Had a very nice meal at Beginners Luck in Old Town Scottsdale. I have been looking for a solid go to place in Old Town for a while. Still mourning the loss of Bandera. Beginners Luck is just that kind of place. Food 4.5/5 - I ordered the Crab and Shrimp Roll with fries. It was excellent and quite a portion. More than enough for a second meal. Loaded with shrimp and crab. I wasn't expecting a crab and shrimp salad but rather a mix of the two warm and buttered in the roll but it was very tasty as served. The only part that was a little off was the burned in brand on the roll the cold salad was served in. The charred flavor with the salad was a little off putting. I just pinched off the burnt bits from the bread. Excellent fries! Service 4/5 - I sat at the bar. Bartender was nice, offered regular menu and restaurant week menu as well. Meal was brought by manager, fries were still piping hot. Bartender and manager checked back to make sure meal was to my liking. Ambiance 5/5 - Cute place. A lot of nice outdoor seating and seating inside but a bit less. All in all a great place with a nice complement of offerings! I will return. If only they had a fly through with rotisserie chicken to go, I would never think of Bandera again. read more

Beginner's Luck - Crab & Shrimp Roll 5/24/26. Yum! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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Cruising along historic Old Town and it was hot, we were tired and needed a reprieve from the heat so we ducked in to Beginner's Luck. We were seated inside quickly - it was a slow afternoon. Signs on the door let you know they have A/C however they left the front door propped open so it wasn't that cool inside. We each had a cocktail and they were pretty good - him a Painkiller on Main (he said it was good) and I had Ranch Water Paloma but asked them to mix tequila and mezcal rather than have me choose one over the other. Quite tasty! We just did apps: Fondue Blanc served with linguisa, pretzel bread and roasted cauliflower. The fondue was especially delicious with the cauliflower. We also had pimento cheese served with potato chips and chicharrones. I've only ever tasted grocery store made pimento cheese and was not a fan but when I tasted the pimento cheese at Beginner's Luck, I instantly became enamored. Totally enjoyed it with the chips. I recommend stopping in for a bite when wandering Old Town. read more

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Ordered the bacon & eggs plate, scrambled hard. The eggs were scrambled easy, so I couldn't eat them (it's a texture thing). The bacon was barely cooked, and the toast wasn't even warm enough to melt the butter I spread on it. And beware that they calculate the tip based on the amount that includes tax. I do not recommend them. read more

Nice outdoor seating for weekend brunch! They are not too crazy busy for weekend brunch, unlike other places in old town. They are tucked away but so easy to find. No wait in line for the tables! The service is fast and attentive. The short rib is perfectly tender. The eggplant shakshouka is perfectly seasoned. The lucky cream bun is to die for. Milk bread is so soft and goes really well with strawberry mascarpone. read more

Beginner's Luck - Lucky cream bun, and banana bread - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

First off, service was fantastic. The place is smaller with some bar seating and maybe 10 tables. It's a little tucked away but in the heart of old town. We were there for lunch on a Saturday and got seated within 5 minutes. The food was good! We loved everything we tried. I will say it's a little expensive, but there are food options and fun drinks to try as well. We would definitely go back. read more

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I came here for brunch- started with the sorbet mimosa. Truthfully, i think it's a great girl drink and if you like mimosas definitely worth a try but I'm more of a champagne or cocktail girl. For my second drink, I had an espresso martini but asked them to make it with fresh espresso versus cold brew or something similar how the menu comes. For brunch, we split the burrito and added egg. Had a great portion of meat. For us it was definitely shareable, tasted pretty good. Overall, we liked the experience. It's close to home- hard to find at first but LOVE how it's tucked away in the old town area where its busy. We will definitely come back here! read more

