I'm almost afraid to post about Caffe Portobello for fear of ruining it. It literally is perfect the way it is. One of the very few things I miss about N Scottsdale...my beloved Ports. How I miss spending every waking moment of my weekends relaxing at Ports.
BEST bartenders around, seriously! No weak pours, super attentive, and bartenders that actually pay attention. It's rare in Scottsdale that bartenders are actually cognisant of who and how long people have been waiting for drinks, rather than serving their friends and whoever they want to take home later than night first. Wine list is small, but VERY good and quite reasonably priced for the area. 50% of bottles of wine every Tuesday as well...
Huge patio with the majestic McDowell Mountains in the background. Seriously one of the best places to watch the sun set and enjoy a glass of wine. Place gets fairly crowded during happy hour for precisely this reason.
The clientele consists locals, and not the bad kind. Everyone there lives in the McDowell Mountain Ranch area and could walk there if they wanted...of course no one walks anywhere is Scottsdale : )
And the food??? I cant believe I almost left out the best part!! The food is actually REALLY good. Several tasty authentic Italian pasta dishes, but also does American fare very well for the less adventurous. Seared ahi appetizer is divine.
If you're ever in N Scottsdale and looking for a place to grab a bite or a cocktail with friends, do not miss Ports!