I had the hen breast and it was absolutely outstanding! My wife had scallops and they were equally good. For an appetizer we had pork belly...delicious. We also had a nice bottle of wine. We will definitely eat here again. It was a little more expensive than I would have expected, but I guess you get what you pay for. Food is 5 star price is 3 star? read more

What a gem! Stopped by for lunch with a client and it was fabulous! Great service great food. I had the turkey cranberry sandwich...delish. My client had the chopped chicken salad and loved it. Will definitely be back! read more

I'd read this was a hidden gem and that is 100% true. I only wish I'd come in hungrier. Everything we tried was so delicious. It sounds like the menu rotates often but if the sunchoke soup is on the menu, don't skip it! All I can say is come and try it! read more

Meal was delicious. Perfect portions. We ate every bite. Relaxed, friendly and professional service. Looking forward to returning. Thank you! read more

Great food with a mix of great dishes. I really enjoyed this restaurant. Brandon the chef is the man

Can not believe we hadn't tried this little gem before! We were always at Cafe Brinkley's ~ but missed the opening ....at any rate, I'm thrilled to have a fab cafe in our back yard. My friend has the Chicken Sandwich, which she dubbed the best thing she's eaten in forever. I had the Pork Belly Rueben and it was scrumptious. My only improvement would be toasted/warm. Even though, the sauerkraut was yummy and the mustard perfect. I had to admired with my friend, this was one of the BEST meals ever. Simple. Affordable. But if so scrumptious. The piece de resistance was a strawberry shortcake that was so good I practically swooned. In addition, the service was attentive and the space warm and inviting. In short, this is FABULOUS! read more

Just did takeout from Confluence for "date night" with my hubby! Did their decadent Chicken Sandwich with pancetta, balsamic onions & white cheddar. OMG! Started with a delicious crisp, fresh salad. And ended with perfect deserts. We tried both. Could not have been better!! Ahhh... PS... I noticed bread loaves on the menu so added one. It came out of the bag hot and crunchy. We have enjoyed the most delicious bread with meals this week! read more

Love the ambiance of this charming cafe. Sometimes when I want to get away; I go and have a nice lunch here and sit on the patio! So relaxing. read more

Few restaurants go to extraordinary lengths to create fabulous cuisine. This is one of the few. I ordered the roasted chicken sandwich: 12 hour brined chicken then slow roasted in oven and placed on a fontina roll with fontina cheese, pancetta bits, caramelized onions, mayo and served with a pickle and side salad. The chicken was flavorful, moist and tender. Placed in a sandwich with the other ingredients, this turns into a super special meal. Hubby really liked his pork belly pastrami sandwich; however, would request little to no mustard in the future so as not to detract from the wonderful pork belly. The price ($14 & $15) was very reasonable considering all of the effort that went into creating this delightful meal. read more

Confluence - Roasted Chicken Sandwich - New American Near Me - Carefree, Arizona

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We went her for our anniversary dinner, it. Was. Amazing. Everything we tried got better and better. We did the four course tasting. Just unbelievable. This is a place you go where you want to take your time and truly enjoy food. Don't go there and expect to be in and out. Just drink some wine and enjoy the dining experience. read more

We enjoyed a late Valentine's Day lunch at Confluence as we avoid going out for that holiday. It is a small bistro with a limited menu but the Chef obviously knows what he is doing. We both ordered wine, mine a French bubbly and my husband's a CA Chardonnay. The highlight of our meals were the appetizers. The guinea hen mousse liver was unctuous, silky, beautifully seasoned and as good as any foie gras or terrine I have tasted anywhere, even in Strasbourg, France. Just superb. I will be dreaming about that dish. My husband was equally happy with his sweetbreads appy. I ordered the buttermilk fried chicken with grits and broccolini. Probably the best fried chicken I have tasted, with delicious sides. My husband ordered the chicken sandwich. We had heard Confluence was famous for this sandwich. He said it was dry and uninspired and he didn't get all the fuss. That was the only disappointment. For dessert we both had the chocolate mousse. There were only three choices and the other choices didn't appeal. It was an ordinary mousse but beautifully presented. The espresso machine was out of order so we left to go home for an espresso from our machine. We want to return for dinner when the menu is more extensive. All in all a successful experience. read more

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Truly exceptional dinning by far. This is fine dining in the Desert at its finest The plating is top notch and the execution of the dishes were excellent This is place very refined read more

I love this restaurant! The food is always so delicious with big flavors, textures and colors! It may be overlooked because of its location (Carefree, AZ) but definitely worth it! The dining area is comfortable with lots of seating inside and outside. Victoria (front of the house) is warm, welcoming, and efficient. Chef Brandon is adept at mixing a variety of ingredients and presents a visually stunning and appetizing dish. Highly recommended! read more

