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Armitage Wine Lounge & Cafe
Categories: Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Food Beer, Wine & Spirits Wine Bars, Beer, Wine & Spirits [Edit]
20751 N Pima RdSte 120
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
(480) 502-1641
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 12 am
Sat-Sun 10 am - 12 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot, Valet
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
41 reviews for Armitage Wine Lounge & Cafe
Review Highlights
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"Armitage is up in DC Ranch near Baroque and Eddie V's." In 15 reviews -
"...went well with the Prime Rib Sliders and the Baked Chevre..." In 3 reviews -
"The cheese plate is very yummy." In 6 reviews
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41 reviews in English
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Review from Jill K.
Phoenix, AZ
4/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Enjoyed the bruschetta, halibut cakes, and the ravioli and loved every bite. Also had two wine flights that were nice. $75 for all of that not too bad. There were 3 pieces each of the bruschetta which is smaller than other places, but I actually like their bread better.
The sad part was that we were the only people in there on a Saturday afternoon. Poor DC Ranch. These businesses have to be hurting. I hope they last because I'd love to come back! -
Review from Susan W.
Scottsdale, AZ
5/20/2012
The service was very slow. People at several tables were waiting, far to long for, drinks checks food. The table had no bread plate , no salt and pepper. No napkins. We had to ask for everything. The busser did not seem to understand how to set a table. We ordered the beet salad, it had no flavor and huge -hard as a rock beets, no cheese. Tiny orange wedges. No good.
I ordered, for a main dish the Covina, white fish. It was so salty I had to send it back. The waitress then informed me that I ordered it wrong! Last time I checked you made sure your food tasted good and wasn't toxic with salt. She informed me that it was served blackened, blackened does not mean coated in disgusting salt. My hubby ordered capellini. The shrimp were undercooked and not fresh. There was very little tomato sauce. It was bland greasy and void of any redeeming qualities. Again , like the beet salad, the veggies were not prepared correctly ......
huge lumps of tomatoes, , mix yourself? How do you serve pasta with no sauce ? Overall I would say the chef is not talented. No one bothers to prep properly, no one is tasting the plates as they are so bad it is impossible to believe the menu is being checked and corrected. In the meantime to go back for a glass of wine and an appetizer may happen as there is some potential , just a glimmer ....and , in a few months, if enough people review, and finally .....if the owner is smart enough to stop this unfortunate cascade . The patio is pleasant, I hope someone cares enough. -
Review from Marsh M.
Scottsdale, AZ
2/11/2012
If you're hungry... make sure you EAT BEFORE YOU GET THERE. The entrees are sold as , "small plates for sharing" - however, how do you share 4 muscles and 6 clams for $16. The pitch is, 'the portions are smaller but the quality is higher" which is suppose to explain the pricing - sadly this didnt explain my dry and over-cooked rib-eye.
We ended up buying several plates and by the time you're full - you've easily spend $200 for two people. There are better and more fulfilling options out there.
Wine selection is poor but you can smoke cigars on the patio.
Side note: Server was in training and did a good job. -
Review from C N.
San Diego, CA
11/1/2011
WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS PLACE???!?!?!?
Used to be THE BEST wine bar/meat & cheese plate anywhere in Phoenix. Now, it's literally inedible. Basically bologna and stale cheese. $14?!! Wow. Shockingly bad. Like, "make us leave" bad.
Wines have gone downhill too. Something has seriously changed. -
Review from Larry B.
11/27/2011
This place is a great local joint with cozy couches, good wine, and an almost ski lodge feel. I'm a fan of the grilled artichokes, fried raviolis, osobucco, and the wine flights. A great place to get out of the cold on a windy winter night!
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Review from Steve M.
Atlanta, GA
12/13/2011
We like it. L and I 2nd date was here, and we made out outside. It was hot and sexy. Do we remember the wine? We love wine,but I remember the kissing. Kissing beats any 97 point wine. D.C. Ranch overall, just has not made it, for restaurants and retailers when I lived in Az. This has nothing to do with the restaurant just an overall impression to yuppie?
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Review from Wes N.
