We ended up at Tarbell's for our anniversary dinner after reading poor Yelp reviews of the resort restaurant we were going to try. I'm so happy we were able to get in!! We had a wonderful meal and the service was excellent! I would recommend Tarbell's to anyone looking for a delicious meal. read more

Outstanding Food and Service to die for! Outstanding Wine selection Just the best!!! Friendly good place to entertain Chef Owner Mark Tarbell and his Team are the gold standard!! Actually the Platinum standard read more

I really wish I could give them five stars because I really do like this restaurant. Our first visit was excellent and we decided to visit a second time. On our second visit, our server, who was very nice, was rarely at our table. I think he must have had tables on the opposite side of the restaurant as he only showed up to take orders, drop off drinks and food, and close with desserts. It took almost 10 minutes for our drinks- one Old Fashioned and a beer. I was so looking forward to the Scotch Beef but when it came it was extremely dry with barely any sauce to be found. As our server was constantly absent, I ate what I could with water and gave up halfway through. Bummer. Other than that- it was a decent evening. We ended dinner with the salted chocolate volcano cake which I thought was absolutely horrid but my husband loved it. I think we will consider returning at another time- but I might give other restaurants a try until the memory of choking on dry pot roast fades. :) read more

Excellent food. I've been to this restaurant probably five times in the past four years, and it has never disappointed. Excellent service (the waiters even helped accommodate (move) me when a lady came in with overly strong perfume -- seriously folks, go easy on the chemical smells). The food is delicious, and they have been able and willing to meet my dietary restrictions with delicious fare. And, although the place is great, I've never come dressed better than semi-nice and that is perfectly acceptable. Highly recommend. read more

Last night was our first visit to Tarbell's. It was the best meal we have had in a restaurant in a very long time. Our server Kelly made the night very special as it was my birthday. We had Alaskan halibut and scotch beef for our entrées. They were both exceptional! Our desserts were fantastic. I wish there were more stars I could add because this place really deserves that. read more

Came here for an anniversary as it was one of the top 10 Zagat rated spots a few years ago. While the food quality did meet the price mark, I was sort of disappointed with the Ravioli and Oysters. We got a 1 foot long dish with 3 oysters on it. 3 is not divisible by two. So, they could add one more and make everyone happy. However, the cocktails and the wine selection were good and the food was definitely savory. Service was great as well. Come well dressed or you will look bad. read more

FIVE STARS ALL THE WAY ladies and gentlemen! I absolutely love this place! The food is fantastic, the decor is beguiling, the staff is wonderful and did I say the food is Fantastic!? I recently enjoyed a lovely birthday dinner with a group of friends and GOODNESS was it a delight! We were seated in a timely fashion perfectly accommodating our reservation. Our server Nathan greeted us in the most polite regard and exceeded our expectations with his excellent service--making our celebratory occasion all the more of a celebration! read more

First of all, i dont mind spending a little more for good food, but this place is a rip, way to expensive, and the portions rhey give you are pathetic to say the least, the desert i had tasted like they microwaved it, the taste of the food can use some spices or salt,the iced tea was the worst! It tasted like water, will never go there again read more

We were invited to have dinner at Tarbell's by some friends who were in town for a weekend getaway. The restaurant was highly recommended to them by Geoffrey (The Concierge at the Biltmore where they were staying!). Pre-dinner drinks at the bar (we were early) were nice with a very generous pour of Crown Royal from the bartender for me and a wonderful glass of Pinot Grigio for my wife! The atmosphere is relaxed and casual but leave your t-shirts and tennis shoes at home! Once at our table, our waitress Wednesday was very helpful in making suggestions about food choices. The Butternut Squash Soup was excellent. Our food choices included; Scallops (excellent), Salmon (good), Chicken(Excellent) and the Fresh Mozzarella plate. In addition, Wednesday brought us over a few other dishes (on the house) for us to sample. Mac and Cheese and Brussels Sprouts. Now I love Brussels Sprouts anyway but these were to die for and while Mac/Cheese has never been one my favorites - YUM. Oh and the yellow beet salad was very pleasant departure from the typical salad. Desserts here are for sharing and while the Crème Brûlée was OK, the Southern Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce was excellent! While we were eating Mark Tarbell did wander in and he made a point to visit every table and have a quick chat with all the diners that evening. An added bonus was meeting Geoffrey (who was picking up dinner to take home) and he insisted (that even though we were eating sweet stuff now) we try one of the meatballs that Tarbell's makes for their spaghetti and meatballs dish. Wow, that was excellent! I now know what I will be ordering next time we come here for an evening out. I wouldn't say that this is a romantic place to dine at as the noise level did increase as more people arrived but, it is a great place to come for a meal. All in all this was a really nice dinner out and we'll have to treat ourselves to another visit in the future. read more