Chef Brandon and Tori Gauthier are The BEST! The food is nothing short of phenomenal with delicate lush, in-season produce complementing sumptuous meats, beautiful fish, and rich, wonderful flavors, I can't say enough about how much my husband and I enjoy and appreciate what Confluence literally brings to the table. Fresh, fermented, (just enough) fat, salt, savory, and sweet... so much goodness coming from this kitchen!! They really provide a menu with something for every palate. AND the views to boot! Mountain views at sunset on our Anniversary and a toast of bubbly, with the delicious, tasty creations from the mind and heart of a great Chef. What more could we want on our special day? Oh, and sweet, personable service from our favorite server Deborah.... we had a nice leisurely time; a very relaxing evening, which isn't often or easy for parents with three kids under 4. This was a real treat, for us both. Thank you Chef Brandon and Tori! For all of you on the fence about whether or not to spend a little more for a lovely dinner from sustainable practices, local, in-season produce and seriously top-quality fish, meats, in-house made charcuterie and a plethora of many other reasons.... It IS ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT! Please, if you see something strange-sounding on the menu, just trust the Chef. Try something new. It might just deliciously change the way you've been thinking about eating. Enjoy!! read more

Where are you people ?!? This place is amazingly 5 star food. Make the drive. Get the risotto... amazing wine selection. Diver scallops ... fillet. Seriously... where are you ?!? read more

Don't overlook this gem!!!! Confluence just might be one of the best restaurants in the Phoenix, Scottsdale area. It's small, I like to think of it as intimate, has enormous views of Black Mountain, outdoor dining but more importantly the food is to die for. Whether you have the Butter Milk fried chicken, one of their terrific salads or a Foie Gras mouse parfait you will be amazed. Oh, save a little room for dessert. read more

Food very good. Bit expensive but normal for the higher end foods & area of choice. Service is great, environment is very nice. Fun place great seating and food very good. read more

Everything here is fantastic. Small and intimate. The couple who own it do everything. He is an amazing chef. Unique dishes that change frequently. Can't say enough about it. read more

Don't promote food you don't plan to deliver... My first dinner at Confluence, the latest incarnation of a Carefree restaurant at this location. The décor & interior seating space seems unchanged from the previous eatery (Bink's). They have a small but interesting menu that at first glance appears pretty pricey with all entrees hovering around $40 and appetizers ranging from $14 to $24. I had an appetizer of Medjool Dates with couscous and their Pink Mao Mao fish entrée with Gnocchi, Peas, Chorizo & Morels. Both were well prepared and tasty and portions were more than adequate. My tablemates tried other entrees and everyone seemed to enjoy their food. My entrée had some sautéed mushroom pieces that appeared to be a combination of cremini & oyster (cheap) varieties. But the morels that had been prominently promoted on the menu were nowhere to be found. Depending on your source morels currently cost from $150 to $300 a pound so I didn't expect a handful but I'm a big fan of morels and did hope that a few, with their exquisite wonderful flavor, would appear with my dinner. Had I been advised of the lack of morels I might have ordered a different entrée and given the place a higher rating. I questioned both our server and the hostess and each returned from the kitchen with a version of the "we couldn't get morels" story. While that explanation may be true I will always be suspicious that my morels were missing because they cost too much. Service was attentive and friendly - the servers deserve 5 stars. read more

This restaurant has deteriorated markedly over the past 5 years.It is only open 4 days per week and it is a business in demise.The menu is very limited and the prices are a colossal rip off.Gone are the days when Brinkley ran the business. My advice is stay away,don't get ripped off and go elsewhere. This restaurant is on its way out. read more

This little gem is by far one of THE BEST restaurants in the surrounding Phoenix area. I live here year round, I love fine dining. This restaurant tops them all. Fabulous food. The owners are so charming and really know their stuff. The recommended wine was excellent. And the Old Fashions were top knotch. Please visit this gem, I haven't steered you wrong. Outdoor seating is lovely, the big bar inside is comfortable. Tables inside as well. You'll love it. read more