Beginner's Luck - Sorbet mimosa on right - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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It was a splendid afternoon on Martin Luther King Jr. day to dine on the patio of Beginner's Luck. My husband and I were busy and it was well into the afternoon when we had gotten hungry. Since it was 4:05 pm we decided to have "linner." (Lunch + dinner) After taking a quick look around this darling cafe, we chose to dine outside. Searching for gluten free items narrowed my choices and I ordered the GF Dole whip chicken wings and their smashed cucumber salad. My husband wanted to indulge in a burger and our server recommended the happy burger. After a soda and glass of red blend were delivered to our table we took in our surroundings. A psychic reading suite, a coffee shop and a custom cowboy hat bar at the entrance of this charming alley wall. My husband liked his burger and noted the chipotle aioli sauce is what made it enjoyable. Happy hour price $13 + 3 for a side. I couldn't taste the sweet and spicy pineapple miso sauce that was supposedly the flavor of the wings. $10. during happy hour. Leaning on the dry side didn't help. The fresh fries and smashed cucumber dill side salad were the stars! Sliced chunks of crisp cucumbers topped with a butter milk herb dressing topped with pickled onions does not sound appetizing to me-but it was very good! $6.00 When fries are fresh, crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, there's nothing better, is there? Eating outside on a perfect AZ winter day makes everything better in my book. This was a good experience, I'd return. Tip:There was free parking in the garage close by. read more

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Loved the chopped salad! We stopped here for brunch and really enjoyed it. Definitely a small place but the vibe and service were good. I definitely would go back again for the chopped salad, LOL. read more

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Service was super quick and food was delish. Somewhat hidden in a shopping alley but very easy to get to. Smashed cucumber salad side was light and refreshing even with a creamy sauce on it. The red onion really added a great tang. The breakfast BLT with added egg was so good!! The brioche bun was airy but really tasty. A lot of bacon and tomato piled high. The home fries were very crisp and well seasoned. The chilaquiles were on the spicier side but my husband added extra hot sauce to this as well. read more

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I stopped into Beginner's Luck on a quiet Monday afternoon around 1, looking for a cute patio spot where I could sit with my dog before the rain rolled in. I'd seen another Yelp review rave about their dill pickle wedge salad, so that's what pulled me in. Parking is all street parking, which wasn't an issue for me that day, but good to know ahead of time. The patio is tucked back in a little nook next to a coffee shop and a tarot reading space. It's quiet, simple and actually pretty charming with plants and metal patio tables. Very dog friendly. One of the staff even noticed my dog didn't have water and brought a bowl over without me asking. Service was fine. Attentive enough without hovering. It was between lunch and closing, so you could tell they were winding down for the afternoon, but everyone was still friendly. I ordered the dill pickle wedge salad because that's what I came for. It was good, but for the price, it's basically iceberg lettuce, bacon, blue cheese crumbles, ranch, some pickles and a handful of crunchy chips on top. Tasty, sure, but something I could probably make at home. I didn't add chicken since it was an extra six dollars. I had a glass of wine too and took my time. When it got closer to closing, my server dropped the check but said I could get another glass if I wanted. I decided to wrap up since I was the last table. Overall, the patio is adorable, quiet and great for dogs, and I'd definitely come back to try other menu items. I just wouldn't order that same salad again. read more

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This place has been on my list for awhile. It is tucked back in a little nook of old town Scottsdale, and it's chef is a 2025 James Beard Award finalist. The dining room is small but stylish, with a long bar across the back wall. There is patio seating with plenty of tables, too. The hostess greeted us, and even though our reservation was for patio seating, she happily seated us inside when I ask to change it. Luckily it was relatively early on a Thursday, which allowed for the change. Our server came over immediately to help us, and was very attentive. We ordered a couple of cocktails. Hubby ordered the Strawberry Negroni and I ordered the Painkiller on Main. We both really like our cocktails. I admit I'm a bit of a lightweight, but I could feel this drink hit me, so Im thinking they are pretty generous with their spirits - - and that is a good thing. Hubby ordered the "Not Quite a Cubano" and really liked it. I tasted it, and I liked it better than a regular Cubano--if was yummy! I ordered the "Original Chopped Salad" with bacon added (and currants left off). They give you a LOT of crispy bacon. Omg, that salad was sooooo delicious. I loved it, and even though I was full near the end, I couldn't stop myself from eating all of it. This place is a little gem, definitely deserving of repeat visits. read more