Dinner on Sunday PM celebrating Mothers Day and a birthday. Seated almost right away. Everything was perfect: Timing and flow of the meal (I hate to be rushed). Wine list was interesting and had some relative values. Food was excellent (lots of flavor, not too rich) Polite and genuine staff. Even the two valets who stayed late just for us What else to say? Yes, it is on the higher $ side but totally worth it. read more

The service at Tarbell's is top of the line. Food is great, wine is definitely pricey (I'm more of a 2 buck chuck gall myself). I recommend the Last Word cocktail. Newer cocktail menu, and it's a good one!! I had the golden beet salad and a peppered steak. Both were delicious. When it came time to order dessert, we couldn't decide, and the waiter said "one is on us, just get both!" We did, and I have to say, the chocolate mousse was the standout of the two. It was a tiny bit disappointing when the check came and we were charged for both desserts. No big deal, but I could see another patron being upset. Overall, great food, great service, great atmosphere. Come here to splurge. read more

Really good food but my only complaint would be the service. The beef carpaccio appetizer was fantastic - all fresh ingredients and a large portion. My father and I loved the swordfish special with yellow tomato broth, fig compote ad rice Issues with service: It took a while to get the wine we ordered. My father and asked to sub the rice for roasted brussel sprouts on the swordfish and our waitress brought us the swordfish with just brussel sprouts. It took us a while to be able to flag our waitress down and get the other parts added to the dish. Those parts were pretty critical to the dish (pretty bland without them) and she really should've clarified in case she misunderstood (which she did). read more

A friend recommended this restaurant and we had a nice evening here. I had the beef carpaccio for my meal (it's pretty large) and my friends had the salmon and the ribbon pasta. Overall my friends though the meal was just ok and our server wasn't on top of things. He asked if we wanted bread but then forgot to bring it, was slow on drink refills, etc. He also didn't alert my friends who ordered the salmon that it was served on top of a ton of greens so they each ordered salads to start. He ended up bringing us a Vanilla Cheesecake on the house and it was AMAZING! Best part of the night! read more

See all

Nice atmosphere but too loud for quiet conversation. Food is good but pricey and a touch too salty. Service is good. Parking is terrible. Do not go on a weekend because it is impossible to park there. Although they supposedly have valet parking, they were no where to be found and the cars were backed up onto a very busy street. People were getting out of their cars to scream at others who were blocking cars while waiting for valet who never arrived. The worst I've ever witnessed. By the time we found a space to park, which we created ourselves, we were very upset before entering the restaurant. Tarbell's is located in a tiny strip center with other restaurants and woefully inadequate parking. Don't think it's worth the hassle. read more

Tarbell's is at the top of the food chain here in Phoenix. In the dozens and dozens of times I have been here I have never been, nor have my guests ever been, let down. The drinks are outstanding, the wine list well thought out, the menu a perfect mix that makes you think "gee I wish I could have the Scotch Beef (best item on the menu) and Mark's Famous Spaghetti and Meatballs." Great News you can! I will have a half order of this and a half order of that, and they say "no problem!" Anyway, Mark Tarbell has created a special place that all should enjoy at least once; but I recommend not limiting yourself to just once. Call for reservations, but keep in mind that the bar is a great place to have your meal as well... read more

Tarbell's had excellent food, great drinks but the service was fantastic. Nicole had excellent suggestions and made a delicious drink to start things off. Food was quick, well plated and incredible flavors. Definitely try out the creame brûlée. read more

