bottle of Barrel Hoops Chardonnay 5/5 Mr.Pink 5/5 Seltzer De Piore 4/5 A glass of Bethel Heights Pinot Noir 4/5 Food: Korean Style Short Rib Steam Buns 3/5 (2) Prime Filet Mignon Steak Tartare 4/5 Grilled Spanish Octopus 3/5 Grilled Prime N.Y.E Strip 5/5 (2) chef's tastings -Malpeque Oyster Stew 5/5 -Ahi Tuna Poke 3.5/5 -Iberico Pork Tenderloin Schnitzel 4/5 -Seared Sea Bass 5/5 -Grilled SRF Wagyu Filet Mignon 5/5 - Strawberry-Marzipan Shortcake 5/5 -White Chocolate Pine Nut Date Bread Pudding 5/5 Food wise, almost everything was delicious besides my entree of Grilled Spanish Octopus. The octopus was cooked perfectly, however the squid ink capellini was beyond salty. It was overly powerful and with a different salt profile than you would think of normal sea or table salt, it tasted more closely of the Southeast Asian condiment shrimp paste. Steak was ordered medium and came out medium rare. Service: 4/5 Everything was great until the end. At the tail end of the meal after dessert, we were ready for the check and told the last food runner we wanted the check however it didn't come, our server was at the bar hanging out as it was the end of the night. It wasn't until my sister waved him down and informed we wanted the check. Total time: Reservation- 6:45 Arrived- 6:30 Seated: Immediately Check received: 9:15 read more

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Last night was our second time going to Sel. Both times, we went for Restaurant Week. Everything about Sel is wonderful: classy but warm ambiance, impeccable service, and their delicious and creative cocktails and food. We both started with asparagus cream soup. I wanted to lick the bowl clean. Second course, I had a delicious corn dish. Third course, I had gnocchi with fiddlehead ferns. I was blown away. The texture of the gnocchi was perfect, the sauce was so flavorful, and the ferns were so unique and a tasty surprise. My husband loved his filet mignon. I really appreciate that so much creativity and care goes into crafting their vegetarian dishes. Other restaurants have such boring and lackluster vegetarian options. I can always count on Sel to impress me! read more

Sel - Took a few bites before taking this picture because I couldn't help myself. Gnocchi with fiddlehead ferns. Yummmmm. - New American Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

My husband and I were the youngest people there :) this place was FANCY and way out of our league. Expect to spend over $200 for 2 people. Make a reservation way ahead of time. Everything was so good. So amazing. The presentation, the staff, the esthetic, the food, the drinks. Right in old town, kinda hidden! Super pretty place. I wanna go back and try other menu options. And wish the portion sizes were a little bigger because everything was so so good. But I understand why they are the size they are. The place is fancy! read more

Sel - New American Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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This is a lovely place for a special occasion or an evening out with the family. The flavors and presentations were outstanding. The hostess and the entire staff were so friendly and welcoming. We had wonderful experience and hope to go back next time we're in Scottsdale. Well done Sel for giving our family a truly enjoyable dining experience at the end of a hard afternoon. We left relaxed and in great spirits. read more

I regret not taking pictures, but I will not forget this place as the flavors were so memorable. We got two tasting menus with a side of foie gras- the meal came out to several hundred dollars but it was worth it to experience the thoughtful and artistic composition of each dish. Our waiter was attentive and polite, and the outdoor seating was styled in such a cool, classy, and romantic fashion. A lovely date spot. read more

This place was super cute, small and intimate. The lighting definitely set the mood. We ordered champagne and a unique bourbon anise drink that our waitress recommended. Their drink selections and wines are great. We decided to try the Chef's Choice option. It was quite a fine dining 5 course experience. No complaints. We appreciated the uniqueness and presentation of each dish, however, we weren't completely blown away and for the price. If you're a picky eater, the pre-selected plates might not be the best option for you. I read a lot of other reviews and didn't have any problems with the salt. We had the New Zealand Venison Ossi Bucco and the Truffle Lobster Tagliatelle (definitely recommend adding the black truffle). If your looking for an intimate experience, different flavors, and to ball out this place might be for you. Dreasilvas read more

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We were lucky enough to be treated with a dinner at Sel hosted by Yelp last night and I have one word: wow. This food is true fine dining. I felt as if the food was French inspired American food. I hope I get the pleasure of eating here again! read more

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Absolutely love it here on so many dimensions!The food is incredible (which I'll get back to), but every person who worked here shared a passion and understanding of the food and created a personal connection with the patrons and the food. I stumbled upon this place on business travel, but it reminded me of my local absolute favorite restaurant and the staff who work there... I almost never get that feeling. I'll start with the cocktails... extremely inventive while honoring the craft. I love the connections to death and co and other infamous mixologist havens.. yet somehow they elevated the creativity and took true delight in the craft. The food was high quality and very creative. I loved the bold highlights without going overboard or heavy handed. My favorite was the scallop crudo in a soy ginger wasabi sauce with salmon row and foie gras. Very impressed and would love to go back as soon as possible! read more