8/3/2010 1 Check-in Here
Visited Armitage Bistro for the first time yesterday with high hopes, seeing as though it's a wine bar and we really love Bomberos, Postino and 5th & Wine elsewhere in the valley.
Ordered up a few glasses of wine for a special price of $5 on happy hour, which is normal HH pricing at a wine bar. The wine was good. Their happy hour lasts til 7pm, later than most other wine bars, which is a plus.
Appetizers were $5, so we sampled the Bruschetta, Warm Spinach Dip, Toasted Ravioli and a half order of french fries.
Let's start with the Bruschetta, you get to choose 4 types, so we went with 2 Tomato & Fresh Mozzarella, 1 Mushroom & Gorgonzola and 1 Chopped Tomatoes & Roasted Garlic.
As the bruschetta arrived, my first impression was that it was definitely a smaller portion than I'm used to receiving at other wine bars that I frequent. It's essentially one piece of some type of normal-sized sliced bread cut into 4 pieces and dressed up with different toppings. I much prefer the bread & portions at Bomberos & other spots.
The Tomato & Fresh Mozzarella bruschetta was highly UNimpressive. In fact, it really wasn't good. The tomato slices weren't red, they were thin, the fresh mozzarella wasn't impressive and there was barely any basil on them. Big bummer for us since this is usually our most favorite type of bruschetta.
On to the next type! The Chopped Tomatoes & Roasted Garlic was okay, but we didn't prefer it much due to the overly garlic flavor. If you're into garlic, you'll like the taste here, but again, the bread contributed to a disappointing experience with this bruschetta.
The Mushroom & Gorgonzola bruschetta was delicious! Definitely our favorite out of the different bruschetta types we sampled.
Next up we got the "Warm Spinach Dip" which is described on the menu as "Spinach, Artichoke Hearts, Irish Cheddar & Asiago Cheese
Served with Warm Bread & Pita". I'm not familiar with Irish cheddar, but this dip was almost entirely cheese and had a very sticky/globby feel. There didn't seem to be much spinach/artichoke in it. We didn't really enjoy this dish.
Next up was the toasted ravioli. Not too shabby, but not overly impressive either. It was a good effort and we ate it with the provided marinara dipping sauce.
Lastly we got a half-order of seasoned french fries. These were pretty decent. They come with 2 sauces, one of which is a red-pepper ranch type sauce that was good. The other is a BBQ-esque sauce with some other twist, but we didn't really dig that one. I did enjoy dipping my french fries into the aforementioned cheese dip.
Overall for the price, and even at a discounted happy hour price, we didn't feel it was worth our money. The bruschetta could definitely use some improvement, especially the Tomato & Fresh Mozzarella variety. -
Review from Thomas S.
Phoenix, AZ
1/15/2008
Tuesday. Half off wines. Not too crowded. Not too many botoxy, steroidy, siliconey people.
Weekends. Full priced wines. Crowded. Wall to wall to botoxy, steroidy, siliconey people.
Go on Tuesday. Oh, and have the cheese plate. Get cozy on a sofa. Or take in the night lights of Market Street on the patio. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable.
Just don't stare too long at the cougars, cuz they will scratch your eyes out. I know. Just ask my friend Patch. -
Review from Michael C.
Scottsdale, AZ
8/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not a lot going on here at night during the summer - I expected DC Ranch to be booming last Saturday evening... not so much. This place looks pretty cool and I'm guessing it would be fun on a busier night. Maybe I'll try it for happy hour?
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Review from Kerry K.
Phoenix, AZ
1/20/2009
I had enjoyed a nice hike on the peaks near DC Ranch yesterday and decided to explore one of the restaurants on the highly acclaimed Market street. I searched for a happy hour on my computer and found the specials at Armitage to be best. The special for Monday was half off all "chalkboard wines". I went into the well decorated restaurant, and like most restaurants at happy hour time (compounded by a recession) it was not too busy. I had a seat at the bar and noticed a chalkboard to my left--perfect. Grenache for $7 a glass and since it is on said chalkboard, I order a glass despite it not being my first choice. A sensible wine drinker will try anything once when it is on special for $3.50 a glass!