I had a great birthday dinner at Tarbell's yesterday evening. It was a quaint restaurant with SUPERB service. The hostesses were very friendly and seated us promptly when we walked in (although we did make reservations ahead of time). The server was very genuine and attentive. She knew the menu and offered to split my guests meal in half because he could not choose on just one entree. Talk about service! I ordered the special halibut (Mr. Catch of the Day) and it was exactly how it was described. Although I would not recommend taking many children to Tarbell's, we did take our 10 mo old son and the wait staff was very gracious to him. They even thanked us for feeling comfortable enough for bringing the entire family to dine with them. GREAT EXPERIENCE. I will return! read more

After reading yelp reviews for over an hour, I found this restaurant whose chef happened to beat Cat Cora in Iron Chef, I had to try it. We passed by it earlier when driving and the strip mall is nothing to write home about. In fact, it looks very 1970's. I never thought there would be such a good restaurant in this mall. The service is absolutely OUTSTANDING! The water glasses never were more than half empty, food came out quickly (not pushy quickly), and the waitress did an AWESOME job describing the dishes. She clearly is a foodie. Being a foodie myself, I like hearing people describe food very expressively. Wine - fantastic wine list! We were looking at wines and the waitress recommended one which was fantastic.- Carpaccio - good and alot of it. (it was a bit heavy on the salt and I love salt). Mussels - you get a ton of them but the flavor wasn't as flavorful as I would have expected. The chicken sausage w/tomatoes, fresh pasta ribbons in a parmesean broth - EXCELLENT! Bread - excellent. My expectations were that of a 5 star restaurant, the experience was 5 stars, food 4 (only because of being an Iron Chef winner). Menu is well rounded and offers many differen options - all farm fresh. read more

Nice bar and bartender. Had a drink and waited for the rest of our party to arrive. Had a Palma Fizz- like a vodka tonic w/ ginger which added a unique flavor. Wife had a Mai-Tai. Calamari for appetizer and Kale salad. Both were excellent. Our table got the Pepper Steak, House ribbon pasta, scallops and the Scotch Beef. All were excellent/ very good. I ate a combo of the scallops and steak. Both were cooked perfectly. Dessert we got 4 to sample. Caramel Cheesecake, Creme Brulee, Choc cake, and Bread pudding- all good. So many great desert choices. I will have to go back to try the Choc Mousse. Overall a very enjoyable evening. Server was great. Wait staff attentive. Will be back. read more

What a restaurant! Absolutely loved my experience at Tarbells. I've been hearing rave reviews for quite sometime and decided to try it out recently. My party and I sat at the bar, which was a great choice because the bar was comfortable, rather large and really social and fun. The bartender (young woman) was fabulous, inviting and very nice! She was very attentive. A guest in my party dines at Tarbells often and she had his drink in front of him by the time we walked to the end of the bar.....Now thats some customer service for ya! Food = We started with the Calamari. A favorite dish of mine and this one was outstanding. Two very different but delicious dipping sauces. A roasted red pepper and a pesto mix. Not sure which one I liked more :) I enjoyed the pan-seared jumbo sea scallops. TO DIE FOR. I am a huge scallop fan and these were done just right. Caramelized, giving them the right amount a sweet....and it was served over very yummy risotto. Another dish enjoyed by my party was the Fennel Sausage Pasta dish, the fennel sausage was AMAZING. Overall experience was fantastic, as soon as I get another opportunity I will be dining here again! :) read more

I'm so glad after going to so many terrible restaurants recently that Tarbell is not just hype! The portions are pretty tiny.. but every bite I tried of every dish was pretty much Italian as good as it gets. I had the ribbon pasta with sausage and spinach. Also tried the bolognese. Also tried the chicken. The bread pudding I wasn't a huge fan of. I can't wait to come back - definitely a special occasion restaurant of choice for people who appreciate good food! read more

