Long weekend at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain...where to dine??

[cherie]

My husband and I will be staying at the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain for 4 nights in the near future. It is our first time at the Resort and in the Scottsdale area. One night we plan to have dinner at Elements, so we have 3 more dinners to plan.

We are looking for places not too far from the resort with great atmosphere, excellent food that's fresh, interesting and on the healthier side, and nowhere so loud that we can't hear each other. I eat a lot of seafood, but we eat meat as well.

I have been doing some research and I'm pretty sure we will book Lon's at Hermosa one night. I am also intrigued with Noca, Sassi, and Rancho Pinot. I would love to go to T. Cooks as it seems so lovely, but menu looks like it might be a little heavy?

Any comments/tips regarding these restaurants or suggestions for other places you feel might fit the bill would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

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Rancho Pinot
6208 N Scottsdale Rd, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253

Sassi
10455 E Pinnacle Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85255

Noca
3118 E. Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85016

[Beach Chick]

Sanctuary is a great resort..
Lon's at the Hermosa is one of my fave's for breakfast/lunch or dinner..
T. Cook's is lovely and I didn't feel the food was heavy at all...Dwight kicks it at the piano bar for after dinner drinks..this is a gorgeous property..Royal Palms resort.
Carolina's for Mex..divey and delicious..
Binkley's in Cave Creek is excellent.
Durant's is old school PHX and love this place!
Prada at Montelucia resort for happy hour..
PHX board is great group of people that won't steer you wrong!

Are you going up to Sedona for the day..if so, Enchantment resort at Yavapai for lunch.

[cherie]

Thank you for the suggestions! I think we will add T. Cook's then. I would love to see the property too. Are the rest of your suggestions near the Sanctuary? We will have a car, but do not want to drive far.

[johnseberg]

I didn't think T. Cooks was too heavy, either. Binkley's, Durant's, and Carolina's might be too far. That would be up to you. Use your favorite web mapping tool to see for yourself. Binkley's is easily the furthest, 25-30 miles. The drive to Carolina's is not bad, somewhat scenic, but, you would be going to a fast food type of place. Most people love it, but, not everybody.

I added the place link for Elements (Sanctuary).

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Durant's
2611 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Carolina's Mexican North
2126 E Cactus Rd Ste 100, Phoenix, AZ 85022

Binkley's
6920 E. Cave Creek Rd., Cave Creek, AZ 85331

Elements
5700 East McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253

T Cooks At the Royal Palms
5200 East Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85018

[Dapuma]

+1 for t cooks

FnB would be a good choice as well - focus on az items - although they have a very small menu usually only one fish and one meat course for mains - good balance of protien to carbs so you wont feel heavy afterwards

i love cowboy ciao but it might be too heavy for you - although the mrs loves their salmon - it is next door to fnb - great bread pudding for dessert if you want to walk next door, fnb dessert is very hit or miss

Trader Vics is a great place for a pre or post dinner drink (old way mai tai or navy grog)
dont eat at TV's it is very average and expensive for what you get

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FnB
7133 E Stetson Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

[Bill Hunt]

elements at the Sanctuary was once a great restaurant, but I have found them to be very uneven in the last few years. Not sure why, but they fell off my "short list."

I love Beach Chick's recs, and would only add two:

Cowboy Ciao in Old Town Scottsdale (not far from you), and NOCA, again,quite close. Of those two, I would probably do NOCA, as it is a tad more quiet, though still not at my dB level... [Grin]. Both are exciting culinary destinations, and both have very good wine lists. CC's is broader, BUT the smaller list at NOCA is ideally matched for the cuisine. Fewer "trophy wines," but great pairings, and that is what I shoot for. I own tons of those trophy wines, so do not need them on the list.

Both are fun, and slightly relaxed in the atmosphere, but with great food.

Enjoy,

Hunt

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Cowboy Ciao
7133 East Stetson Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

[Beach Chick]

Have you been to Teeter House?

[Bill Hunt]

We have not, but all that I have read has been positive.

Sorry,

Hunt

[cherie]

Thanks! Right now we have Elements, Noca, Lon's, and T. Cook's reserved. I may rethink Elements, but since we're staying at Sanctuary it seems like an easy choice for the first evening...plus the sunset view...

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Noca
3118 E. Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85016

[Beach Chick]

Cherie..
Are you headed up to Sedona for half day for lunch?
You could leave at 8am and be up there by 10 have lunch at 11 at Enchantment Resort (Yavapai) and maybe hike or and see the sheer beauty of the Red Rocks and back down the 17 South in time for drinks and dinner..

Friends just went to Nobou at Teeter House for sushi and they loved it..
Hoping Bill would chime in for his take but you have great advice from all..
Report back and have a great time!

www.nobuofukuda.com
www.enchantmentresort.com

[Rubee]

I'm a big fan of Nobuo at Teeter House too.

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Nobuo at Teeter House
622 E Adams St, Phoenix, AZ 85004

[Beach Chick]

Thanks Rubee!
See you next week..

[Rubee]

Yes! We'll be there Saturday-Monday. I should have mentioned that this week's Phoenix Groupons had discounts on both Aji Spa and Ko'sin. Hope you saw them, I should have posted on the Wild Horse Pass Resort thread.

...and to keep this on topic - Cherie, I think your choices of Elements, Noca (one of my favorites), Lon's (haven't been but it's at the top of my list), and T. Cook's (another favorite, though have only had appetizers) are great. We haven't been to Elements recently, but our meal last year was one of the the highlights of 2010. And that view is amazing.

Elements at Sanctuary
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/691816

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Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa
5594 W Wild Horse Pass Blvd, Chandler, AZ

[Dapuma]

Last summer T Cook did a deal where you got any app any entree and any dessert for 40 or 50 pp during the summer when their business slowed down - it was only sun - thurs though (a few of them had a $ suppliment but not many)

If you want to try out their full meal keep an eye out for that i think they do it each summer

[Rubee]

Thanks for the tip - that would be a great first visit. I'll keep an eye out.

[MRS]

T.Cook's patio/outdoor dining area is so lovely and serene. We had terrific leisurely dinners and then went inside to the bar area for a bit. I think you'll really enjoy it.

[MRS]

T. Cook's is amazing!!! We stayed at the Royal Palms and went to the Sanctuary for dinner/drinks one night and couldn't figure out why we didn't eat at T. Cook's again! Great food, not heavy depending on your choices and a fabulous wine list. Terrific vibe. Love it! Love it!!