My daughter and I dined at the Confluence earlier this evening. My other daughter and Dominic's review was the catalyst for choosing this restaurant tonight. We had high expectations. Unfortunately we were quite disappointed. Where do I start!! As we entered the restaurant we did not get a feeling of warmth, of being welcomed and also the whole set up of the place is not one that gives you a feeling of an anticipatory pleasure. A lot of things were just simply out of place. The greeting was lukewarm at best. We were given the menus but for some reason not the cocktail menu. We had to ask for it. My daughter had to remind the server twice for the straw she had asked for. When the server brought it she was holding it from the end that goes into your mouth. And she proceeded to put it into the glass. That's not how it is done! Now let's get into the food. We ordered the food. As an appetizer we ordered the Epoisses. A wonderful cheese that had been totally destroyed by how it had been presented. Too much honey! It tasted more like a dessert than a hot appetizer. Not well constructed. The filet mignon entree was a well plated. The accompaniments were over salted for my palate. The only redeeming element, and the most important one, was the beef. Nicely seasoned and tender. This is a restaurant with entrees priced over $35. It also has a very limited menu. And the menu has verbiage that the average guy cannot understand. Service was quick but remote and cold especially when we were only one of three tables occupied. I am not very optimistic about the future of this enterprise. I know that I will will not be coming back. I do wish them we read more

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Oh my. We came here tonight because the menu intrigued us and boy, it did not disappoint. This is formerly Cafe Bink up in Cave Creek. Confluence was lovely. The four-course fixed price menu was absolutely worth it . Each course was delectable. The pumpkin soup was among the best soups I've ever tried, served with oyster mushrooms and toasted papitas. Can't even put words to how fabulous this was. The walleye was also exquisite. My husband had the venison and thought it was amazing. Run by a husband/wife team who were kind and fun and welcoming! Will absolutely go back; covid-friendly. Outdoor patio and spread out appropriately inside. No issue there. If you live in or near Scottsdale you are missing out I'd you don't give this place a try. Loved it!! read more

WHAT HAPPENED?! I was a HUGE fan of Cafe Bink, and had positive thoughts when I found out that the new owners used to work for Chef Binkley, but boy was I WRONG. Nothing about this place has Chef Binkley's flair or taste. They have totally changed it. No happy hour anymore. Why not?? Ladies love to go to happy hour with their friends. Oh wait, because they CLOSE from 2-5, those are prime drinking hours in Carefree. No brunch!! As a matter of fact, not open on Sunday AT ALL. Could not have picked a worse day to close in this area. The menu has totally changed and it's very small. Not a lot to choose from. Why not keep some old favorites so people can stick with old or try something new? If you're Chef Binkley's protégés, then I think you should know better. When we were there, only two other tables were sitting. Is that a sign that people are feeling the same way I am?? I've never seen it so slow. Maybe reconnect with Binkley and get it figured out. read more

This place is amazing! So warm and friendly and the food is delicious! Victoria treats you like you are in your home - the bar is beautiful and the outdoor space is perfect! I'm only in town for a few days but will definitely go back! read more

Confluence: Old Arizona meets exquisite, delicious, unexpected cuisine. I love coming here for many reasons. The wrap around bar is perfect for us singles to feel welcome and comfortable. There is a relaxed atmosphere with micheline star food and drinks. I had the most amazing seared foie gras. It would have been plenty, but then I saw the Sake mussles,with Pork Belly!! I ate both entrees like i was in my kitchen alone and naked at 3am! I was as happy and comfortable as us native Arizonians get when we are surrounded by good people. Victoria, the owner is herself quite a pioneering spirit. You can see her working diligently behind the bar, and between the kitchen and guests. She and Chef Brandon are out to redefine the Michelin star to a golden one. I ll be back soon with my clothes on, before 3 am. Thats a warning. read more

Confluence - I thought I would die after the exquisite, best, seared Foie Gras. But then I saw this on the menu. Sake Steamed mussles, pork belly!! omg - New American Near Me - Carefree, Arizona

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Went to Confluence for my birthday. Added appetizer: crispy frog bites in risotto(included bits of asparagus and capers). Another excellent creation from the owner-chef! I have had the lemon risotto in the past at confluence. Another creative idea. I added this as a side to the white fish entree. They have an excellent bar in this quaint location to compliment the creative dishes. read more

Decent food which is overpriced. I like the patio but don't understand the hype about the mashed potatoes. Check it out and make your own opinion. read more

Delicious, creative food with much love put in each dish. The couple that own and run the restaurant (by themselves!) are wonderful hosts. If I lived in Carefree, I would dine there weekly. Wonderful experience. read more

Great food, great bar, great service. Family run business - support local folks! This is an elevated experience and a great spot for a date night, a business mtg, or a night on the town. Husband and wife team kills it. Love these people. read more

The food was horrible . Way too much salt . Saturday night and it was empty for great reasons . My tortellonis were not home made in a salt broth and what seemed like frozen peas and carrots My wife's tart was a mushy mask of salt . read more

Great burger and fries! It's a small nice place and always good service. The patio is nice.