Tarbells has been a favorite for years. Last night was not a good night. It was crowded as it always is on a Friday night. We were seated promptly in an average location. Sort of felt like we were in our neighbors table the way the table was angled. The service was very slow. We were well into our cocktails before we ordered our apps. We ordered the carpaccio and the roasted brussel sprouts. The carpaccio was delicious. We really enjoyed it. The roasted brussel sprouts were equally good. I had the fish special of the night and my dh had the ribbon pasta which he has had many times before. My fish was just ok. The description sounded great but there was something seriously bitter on the plate. On top of that, the dish was incredibly under seasoned. I love the wine list and usually love the the food. Last night it was just meh. read more

I had really high expectations for Tarbell's. We'd heard (and read) really good things. We went on a Saturday night, and the restaurant was full. The positives---the staff was really exceptional. They were super friendly and attentive. I also loved the roasted (deep fried?) chick peas that were on the table as a starter. They were super delicious. Also, our main proteins (husband had steak, I had the scallops) were cooked technically well and the presentation was very nice. My scallop plate was probably the prettiest plate of food I've been served. However, the flavors were just not that great. My entree lacked salt/savory flavors, and the root vegetables on my plate were not cooked long enough, so they were quite tough. My husband said his steak was cooked a perfect medium rare, but the flavor just wasn't special or memorable. He ordered a side of brussels sprouts, which was actually his favorite part of the dinner. Overall, the food was just OK. I had expected the food to be 5 stars, but in reality, I've eaten at many many better restaurants. Nothing about Tarbell's was memorable. The decor and the vibe was not cool or unique. The majority of the patrons were elderly. We definitely would not go back there. P.S. I ate at Tarbell's Tavern (next door, more of a bar menu) a couple weeks ago, and I liked their food and atmosphere better than Tarbell's. read more

Haven't been here in a really long time and I came with my mom. Service was really great but they base it on when you finish each course. I had the mussels and calamari for an app. It was really tasty. I had the bolognese which was really meaty. My mom had the spaghetti and meatballs and the meatball is about a size of a huge fist. She cleared the plate and so did I. Cool spot, kinda on the pricy side but overall very good. read more

Tarbell's - Mussels - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

See all

Met friends for dinner and as always the service is wonderful. It was nice to see Mark Tarbell there greeting guests at their tables. They start you off with French bread with a tray of four different toppings for the bread. I had the beet salad which is always very good with goat cheese and a very light dressing and for my main dish had the mussels which were very good. my husband also had the beet salad and the carpaccio which he enjoyed. Our friends had the scallops and peppered NY strip and said they were excellent. For dessert I had the bread pudding with a bourbon sauce and our friends shared the apple cobbler which was very large with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Our server so friendly and helpful always a smile on his face. Upon leaving we were given individually wrapped chocolate chip cookies which were excellent. It was a wonderful evening that we all thoroughly enjoyed. read more

I was super disappointed in this place. We went on Mother's Day and maybe that was my problem. They had a super limited brunch menu and it was ridiculously priced. I'm not shy about paying for great food. But it was just basic food with no special twists or even unique flavor. I had a $20 gift card and I still spent over $50 and we didn't even get anything to drink. And I was still hungry when I walked out. DON'T go here for brunch. Not really sure about the other times. read more

I loved the Muscle starter, amazingly fresh. Their fresh masseralla salad was very good as well. I had the pepper steak and my date had the house pasta, just a note on the side they do have a very vegetarian friendly menu. For desert we have the creme brulee, im not a big desert fan, but it was soooo goood!!! The servise was excellent as well. over all it was a great experience. read more

We had our anniversary dinner at Tarbell. The service and food was wonderful. I plan to return with my family very soon. read more

Tarbell's - Silky smooth cheesecake. - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

See all

Tarbell's exceeded my high expectations! ...warm greeting...attention to detail (remembered to greet tha bf Happy Birthday from the phone message I had left for our rsvp the day prior)...our steaks cooked to perfection (I had medium rare, and he had medium)...flavorful and GENEROUS portions of sides THAT CAME ALONG WITH THE MEAL (creamed spinach AND YUMMY potatoes au grautin). All the pinky up restaurants that we've been frequenting make ya order the sides separately, so this was a welcomed, awesome surprise! They even presented tha bf with a complimentary creme brulee bday prez. We shall be back! read more