My caprese salad came with mushy tomatoes and far too much balsamic vinaigrette . The "fresh basil" looked more like thawed spinach and was strewn about over the top and the cheese had a slightly yellow appearance. Despite the terrible description, I ate a good portion of it since I was starving after my hike, but it does reside in the bottom 10% of caprese.
After listening to a middle age man ramble on to the seemingly interested waitress in a voice that could be heard by someone in the street about how he was jetting away in first class to Boston in the morning, I couldn't stand it anymore and asked for my bill.
I thought about not mentioning it when I was charged $7 for the wine as this is a great deal, but I mentioned it to the bartender who informed me that the website had long been outdated and the wine I chose was actually not on special. Irritated, I asked that he adjustl my bill and remind the manager to update the website. I was expecting an apology and accommodation, but he said he was sorry and he wouldn't do anything about it. He ran my card quickly and then hovered awkwardly at the other end of the bar, ignoring my empty water glass.
If he were thinking he would have honored my request and gotten every bit if that in his tip, but instead I left angry and they lost a future customer! I would not recommend Armitage for the horrible customer service and mediocre food! -
Review from Melissa H.
Arlington, VA
3/5/2008
I met a group of girlfriends at Armitage last night for dinner and drinks. The space was charming and cozy and for most of the night, it was pretty empty, which was nice. Our server was nice enough, but I got the feeling from her that waiting on a group of 6 women was not her idea of a fun night. Tuesday nights are half off wines after 8 pm, which is a good deal. We had two bottles of the "Catching Venus" Sauvignon Blanc, which was a good wine...and when we ordered it half price, it was $22 for the bottle. The menu looked divine, so I will definitely be going back to try everything I couldn't last night.
I had the cheese plate and there is an adequate selection of cheeses to pick from (for the small plate, you get your choice of three). I chose the sharp cheddar (basic but delicious), brie, and chevre (my favorite of the three). The plate comes with a large amount of bread, some green apples, and a bowl of grapes. I tried some of a friend's green apple and brie bruschetta, and I definitely did not enjoy it as much as the bruschetta at Postino. The apple and brie bruschetta at Armitage didn't have enough brie on it for my liking and the flavor was a bit bland.
A great spot at DC Ranch and I can imagine on weekends it is quite the scene. I would recommend this spot during the week, but not sure I would trek up there on a Saturday night.Listed in: Wine Bars-Valley of the Sun…
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Review from Mark M.
Phoenix, AZ
10/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I am done with the Armitage. I have been here several times over the past few years and other than being overpriced, the food and service was always good.
A couple of months ago, we went there for a birthday lunch. I ordered the Garden Veggie Pita. How can one mess up a veggie sandwich? How about putting it on a stale pita bread that cracks in two when you pick it up. Since it was my B-Day I didn't want to make any comments, especially since I wasn't the one paying.
A couple of weeks ago we went there on a Sunday. I ordered the beef and Gorgonzola melt and my partner ordered a burger medium rare. When the plates were delivered I noticed that the slices of sirloin resembled small chunky pieces of beef jerky, the mushrooms were dry and shriveled and the Gorgonzola melt part looked like a wipe of mayo. I have had this before and the sirloin was always juicy and tender, on the medium rare side. I brought this to the servers attention who immediately said "that's how it's made." I told him that I've had it before and it definitely did not resemble my prior visits. No comment from the server. I ate it since at that point I didn't want to make a scene and it was horrid. My partner's "medium-well" burger was very well done. She decided not to complain due to the fact that we don't really see what goes on in kitchens when we complain, do we? We didn't have an opportunity to even let the server know we were disappointed, since we didn't see him until the end of the meal. At that point, we made it clear that we were very disappointed, and showed him the doneness of the burger. I reiterated how horrible the beef jerky sandwich was and he then offered to comp. We settled on a free dessert. He also gave us coupons which was a nice gesture. Too bad he didn't listen to me the first time...
To the owner: when a repeat customer says he had something before, and that there is now something wrong, have your people pay attention. Don't make excuses for an incompetent kitchen. However, based on what your staff said, IF it is now your intention to provide an overdone dried out sliced sirloin sandwich, and to overcook burgers regardless of the order, then you have no business in the food business. If not, then you better get in that kitchen and fix it, because this sort of news travels fast in my community.