Sel Restaurant offers a fantastic dining experience with high-quality dishes and impeccable service. I highly recommend trying their menu selections and unique desserts. Highly recommended, located in old town Scottsdale. read more

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One of the best tasting menus I've ever had -- and definitely the best food I've had in the Scottsdale area. I know the look of this place is a bit of an eclectic mixed bag, but the food and service are top notch. That oyster chowder we started with and bread pudding we ended with were 2 of my favorite dishes just on their own. Yes it's a little pricy at $120 per person for the chefs tasting and $100 for wine pairings -- but I feel like that's pretty standard in this city these days. read more

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Spectacular food, service, and ambience. An amazing experience!! Highly recommended! The sweet and polite hostess added a lovely touch. Would definitely go back." read more

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I had an early dinner at Sel in a party of five. I felt lucky to get a dinner reservation on the patio at the last minute on the Saturday just a week before Christmas. I felt even more fortunate that the weather was perfect for dining outside that evening. Although I was looking forward to the Chef's Tasting, I was feeling a little bit bloated that evening. Thankfully, the Chef's Tasting is not a "for the whole table" kind of thing and I was able to order just an entree, while the rest of my party was able to enjoy it. My a la carte Grilled Spanish Octopus was tender and delicious. The service and the food were both pretty terrific. Our party thoroughly enjoyed the entire meal. read more

This is a special place for people who appreciate the finer things. The drinks are perfectly mixed and the food is stellar. It's not cheap, but you can see how each item is curated and appreciate the work that goes into each dish. The steak tartare was wonderful, as was the ravioli, we had birthday deserts like the flourless tira mi su and the cobbler. The place is cozy and romantic and just perfect for date night! read more

Sel - Tira mi su - New American Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

I made this reservation to celebrate my son and daughter-in-law's fifth wedding anniversary. The host on the phone was very helpful when I made the reservation. We were very much looking forward to a special evening. We were disappointed on all counts. The food was underwhelming, very expensive, with portions being small. Food arrived cold. On a bright note, the steak and dessert were delicious. I asked to speak with someone, but didn't want to spoil the evening for our special couple, I'm still waiting for the owner to call me, and this was several weeks ago. Sadly, I would be hard pressed to return or to recommend. read more

Exquisite dining with a twist. Each dish was impeccably prepared and presented. The service was spot on. A great dining experience is the tasting menu with optional wine pairings. A hidden gem in old town Scottsdale. read more

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I had my concerns on how good this place would be as its in the heart of downtown Scottsdale. Usually with a great location like this, its easy to be mediocre and rely on the foot traffic. Im glad this was NOT the case! This is one of the best meals Ive had in Phoenix so far. While they aren't the most contemporary in their presentation or menu, this is a great marriage of familiar items but with a variety of technique being implemented. I had reservations for 5PM on a Tuesday (so happy they were open on a slow day). The weather was so nice, I moved from inside to outside. I was able to watch the sky change colors as the sun was setting halfway through my meal. I went with the chefs tasting menu, with adding two a la carte items on top of it. Some warning that the a la carte items are well sized and may push you a little out of your satiated comfort zone. The amuse bouche was quite nice is providing some crunchy, cheesy, and tangy bite. It has the kindred spirit of a cool ranch Dorito, minus the corn. The spoon they serve it on is a nice touch, as it's hard not to not destroy the garnish on top with just the fingertips. The oyster celery soup is fantastic! I don't normally feel all warm and fuzzy from cream soups, but this one just hits the spot! The oysters and roe mix well with the sherry cream. The celery puree is a great alternative to add some starch to the meal. The ahi tuna poke was quite the treat! Clearly Asian in it's influence, but could almost pass as a vegan Italian dish under the right setting. All the components work in harmony, with the oyster mushroom shavings coming off like a prosciutto!! The miso squash spaghetti is what really bridges the Italian Asian road. Even after several minutes of swallowing my food, this dish buzzes in my mouth for days! The filet steak tartare was not as exciting as I had hoped, but that doesn't mean it was bad. The overall vibe was citrus glaze and cured egg yolk among the steak tartare. The steak itself didn't have booming flavor, but it's definitely not gristle in texture. I ordered this a la carte and Id say it was my least favorite part of the meal. The pork schnitzel is not something I usually see on a tasting menu, but man was it tasty! There's nothing crazy about this dish, but it's slightly off kilter presentation was a decent effort in composition. The plum sauce and fermented veggies? at the bottom ties in the typical German flavors, but the mushroom ravioli on top gives it an extra dimension. Just enough of a difference to not alienate but not be typical of the dish I ate this way quicker than I should have! The (a la carte) foie gras was truly a savory apple cobbler! They give you a giant slab of seared foie gras, along with an even bigger strudel on the bottom. I thought the bordelaise would be too much, but it actually ties everything together. My only complaint for this is way heavier and bigger than I would expect it should be served. For folks who like sweet and savory, this is a great choice of a dish. Their palate cleanser is a blood orange sorbet, that's not exciting in any way. It does have a natural blood orange taste, but that's it. Texture is fairly creamy for a sorbet so that's nice. The duck is fantastic! Not only is the duck cooked just right, but the combo of the whipped pumpkin risotto and the veggie lumpia made it even more special! The pumpkin is whipped like a cloud in it's fluffiness. The duck actually has a distinct duck taste, along with a cured saltiness on some bites the garlic spinach was fragrant. The strawberry shortbread is a true delight. It hits the spot in it's fruity, creamy, and cakey presentation. The marzipan shortbread was moist while having a desirable amount of density to its texture. Can't go wrong with strawberries and cream when they are fresh and well proportioned to the dish. read more