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My wife and I dined at Beginner's Luck last week for a weekday brunch and absolutely loved it. I had the Short Rib Breakfast and the Wife had the Chilaquiles. Service was stellar and food was excellent. We would recommend for brunch based on our experience! read more

Beginner's Luck - Mole Short Rib - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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We stopped in for brunch on Saturday. We didn't have an issue getting a table, though if we opted for outside it would have been a wait. I ordered the chilaquiles while Hubs ordered the 12 hour pork bowl. Both dishes actually ended up being very similar, though the 12 hour pork bowl ended up being smaller than the chilaquiles. The pork was flavorful in both and very tender. Service was helpful and friendly. The location is a bit tucked in and a bit confusing via Google maps. read more

Beginner's Luck - Chilaques - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

Had to get a quick fuel up, I'm glad i stepped in! Tucked inside the plaza is a super chill bar with open kitchen concept. If there is one thing i love is hearing the kitchen moving and appreciating the co-workers happening this did not disappoint. Plates clinkin' orders being called from across the kitchen, awesome! Super cool copper bar with great cocktails and don't forget the express! I had the avo toast for a quick snack and almost ordered half the menu from seeing dishes come off the line but I'll be back with a follow up with the family. read more

Beginner's Luck - Avo toast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

Outstanding food and drinks at this cool old town spot. It's been here for two years according to our very charming bartender. Yes, we had brunch at the bar; what better way to get our hands on a sorbet mimosa stat! Definitely worth trying! The sorbet slowly melts into the champagne for a visually stunning, perfect cocktail. Steak and eggs were on special and perfectly cooked. A little extra bacon and it was a great meal in a lovely setting. We were encouraged to try their dinner menu and it will definitely happen in the near future. read more

After reviewing the menu, I saw the infamous chopped salad from the gladly featured here. Now this salad is amazing. I scheduled a pick up order. Staff were so sweet and of course the salad is absolutely incredible. You must get this! If you aren't a smoked salmon fan, you can change the protein. My friend got the chicken. Definitely will be ordering from in the future. read more

Beginner's Luck - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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Wonderful outside seating! They aren't usually open in Sundays, but they are trailing Sunday evening service until 8 pm. With less staff than usual, our server was quick and thoughtful. They had great cocktails, especially the Painkiller on Main. For dinner, we had the short ribs, 12 hour pork bowl, and the dole whip pineapple wings with fries. Everything was delicious! It's a James Beard semifinalist, which we found impressive. Definitely a place to check out! We're hoping to go for brunch since they had some delicious coffee and tea drinks on the menu. read more

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Stopped by to look at the menu while we were strolling thru Oldtown Scottsdale and decided to stop in for a tasty treat! It had just opened a few mins ago and it was already filling up quickly so we were hopeful this spot would be good (and it was!) We enjoyed the Lucky Cream Bun! We had already had breakfast and just wanted a snack, so we opted to order one bun and share it. And I'm so glad we decided to share! Big portion and really decadent! The overall vibe of this place is pretty chill, but if you sit inside know it can get a little loud (but we were okay with it because we could still have a conversation). If you're passing thru here and want to grab a bite to eat this could be a great option! Know that the prices are Scottsdale prices, so it's a tad expensive. read more

Beginner's Luck - Lucky Cream Bun - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