In my book, two strikes and you are out. Sorry but there are better choices out there, and if I am going to spend 100 bucks on lunch it better be damn good. You're just not good anymore. I will not be back. -
Review from Jayd L.
Phoenix, AZ
4/10/2009
If this place was closer to me, I'd go more often. I love their patio, location (DC Ranch is niiiccceee) wine selection, happy hour, and appetizers. If you're a single man and/or the scandalous, committed type, definitely go here for their Ladies Night on Thursdays. This place reeks of Chanel, Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, etc...you get my drift (haha). Being a straight woman, I've picked up women here and have been picked up by women here without even trying. Just try not to trip and fall on all the dropped panties on the floor.
I usually order a glass of the 2006 Duckhorn "Decoy", Napa Cabernet and warm spinach dip (the best I've ever had) to pair it with. Dee-licious. Their wine flight menu is great, too if you want to reach out of your comfort zone and try something new. I give this place 4 stars because I haven't tried much of their food, but I'm sure it's good and it tends to be super busy every time I stop by, which slows the service. If you do decide to go here, be prepared to be around a lot of people (typical Scottsdale crowd). I haven't had the luck to be here on a slow night.
And for the Trouts that prey on young women like me, try and tell me something I don't already know. "I own this company....drive this car....yada...yada...yada..." -
Review from Maurice G.
Austin, TX
5/30/2008
This would be the perfect place to see a bunch of old broads crowing about the Sex and The City movie, comparing themselves to fictional, empty, pathetic, meaningless women, and guffawing over a disappointing assortment of wines about how the sequel better show a full-frontal of Big (unless the first film had it, I wouldn't know. *shrug*)
The only thing more of a headache than Old Town Scottsdale is Old Money Scottsdale.
Skip it unless you are an old broad or have future aspirations to become one.
The service sucks too.Listed in: Phoenix Lounges
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Review from Carmen D.
Phoenix, AZ
10/31/2010
Truly a great place!
The flights are FANTASTIC! The food great!
Service also great!
Try this place! --- Seriously the fewer words to describe the greatness the better. -
Review from Hilary P.
Scottsdale, AZ
8/9/2007
Another great spot that has not been reviewed! Inconceivable!
Armitage is up in DC Ranch near Baroque and Eddie V's. They are open every day from late afternoon to late night. It's a great spot to enjoy a (or several) glass of wine with your honey or good friends. Lots of comfy sofas to sink into and they also have a patio which is really nice at night. If you are going with a group, you'll want to reserve one of those sofas as they are snagged pretty early.
The staff are not snooty wine snobs at all. In fact Armitage is a great spot to learn about wine...if you are a wine snob it's a great place to try new wines. They have a great selection of flights, frequent wine tasting events, and a small but respectable dinner/nibbly menu. -
Review from Kate N.
Scottsdale, AZ
7/24/2009 4 photos
I have wined and dined here on several occassions and have enjoyed it every time.
Favorites include: Baked Brie, Baked Goat Cheese and Marinara, Prime Rib Sliders, Three Cheese Panini and The Cheese Board (great cheese selection) is just perfect when sampling the wines!
Highly recommend the wine flights : )
The staff are friendly and the atmosphere is great. Patio is nice on a cooler afternoon/evening and inside is cozy at night. -
Review from sven v.
6/6/2010
we have dined in / night capped at Armitage 3 or 4 times during the 2 or 3 months we have owned a home in DC Ranch and have yet to be disappointed. As pointed out the wine list is solid , ( not stellar), and the ambiance , food , decor and service have been above expectation ( Nates attention over lunch was above and beyond) .
The patio is comfortable and well flowered but i considered taking a star away to reflect the knuckleheads and their loud Italian sports cars rollin up and down the adjacent promenade -( i decided not to as it is hard to fault the restaurant for the sins of the neighbors)
all in all a good to great bet for any occasion out. -
Review from Joshua W.
Queen Creek, AZ
4/15/2008
First off, I have to admit that I do not know the difference between a merlot and a cabernet sauvignon. However, if I ever really wanted to figure it out, this is where I would come.
