Best Restaurants with a Fireplace in Waterfront

We had a fabulous time at El Chorro --- attentive and friendly service, spectacular meals and we also bought a few more sticky buns to take home with us. Love this place for special occasions - or really any time - because the surroundings are beautiful and the people always take such good care of us. Always look forward to going back.

Cafe Monarch in Scottsdale provides an unforgettable dining experience, even though we had a small hiccup at the start. We arrived for our reservation and had to wait about 20 minutes to be seated, which was a bit frustrating given that I was dressed in “dinner” heels. IYKYK. However, once we were seated, everything more than made up for the delay. We opted for the prix fixe menu, which was an absolute delight. The blood orange salmon aguachile, braised lamb, venison, shrimp, and ahi tuna were all bursting with flavor. I had the filet mignon, while my boyfriend enjoyed the Japanese Wagyu, which was truly exceptional—unbelievably tender and flavorful, cooked to absolute perfection. The sauces and sides were perfectly balanced, and my picky eater boyfriend couldn’t get enough of everything! We also added oysters and caviar to start, which were so fresh and crisp, and charred octopus, which was cooked to perfection with a lovely char but still wonderfully tender. For dessert, the chocolate strawberry cake was a showstopper—beautifully presented and delicious, with the Valentine's theme executed flawlessly. The cocktails were beautifully crafted, each with a perfect balance of flavors and a nice kick. If you enjoy wine, the pairings were spot on, and I was also impressed by their unique selection of zero-proof drinks, which my boyfriend really enjoyed. The service was impeccable throughout the meal. Even with the minor seating delay at the beginning, the staff’s attention to detail and hospitality made the experience one to remember. Highly recommend Cafe Monarch for a special evening out—it’s truly a Scottsdale gem!

Excellent food, fantastic service, beautiful ambience… ONLY complaint is that the servings sizes were SO SMALL that my husband and I had to order two entrees plus an app to have enough to eat. (And we don’t eat a lot, we’re not large people) Our server actually recommended that we did and we’re happy we ordered more. So because of the multiple entrees plus an app the bill was naturally higher than it could have been so I don’t believe the value was great.

Some restaurants grow tired after they have been open for a couple of years but Francine is aging like a fine wine, getting better with age. We are frequent diners at this wonderful bistro. I have sampled most of the menu selections but admit I had not sampled the chicken before last night. After all what can you do to chicken that hasn’t been done? Let me assure you the chef at Francine has a chicken preparation that will rock your world, Please know this is a limited availability item. If you are lucky enough to dine on a night where this delicacy is available, count yourself among the culinary fortunate.

Everything pertaining to our reservation was excellent. The reservation time was honored shortly after arriving. Our water was served immediately followed shortly thereafter our drink order and dinner order. Every question (there were many) was clearly clarified. Our dinner was presented quickly and was superb. The entire staff was very engaging and made our dining special. When in Scottsdale the Roaring Fork is a must destination.