We were staycating at nearby Boulders resort and very randomly picked this spot for dinner. Boy did we get LUCKY!!! What an incredible meal! Let me start out by saying that we are former New Yorkers with a pretty refined palate. The restaurant is run by owner/chef and his wife who used to work at Binkleys. But the food...it was art!!!! My husband and I chose the tasting menu for $65 and it was PERFECTION. Not a bad bite, from the warm bread, olive oil and white vinegar, to the strawberry-feta salad, to the curry with pickles and the Iberico pork topped off with a chocolate dessert that could cover Food & Wine we moaned our way through each savored bite. I can honestly say that the Iberico pork (acorn-fed from Spain) was one of the best protein bites that I've had the pleasure to eat...melted in our mouth! I can't rave an appropriate amount for this meal! enough about read more

Oh my. We came here tonight because the menu intrigued us and boy, it did not disappoint. This is formerly Cafe Bink up in Cave Creek. Confluence was lovely. The four-course fixed price menu was absolutely worth it . Each course was delectable. The pumpkin soup was among the best soups I've ever enjoyed, served with oyster mushrooms and toasted papitas. Can't even put words to how fabulous this was. The walleye was also exquisite. My husband had the venison and thought it was amazing. Run by a husband/wife team who were kind and fun and welcoming! Will absolutely go back; covid-friendly. Outdoor patio and spread out appropriately inside. No issue there. If you live in or near Scottsdale you are missing out if you don't give this place a try. Loved it!! read more

We went for dinner, ambiance is disappointing it's like any small restaurant bar not what we were expecting, the outside patio I believe is for lunches, not sure, it is a charming patio with an overhead tarp and lights. Inside has a great view of the mountain across the way since it sits on the street side of the mall. The menu is extremely limited, prices are sticker shock, the wines are great, the two stars I gave this place I will now explain further. One of my guests asked about the "taste menu" we were told the portions are only 3 ounces as opposed to 9 ounces for ala carte so we decided on ala carte we were hungry and said so, lady waiter (owners wife) brought us bread - one slice on each plate per person and then she brought only one smaller sized plate with a shmeer of oil and vinegar for all of us at the table to share dipping our one slice of bread each. Appetizers were okay, then the main dish was served, they also were small portions, very small, thank goodness we didn't order the "taste menu" - I actually thought she mistakingly brought us "taste menu" after all....not! Mine was so minimal I knew I had to stop somewhere nearby after dinner to eat! Worse yet, I encountered a gritty glass quality in my mouth when as I stuck my fork under the Bass to get something that was supposed to be purple grits, omg it spread all over into my teeth quickly, I immediately spit everything out as best as possible into some napkins from my purse, ran to the bathroom, rinsed my mouth out several times scared to hell it was glass. Came out, I told the owner wife who served us what happened, she smiled and said, oh that's sand in the mushrooms, they are fresh we rinse them as much as we can, but you know you can't rinse it all out, no apologies nothing and walks away. I was a bit relieved, but not quite. Her reaction was too strange almost gleeful, she smiled the entire time explaining I had a mouthful of sand from these mushrooms.....however, I did not eat the rest of the food on the plate I chose to be safe than sorry. Needless to say the mood went down, desserts and coffee came out, mine was the one with grit in it again, it was under the tiniest piece of pound cake lost in whip cream in the center of a large plate, it had a sprinkle of tiny live flower petals it with a whisper of rhubarb jam somewhere in the pound not the bottom, of course I didn't finish that either. Ironically, as we were preparing to leave we heard shattering of glass behind us in the chefs kitchen, but no other sound, so it must have broken on the work space counter not the floor- we outta here! It's not a cheap place it's high class pricing for the smallest portions ever. read more

Okay the mashed potatoes that came with the prime rib were AMAZING. My gf would've bathed in them if she could have - they were hands down the best mashed potatoes we've ever had. We shared the heirloom salad, prime rib, and halibut. Everything was great, the halibut was the best dish out of all! So happy that this place is good - we will be back for sure! read more

Confluence - New American Near Me - Carefree, Arizona

completely underwhelming, I am genuinely confused how this place has such glowing reviews. You can go to much nicer restaurants for the price point. The bread was one slice of toast on a plate. The entrees were poorly prepared. The restaurant was more of a renovated bar than a fine dining establishment. The service was polite but not up to par. I don't usually leave negative reviews but these are things we wish we would have known before patronizing confluence. read more

Fantastic food with an interesting flair. I had the pork cheek ravioli to start and for my main course I had the venison ny strip over a bed of jasmine rice. Everything was cooked to perfection. I highly suggest this if your looking for great food at a reasonable price. read more

Repeat visitor from Florida. I will not visit the area without a stop to Confluence. The two best meals I've had were at Confluence and Confluence. And great, personal service! read more

If you are looking for food with a delightful combination of flavors, and well prepared, this is a perfect place. Everything was special, no cookie-cutter regular dishes. A taste delight. read more