Cute little place tucked in old Scottsdale area. It is a small in space, so there is limited indoor seating but there is always outdoor seating. Our waitress was outstanding. I missed service like that. She was kind, patient, checked on us, polite and ready to bring what we needed to make us happy or comfortable. My favorite was what we started with lucky 7 cereal bowl which has: chia pudding, blue corn grits, berries, coconut pecan granola, blue agave syrup. Sooo tasty! Loved the contrast between the warm and cold in the bowl. The flavor was spot on. I wanted to lick the bowl clean. Next, I had a classic: good ol bacon and eggs plate.. I had my eggs scrambled (which they made moist/wet) the way I like it. Bacon was good. Potatoes were also tasty. It came with Levain toast. HOWEVER where this plate failed me (not the entire dish) was the jam/jelly was smuckers which is good but I was expecting homemade jam/jelly. I still liked my meal though. My partner had the : not quite a cubano. It consisted of: super slow roasted pork, chicharron, bacon, chermoula dijonnaise, pimento cheese and Cuban roll. He took out the pickles. Based on the description I loved the variation take on a classic cubano. He thought it was flavorful, loved the crunch from chicharron and was surprisingly pleased. Lastly we tried the lucky cream bun: Japanese milk bread, strawberry mascarpone and fresh berries. Took out the chocolate for preference for my partner and allergies for me (mild). This was fair. Not my favorite. Still good, but not quite as soft as I'd like it. Reminded me (if I knew nothing about milk bread and was having for the first time) a Japanese take on the Mexican concha with strawberry cream. Oh side note: it did get smoky in there from the cooking. Hopefully they can fix that someday but place was still tasty. I did like the place. Very charming. Cute brunch place for small groups. Pricing was very reasonable. I loved that! I would come again to bring people to try it out, especially for the lucky 7 cereal. read more

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This is such a cute place with good food! It's small and cozy with indoor and outdoor sitting area! We came here for lunch on a weekday, and it was crowded. We got to try "Not so Cubano Sandwich" and good ol two egg breakfast, the sandwich was like so good. Bacon was well cooked, pork rind was good, flavor was like well balanced and super well balanced. Good ol two egg breakfast was classic, I liked how they cook bacon! Yet their service is like hmm... busy talking to each other, so we weren't really asked what we needed except for as soon as we get the food, and ventilation in this place is not so good, my eyes were hurting from smoke all time I was eating there. Still food is so good, definitely come here again for trying other dishes. read more

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Came in for brunch and left happy. This small spot has some great food and drinks. Not quite a cubano was savory, poke bowl was refreshing and the dill pickle wedge was delightful. Loved the fries with a side of pesto aioli, we got two orders. Sorbet mimosa was delectable and the chai-rish iced coffee was perfect. Service was great and our waitress tolerated us moving tables to accommodate one more person. read more

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Came two weekends in a row for that chopped salad! Great service. Sat inside the first time. Outside the second. Both great service. Same order. Yummy! read more

Very pleasant outdoor seating with misters, great service and food definitely worth of visiting. Really happy with my burger and dilly cucumber salad as a side. read more

We decided to pop into Beginner's Luck while on vacation in Scottsdale. We got to sit in the little patio area in the shade, which was great! Our server was very kind and checked on us a good amount, making sure our drinks were full. Looking at the menu, it was challenging to make a decision because so many things sounded great. I ended up with the Not Quite a Cubano with their house potatoes and my husband chose the Chilaquiles. My sandwich was good but the flavor was pretty monotone and I wasn't able to taste all of the ingredients individually. The meat was tender and pretty decent. I actually preferred my husband's dish, so it was great that we could share! All of the flavors in the Chilaquiles worked so well together and I loved all of the different textures they created with the different ingredients. I would definitely recommend Beginners Luck is you are heading to Scottsdale! read more

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Wow, great find (thanks, Yelp)! Beginner's Luck takes a little (just a little) effort to find, but it's totally worth it! We stopped in for drinks and light bites on an afternoon. For drinks we went with the Painkiller and Chile Margarita. The Painkiller was fantastic... so much so that I drank half of it before I snapped a picture! And the Chile Margarita was a solid choice as well! Our server was friendly and informed, letting me know if any gluten concerns to avoid as we perused the food menu! For food, we went with the Roasted Brussels Sprouts and something else that I cannot remember, lol. The Brussels Sprouts were amazing! Gluten-free rating: ****FOUR STARS**** Overall rating: *****FIVE STARS***** read more

Beginner's Luck - Painkiller! I couldn't wait and already drank some, lol)!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