If you look at my other reviews here, you'd see that I really enjoy my beer. But I'm branching out and have been trying wine, and this is a place that I quite enjoy. You'd think that with its location in DC Ranch that the prices would be off the charts, but I was quite surprised that it was relatively affordable. They've got more wine to choose from that I could pronounce, and lots of different varieties of my new favorite thing: wine flights. Since I don't know much about wine, it's nice to try different types to see what suits me.
The food here is phenomenal. Their cheese plate actually lets you choose what types of cheese you want, from cheddar to funky smelly cheese that many people think is great but just weirds me out. The hummus and shrimp cocktail are quite nice too. From looking at the signage in the place, most nights have some sort of wine special, from half-priced bottles to wine tasting.
The atmosphere here is typical Scottsdale. You have you cougars, your retired rich folks, your $30K-millionaires, and your normal folks (like me). They have high-top bar tables and super comfortable couches, along with areas tailor made for groups. Sitting out on the patio is nice too. The servers that I have come in contact with have been very attentive and very knowledgeable about the various types of wine. -
Review from Kristin S.
Somerville, MA
11/24/2007
I went to Armitage on a Saturday night and it was definitely a Scene. I have a feeling its much more relaxed on a weeknight but it was quite loud and packed on Saturday. It was an interesting mixture of young Scottsdale (my husband chose to not spike his hair that night but he was wearing a striped shirt so he still fit in...) and older Scottsdale (cougarlicious!) complete in fur coats. (People! Its 60 degrees outside! We don't need fur coats! I had a friend in Boston tell me the other that she would "kill for 60 degrees right now") Our drink menu bifold was being used to stabilize one of the legs of our table which I found to be really really odd.
The wine flights are reasonably priced, however, the bottles are quite expensive. Possibly the most expensive I've seen at any of the wine bars/cafes in the Valley so far. (Average bottle price is $45+) The Pinot Grigio selection consists of three choices, the first was sweeter than I prefer my wine, the second had too much of an Oak taste for me (Tommasi "Le Rosse"), the last was fantastic. (Walch "Prendo") My husband went with the Pinot Noir flight and really liked the Dutton- Goldfield.
The food was pretty good. I had the Armitage panini which was fantastic, my sister enjoyed her three cheese panini and my husband chose the beer brat panini which he thought was just ok. We started with an order of bruschetta which paled in comparison to Postino. Your choice of four only gets you one serving of each slice, unlike at Postino where you get two of each. (Albeit its more expensive at Postino by $5 but its definitely worth it.) The mozzarella, salami and tomato relish was good, the prosciutto, chevre and roasted tomatoes was fantastic and loaded with prosciutto, the brie and apples and mozzarella and tomatoes were unremarkable.
The atmosphere is nice and cozy and on a cold night would be a lovely destination. (Although like I said on a Saturday its loud) I would like to try it on a weeknight when it may be a little more mellow. -
Review from Lucia C.
1/28/2010
I found Armitage to be very enjoyable for a late evening drink and a snack. It's located in DC Ranch, which has a very swanky feel (note: except for the random Krispy Kreme right there on Market Street), and is a great place for a fun night out.
Armitage is pretty small, with a relaxed and classy atmosphere. There is a large bar area, high top tables, and a very nice patio.They have an excellent Tuesday night special - 1/2 a bottle of wine when you order food! Feeling flirty, I opted for the sangria (is that the red or the white?) - I got the white. It was brisk and tangy, but had no fruit! Next time I'll definitely choose a wine from their list - they also have very creative flights that caught my eye.
Our snack included the fries with three 'gourmet' sauces, and the ahi tuna sliders. The fries were great - not too greasy, very hot, and crispy. The sauces were tasty but nothing special. The half order is a good sized portion to share, although you might get to that point when you start worrying about nonchalantly gobbling up those last few before your date does..or maybe that's just me. The tuna was good - it was nicely spiced and perfectly rare - but the pieces were just so small it made each bite a bit disappointing. The bread:tuna ratio was completely skewed towards bread. Other menu items I would return for include the macaroni and cheese and the bruschetta - everything looked very good.
Armitage is a great place for a night cap, and I would definitely return during happy hour to catch some people watching - I was almost a little disappointed to not see any cougars. Overall, a very cool wine bar. Definitely check it out if you are in the DC Ranch area! -
Review from curious g.
Fountain Hills, AZ
6/6/2011
Brunch is exceptional, try the eggs benedict they are delicious. Sliders were excellent. Cheese, meat and olive tray- wonderful. Mimosas and Bloody Marys are perfect with the noon menu. Pricey, but worth it. Great service.
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Review from Jeanie H.
Scottsdale, AZ
6/16/2009
While the weather has been so agreeable lately, so has my appetite to crawl over to DC Ranch and sit on the outside patio of Armitage. This place has become our backyard getaway - where everyone knows you by name....and drink! I have also enjoyed the REVERSE HAPPY HOUR - and later fare menu - Happy Hour is not only for the early birds anymore. :)
Market Street is such an enjoyable area at night with the twinkling lights spotted about. -
Review from Todd B.
Glendale, AZ
3/22/2010
Armitage is located on Market Street in a prime location in DC Ranch. I know this area has lost some of it's "lure" due to the economy, but you'll still find some good car and people watching on the patio at this restaurant.
The typical wine connesuir will want to love Armitage, but after looking at the menu I am sure they will be disappointed. DC Ranch is a very upscale area so you would think that the owners/management would have a wine list that is well diversified and not outdated. I also would like to encourage the staff to know more about the wines that they are selling. Nothing is worse then going to a wine bar and the server gives you that blank look when you ask about different varietals on their list.
Overall this place has one of the best patios I have been to in the Phoenix area, which I would give 4 1/2 stars, but the service and wine list is lackluster. -
Review from Lonni L.
Fountain Hills, AZ
10/13/2010
I am trying real hard to not let the fact that this was the place my future hubby and I had our first date interfere with my opinion of the place in general. But to be honest, I don't have any complaints. The wine is always good as they have an incredible selection, and the prices seem reasonable (esp because there always seems to be a coup!)
I love the scene. It's cozy and comfortable and there always seems to be room either at a table or at the bar. We vary in our tush placement so I recommend the high tops or belly'd up.
What I sort of don't like is the VIP couches. I see them used about half the time and I'm sorry but they are rather in your face. Yes, I could see myself perched comfortably for hours. But who exactly is a VIP? Am I a VIP if it's empty and you could rack up a big bill in my honor?
Food is fine. It's not what's bringing us to the joint, but it seems to be a satisfactory complement to the whole experience. I like the bruschetta, although Honey wasn't too impressed. And sadly, the fries could use some assistance in the gourmet category. But all in all, I would definitely recommend this place as an interlude to a romantic evening, or better yet, to woo your current or future love. -
Review from Benjamin S.
Phoenix, AZ
11/8/2008
First time to DC Ranch. This place is pretty awesome. Nice decor, a lot of the indoor tables were reserved, not sure why, but that's ok, the patio is cool too. Our waitress, Amanda, gave some great recomendations. We went with a couple of the wine "flights". Basically three wines that compliment each other; different region, country, terroir, whatever. Good deal for someone who is not too versed on wines, and wants to taste different wines without blowing the rent. We went with the World Red and the World Pinot Noir; both were really excellent and went well with the Prime Rib Sliders and the Baked Chevre in Marinara. Overall, I would definetly go back, plus there are lots of other great places in the DC Ranch area.
Cheers
Until then, get the beers in... -
Review from Jessica G.
Phoenix, AZ
1/6/2012
I'm not even sure where to start. It was by far the worst dining experience for me and my family and it had nothing to do with the food. The food was actually quite tasty, but our server was horribly rude. When he brought out my father's main entree before the salad and my father asked where his salad was the waiter said it was coming and my father said he preferred it to come before the meal (as most people do). Then the waiter rudely says "you didn't ask for it to come out first." My father then said "usually you don't have to ask for it to come out first." The waiter again says "well its coming now and you didn't ask for it to come out before your meal." When the salad finally arrives, he throws it down and when my father didn't say thank you the waiter says loudly and with a lot of attitude "your welcome." If that wasn't bad enough my mother was walking to the bathroom and the waiter walked into her with his tray purposely. She's 65...how does a person do that?
Needless to say, we will not be going back unless we want to be treated like dirt. -
Review from Jessica W.
Phoenix, AZ
8/5/2010
I went here for happy hour with a group of 4 today. While it was a bit of a trek up to DC Ranch - it was definitely worth it. I've heard about this and the Tucson location for years and was glad to try it firsthand.
Happy hour specials were great and last til 7 - I hate when it ends at 6 - work ends at 5, people! The food was awesome - highly recommend the spinach cheese dip, and the white sangria was fantastic!
I'd definitely go back here, especially since there are great daily specials. -
Review from carla c.
Scottsdale, AZ
3/7/2010
I was refraining because I usually end up here just for HH or drinks. But, this particular occasion brought me here during "lunch" and the service we received was just superb! In fact it was SOOOO splendid, that paying the $5/beer for a $1/beer retail, well, I didn't care!
Not all of my adventures to this dwelling have been so, or cheap, but this time in particular is why I am choosing to give 3 stars...
Dammit, why didn't I get her name...? -
Review from Jenna W.
Scottsdale, AZ
3/31/2011
My husband and I went their for a late night snack and to hang out outside. We ordered the cheese and fruit platter. The platter was delicious and we had a wide variety of cheese to choose from. It was cold outside and the servers were nice enough to go around the whole patio to find the heater that worked so we could sit outside. I'd definitely eat at this place again. It had great energy and friendly servers.
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Review from Pierre Trudeau I.
Phoenix, AZ
12/12/2009
I'm surprised Armitage hasn't been reviewed before [ed.- It has. Yelp's search engine just isn't up to snuff], considering its existence as a hip, elegant nightspot that seems popular enough. Maybe the lack of reviews has to do with the amazing existence of D.C. Ranch itself, which strikes me as a soon-to-be doomed oasis of wealthy, urban hipness in an economic desert. A desert where the recession has killed off all signs of youthful wannabe/poser/douchebag existence in north Scottsdale, leaving behind mainly retirees as the only ones who can actually afford to live here. Yet, right here among the multimillion dollar homes and their 50something occupants, Armitage seems to be doing just fine, from the many 20- and 30somethings with frosted tips and fake boobs who were crowded inside. When I opened the drink menu, the bartender told me with a totally straight face that the $8 martinis were "only $8" during happy hour.
Needless to say, my whole experience here leaves me bewildered. What is wrong with these people, in NoSco? They seem to be functioning so far as though 2008 and the Bush financial collapse never happened. Maybe they'll make it some day to an era when real estate will explode by 20% a month and interest rates on loans to buy banana-yellow Hummers will be less than 3%, again. I don't think so, though. Who drives up here to the Arctic North of Scottsdale (16 miles from Old Town; 30 miles from downtown), to drink an $8 martini?
For now the answer is: plenty of people, at least around 8 on the Friday night I went there with friends following an office event. If you live up there, I recommend a visit. Just find your way through the very quiet, otherwise deserted DC Ranch plaza, and trust this review when your instincts tell you it's way too dead here for an urban wine bar to thrive. It's just around the corner. -
Review from John G.
Rochester, MN
2/9/2011
Nice quaint little wine bar. Decent prices.
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Review from Ashley A.
New Orleans, LA
11/3/2007
As far as I am concerned I could die a happy woman if my last night out were at Armitage. The interior is so cozy and inviting - big plush couches to sink into, high boy tables to enjoy cocktails with friends, regular tables for dinner and stools at the bar to watch the game on TV. The atmosphere is very warm - dark enough to feel cozy but not so dark that you can't see across the room.
Armitage has amazing deals during the week. On Tuesday nights their bottles of wine are 50% off after 8:00pm...yes, you heard me correctly: 50% off!!! It's like buying a bottle at the grocery only you get the luxury of service. They also have 1/2 off nights - I think Wednesdays and then Thursdays for women. The flights are a good deal, too - 3 ample tastes of your choosing.
The cheese plate is very yummy. You get to select your cheeses, and all of them are quite good. I like that they serve it with more than enough bread/crackers as well as fruit and dried apricots. The bruschetta is extremely good as well - you get to pick 4, which is really fun. I found the spinach dip a little too heavy, and my husband, the resident red meat eater, didn't love the prime rib sliders. However, the salads are extremely good, and you can't go wrong with the cheese plate or bruschetta.
My favorite part is their outdoor patio. There are more than enough tables for everyone to sit outside that wants to....so much fun on a crisp night.
If you haven't been, do yourself a favor and get yourself to Armitage as soon as possible. I think it is far better than Uncorked, and it's a much better value than Tapino. -
Review from Bom Vinho V.
Scottsdale, AZ
7/5/2010
True fan of this upscale Scottsdale wine bar! Never ceases to impress! Lovely spot to meet up for some wine with a friend or maybe even that special someone. Perfect lighting to set the mood and an array of good wine choices. Their cheese platters are phenomenal and a great way to accompany a good glass. The antipasto is to die for. The hummus on the other hand is rather tasteless. Great location and perfect way to end the night by taking a walk outside DC. This is a great spot for good service and a good wine!
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Review from Nicholas N.
Scottsdale, AZ
11/2/2008
So I come out here because I've never been to DC Ranch before. My date suggests we meet there. I'm game and always up for new places. I get there early and I'm wearing all black. I stand at the entrance waiting for my date. The staff was attentive, someone new kept coming up to me and asking if I was alright, if I needed anything. I finally caved in and asked for some water. While I was standing there, a beautiful woman was sitting at one of the tables and kept smiling at me. I didn't want to be rude so I asked her how her dinner was. She then assumed I must have been the owner because of how I was standing at the entrance. I told her yea, I own most of DC Ranch too, smiled and told her the truth. When my date arrived, we sat outside on the patio and watched people coming and going. Although my date preferred to sit on the higher chairs, they were a little tight for me, but much better for taller people like myself (6'3"). The wines were good, the staff was fantastic, the prices were a little stiff. But all in all it was a great experience.
I swear this place should be called armitage like fromage but the waitress told me it was pronounced armitage like madge.... -
Review from Heather M.
Scottsdale, AZ
12/1/2008
This is the perfect place to meet friends when you mainly want to talk and spend some quality time. Armitage has a large selection of wines and the staff is knowledgeable with recommendations. The wine flights are also nice and well priced, allowing one to discover several related wines. Armitage also has a nice selection of cheeses and light fare that pair well with wine. It is the perfect quiet spot for a date or to catch up with the girls.
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Review from Kristin K.
Arvada, CO
12/15/2009
I used to love coming to this place when I didn't live over an hour away. I've only tried the cheese plate and several wine flights, and both are excellent. It's small inside but I never had trouble finding a place to sit. Since it's in North Scottsdale, it's naturally a great place to people watch too :)
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Review from Gertie J.
Scottsdale, AZ
7/25/2010
Absolutely my favorite place for wine and cheese!!! Their cheese boards for the quanity (5 cheeses of your choice, for $17)...you cant beat that!!!! Nice wine selection and the staff is always friendly!!!!....I did splurge one night and got the short ribs and risotto....and I wasnt disappointed!
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Review from Michelle L.
Scottsdale, AZ
1/16/2010
I used to LOVE Armitage, and I really wish I still did. When they first opened and for at least a few years after, this was a great place for a date, for wine with friends, for happy hour, for Sunday night music, and for wine tasting. And the bruschetta was among the best anywhere (I always said Armitage and Postino had the best bruschetta.. Postino still does). But, like many spots at DC Ranch, it's just really gone downhill. I practically live within walking distance and yet almost never go anymore. Last time I was there, the menu was outdated... as in, they said there were certain "specials" that we ordered but then LATER found out there was no special and we wound up paying full price. The once-dreamy bruschetta was greasy and bland. And the service is tired. I'd still love to see Armitage to make a comeback... but not holding my breath.
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Review from Mike T.
Scottsdale, AZ
3/4/2009
Great place to go if you know nothing about wine and just want to gawk at the ladies. The wine list does not change frequently. The bartenders are not terrible knowledgable about the wines nor are they terribly friendly. The wines in the shop are way overpriced and the manager seems to be very uninformed about the wines. We inquired about a $400 bottle of wine by Heidi Barrett. You'd think you'd know a ton about a wine if you were selling it at that price point - apparently not.
