Karsen's Grill — Restaurant in Scottsdale

UPDATE (response to owner's comment below)

First time diners here (however, we're foodies and we dine out 3-4 x wk)...The place is very small, quaint, good vibe (uncomfortable seating & music is too loud). Hence 3 ⭐️ for atmosphere. The service was excellent, very attentive and engaging. The food was quite delicious, started with the cheese curds jalapeno poppers (the sauce was very good...we were told they make all their own sauces in house, you can taste the difference). Beef dip sandwich x2, and Turkey sandwich, with an amazing apple sauce side. Espresso Martini was the bomb. Here's my disappointment, the Beef dip is not an adequate size (for the price and not for my 32yr old son, I'm used to Houston's generous size) granted they're generous with the FF, (best FF). However, I didn't pay $23 to fill-up on FF. The worst experience overall, was the processing fee??? Not sure what that was for? We were never informed of it ahead of time, if it's for using a CC, they should give the customer the option to pay cash, and/or just be upfront about it, as we always have plenty of cash on hand. Although, the food was good and the service was superb, we will not be back, that surprise charge, among the others I mentioned above, left a bad taste in our mouths...Trust me, it's not about the measly amount, it's the principal!

UPDATE 9/9/2024 It's amazing how the owner is trying to justify why he charges a processing fee and how I should complain to my bank. First of all, Mr. Owner, the processing fee is the cost of doing business for the proprietor, and saying you're able to give your staff raises, (you should be paying your staff a decent living wage w/o having to add an extra fee to your customers, as we tip and most people are generous with that) by charging the customer the fee, instead of paying it yourself, as other establishments do, is wrong and underhanded. Why are you the only eating establishment in Scottsdale, that charges a processing fee(as I mentioned we eat out several times a week and I don't see, Houston's, Dominicks, or many other fine dinning charge a fee) for paying with a credit card? If that's the case, I suggest that your customers who don't carry cash and have to use a CC, they should deduct that fee from the gratuity, and I will do so in the future, if I return to your establishment, or any other that will simulate...

Karsen’s is hands-down my favorite restaurant, and it never fails to blow me away. This cozy, unassuming spot has a menu that is nothing short of perfection. Every time we eat here, we joke that you could close your eyes, point to anything on the menu, and be guaranteed a phenomenal meal. It’s that good. Honestly, Karsen’s serves the best nachos I’ve ever had—the kind of dish you keep thinking about days after. And the French dip? Absolutely unbeatable. Don’t even get me started on the churros—they’re heavenly, with just the right amount of crunch and sweetness!

What really sets Karsen’s apart is the love and care that goes into every single dish. Everything is made from scratch, and you can absolutely taste the difference. Chef and owner Jacob has an undeniable gift when it comes to food. He just knows how to take simple ingredients and turn them into something extraordinary.

The people at Karsen’s are just as special as the food. Wick and Sam, our go-to bartenders, always make us feel like family, and their energy is contagious. Every server we’ve met is warm, professional, and genuinely positive—it’s clear that they love what they do, and it makes the dining experience even better.

It’s a small and cozy place that keeps us coming back again and again. Whether you’re a regular, a first-timer, or someone just passing through, Karsen’s will leave you raving about your visit. Trust me, you’ll...

This place was… fine. I do not understand all the rave reviews, it was pub food and it was good enough but not great.

Two complaints: the menu and our waiter. The menu doesn’t list individual prices, just price ranges for each section. So you either have to guess how much your food costs or ask your waiter what individual items cost. Also there was no price at all listed for the sides; I got a sandwich that came with a side, and since there weren’t prices listed I assumed I could just pick. Then, when we got the bill, there was an additional $2 charge for sweet potato fries. The waiter went out of his way to tell me they were sweet, not savory, but didn’t bother to tell me they cost extra.

My friend asked our waiter if it was possible to get the nachos without steak (she is vegetarian). He said no, and then said the kitchen refuses to make any substitutions to anything at all, and reiterated they wouldn’t remove a central ingredient from a dish. A simple, “no, unfortunately we don’t accommodate any changes to items on the menu” would have been sufficient, but he really felt the need to harp on that. His attitude was rude, but the policy isn’t his fault. So to the restaurant manager: they’re nachos, not some culinary masterpiece. Maybe chill out on your “no...