Amelia's by EAT — Restaurant in Scottsdale

I was deeply unimpressed by the service and the dinner menu.

They had their menu on a sign outside the restaurant, as many places do. We looked at the menu before popping in, and I thought the veggie sandwich looked good so we went here over the Italian place close by. It turns out that was that DAYTIME menu that they were advertising, and we had to order off the dinner menu as it was after 4pm. Which, fine. If you're going to have two menus, make sure you're advertising the correct one outside your restaurant -- it ESPECIALLY matters to those with dietary restrictions (but we will get to that in a moment.)

It took them fifteen minutes to seat us. While we were waiting, the staff wandered around aimlessly, looking lost (a few made "I can't help you" eye contact, then scurried awkwardly away).

Once we were seated, we were informed we had to order off the dinner menu. Not a problem but the dinner menu itself has no vegetarian options, where the lunch menu did. When I asked what the server what I could eat, she suggested veggies and hummus or a soft pretzel. I like both, but they're appetizers, not a meal. (And not even an appetizer you could pass as a meal.) A few moments later, she also suggested the burger, which they could sub for a quinoa patty. There is a small note on the menu that this is a vegetarian option. Please note that if you are vegetarian or vegan, this is the ONLY option for you on the dinner menu.

Sounds fine, right? Well, the fries that come with it are cooked in lard. Nowhere is this advertised. This is not vegetarian, and they should NOT be holding it out as such.

The staff continued to be slow and unhelpful through the rest of the evening. They did sub out the lard fries for something else, but brought me the wrong item. First time eating here and probably the last. Very very disappointed.

I don't know if the owner will ever see this, but my feedback would be:

1. Make sure the right menu is outside the restaurant. If I can't order off the daytime menu, it shouldn't be the one you have posted outside.

2. The fact that the fries are cooked in lard needs to be on the menu, especially as you are holding the burger out as the single veterinarian/ vegan option.

3. Staff should appear less aloof. Even just a smile and a "hey we see you, someone will be right with you" would have gone a long way than basically...

My husband and I decided to treat ourselves to a date night at Emeliass, and we were immediately captivated by the inviting ambience and vibrant energy of the restaurant. The modern minimalist aesthetic, adorned with calming earth tones and unique design features, created a serene atmosphere that put us at ease as we settled in to explore the menu.

Our server, Caden, greeted us with a warm smile and displayed an impressive knowledge of the offerings. He recommended the signature burger and fries, and his enthusiasm was infectious. We couldn’t resist, and I must say, the food exceeded our expectations. The burger was perfectly cooked, juicy, and packed with flavor, while the crispy fries were the ideal accompaniment.

To complement our delicious meal, Caden introduced us to a delightful Sauvignon Blanc from their extensive wine bar collection. Its crisp acidity and fruity notes paired beautifully with our entrees, enhancing the overall dining experience.

What truly resonated with us was Emeliass’s commitment to supporting local businesses. The restaurant prides itself on sourcing the majority of its produce, dairy, and eggs from nearby farms, which not only promotes sustainability but also guarantees fresh and high-quality ingredients.

As a firm believer in supporting local enterprises, I thoroughly appreciated this aspect of Emeliass. My overall rating for this charming establishment is a well-deserved five stars. We are already looking forward to our next visit and wholeheartedly encourage anyone seeking a lovely dining experience to give this...

Amelia’s is the epitome of price gouging (for average food and service) that we’re experiencing these days.

Pricing - This place is hyped up because it is newer and located in a nice shopping center, but unfortunately it is VERY overpriced for food that is mostly mediocre. As an example - lunch costs what one would expect to pay for dinner elsewhere. As if their inflated pricing wasn’t bad enough, they recently increased it even more! How is it that a restaurant charges more for coffee than some of the best coffee shops nearby?! Why would I pay $6+ for a small cappuccino made by a cashier at Amelia’s when a place like Press, a far more sophisticated and dedicated coffee shop with trained baristas (that happens to be located in the same shopping center) and any nearby Starbucks only charges $4+? Unless the ownership at Amelia’s has given a much-needed raise to their staff (which I highly doubt), their inflated pricing is unacceptable.

Food – There are a few items that are good but otherwise mostly fall flat, especially for what they cost. I’ll never understand the random ingredients they throw into salads ie onions in a Caesar salad. Sliders and pastries are good. The fridge up front with to-go meals might as well be food you get in a hospital cafeteria or airport stand.

Service - Friendly staff but rather slow.

I frequently got food and beverages from Amelia’s bc of convenience of its proximity, but don’t intend to give them much business anymore. It’s a matter of principle - stop price gouging for...