Pane e Vino

Italian Restaurant - Scottsdale

For the past eight years (which is a lifetime in the restaurant business) Pane e Vino has been a popular haunt of diners in North Scottsdale, as well as those smart enough to make the drive.

This refined yet comfortable Italian restaurant uses cherry wood and white linen to create an ambiance that’s perfect for dates, family gatherings, and celebrations. Seating is comfortable, music is appropriate, and the separate bar is a great place to hang out with friends before dinner or during happy hour.

Service is top-notch. In a land of transient waiters, the staff at Pane e Vino intimately knows the restaurant, the menu and the wine list. Given the restaurant’s name you’d assume they put a lot of focus on the wine, and they do. In addition to an extensive wine list with varietals from all over the world, they also offer great half-bottle and by-the-glass selections. Our server was knowledgeable about the wine list, and when making recommendations, didn’t do what servers often do – suggest the most expensive one! Instead, he listened to our likes and dislikes and selected just the perfect wine.

We began with some outstanding, crisp, crusty bread (the pane of Pane e Vino) partnered with a peppery, garlic olive oil. Our Italian journey continued with a huge antipasti platter full of sliced meats, cheese and marinated vegetables. Other appetizers included plump crab cakes, sea scallops wrapped in Parma ham, and a wonderful carpaccio. Of course, there are excellent salads and homemade soups bursting with flavor.

Since we’re at an Italian restaurant, we must have pasta. We tried the two recommended by our server. As with the wine suggestions, he did not steer us wrong. The tortellini came paired with peas, proscuitto and mushrooms, and the spaghetti ala carbonara was eggy, silky, and full of smoky bacon flavor.

There is a huge selection of main courses -- beef steaks with gorgonzola or mushrooms, fresh fish flown in daily (I had an exquisite fish served with butternut squash ravioli in a creamy almond sauce), and an outstandingly rich veal marsala.

After all that food, we lingered over coffee, after-dinner drinks and dessert (great tiramisu). Pane e Vino emphasizes the total dining experience, so you won’t feel pressured to exit quickly.

good to know: the restaurant is located in the courtyard of La Mirada

what to wear: resort casual was the most-seen on our night there

must haves: the homemade pasta and any of the beef dishes

Pane e Vino Ristorante
8900 East Pinnacle Peak Rd #D-1, Scottsdale (480)473-7900