Food.....FIVE stars Service..FIVE STARS Ambiance..FIVE STARS VALUE.....Five stars All in all...one of the BEST restaurants in the area...and in my world of dining out. A double great evening. Thank you, Keith (Stanley Tucci), for the superlative service. You rock. read more

This is the finest restaurant in Arizona! Mark the Chef and Owner is very personable and friendly. The food and wine selections are amazing! read more

We had heard so many great things about this place, and lived close, but for some reason waited two years to go. Don't wait! Absolutely the best service (ask for Kelly), and the food was amazing. Nice portions, great salad. We had the pot roast, and sausage pasta. The desserts were some of the best, including Rosemary cheesecake that sounds strange but was so amazing. Such a winner, and we can't wait to go back! read more

Service is incredible and the pasta is out of this world! My only complaint is that it's really tight in the dining room and can get incredibly noisy but everything else makes up for it. read more

Absolutely amazing from start to finish. The staff is friendly and helpful, the food is superb, and good god is the cheesecake delicious. I think I found a new favorite restaurant. read more

This was our first visit to Tarbell's after hearing great comments from friends and family who had eaten there. It was our 60th New Year's Eve together and everything was perfect. We arrived a little early for our 5:45 p.m. reservation. While waiting, the owner came over and introduced himself to us and said our table would be available shortly, and it was. The staff was well trained and very friendly. My wife had the halibut and I had the Scottish beef. Both were cooked to perfection, the presentations were very creative and the seasonings were amazing. Absolutely delicious! We had calamari for an appetizer. It was served promptly and was excellent. The Beloved Chocolate Mousse was the perfect ending to a perfect meal....outstanding! We don't live close to the restaurant, but will definitely eat here again. Thanks to Mark and his staff for a wonderful experience. read more

This place just never disappoints! My wife had the Bolognese and I had the halibut and they were exceptional. But there is another hidden gem as well! Kyrri is this so me and even if you don't drink wine you should ask for suggestions... She loves what she does, is energetic and just does a fantastic job. We cannot recommend her enough! Everything she has ever offered has been spot on. read more

Tarbell's - My wife says this is the best Bolognese ever - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

See all

Tarbell's was amazing. Kelly our waitress was the absolute best. She even brought us complimentary appetizers and dessert Food was exceptional. We will most definitely return. read more

See all

There are so many great restaurants in Central Phoenix, that I expect good food when I go to a place like Tarbell's! This was our first time there and we were celebrating our 24th anniversary with another couple. We definitely made the right choice for our celebration. We had a couple of cocktails before we came to the restaurant, and we were in a festive mood. Our waiter, Nathan, picked up on the vibe right away, and was a great sport, as well as a great server. We were in the mood to try different items, and he was very accommodating. We started with the Candied Bacon, and we all split a Beet salad (they split it and it came out beautifully presented). Dinner was more of the same. We each had an entree, and it was hard to decide what to order. Nathan actually brought two sample bowls of food we didn't order, just for us to try, since we had struggled in choosing. The mussels and the scallops were crazy good! The mussels were the creamiest I may have ever eaten, and a terrific size! The squid ink pasta and gnocchi were both made in house and were terrific! The spaghetti and meatballs should be labeled, "huge delicious meatball (1) and spaghetti." Again, it was awesome. The meatball was made from multiple meats, was fresh from the oven, and had a taste that was terrific. The wine list is plentiful and provides a great deal of variety, but doesn't feel overwhelming. We chose a couple of mid priced blends, that they priced at reasonable restaurant rates. The food, along with Nathan's great service made this a night to remember. read more

My wife's single favorite restaurant. Anywhere. This place just never disappoints. High quality everything. The sausage & pappardelle is my favorite. We have tried the scotch beef, many fish dishes, the chicken, most of the appetizers, and always leave happy. Service is always attentive, and in just the right amounts. Mark Tarbell is likely to be running around greeting customers, which is always a nice touch. Can't imagine anything less than 5 stars from anyone. read more

My husband and I went in celebration of his recent promotion! Food was phenomenal as was the customer service! We will definitely be returning and recommending to others. Just a tip...BEST cheesecake we've ever had!! read more

Tarbell's - Nice touch to our celebratory meal! - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona