Dining Guide | 7 of the Best Restaurants in Scottsdale for Dude Food

This month we focus on the men in our lives as we arrive upon Father’s Day. As you gather around and watch them as they open up their ties, golf tees and precious keepsakes made by tiny little loving hands, make sure that you get some real manly food in the mix as well. Our Dads are always seemingly easy to please and that’s because they welcome “dude food” with open arms and empty bellies. Dude Food encompasses the comforting dishes that his mom made growing up. Or dishes with a heavy focus on the meat playing center stage. We’ve located some of the most elevated manly meals that any man in your life would be happy with and you may find some new favorites too.

7 of the Best Restaurants in Scottsdale for Dude Food

Bevvy
4420 N. Saddlebag Trl.| Scottsdale| 480.525.9300
I don’t know many meat eaters that don’t enjoy a good burger, and a burger topped with bacon is even better. Now, what if you mixed the bacon in with the ground beef? This is exactly what Bevvy does with their 60/40 burger and it is glorious! They create a mix of 60% Angus beef and 40% Applewood smoked bacon patty. Add to that cheddar cheese, more bacon, avocado, fried onion strings and a creamy and slightly spicy chipotle aioli. If you’re looking to add a little silky indulgence you can add a fried egg to your burger. You’ll find this burger has so much layer and depth with the two bacon components creating a burger that will easily be one of the best burgers you’ve ever had!

Bootleggers Modern American Smokehouse
7217 E. 1st St.| Scottsdale| 480.404.9984
Bootleggers is all about the meat! From their beefy sandwiches to their generous portions of smoked meat entrees you’ll discover that the meats are infused with rich flavors and lightly laced with that great smoke flavor in every bite no matter if you opt for a smoked prime rib, pulled pork or their highly popular brisket. Our favorite thing at Bootleggers has to be their bacon board. I mean, who doesn’t love bacon? And with this dish you get 5(!) different types of exceptional bacon along with sweet onion jam, red pepper jam, whole grain mustard, and gherkins. Each variety of bacon is varied in texture and flavor; any bacon lover’s dream!

DeFalco’s Italian Grocery
2334 N. Scottsdale Road| Scottsdale| 480.990.8660
Imagine for a moment a hefty Italian sausage sandwich topped with a mountain of peppers and onions along with some tomato sauce. Imagine now that this sandwich was made in an authentic Italian eatery and you have the super flavorful sandwich at DeFalco’s. Their homemade tomato sauce is a traditional sauce that has been in the family for years, made with love and some serious depth of flavor. The Italian sausage is also homemade and incredibly flavorful, which us no surprise as they have been making it based off recipes in the family dating back almost 100 years. So dig in and get a little messy, it is going to be worth it!

Fate Brewing Company
7337 E. Shea Blvd.| Scottsdale| 480.994.1275
Is there a better example of guy food than pizza and beer? We can’t think of a better spot to get the best of both worlds that at Fate Brewing Company. Their small batch brews and wood-fired pies go perfectly together and one of the best bets for pizza here is their Still Jalapeno Biznaz pizza. The pizza is comprised of a great grouping of ingredients; olive oil, tomato sauce, mozzarella, bacon, fresh jalapeno and a cracked egg. Keeping the jalapeno fresh instead of sautéed adds to the texture of each bite along with the bacon. The delicate and smooth yolk adds a luxurious level and softens the heat just slightly. Add in a flight of brews and you’re on your way to a great afternoon!

Roaring Fork
4800 N. Scottsdale Road| Scottsdale| 480.947.0795
Wood fired cooking imparts a unique flavor to dishes and gives the diner that comforting backyard feeling. Roaring Fork uses this method and you’ll find that their dishes all have a little something extra, providing a soothing dining experience complete with just a little edge. The restaurant features a “Big Ass” burger that is huge in both size and flavor. The massive meaty burger is topped with smoked pepper bacon, poblano pepper along with the standard cheddar, onion, pickles, lettuce and tomato. The slight spice of the bacon along with the poblano gives a little extra kick to the perfected traditional burger.

Tommy Bahama Restaurant + Bar
15205 N. Kierland Blvd.| Scottsdale| 480.505.3668
Sliders are great pub fare, but what if you are looking for a something a little different? Tommy Bahamas focus on fresh seafood and mostly lighter fare dishes make it hard to make a dinner decision. Their creativity plays out playfully with their seared scallop sliders. The perfectly seared scallops impart a slight sweetness that is enhanced by the chipotle aioli the sliders are adorned with. The addition of basil, Roma tomatoes, crispy onions and island slaw add to the savory flavors and the freshness of the slaw and crunch of the onions create a unique flavor and great contrast in textures. The surprising flavors of these sliders will make you forget all about the beef!

Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill
7014 E. Camelback Road| Scottsdale| 480.284.7292
Bread, meat and cheese combinations make most men happy. The trick it to get the perfect combination of those three main components and make a stellar sandwich. The Thirsty Lion makes an epic roasted pork Cubano that does just that. The rich flavors of the tender roasted pork shoulder are combined with smoked ham, Swiss cheese, bread and butter pickles, jalapenos and Dijon mustard all lovingly placed on a Parmesan crusted ciabatta. The heat from the pulled pork slowly melts that tart Swiss cheese and all of the other components create a symphony of flavors worthy of any sandwich aficionado!

*This article was originally featured in the June 2016 issue of So Scottsdale Magazine, where I am a monthly contributor.*

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© Taryn Jeffries 2016