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| - We have been to several great eateries in the area and this tops them all. Of all the restaurants in Scottsdale none deserves a Michelin star or two more than this place does. The ambiance is elegant and romantic, especially the outdoor courtyard covered with bistro lighting, candles, and the sound of running water. This is easily the most romantic dining area I have seen in the Phoenix area.
The food is simply exceptional. I wish I had the palate to describe the flavors, but suffice it to say that they are both complex and delicious. They choose ingenious combinations which are which are bursting with flavor. And it isn't every day that you find morels on the menu.
Our dinner was served over four courses with a Yellow Tomato Gaspacho to start followed by Compressed Melon Salad. The Gaspacho was light and creamy and the salmon was so perfectly cooked that my fiancee actually ate the skin. The melon salad was just enough to keep you wanting more and the combination of flavors was out of this world.
I started with a Brooklyn cocktail and my fiancee had a glass of Sancerre. They give you plenty of time to savor the food, the ambiance, and the conversation. We later paired a Bourdeaux with the filets we both ordered.
Our waiter, Wesam, is a certified sommelier and he was excited to teach us all about the wine we were drinking, and some that we weren't. He even hand wrote a list of documentaries and films about wine that we should watch. He had the kind of knowledge about wine that only comes through both passion and experience. We will request Wesam every time we visit in the future!
The third course was a choice of between Crispy Skin Branzino and Spanish Octopus Puttanesca. We ordered one of each, I took the octopus which neither of us normally like much. We trusted the chef though, and as expected the octopus was delicious. Again, I wish I had the palate and language to describe how exquisite the flavor combinations were on both of these very different dishes.
Finally, we both ordered the the Cast Iron Seared Filet Mignon. Now, I won't say that this was the best cut of steak I have ever had because it was not. But again, the combination of flavors was superb. The chef dressed things well and the morels with filet makes for a divine combination.
Dessert was probably my least favorite part of the meal. We had the rum cake and it was sort of a typical dessert. Don't get me wrong if you are actually still reading this. It was good, but not up to the standard of the rest of the meal in my personal opinion. But dessert isn't the focus of this restaurant.
I wouldn't recommend a first date here, but if you really want to impress someone special, you are both foodies, and you can talk for hours, then this is your place. There is probably nowhere more romantic in the Phoenix area than the courtyard at Cafe Monarch and the food and ambiance will make for a very memorable evening.
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