Thanks to its jaw-dropping views, picture-perfect gin and tonics and some of the best paella in town, at Talavera at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, you won’t know whether to grab a photo or your fork first.
When entering the Talavera dining room, you don’t see into it as much as you see through it–right to the cotton candy sunsets and cactus-speckled mountain panoramas that await through the expansive window wall. You’ll likely catch a glimpse of the restaurant’s gorgeous patio, too, where diners get a front-row seat to the desertscape, alongside a dazzling firepit feature, no less. Once you come back down to earth after admiring the view, you’ll notice the dining room is just as stunning, filled with a neutral color palette, a wood-beamed ceiling and an overall welcoming, upscale-casual feel. (This is a date night destination, for sure.)
Talavera’s menu, from Executive Chef Chuck Kazmer and newly appointed Chef de Cuisine Jesus Figueroa, features both traditional takes and modern spins on Spanish dishes. To imbibe, Talavera is home to its own Gin Bar which offers up a wide array of gins and botanicals for crafting refreshing and quite beautiful gin and tonics to pair with your meal. (There is an extensive wine list as well, including glorious Spanish bottles.)
Even though one glimpse at the entree list might tempt you to hit fast forward, don’t skip over the appetizers, especially the grilled Spanish octopus. Paired with agrodolce cipollini, mojo picon, crushed marbled potatoes and Mexican onion, Talavera’s octopus is something special.
From the dry-aged grass-fed tomahawk to bison tenderloin to Kurobuta pork rack, Talavera shines a light on glorious prime cuts of meat. Just as much attention is paid to its seafood offerings, including the heavenly scallops with pickled chanterelle mushroom, green apple ravigote, Spanish chorizo and corn-celery root cream. On the side, we suggest the patatas bravas, with spicy tomato sauce and a vibrant lemon aïoli.
For a real show-stopper, the Talavera paella makes quite the centerpiece. Brimming with chorizo, chicken, pork belly, lobster, prawns, mussels and clams, the paella packs enough deliciousness to satisfy two (maybe even more) diners. (A vegan option is also available with baby eggplant, forest mushroom, squash and plant-based chorizo.)
To cap off the evening, a simple yet tasty dessert is in order in the form of the cinnamon churros, paired with warm chocolate dipping sauce.
Talavera is open Wednesday to Sunday, 5 to 9 p.m. (Neighboring Onyx Bar & Lounge is also open daily at 5 p.m.) For more information, visit talaverarestaurant.com.
10600 E. Crescent Moon Dr.
Scottsdale, AZ 85262