Met up with a few friends here for happy hour drinks and to try the AZ Restaurant Week (May 2025) menu. I especially wanted to try this place because they're a James Beard 2025 Semi-Finalist, which means I went in with high expectations. It is a small restaurant tucked away behind a few local shops on Main Street. There is outdoor seating around the entrance with misters. They do take reservations on OpenTable, but require a credit card because you'll be charged $25 per person if you cancel within 2 days. I didn't want to risk it in case people can't make it last-minute. So I got there early, around 4:00pm on a Saturday, and fortunately was able to get a table outside. Lucky Hour (happy hour) is from 3-5pm daily. There are a few food items on the HH menu. A lot of their cocktails are only $7 during that time. However, the Lucky 7 Old Fashioned was too sweet, and the Carajillo tasted like a watered down coffee. From my experience in making Carajillos at home, it's best to use espresso and not cold brew. The chile margarita was not bad - it had a nice kick to it. From the AZ Restaurant Week menu, I got the burrata, 12 hour pork bowl, and blueberry bread pudding. The burrata was definitely more classy than the typical burrata appetizer. Taste was different but good. The 12 hour pork bowl was delicious! The pork just fell apart with the touch of a fork. I wish the portion was bigger, but it's probably smaller since it's on a tasting menu. The blueberry bread pudding was not too sweet, which made it easy to finish the entire plate. Service was good and attentive. Overall, I would say it didn't quite meet my expectations. I'm not sure that I would come back. Drinks 2/5 Service 4/5 Food 4/5 Avg 3.3/5 read more

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Scrumptious breakfast!! One of my favorites for sure!! Small cozy restaurant in Old Town with the perfect eclectic menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner!! Freshest, best flavors and ingredients, huge portions and always the best service!! However, the reason that I'm not giving it the 5 stars that it deserves, is because our waitress Emily was very rude to me and my guest. When I asked her very nicely for a new water glass because there was a piece of fuzz or something in mine, she should have swiftly taken the glass and brought me a new one. Instead, she stood there for several minutes, saying how she didn't see anything in it, and then proceeded to take it back to two other waiters to see if they saw something in it. I've never had anything like this happen before!! Totally inappropriate behavior. Was very embarrassing especially since I was bringing someone new to the restaurant. I know this is unusual behavior for your usual friendly, amazing staff in all your restaurants!! read more

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For myself it's a 3 because for my preferences I didn't like too many things on the menu and for the price it wasn't for me. Service was very nice and it's clean. Bacon lettuce tomato was good but doesn't come with any sides and it's $14. Definitely overpriced because in old town and parking can be tricky. Personally I wouldn't go there again :( I wanted to like this place read more

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This place really is tucked away in Old Scottsdale - but it is worth finding for dinner. The mole short rib was perfection - literally one of the top 10 meals I have eaten in my lifetime. And the dill pickle wedge was a really ingenious twist on a classic - very tasty and refreshing. The atmosphere is really nice, and the people who work at Beginner's Luck are fantastic. read more

Beginner's Luck - Dill Pickle Wedge - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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Tucked away into a small walkway between store fronts on main. The interior is quite small with limited seating. I came here for restaurant week so my drink and entree are not on the normal menu. The matcha strawberry gin drink was refreshing and delicious with a white chocolate garnish. The starter chowder was very yummy and great for fall. The braised short ribs were delicious with a generous portion size. The only thing I didn't care for was the blueberry bread pudding, which just tasted like a dense blueberry muffin. My friends didn't like the steak they got. read more

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Beginner's Luck was a quick walk from the hotel we stayed at for our Spring Training trip. I have to get the Stetson (chopped) salad every time I'm in Phoenix/Scottsdale and this was the first one for this trip. It did not disappoint. We also shared the chilaquiles and the brussel sprouts. Hannah gave excellent recommendations and was a lovely server for our first visit here. We sat inside (was a little chilly to be outside that morning) but the patio has nice outdoor seating options too. I'd definitely come back in our next visit. read more

Beginner's Luck - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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Airy vacation restaurant, ideal for brunch. Salad consists of smoked salmon, dehydrated corn (tastes just like corn but with a light airy chewy texture), couscous, tomatoes, arugula, pumpkin seed, and raisins, paired with a garlicky buttermilk dressing. Pretty good yet filling! A little overpriced and I personally would not get raisins next time but I do not regret my purchase. Service was excellent! Would come back to try other items or drink their coffee/explore drinks menu. read more

