Cowboy Ciao
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
45 Reviews for Cowboy Ciao
Okay, I'm a little biased because I met the exec chef and visited CCiao with him last weekend when I was in Phoenix, so I was a little like "wheeee!" The bartender mixed some drinks to jive with what I'd been previously imbibing at a previous bar (tasty), and the kitchen sent out CCiao's signature dish - the exotic mushroom pan fry. Delicious and totally filling. Followed by buffalo carpaccio (any kind of carpaccio is my weakness - this is rubbed in espresso and cumin), a sampling of pork belly (delicious), seared scallops (my god, yum), and a dessert of fig cookies and a dense flan that I simply wish I could have eaten more of. The atmosphere is cozy, stylish, comforting. Sit at the bar, grab a drink and catch out what's happening in the kitchen. If only there were a Cowboy Ciao in Denver!
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I'm giving this three stars purely for the quality of the food. The atmosphere wasn't great, very dark then with a blinding spotlight on our table. The food wasn't bad, just most of the items were subpar at best. The chop salad definitely lives up to its reputation as delicious, and the "famous" mushroom pan fry was good, but certainly something we've had before. Note: the food comes very quickly, do not go to Cowboy Ciao expecting a leisurely, relaxed dinner. The prices are very reasonable, wine list is impressively affordable. Desserts leave nothing to be desired though they are strangely listed first on the menu?? Overall, not a great dining experience. We sampled several appetizers, none of which left us wanting more.
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How in the wide world of sports have I never been to Cowboy Ciao until this evening?
An early arrival at a little after five to request a reasonable time for a reservation gave us either 9:30 p.m. or sit down now, with the assurance that we would not be rushed. Our group of four was given the best table in the house on an elevated platform in the middle area of the dining room, just off the bar.
We started off with an excellent Viognier, and I am kicking myself that I can't remember the name cause it was one of the better Viogniers I have had and a perfect summer wine, I do recall a Washington label though. Bread and olive tapenades started the meal off, quality bread and the tapenades (a green olive and a black olive) hit the spot. The four mains that were ordered were the Stetson Chopped Salad, the Pork Chop (mine), and two orders of Short Ribs.
After a couple tastes, I'm pretty sure the Stetson Chopped is the best salad in the Valley. The craziest part is that, while the taste is outstanding, most of the pleasure is derived from the texture. The pork chop was one of the better ones I have had, on the bone, nice and thick, cooked to a perfect "medium" and stuffed with a mild bleu cheese . The chop was topped with a cherry compote (or I think it was cherry, I've been boozing and memory is hazy), served with roasted mixed veggies and a delicious stuffing that was best when included with bites of the pork.
Short ribs looked good and got good feedback, though I didn't try them myself.
We split two desserts, the "Cuppa Red Hot Chocolote" and the "Rolo" (names paraphrased but if you go you'll know what I'm talking about). Cuppa hot chocolate was very cinnamony almost on the verge of being spicy, and paired well with the cookie-dough like consistency of the chocolate in the cup. The rolo was a tart that did taste similar to a rolo, but with a toffee undertone. Both were outstanding desserts.
Our server was very much on point while keeping the mood casual (I fucking hate service with pretense) and not being overbearing. We lingered for two and a half hours at the best table in a full restaurant and were never rushed.
Bar has Tito's Handmade, so I couldn't resist a vodka martini, up. At least one person on here knows what I'm talking about. I had it after dinner which is a little backwards, but fuck the rules.
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Went here for dinner with two other people while on a business trip. The food was actually pretty good. It is located in a great area also, near a lot of interesting little shops.
I'm not sure what the classification of food would be... it's eclectic. I had the following:
Blue Crab Appetizer - Crab and avocado basically. The crab was tasty.
Scallops - Pretty Good scallops, not really a fan of the risotto.
Mushroom Pan Fry - Good. I am a huge mushroom fan. I really liked the mushrooms but the sauce was a little too much and possibly drained the tase of the mushrooms a little bit.
Their desserts are strange too. I don't remember what it was called but it had the word lavender in it. The ice cream was "Earl Grey" flavored and actually pretty good, but the pie/cake thing was meh.
Atmosphere is pretty much pitch black. Prices are on the higher side but not too bad. Parking will be impossible at dinner time. You will have to valet it nearby for $5 plus tip.
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My husband and I went here for our anniversary, and we were absolutely delighted. (Just reading the menu is fun) start with dessert, each item is one of a kind.
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We do not go often. But everytime we have been I loved the food, the service and the feel of the place. As the old saying goes, try it you'll like it. ;-{)
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One of the best meals I have had on any vacation. Cowboy Ciao definitely met my expectations.
First off the wine list was incredible! Very, very impressive. With so many options, we decided to have a wine course pairing.
We went for a couple of appetizers to share and a dessert along with wine pairings for each dish. It was a real bargain! I could not believe how cheap this option was compared to NYC. when we got the bill, I thought there must have been an error.
We ended up getting the stetson salad (a must! I agree. There is crack in that salad and i usually am not a salad person at all), the buffalo carpaccio (cut incredibly thin), the crab cakes (yum!), the tiger shrimp (exceptional), the tuna (average), scallops (yum! yum!) and calamari (very nice). It was a perfect amount of food, and actually really meant for sharing. The bread pudding was also to die for.
The staff was really helpful when we needed to change our reservation. I also loved our waitress, super perky without being annoying and very helpful with offering suggestions and explaining the dishes and wine for each course.
While Cowboy Ciao claims to be Southwestern and Italian fusion, I would say that it's more like New American. But, hey it is still very creative yummy tasty food!
Next time I am in Arizona, I will definitely stop by Cowboy Ciao!
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By the time I ate here, I was totally cynical of all Scottsdale restaurants and was really thinking about having my lunch at In-N-Out.
I got off to a really bad start at this place, too, they made me wait for a table at this half empty restaurant. Which was okay, I guess, because D. Frank Designs is across the street. Anyway, I come back, the sweet little hostess girl has my table ready, but the poor girl is limping because she fell at home the night before and hurt her knee!! She even shows me the damage! So, I guess it's okay that I had to wait a bit. I mean the poor working girl is maimed!!!
So, wouldn't you know, she sits me in front of a window and it's hot as blazes there. Geez. So, I complain to my delightful servers Byran and Melia. Yes, I get two servers. I think they can easily identify a tough customer at this joint. I quickly identified them as Mutt & Jeff. So, Byran says he will tamper with my ventilation and I think, ya right. But right away, it gets cooler and so do I.
Anyway, this place has "Republic of Tea" tea. You can't go wrong with any establishment that serves Republic of Tea. I'm getting stoked now. So, anyway, I check out the menu and can't decide what I want. I mean, I'm starving, but I'm not that hungry. Bryan convinces me to try the Stetson. He says that if I don't love it, he will take it back and get me something else. He says that no one has ever sent back the salad. That's a challenge I can't pass up on. So, I've finally made up my mind and then that wonderful Melia comes out with some incredible hummus, fresh chopped salsa and spinach tortillas to tide me over until my salad come. The flavors were so amazing together! So fresh and delicious!
Next comes my Stetson Salad. I don't need to describe it, because every yelp-er before me has done an excellent job. But you don't know how really amazing this salad is until you try one yourself. It is so incredibly good. It's the first and only time that I have ever finished any salad anywhere. It was so amazing.
Anyway, the sad part for me was that this was my last meal in Scottsdale. And it was just lunch. I wish I would have eaten here sooner and I wish I could have experienced dinner. I will be back. And Cowboy Ciao will be my first stop next time.
One of the things that I think sets this place apart, (besides the interesting food), is the incredible service. I felt like I was visiting Bryan's and Melia's and they were there to take care of me. It's a very friendly place, I love that!!
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Oh how I looooove Cowboy Ciao!!! I, however, have only been there for lunch. (lol...if you've read my other reviews, you probably think I don't eat dinner. Actually, I just work for a super small company and have very fun and generous bosses that love to eat nice lunches!)
Anyway...I suggest starting out with the Ciabatta. It comes with two olive tapenades: green and kalamata. It's delicious and we always have to order a second. Their soups are always delicious no matter what they're making that day.
I live for the Stetson Chopped salad and usually get it for my meal. Get it with salmon, it definitely compliments the flavors and textures much more than the, also available, chicken.
I usually stop at the bread and salad (and 4-5 glasses of wine) but the mushroom fry is great (also VERY heavy) and I would eat any special they offer. They share the wine cellar with their sister restaurant/mostly bar, Kazmierz and have a crazy extensive list of options :-)
Now I really want a chopped salad.
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We've eaten here 3 or 4 times - every time we visit from MI - and it's terrific. The menu is unique from start to finish. Their Stetson chopped salad is justifiably extolled by others on this site. It includes arugula, smoked salmon, pepitas, black currants, sweet dried corn, etc. and has an awesome pesto buttermilk dressing. And, just ask and they'll give you the recipe to take home. Cowboy Ciao has a fun vibe, casual, and the employees seem to like working here. Service has always been very good. The server will take the time to explain items of interest on the menu. Oh, and they have a creative mixed drink list and a better-than-average wine list as well. I had the rainbow trout served with black truffle risotto and fresh vegetables. Desserts are not to be missed. I had "rolo ole", a chocolate tart served with macerated citrus fruits and homemade ice cream which was delicious. My husband's dessert was even better -- I forget the exact name, something about Elvis -- with chocolate and bananas and peanuts. Truly decadent and delicious. I'd eat here every night if I could and would give it 6 stars if I could. That good.
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Simply Stunning. Cowboy Ciao has one of the most original and delicious menus I have ever seen. The service is impeccable, and the wait staff is knowledgeable and and friendly. Every single thing I have ever eaten at Cowboy Ciao was astounding. I just can't recommend it enough.
The atmosphere is upscale casual, and the food is like a modern American fusion cuisine with southwestern influences. The only drawback of Cowboy Ciao is its cost. The prices are very high, and the food is very expensive. However, when compared to other restaurants where you might pay the same amount for your meal, Cowboy Ciao is worth every penny. Go there. Now.
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Lots of good recommendations and reviews about this place, and it didn't disappoint.
Tomato bisque soup - very good tomato flavor without being too sour. Great starter.
Stetson cobb - really unique and excellent salad. The buttermilk pesto dressing is really good (I never thought of this combination, but it works great).
mushroom pan fry - one of their signature dishes with 9 different types of mushrooms. couldn't identify all 9 types. it was good overall, but i think it needed a little more salt to really bring out the flavor. Very rich sauce (lots of butter i presume). Certainly a unique dish. Tasty and interesting, but I'm definitely more of a meat person.
Pig-n-Pudding - my favorite dish. Very rich, creamy bed of polenta. The pulled pork was very tender and tasty. Extremely flavorful dish, uniquely prepared.
The menu/dishes are certainly unique, and very tasty. My only critique is that the dishes are extremely rich and heavy, which is good every now and then. I'm not sure that their menu is one which you can eat every day, but then again, most people don't go to the same restaurant every day.
If you're in oldtown scottsdale, definitely check out this place, you won't be disappointed.
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Wow, this place is good. Excellent combination of flavors, very unique. The Chop Salad is super-awesome, buffalo carpaccio is delicious. The Wine list is huge... over-whelming really. They know how not to over-cook the salmon, and the pork-chop is great too. Service is top notch. Big thumbs up for this place. I go every time I'm in town. Get reservations on weekends. Mondays-Tuesdays are easy to walk-in.
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This place is overpriced, poor menu design and flat out unimpressive. Considering the price tag, I expected a lot more. This place underdelivered like Alex Rodriguez in the playoffs.
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Love the food
Make reservations, it gets busy.
No matter how many times I come here, I still can never find it... old town scottsdale is like my Bermuda triangle.....
I especially like the sweet and savory desserts that they carry.... bleu cheese cheesecake.... chipotle chocolate souffle.... mmmmm..... me love weird food!!!
The wine and drinks are above average, with an above average price tag.
So yeah, go there for a happy hour or a special occasion, it'll be good, promise.
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Relatively easy to get in for an early lunch (say, when the doors open at 11:30am). This place has a really neat menu. Testosterone Salad with sirloin tips, greens, other stuff, and Potato Chips? Pigs 'n puddin' which is pulled pork barbecued up on top of polenta. Mushroom sandwich looked pretty darn good. Seared tuna also looked tasty. The item I ordered was the duck and brie melt sandwich. Yum-O!
This place is worth trying just to read the unique food selection the menu.
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AAAAmazing :) We were in the Phoenix area for a few days and checked yelp to see if any yelpers had found a good place nearby. They did, and they led me to Cowboy Ciao. Thanks yelp, you've never steered me wrong!!!
We went for the sharing approach and we ordered a lot, so that we could try different flavors. Two of us= one salad, one appetizer, two entrees = YUM but stuffed.
We had the Stetson chopped salad since everyone seems to love it. It really was what people say, amazing. It wasn't a typical chopped salad, it was a mix of very unique but beautifully complementary tastes and textures. Israeli couscous, smoked salmon or chicken, air dried corn (yummy, sweet, and with a texture that reminds me of astronaut ice cream), currants, and some other things I can't remember mixed together with Buttermilk dressing. YUM!
Appetizer = steak and eggs. Very strange, needing "instructions" from the waitress, but it was very good. Essentially some really smokey, good beef jerky, one pickled egg, and some shoestring potatoes, but more like chips. Alone they taste aok but really interesting and good when eaten together, as advised.
Entrees = a mushroom pan fry which was essentially a really really good mushroom sauce with lots of mushrooms in it (different types) and some polenta. Really good! I advise that only mushroom lovers order this dish, it is definitely chock FULL of mushroom taste. AND pork chop...amazing with blue cheese inside, a nicely seared chop, yummy figs on top, really good bread pudding.
Summary: really good mix of flavors, complexity, combinations, etc. Highly recommend for those looking for new flavors!
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Just order a Stetson chopped Salad for each person in your party, some bread and dessert and you'll be in heaven!
We also had the exotic mushroom stirfry... Good, but I am not a polenta fan, so that was a downer for me. Needed something to sop up the sauce.
The "buttermilk marinated cornmeal battered fried shrimp" were gross. Some sauce like a watery bruschetta was drizzled on top, and made the coating soggy and it had no taste...
As for dessert, get the "3 Way chocolate and Peanut Butter" thingy... GREAT Salted peanut ice cream and buckeyes and a choco souffle with peanut butter in the middle. I got the cilantro and orange ice cream- the orange tasted like a creamsicle, the Cilantro tasted.... bland. The only thing resembling Cilantro was the green color...
But, I'd go back in a flash for the Stetson Chopped....
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Extended review w/pix available at www.baconandbakin.blog....
Because I like trying new things, I decided to order the elk tostada, served w/white bean "hummus" and roasted corn salsa. And because I ordered this, my mom went w/the curry pork quesadilla. My dad was able to find one thing on the menu that wasn't completely gross, in his taste: the Berkshire ham sandwich.
Fifteen minutes later, the Stetson arrived. I'd heard so much about this salad and had even gone to Cowboy Ciao's website to see what all the fanfare was about. Well, as beautiful as the salad looked online, it looked even more so in person. Delivered to the table, the salad is separated in six clean sections, each vibrantly colored and chopped into teeny, tiny pieces. All the flavors are complementary to one another. Topping the salad is a light, tangy, just-acidic-enough dressing that pulls all the pieces together, resulting in a well-composed salad that works perfectly as an appetizer for two.
About 15-20 minutes later, our entrees arrived at the table. My dad's ham sandwich, topped w/caramelized onions and bourbon mustard, and served on grilled brioche, was a tall sandwich w/thick slices of tender ham. The meat isn't your typical Hormel variety of deli meat; it was obvious that this came from a real piece of pork, not from a vacuum-sealed pack from the grocery store. Alongside the sandwich were thick, homemade potato chips. My dad dug in immediately, enjoying the sweet onions a lot. Although this sandwich is pretty gourmet, it was simple enough to please even my father's simple palate.
The presentation of the elk tostada was beautiful. The base of the tostada was a blue corn tortilla topped w/the white bean "hummus" and some melted cheddar cheese. Atop that were four or five large pieces of cornmeal-dredged elk. The consistency is similar to beef, but with a gamier taste. I would have expected it to be prepared medium-rare, but the elk seemed to be well-done, making it just a bit moister than a Phoenix summer. The creamy "hummus" and mild salsa helped lubricate the elk, though, so it wasn't a total bust. The entire dish could have also used some salt and pepper.
The standout meal on the table was my mom's quesadilla of the day. A large flour tortilla was stuffed w/pulled curry pork, caramelized onions, and cheese, and was topped w/a dollop of dollop of chipotle sour cream. The pork was tender, while the curry provided an unexpected but very welcome contrast in flavor. I'd never had pork w/curry, but I'd certainly give it another go because of the success of this dish. The quesadilla was a tad floppy due to it not being toasted/grilled/broiled quite long enough. I come from a family that appreciates crispness (it's a good thing my dad likes things burned, 'cause my mom tends to burn things), so I would have preferred more color and crunch in the tortilla.
Throughout the afternoon, the service continued to be attentive and friendly. We were brought our check not too long after the table was cleared, and we slipped the gift certificate into the folder-thingy to pay for our lunch. Our waiter wasn't quite sure what to do w/the certificate, but w/the help of the older gentleman who greeted and seated us, there were no problems. $50 later (not including tip), my parents and I were well-fed and content w/our lunches.
I'd like to go back to Cowboy Ciao for dinner, as my lunchtime experience there was so positive. The creative dishes on the menu make Cowboy Ciao a staple on my brother's culinary roster when he's in Phoenix, and I look forward to seeing how the restaurant's menu evolves as trends in the restaurant world change.
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Everytime I go, I enjoy the meal. Yes, it's expensive, yes, you'll find the Kenneth Cole and the Ed Hardy army camped out before a night out on the town, but the food is really good.
I tend to have a later timed dinner than to avoid the crowds...They do have a nice wine list. Parking has become a living hell in that area ever since the Waterfront development, but such is life....
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Overrated and overpriced.
Everything building up to the food here is superb: the atmosphere and decor, the vibe, the service, and the menu items. Everything on the menu is a unique creation of the restaurant, and the group I was with really enjoyed mixing up our selections so we could try a little bit of everything. We loved everything on the menu down to our designated driver's soda choice: Spicy Ginger Ale from South Carolina, the original Dr Pepper straight from Dublin, Texas, that sort of thing.
Then came the actual food. I wouldn't say it was terrible. It was just... not spectacular. And sure as hell not worth $22 or more per entree. For starters, every plate we got was lukewarm. But I can quickly get over such foolishness by the waiter to judge the cook's creation before it was allowed to sit on a counter for too long. And the cook's creation was not that great. I sampled their signature dish, the mushroom pan fry ($24), and it was probably the tastiest I had. The Louisiane Gratin ($12 for an appetizer portion) and Mediterranean Eggplant ($22) were ordinary. The pork-belly sliders were satisfactory. Everything here is basically satisfactory. My taste buds want way more than that for this price level, that's all. I have a feeling Cowboy Ciao gets away with this only because it's in the heart of downtown Scottsdale.
As we walked out of this restaurant for our next destination the consensus sentiment was: What exactly did we just pay $55 per person for?
(That's before tip).
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Be prepared to drop a few $$ here, but the food is to die for and the wine list is not a list, it is a bible. If you enjoy good food and a couple of bottles of wine on a Saturday night, hit Kazmierz and follow up with dinner at Cowboy Ciao.
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Food Purchased: the Stetson Chopped, cobb salad, seared scallops & beet risotto, surf and surf, bread pudding, two beers, two scotch whiskeys.
Cost: Approximately $180 for two including tax and tip
Without a doubt my favorite restaurant in the Phoenix area. The Stetson Chopped is only salad I ever look forward to. Smoked salmon, cous cous, chopped tomatoes, sweet corn, chopped spinach, all lined in neat rows and then mixed in creamy ranch by the server in front of you. The risotto is simply amazing...loaded with rich creamy sauce and complemented by delicious scallops. My colleague commented that the surf and surf featured the best ahi he had ever had. The bread pudding, though good, was just not on par with the rest of the food here. I have contemplated on visiting Phoenix just to come here for dinner.
The ambiance of the restaurant is pretty unique, I don't quite know how to characterize it. Not bad, just different. The wait staff was attentive and courteous.
I go back here everytime I visit Phoenix and I'm never disappointed.
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Cowboy Ciao is one my favorite restaurants in Old Town Scottsdale. To start with, they share a wine list with Kazimierz. My favorite menu item is the Stetson Chopped salad. My only wish is that the serving was bigger! I can't get enough...and I'm too embarrassed to order two. The flavors in this salad are amazing! Smoked salmon, Israeli cous cous, creamy dressing.
For dinner, I actually like the Exotic Mushroom Pan Fry. The tastes are really unique and I got to try mushrooms I hadn't had before. It's great!
I did try the Bacon Peanut Brittle for dessert and I cannot recommend this. It was not good at all. It just makes the brittle really greasy and then you run into chunks of bacon...ick. Thank God my husband ordered the Chocolate/Peanut Butter pot pie so I could steal from him!
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Everytime I visit my uncle in Apache Junction, we sample at least one of the Phoenix Metro Area's finest epicurean adventures. On this visit, we selected Cowboy Ciao, based on the outstanding rating and reviews in Yelp. Yelpers, you didn't let us down! This is absolutely THE BEST place we've experienced on all of our sojourns, and we've been to some really good places! There's lots of good stuff to talk about, but the food was so out-of-this-world, let's focus on that. We started with the Mini Mushroom Pan Fry, a smaller version of their "signature dish". The ancho sauce was so incredible that we ordered a ciabatta, not because we really wanted bread, but it would have been criminal to leave even a drop of the sauce behind. Next we had a special appetizer, seared scallops with a shrimp bisque. The scallops were melt-in-your-mouth perfect and the bisque became the next target for the ciabatta, which itself was served with two absolutely delicious olive spreads. We couldn't imagine the dinner getting any better than what was already perfect, but our main courses delivered! We both had the duck breast, a new addition to the menu, replacing the Duck Duck Duck. The duck breast was prepared expertly, rare on the inside, with crisp skin, and bathed in another killer sauce, this time ancho-orange. All remaining scraps of ciabatta were used to wipe our plates clean. We washed all of this incredible food down with a bottle of 2002 K Vintners Syrah, a steal at $62. Their wine list is the largest I have ever seen, but our attentive waiter, Bryan, recommend the K Vintners, and we savored every drop. Bryan was very knowledgeable about the menu and deftly guided us through our completely over-the-top dining experience. Alas, there was no room for any of the many interesting and tasty-sounding desserts. Next time we'll have to plan ahead for those! And there will be a next time...and another...and another...
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One senses a unique bend of lighthearted swank and artsy irreverence when entering Cowboy Ciao. The mixture of these two elements is a dicey proposition that's fraught with peril, but management has successfully done it...and created an ambiance that mixes soft and hip music, subdued and sultry lighting, and break-the-rules decor while still coming off as elegant funk rather than young punk angst.
Myself and my sidekick got here during prime time on a Friday night when the estimated table-wait was hovering right around the 40 minute mark. Rather than hole-up for a table, we opted for zero-wait seating at the bar. The waiters were great....both informative and talkative folks that made you feel comfortable with a genuinely friendly air about them that eschewed excessive fawning in favor of a down-home demeanor laced with neighborly charm.
Grub-wise, everything we had was fantastic. We started out with a Ciabatta appetizer served with both green and kalamata olive puree. Next up, the famous "Chopped Stetson Salad", an indescribably unique and wonderful taste that's often known to upstage the main course. They bring it to you with six different ingredients set in rows and explain what each ingredient is. Next, their server mixes it up in front of you with a special dressing. It's savory taste and simple recipe has presented experienced cooks with something of an inexplicable magic trick. From what I gather, many have tried to duplicate the taste, texture, and nuances of this deceptively simple dish, and lack of success has created vexing puzzle that's become the local culinary equivalent of Fermat's Enigma or the Four Color Problem.
My date opted for Pistachio-crusted salmon. I went light and ordered the Exotic Mushroom Pan Fry. Both dishes were fantastic. Icing on the cake came in the form of my favorite beer on the planet....Anchor Steam on tap. My only gripe? My dish should have come with bread to soak up the excess Mushroom sauce. We asked if we could get some, and the only option provided was to order another ciabatta appetizer. C'mon people...bread is cheap! My date and her raging sweet tooth opted for desert....I had another beer. She satiated her sugary cravings with something called a "zinger" that looked like raspberry infused cheesecake, and sang it's praises while relishing every morsel of it.
Welcoming ambiance and staff. Great menu and fantastic, creative dishes. There's no TV visible anywhere, but the staff will update you on the D-backs or Suns games if you ask. Downtown Scottsdale is chock-full of incredible shops, and the surrounding area makes for a nice post-meal stroll. All in all, it's a truly unique dining experience that's taken the artistic ethos of it's surrounding area and successfully applied it to Southwestern Cuisine. If you're in the area and looking to chow down in a manner that'll give you something to tell the folks back home about, then by all means stop by, sit down, and check it out.
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I would probably give this 3.5, but not an option. I liked the looks of the place, and the menu was unique for sure. I of course had the Stetson salad, which was fantastic. I also had the scallops in goat cheese and beets. This also was quite good. The people I went with said their meals were good, but not great. My main issue was that they were out of the bottle of wine we ordered, and brought a different one (which they recommended).......which also cost more, and it was not good at all....We went to order a second bottle later (yes, we like to drink LOTS) and they were out of that bottle as well.....so we drank Polish beer instead. I like restaurants like this and they have a great menu, but at least update your wine list.
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My favorite restaurant in the Valley, bar none. The food is exceptional. The service is outstanding. The environment is casual and fun. I never tire of returning here and can't recommend it enough.
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Visiting from SF and this was close to my hotel. Reservations are recommended. We got there at 7pm on a Saturday, they estimated that we wouldn't be seated before 9:30.
We lucked out with seating at the bar, full menu. Service was friendly and attentive.
Very foodie friendly!! Unusual flavor combinations -- bacon pecan brittle, candied olives -- made the meal a bit adventurous.
I had the ahi tuna antipasto and mini mushroom fry. The ahi had a great peppery crust, served very rare with caper berries and green olives. As a portion, this could easily be a light dinner. The mini mushroom fry was quite decadent. The rich and creamy sauce has a spicy bite and is best sopped up with some of their crusty ciabatta.
One item on the dessert menu immediately jumped out at me - chevre cheesecake!! It was an incredible combination of sweet and savory, the candied olives only made it that much better. A delicious espresso topped off the meal.
I'd definitely go again.
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The food here is witty and fun and delicious, Chef Bernie should really get more recognition around the valley, the Stetson Chopped is such a great medly of flavors and texture and Pastry Chef Tracy Dempsey is a goddess. She is the one who created the blueberry french toast bread pudding with maple ice cream and bacon brittle. Even when I'm super stuffed with my meal, I always order the bread pudding, it's really an amazing and clever dessert. Thanks Bernie and Tracy!
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Rating: 4.5
I came here one night with classmates about 8 months ago. We walked by one night to see it PACKED. I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I'm glad I did. =)
I was here last week again for school, and luckily my bf was in town for work so I dragged him here with me.
I have ordered/tried:
LEMONADE - This tasted like a mix of lemonade and limonata so it had a dash of spritz. I liked it a lot, but my bf didn't.
AHI TUNA ANTIPASTO - Good!
STETSON CHOPPED SALAD - Holy shit, I LOVE this salad! They were NOT kidding when they said this was a serious customer favorite. It is a mix of sweet corn, salmon, marinated tomatos, Cowboy Ciao trail mix, couscous, and chopped spinach. It is so yummy! I am definitely going to have cravings for this. My bf loved this too.
MISO SPICY SQUID - This was really good calamari. It didn't have too much batter so you could actually taste the squid. And it wasn't over-fried. The pineapple salsa on top is an awesome compliment to it.
SEARED SCALLOPS w/ DILL CREAM SAUCE & GOAT CHEESE - This was pretty tasty. I love dill and I love goat cheese; this was actually a nice combination. The scallops were cooked perfectly.
RIB-EYE w/ AJI SAUCE - This was taken off the menu for some reason but it was cooked and seasoned perfectly (medium rare!). There was a hint of lovely and SPICY aji (Peruvian) sauce. Delicious.
MINI MUSHROOM PANFRY- My bf and I didn't enjoy this. Although the mushrooms were cooked well, this dish had no flavor. We both love mushrooms so much and it was a disappointment that a dish with so much potential lacked flavor.
PECAN-CRUSTED SALMON - OMG, this was incredibly delicious! My bf and I aren't really salmon people when it comes to non-Japanese food. The waiter told us that the sauce served with the salmon was really good, and that this was also a popular dish. We were so glad we took his advice. It was cooked medium-rare with a pecan crust. The combination of the sauce and light crust was so good. This is probably the only place that I would order salmon again. It was complimented with sauteed vegetables (Chinese brocoli, carrots, asparagus, onions, etc.)
FIVE-O BREAD PUDDING w/ COCONUT/PINEAPPLE, and BROWN SUGAR/PINEAPPLE ICE CREAM - This is your typical bread pudding, except for the added coconut/pineapple. The bread pudding itself was cooked very well. Tasty and firm, not too mushy like many bread puddings I've tasted. I love pineapple and coconut together (as in Pina Colada's), but it wasn't my favorite with the bread pudding. I did enjoy this dessert though, but I prefer it plain with a fruit sorbet like at Montrio's in Monterey (the best I've had!).
Overall, I give this place a 4.5. The extra 0.5 stars for the creativity and uniqueness of the dishes and restaurant culture. It's extremely unique and definitely a local favorite! I just wish there was a Cowboy Ciao near me that I could dine at. Each time I go to AZ, I will be sure to stop by this tasty restaurant. Fine dining that is fun as well. Service is great.
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The consummate out-of-towner restaurant in Scottsdale. They play up the whole cowboy thing and blend it to create Southwestern Italian. (Which, by the way, I vote to officially change to "spaghetti western").
The food is creative and the ambiance is fun and pleasant, but I was not completely blown away by the tastebuds, which I like my five star restaurants to do.
Still, a can't miss for anyone who is visiting Old Town Scottsdale.
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The Stetson Chopped Salad gets 5 stars. Have to have it at least once per visit each year I'm in Scottsdale for Spring Training. And, it is so easy to make at home. An added plus - this year we ate at the bar. When I ordered a third glass of champagne the pour, from the end of the bottle, was about an inch shy of full. So, the bartender comp'ed it. :)
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It is okay, let's not get too overwhelmed. I realize this is Scottsdale, where Del Taco is inventive, and one may not be sure if it truly is a restaurant if the Fox Group doesn't own it. I think its hype surpasses the quality. I recommend this place, it just doesn't overwhelm me and beg me to come back. In fact, nothing I ate there was that memorable.
Cowboy Ciao is one of the most unique restaurants I have ever been to - food wise. We went for lunch on a really quiet Saturday. I kept hearing great things about the Stetson chopped salad and I must say it is amazing. One of the best (or at least different) salads I have ever had! There are a ton of different ingredients in it, but somehow it worked! It's definitely a must have. I am a huge mushroom-lover so of course I had to try the mushroom pan-fry. I had no idea what to expect since there aren't many restaurants where you can order a mushroom entree. It was basically a few varieties of mushrooms mixed with some veggies and polenta and served in this thick savory gravy like sauce. Although I thought it was really good, it was also very rich and a bit hard to finish a large portion of it. I do agree that it should be served with some rice or bread soak up the excess sauce. Another stand-out item was the bacon peanut brittle. Sounds weird, but it was amazing! Who knew bacon and peanut worked so well together! I definitely recommend this place if you want to try dishes you can't find elsewhere.
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Solid dining experience all around. Apps were great--mushroom fry and bread-cheesy dip thing. I had the duck-duck-goose. Duck meatloaf was a little strange, enjoyable but perhaps not the best use of duck. I love foie gras, so that was fantastic. J had the elk....very heavy. M had the salmon--so yummy. E had the stetson salad...a little small for a meal but fantastic. Cuppa hot chocolate was great as recommended...loved the spiciness. Brownie cheesecake was good but didn't blow my mind, but the pistacho ice cream was mmmm....
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