Arizona Restaurant Week Preview: Atlas Bistro BYOB

Arizona Restaurant Week Fall 2012 is among us! Through September 23rd you’ll be able to experience some of the Valley’s best restaurants and their most-requested dishes at a steal. Participating restaurants are offering three-course dinners at $30/$40 per person and many have vegetarian and gluten-free options.

Taryn had the opportunity to preview the Restaurant Week menu at Atlas Bistro BYOB as a part of an ARW preview led by GirlMeetsFork. Check out her thoughts below!

ARW Special:

$40 per person.

First Course (choice of one):

• Smoked Paprika Braised Pork Shoulder, Queso Cotija, Guacamole, Shaved Baby Radishes
• Korabuta Pork Belly, Butternut Squash Hash, Tamarind Peach Glaze
• Hand Rolled Porcini Gnocchi, Maitakes, Ginger Cabbage, Black Bean Miso Cream

Second Course (choice of one):

• Grilled Romaine, Fried Rainbow Valley Egg, Spanish Anchovies, Capers, Raisins
• Roasted Striped Beets, Gala Apples, Horseradish Cream, Prairie Breeze Amish Cheddar
• Applewood Smoked Duck Breast, Peaches, Sweet Corn, Cranberries, Almonds, Arugula, Frisee *Add $5

Third Course:

• Grilled Pork Porterhouse, Spaetzle, Spaghetti Squash, Bacon Brussel Slaw, Amish Asian Pear Butter
• Niman Ranch Tri-Tip Steak, Roasted Fingerlings, Baby Rainbow Carrots, Black Mesa Ranch Feta, Caper Aioli
• Wild Caught Market Fish, White Beans, Cherry Tomatoes, Fennel, Baby Spinach, Green Goddess

Highlights of the Meal:

Don’t be thrown off by the location, while Atlas Bistro might be smack dab in a strip mall right across from a check cashing joint, there is nothing low budget about this place! The small dining room makes for an intimate dining experience, from the relaxing jazz music, the kitsch of the water glasses made from reconstructed wine bottles, to the attention you will receive from the wait staff as well as General Manager Todd Sawyer.

The Porcini Gnocchi was a fabulous way to start my meal. The gnocchi was very delicate and paired nicely with the meaty flavor of the mushrooms. The miso cream and ginger cabbage created an excellent mix of contrasting textures and flavors.

Porcini Gnocchi

In my opinion, a Beet Salad cannot be beat! The horseradish cream that dressed the salad cut the roasted sweetness of the beets without imparting too much heat. The addition of the Amish Cheddar and the almonds made this the best beet salad I have had to date. Don’t pass this up!

Roasted Striped Beets

Rounding out my meal was a huge and beautifully presented Grilled Pork Porterhouse. The spaghetti squash it rested on screamed fall and that light sweetness the squash imparts matched perfectly with the natural saltiness of the pork. The most surprising element of the dish? That delectable spaetzle – smoky, soft and simple yet the biggest surprise of the night.

Grilled Pork Porterhouse

The diners were as diverse as the wine offering you will find next door to the restaurant (AZ Wine Company). My dinner date and I saw couples on a date, celebrating a birthday, as well as friends dining together and a family sharing a meal. The perfect dining destination for any occasion…or none at all.

Best Part of the Value:

While Atlas Bistro’s menu items change several times a year, the average price per person when opting for an appetizer, salad and entree would run around $52 per person — this paired with the ample portions ensure a great deal!

Service/Ambiance:

With the dining room being very intimate, the service was exemplary. The light jazz music in the background proved a relaxing backdrop without being too loud. When the dining room was filled and all patrons were enjoying their meals and chatting, the noise level never interrupted our tables’ conversation.

Atlas Bistro BYOB| 2515 North Scottsdale Road | Scottsdale, AZ 85257 | 480-990-2433 | atlasbistrobyob.com

*This meal was provided to us complimentary as a part of a media invitation. However, this has no effect on our opinions and comments regarding our experience. View our Disclosure Policy for further explanation.