First time doing a tasting menu and man did we pick a great spot. Found out Sel is French for Salt. Can't remember exactly but read on their website the inspiration for the restaurant. Very classy and elegant but not so much that you should feel out of place. There were some kids there for their prom night haha. Every bite was exquisite and explained well by the waiters. Even got a nice treat with a sparkler for the girlfriend's bday. Love a good red wine and their cab was great. Would definitely go again. read more

Sel - Birthday Treat - New American Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

Sel is a small upscale modern fine dining restaurant located in Old Town Scottsdale. They've recently have added a seasonal brunch menu so I wanted to try it. They offer seating indoors and also out on the patio. Today was a nice day so we sat on the plant lined patio. We started with black truffle deviled eggs with crisp chicken skin, dijon vinaigrette and tarragon aioli ($18).They came out pretty like a picture. They were usually creamy and soft. High but not too high with acid and salt. They interesting and good. My main was the Piri Piri chicken ($18.) The chicken was moist and delicious. It wasn't real hot like Piri Piri Peppers but still was delicious. It normally comes with a waffle and fruit but the waffle iron broke so I got a lemon ricotta blueberry Dutch Baby pancake instead. The pancake was very custardy sort of like a quiche. My husband had the crispy Iberico pork skirt steak ($28.) We tried the flourless chocolate tiramisu for dessert ($14.). It was very soft and very smooth with good flavors and a nice crunch from the hazelnut praline. We also liked the dulce de lleche gelato. Service was attentive and welcoming. read more

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Came here for family dinner on the patio a few weeks ago. The bf and I split 2 dishes: crispy duck and octopus. Both were amazing, but we both preferred the Octopus over the duck. To be fair, this is probably because neither of us eat fried foods and would have preferred a different cook. The table also got a bunch of apps: Lamb dumplings Heirloom stack Pork buns (so good we ended up ordering another!) Asparagus Also had 2 really good bottles of wine between the 5 of us. Basically you can't go wrong. Only reason for 4 vs 5 stars is the service was a little slow read more

Sel - Octopus with risotto and crispy duck - New American Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

Came here for a tasting menu and it was absolutely divine from start to finish!! We will absolutely be back! The service was on point. We arrived early for our reservation so we did wait a little while which was fine. It's a somewhat small restaurant so reservations are a must! I'd like to try sitting outside next time for people watching ! read more

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Overall rating: 4/5 Wait: 4.5/5 Arrival time: Saturday 6pm rsvp Food: 3.5/5 Order: jumbo crab, prime NY strip, pappardelle truffle pasta Service: 5/5 Price: 4/5 Worth a try but probably won't be back. The food was overly salty. read more

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Came to Sel last night to celebrate me and my sister's birthday. I did the 4 course meal with the wine pairing. I highly recommend! The restaurant itself was very cute, the staff was excellent. I have no complaints whatsoever about the food and the experience. It is a bit pricey, but still completely worth it! Treat yourself, you only live once ! read more

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Food was great: we had the three course dinner and we enjoyed everything. For the main course I had the sea bass and it was cooked perfectly, my date had the fillet and was delicious. Wine selection is adequate with great quality. Service was attentive and courteous. The ambiance was quiet, clean maybe a tad "colorless" read more

5th time dining here. Excellent and consistent every visit. For the quality, it is an excellent value. Very gracious and attentive staff. Food is on par or exceeds Michelin star restaurants I've has the privilege to dine at. In my opinion, Sel sets the standard for the Phoenix area. Can't wait for my next visit. read more

