The Roaring Fork, just north of Old Town Scottsdale, encompasses Southwestern and Old West recipes in an environment versatile enough for any occasion.
The Roaring Fork has three locations, two in Austin, Texas and the original, which opened over a decade ago here in Scottsdale. The cuisine prepared over a pecan flame represents a perfect cross-section of the regions they serve. Roaring Fork is perfect for a business dinner – the 22-ounce bone-in ribeye and a glass of their 2013 BR Cohn “Gold Label” Cabernet Sauvignon would look wonderful on your expense report. They are also intimate and cozy enough where it was said at our table, “THIS is the spot for my next birthday meal.” Add in one of Scottsdale’s best Happy Hours and Roaring Fork can be considered a go-to for almost any reason.
Skipping the appetizer course would be a grave error at Roaring Fork. The Kettle of Green Chile Pork is an excellent starter for a table to share. The hot buttered flour tortillas are fresh and soft. There is just a touch of heat in the dish unless you add some of the green chile that sits atop the dish and there is plenty of pork to go around. Another great option is the Lamb Chop Fondue. The lamb is tender and rich on its own but dipped in the fondue, the dish is taken to a whole new level.
In the “Specialties of the House”, there are options from just about every animal that is currently under the sun. The previously mentioned ribeye in the wood-fired steaks portion of the menu will stand up to any premiere steakhouse ribeye. The fat was lower than expected (ribeyes have a higher fat content which is why they’re so tender) but still had all the flavor and smoke you could ever want. They also have an 8-ounce filet mignon and a 16-ounce New York strip available. Another standout was the Sugar-Cured Duck Breast. In the sides, the Green Chile Mac’n’Cheese was a huge hit. It was creamy and had enough heat that you remembered the green chile was involved but didn’t get overpowered by it. The Roaring Fork “Big Ass” Burger is also excellent, but wait until you’re there for Happy Hour in the bar area to choose that. Even as a major burger fan, there are too many other wonderful options on the dinner menu that you won’t want to miss out on.
Finally for dessert, the options were crème brûlée, served with strawberries and a housemade chocolate chip cookie or warm pecan pie with brown butter gelato. The crème brûlée paired wonderfully with a 10-year port.
The Roaring Fork is open daily for dinner and features all-night Happy Hour in the “saloon” beginning at 4 p.m.
For more information and to see the complete menu, visit roaringfork.com.