Scottsdale, AZ

Sassi Restaurant

walkway into the restaurant

sunset view

Sometimes you manage to stumble across perfection without any effort. That is exactly what happened to me on a girls’ trip with my daughter and sister-in-law a couple of weeks ago when we visited Scottsdale. A friend has texted me the name of this restaurant and bragged on the beautiful views. I checked reviews on Trip Advisor – all were fantastic, so I made reservations. Why not?

sunset view

fireplace in every room

Sassi is located in North Scottsdale in the Troon area. It was just a 20 minute drive from our hotel near Old Town. The building is beautiful and you feel like you have arrived in Tuscany when you drive into the parking lot. The sunset was breathtaking and I wish we had arrived a few minutes earlier to see Pinnacle Peak and the beautiful backdrop it provided. Everyone highly suggested having drinks on the patio but it was closed this particular evening due to cool winds and inclement weather. I bet it is a sight to behold. The sunset photos I included in this article were actually taken by me from the parking lot before we went inside the restaurant.

The interior of the building is traditional Italian. We were told by the friendly hostesses that it was modeled after an Italian farmhouse – a very nice one, for sure! We were greeted warmly and seated in a lovely room with a large-topped corner table and a roaring fireplace on one end of the room. The lighting was low and the ambiance was quiet and serene. Our server Maureen was wonderful! She walked us through the specials, drink lists, and menu items. The menu is set up for an authentic Italian meal with several courses. We had eaten a late lunch and were not terribly hungry at this point, so she helped us with items to share to get a true taste of their foods. It was a perfect suggestion.

warm mixed nuts

fantastic cabernet

First of all, the wines were amazing! (see my smile and rosy cheeks?!) We were soon served warm mixed nuts and fresh baked Italian bread. Both were delicious. We shared two appetizers: a caprese salad and a prosciutto plate. The caprese salad consisted of lovely heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil, olive oil, and a ball of Buffalo mozzarella flown in that day from Italy. The prosciutto was thin, lean, flavorful and very close to what you get in Italy. It was served with halved red grapes that were seasoned with orange, olive oil, salt and pepper and were a most delicious accompaniment to the salty meat. Loved it all.

proscuitto and grapes

caprese salad

grilled octopus

My sister-in-law ordered the grilled octopus with microgreens and olives and I must say, it was very tasty. I am not an octopus fan (mind over matter), but this was very tender, smoky and well-seasoned. My daughter and I actually split a pasta dish, Sassi’s Orecchiette. It had small cup-like orecchiette pasta shells, housemade sweet/spicy Italian sausage, broccolini and pecorino. It was FABULOUS!  For dessert, we had the most wonderful cappuccinos, almond biscotti, and a butter pear cake.

family feast

orecchiette

butter pear cake

The company, the views, the ambiance, the excellent service, and the impeccable food was sheer PERFECTION.  We had a truly amazing night.

One of the best parts of the evening was when my daughter stopped stressing over the food to serve at her wedding this summer and decided this was it….Italian it is! Sassi is now her menu blueprint and this proud Momma could not be any happier.

This is a first for me in my blog, but I am including the wonderful recipe for the pasta we enjoyed so much. Try it….you will not be disappointed.

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