Skip to main content

Home
United States
Phoenix / Arizona

Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in Phoenix / Arizona

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in Phoenix / Arizona? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

A photo of Cafe Monarch restaurant

5.0

5 (8019)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Old Town Scottsdale

About the restaurant

Welcome to a world of culinary elegance and sophistication you will not find anywhere else in Arizona. Named by Trip Advisor as a Top Three Fine Dining Restaurant in the Nation, this family owned and operated gem in the heart of historic Old Town Scottsdale has earned an illustrious reputation for its first-rate service, elegant ambiance, and five-star cuisine.

At Cafe Monarch the menu is always changing, bringing you an ever-evolving array of innovative culinary creations that feature nothing but the finest in premium fresh, local, seasonal, and sustainable ingredients. The four-course prix fixe menus are meticulously designed to delight even the most sophisticated of palates.

Additionally, each server at Cafe Monarch is trained through the prestigious Court of Master Sommeliers program. *Dress Code: Collared Shirts and Long Pants Required. Dress Jacket Strongly Preferred. No T-Shirts, Hoodies, Shorts or Sandals. ***Children 10 and up only.

Top review

D

DawnVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Absolutely exquisite experience! We were on the terrace as the men wore shorts and honestly, we preferred being there! Gorgeous setting, cool enough to enjoy. The food and service are amazing - it lives up to the hype! Our daughter loved her birthday dinner and we definitely recommend Café Monarch for a high end dining experience!

Discover more

A photo of Argentinian Shrimp of a restaurant

Argentinian Shrimp

A photo of Oysters & Caviar 6 of a restaurant

Oysters & Caviar 6

A photo of Pork Belly of a restaurant

A photo of Rusconi's American Kitchen restaurant

Rusconi's American Kitchen

4.9

4.9 (5590)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Central Phoenix

About the restaurant

Rusconi’s American Kitchen offers a menu created by Arizona Food Pioneer Award Winning Chef Michael Rusconi. Chef Rusconis Contemporary American cuisine showcases strong local influences featuring a wood burning grill with an abundance of affordable items, bringing sophisticated and accessible fare to Valley restaurant goers. Chef Rusconi's menu frequently evolves and is reflective of the season. Expect a wide variety of your favorite dishes uniquely enhanced with ingredients native to the region. The signature menu items are cooked to perfection to create a savory and aromatic flavor profile you can only experience at Rusconi's American Kitchen. Come and visit us relax and & Enjoy the Moment.

Top review

C

Carolyn

Dined 3 days ago

Food, service, and atmosphere are outstanding. It's a wonderful place to connect with friends over dinner and know you are guaranteed to have a fabulous meal! We highly recommend it!

Discover more

A photo of natural sea scallops of a restaurant

natural sea scallops

A photo of roasted pork tenderloin of a restaurant

roasted pork tenderloin

A photo of pea risotto of a restaurant

A photo of Grassroots Kitchen & Tap Scottsdale restaurant

Grassroots Kitchen & Tap Scottsdale

4.8

4.8 (3676)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Central Scottsdale

About the restaurant

Devoted to the Craft. Founded in 2011, Grassroots Kitchen & Tap is a family-owned and operated restaurant in Scottsdale, AZ. Serving lunch, dinner & Social Hour daily, Grassroots tempts with a from-scratch menu of classic Southern-influenced American cuisine, polished service-first style and a friends & family-focused vibe. Putting the "Tap" in Grassroots Kitchen & Tap, enjoy an extensive menu of craft beers and wines (both available on tap) and signature cocktails - all served in a distinctive rustic-yet-modern atmosphere highlighted by colorful Americana artwork and expansive dining patios.

Top review

J

JodyVIP

Dined 1 day ago

This was a very nice experience. Food and service were excellent!

Discover more

A photo of Pork Belly of a restaurant

A photo of Pork Belly Baked Beans of a restaurant

Pork Belly Baked Beans

A photo of Key Lime Pie of a restaurant

A photo of Nook Kitchen - Phoenix restaurant

Nook Kitchen - Phoenix

4.8

4.8 (514)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Central Phoenix

About the restaurant

Enjoy delicious American-Italian cuisine at Nook Kitchen. This modern restaurant serves dinner in an elegant space. Overseen by chef ARTURO, the menu features scratch-made appetizers, salads, pizza, pasta and a choice of entrees. Nook Kitchen also serves vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free fare. Diners rave about the restaurant's selection of delicious wood-fired pizza. Other menu highlights include the bolognese, chicken marsala, BBQ cedar plank salmon and espresso rubbed filet. Voted one of the best new restaurants in the year of its opening, Nook Kitchen is located in Phoenix, Arizona. To complement its meals, the restaurant offers craft cocktails and boutique wines. Cozy but inconspicuous, Nook Kitchen is a nice place to enjoy a meal and glass of wine with friends or family.

Top review

K

Kim

Dined 7 days ago

Excellent customer service. Food was delicious. Great vibe. We would definitely go back.

Discover more

A photo of Rigatoni Bolognese of a restaurant

Rigatoni Bolognese

A photo of Diavolo of a restaurant

A photo of Dave Portnoy's Choice for PIZZA of a restaurant

Dave Portnoy's Choice for PIZZA

A photo of The House Brasserie restaurant

The House Brasserie

4.9

4.9 (1990)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Old Town Scottsdale

About the restaurant

The House Brasserie is a charming and romantic restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona. The restaurant offers a beautiful Victorian-inspired dining room and a charming patio under shaded trees. The House Brasserie is known for its exceptional service and its "phenomenal" and "wonderful" food. The restaurant's menu features contemporary American cuisine with a French influence. Some of the standout dishes include the Iberico pork and mushroom risotto. The House Brasserie is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike.

Top review

R

Rod

Dined 7 days ago

Somewhat quaint, cosy, and provides a romantic setting.

Discover more

A photo of RIBEYE of a restaurant

A photo of CHILEAN SEA BASS of a restaurant

CHILEAN SEA BASS

A photo of FILET MIGNON of a restaurant

A photo of The Collins Small Batch Kitchen restaurant

The Collins Small Batch Kitchen

4.8

4.8 (2035)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Central Phoenix

About the restaurant

The Collins Small Batch Kitchen is restauranteur Christopher Collins playground for creating his takes on classic American dishes. In the heart of Phoenix's Biltmore neighborhood, The Collins Small Batch Kitchen has a daily menu of favorites, along with a weekly rotating menu inspired by the season's freshest ingredients to create a dining experience that will have you returning often to this neighborhood kitchen.

Top review

A

AishaVIP

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

Always a great experience! Best pizza in the Valley!

Discover more

A photo of Enjoy 1/2 off bottles of wine all July long! of a restaurant

Enjoy 1/2 off bottles of wine all July long!

A photo of The Gladly restaurant

4.8

4.8 (2734)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Biltmore

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Gladly, a modern American restaurant where bold flavors, an inviting atmosphere, and thoughtful hospitality come together. Known for its innovative dishes and one of the most extensive whiskey collections in the city, The Gladly has earned its reputation as a favorite spot for food enthusiasts, cocktail lovers, and social gatherings.

Signature dishes like The Original Chopped Salad to fresh seafood & meats to perfectly sharable starters highlight the menu. Meanwhile, the bar is a haven for whiskey aficionados, offering a curated selection of over 300 labels, as well as bold craft cocktails.

The stylish dining room is ideal for professional and casual lunches, intimate dinners, or a celebratory events.

At The Gladly, every meal is an experience, every drink is an exploration, and every visit is an opportunity to savor a Phoenix neighborhood gem.

Top review

J

Jenissa

Dined on Jun 25, 2025

The Gladly is always an amazing place to check out! Their food is always spot on and they have a great cocktail menu!

Discover more

A photo of The Original Chopped Salad of a restaurant

The Original Chopped Salad

A photo of Roasted Brussels Sprouts of a restaurant

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

A photo of Burrata of a restaurant

A photo of The Macintosh restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1839)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Central Phoenix

About the restaurant

The Macintosh is your new favorite neighborhood hangout in the heart of Phoenix. The Macintosh features restaurateur Christopher Collins' take on modern American cuisine for the perfect place to sip and linger with friends and loved ones knowing you'll have an amazing dining experience. Inspired by the family of restaurants at Common Ground Culinary, The Macintosh features sharing plates, salads, handhelds, and entrees for a diverse menu of American classics. All paired with an expansive menu of whiskey, beer, craft cocktails and wine.

Top review

K

KatieVIP

Dined on Jun 27, 2025

My sisters were visiting from out of town and we had the perfect lunch in a cozy hooth!

Discover more

A photo of Honey Butter Biscuits of a restaurant

Honey Butter Biscuits

A photo of Nordic Salmon and Risotto of a restaurant

Nordic Salmon and Risotto

A photo of Enjoy 1/2 off bottles of wine all July long! of a restaurant

Enjoy 1/2 off bottles of wine all July long!

A photo of Tarbell's restaurant

4.8

4.8 (2428)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Biltmore

About the restaurant

Chef Mark Tarbell immediately elevated fine dining in Phoenix when he opened his "Neighborhood Restaurant for the Nation", Tarbell's. Chef Mark firmly believes that the Tarbell's staff are the stars. Hundreds of accolades later, the Tarbell's team continues to serve relevant, curated, Farm to Table, inspirational dishes and classic comfort food in the elegant, art-filled space. Chef brings his passion, curiosity and deep knowledge to the menu and award winning wine list. His mission - you'll feel warm, welcomed, your soul nourished and a night to remember.

Mark has won five Emmy Award’s as the host of AZ PBS’s “Plate and Pour” and “Check, Please! Arizona” and is a two time inductee into The Arizona Hall of Culinary Fame as Outstanding Chef and Media Master. Mark's adventures include Tarbell’s Restaurant, Wine Bar (Tavern), The Wine Store, Tarbell’s Catering, Tarbell’s The Goods at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Terminal 4, The Tavern at Terminal 3 and The Bond- Cultivate and The Vault.

Top review

J

JerryVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Always a five star experience service and food great

Discover more

A photo of Sip & Savor: Summer Edition of a restaurant

Sip & Savor: Summer Edition

A photo of Bubbles and Pearls - Caviar and Dom Pérignon of a restaurant

Bubbles and Pearls - Caviar and Dom Pérignon

A photo of Palma Kitchen + Tap restaurant

Palma Kitchen + Tap

4.8

4.8 (2064)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Queen Creek

About the restaurant

Join us at Palma Kitchen + Tap as Chef Bryan Hulihee and his culinary team prepare fresh farm-to-table entrees that will that make you smile. The upscale design gives you a warm and comfortable feeling that easily transports you to Europe. The open layout design segues elegantly to the outdoors, offering diners the opportunity for casual intimate evenings under the palms. It’s this emotional connection and the feeling of being on vacation that led us to explore new names for our restaurant. And Palma Kitchen + Tap was the clear winner.

Palma Kitchen & Tap welcomes Trilogy Members and public guests. Please note that after 8pm, there may be no Encanterra gate attendant. Please call us at 480.677.8060 for entry.

Top review

T

Thomas

Dined 4 days ago

Palma Kitchen is an excellent choice for any outing. Will be going back soon.

Discover more

A photo of Fish + Chips of a restaurant

A photo of Short Rib Pot Roast of a restaurant

Short Rib Pot Roast

A photo of Omelet Bar of a restaurant

Explore Diners' Choice best of Phoenix / Arizona

Best Overall

Best Food

Best Service

Best Ambiance

Best Value

Explore more Diners' Choice lists

Discover

OpenTable

About Us
Blog
Careers
Press

More

OpenTable for iOS
OpenTable for Android
Affiliate Program
Contact Us

Our sites

Businesses

Restaurant Management Solutions
Restaurant Reservation Software
Restaurant Marketing Software
Restaurant Event Software
OpenTable For Restaurants
OpenTable For Restaurant Groups
Restaurant Resources
OpenTable Pricing & Plans

Join us on

Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
Cookie Preferences

Copyright © 2025 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.

OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.