In our first visit to Scottsdale, we picked this place for our dining experience. The inside was small & intimate but I could not figure out their choice of decorations, a bit whimsical maybe ? Still it was pretty in an odd way. We loved the Ossetra caviar from their " Enhanced menu" options with complimentary champagne which was a refreshing start before we proceeded with the main menu, Morel mushrooms for him & Spanish octopus for me. The service was pleasant, efficient, & impeccable. Excellent wine selection. Our reservation was at 5:00 PM , a bit early for dinner but it was nearly full by the time we finished our dinner. It was a perfect way to end our day in Scottsdale. Try it for a fine dining experience in the intimate setting for a special occasion! read more

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For the longest time I've been wanting to try a tasting menu but very few places offer a vegetarian menu. Sel's vegetarian tasting menu features 3 courses, sorbet as an intermediate palette cleanser, a fourth course, and finally dessert. The portion sizes increase with each course as do the rich flavors and overall heaviness of the dish. I'm usually a fast eater but the delicate flavor of each ingredient forced me to pace myself. By the final course I was feeling tapped out from increasing use of cream but the highlight dish was the roasted chestnut soup. It features a glazed lady apple, white truffle cream, and pear emulsion. Tip: Bread service is not included so be sure to ask for it. read more

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I found this through Yelp. It looks great on Yelp. So here we are. We decided to order the chef's course. I LOVED it! All the dishes are very thought through creation. delicate and sophisticated My kind of food Texture Different flavor harmony Presentation Material flavor enhancement Low calorie Thoughtful order of meal It is kinda small restaurant. Out door seating looks like European cafe style. Inside is purple French style. You will know what I mean when you get there. I can't wait to go back and eat another great food read more

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Sent my friend and his girlfriend here for his 40th birthday. I live in California and wanted to do something nice for him from a distance. Sel owner was friendly and worked with me to make it possible. My friend has an amazing experience and said it was the best meal of his life. Here are some of the photos that he took during the meal Thank you Sel staff read more

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We went to Sel for an anniversary dinner and I chose Sel simply since it "looked cute" and was expecting a "nice steakhouse" type dinner (good quality food but not unique or interesting) but was blown away by the AMAZING flavors!! We opted for the Tasting Menu with wine pairing and immediately fell in love with the amuse bouche. Course after course, there was something unique and new about the dish and/or ingredients. I'm not going to go into detail about how amazing each dish was as I had the summer menu not offered anymore (but the vichyssoise the tuna was served on was one of the BEST vichyssoise I've had! Ramp & snap peas with a hint of truffle!!), but I do want to say I LOVE tasting menu restaurants and Sel is one of the few places I actually enjoyed every bite from beginning to end, as I'm usually not "wow-ed" by the entrees. The scallops with pho broth I had was definitely a "Wow" dish and I was pretty full but not willing to let that amazing dish go to waste. Service was wonderful as well, not only the servers but foos runners were very friendly and knowledgeable, and just an all around superb experience, looking forward to going back again!' read more

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Sel's limited menu should definitely be browsed before hand because a picky eater would probably have a hard time finding something. However as a foodie I know limited menu's often mean better quality. There is so much creativity behind Sel's menu. We were obsessed with 80% of what we had. Some of the dishes were way to salty to be enjoyed or just lacked that "wow" factor. It is expensive, but that is to be expected in Old Town, but it was worth it especially here because of the fantastic service and quality food. Definitely worth a visit. read more

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Another beautiful dining experience at Sel in Scottsdale. Last night, I dined once again at Sel; one of the best restaurants in Scottsdale to enjoy the Tasting Menu of Chef Branden Levine. Sel, located in the Arts District (Old Town), features a fantastic outdoor patio and is a perfect place to savor incredible food solo, celebrate with friends or family, enjoy a romantic date, or simply people watch while enjoying a first-class meal. Dress code is smart casual. I'm always inspired and satisfied after a visit to Sel. I love to support local owner-operated businesses who, like the ScottsdaleAZFoodies, continue to raise the bar on the foodie experience. It was great to chat again with Chef Branden and his lovely wife May who manages the restaurant so beautifully. Flavor, creativity, technique, and beautiful plating are trademarks of Sel. I love their commitment to using fresh local ingredients and it's no surprise that they continue to top "Best Of" Restaurant lists and win accolades from foodies here and around the world. The staff are expertly trained, friendly, knowledgable and always provide service with a smile. You will see the full Tasting Menu I enjoyed in my photos and each course dish which I enjoyed is labelled. The Foie Gras was not part of the menu, but it was delicious, as expected. "Sel" is a French term that translates to salt symbolizes our restaurant's philosophy. Branden is an extraordinary chef with 20+ years experience in contemporary fine dining. If you want a flavorful and beautifully crafted food experience, Sel should be the next stop in your foodie journey. Sel in Old Town at 7044 East Main Street. Call 480-949-6296 for make your reservations directly online. Elevating Food culture in Scottsdale. Tell them the Scottsdale AZ Foodies sent you! read more

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