Beginner's Luck - The Original Chopped Salad - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

Friendly staff. Good service. Nice but somewhat basic decor. Good location in Old Town. Good menu options. Decent prices. Tasty, unique offerings. I had the eggs with blue corn grits and enjoyed them. Jalapeño pepper slices in the dish have strong heat, which I liked. read more

Very cute tucked away spot! Took us a second to find but we found a parking spot right out front and there was no wait, we came right as they were opening! They have a nice little patio area but we sat inside today. The bar area was cool as well. I wanted to try this spot mostly because of the fig matcha so I ordered that right away! I ordered iced but it showed up hot. A blessing in disguise because I think it was better as a hot drink anyways! I was the perfect mix of sweet and earthy, and you could really taste the fig, yum! My husband got a caramel latte and said it needed a little more caramel but not bad. For food my husband got eggs, bacon, and toast, and I got the avocado toast with a side of the home fries. I wish I had asked for mine extra crispy like my husband did, his were better than mine! I liked the hot sauce they had there. Thought the avocado toast was yummy but a little overpriced for what it was, could've used some more avocado. Service was really good though and they were accommodating to my almost 21 month old son! Definitely a cool aesthetic place worth checking out for breakfast in old town. read more

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What a delightful treat! The patio is lovely and quiet, the service was friendly and gracious, and the food was exceptional. We stopped in for brunch on a weekday, yes a weekday! You just can't find a lot of places open for brunch mid-week. My challah french toast was divine - sweet and luscious, with crispy edges all around. That butterscotch sauce was everything. Hubby had the chilaquiles and thank you for those crispy tortilla chips and savory pullled pork. Two incredible dishes, leaving us wanting to return again and again. read more

Amazing food, excellent service, and great atmosphere. Everything exceeded expectations. Highly recommended!

Take it for what it's worth, wife and I only got pulled in here because we saw they had sweet Japanese milk toast and that's all we ordered. It was a beautiful dish and the bread itself was delicious the only deterrent to this being peak was the fact that there was 200% too much mascarpone on it. Half of that would make it perfect across the board. The fresh berries were delicious as well! Good little hidden gem! read more

Beginner's Luck - Lucky cream bun - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

We originally found this gem as we were walking around old town scottsdale before the farmers market. Amazing location and beautiful restaurant. We tried the dinner last night. First, we ordered drinks. My boyfriend got the jalapeño infused margarita and I got a regular margarita with salt on the rim. Drinks were delicious! For dinner, I ordered the Norwegian salmon and he got the lucky burger. And for an appetizer, we ordered the savory focaccia. The focaccia was delicious and reminded me of an everything bagel. It was tasty and crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The dinner came out and the salmon was so good but the cauliflower purée was the star for sure! The burger was yummy too just slightly undercooked for my boyfriends liking. The service was incredible! The server was knowledgeable about the menu and our questions. The only complaint I have. I think that the menu prices are steep. It was beautiful and good BUT in all honesty for the price, I probably would rather go to a fancier restaurant. The vibe of this restaurant is more drop in, more relaxing and casual. You wouldn't expect the bill to be $200! And there is only one bathroom for this restaurant. read more

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I love Citizen Public House and couldn't wait to try this place. If you are looking for your favorite chopped salad during the day in a relaxed atmosphere, you are in the right place. Was a little hard to find at first. The patio is cute and was greeted by the hostess and sat quickly. Service was good. A few of us had the sorbet mimosa which is champagne with some sorbet added to it. They also have coffee drinks if you don't want alcohol for brunch. I had the chopped salad whole friends had the breakfast sandwich and another had the basic eggs and bacon breakfast. There are misters and a covers over the patio to keep the sun off you and stay cool. Will definitely be back. read more

Delicious chopped salad, quick, easy, and healthy! Service was fast, and the staff were super friendly. The restaurant is clean and spacious, with both indoor and outdoor seating available. Conveniently located in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale. Definitely recommend checking it out! read more

Beginner's Luck - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona