Maple & Ash — Restaurant in Scottsdale

I am sad and disappointed to write this review, because I have been anticipating coming here for a few years. We booked our reservations out 60 days, and could only get a 9:15p reservation. Late but it was fine, and did call a few times to check for hopefully an earlier slot. No luck but whatevs. We weren't rushing, just celebrating our 3 birthdays! 1st there are an obnoxious amount of people (influencers maybe?) that are standing outside with the sign for photos. We stopped to get a photo too. But.. there were 2 groups taking photos, and we were shocked at how LONG they stood there and took photo after photo after photo OF THEMSELVES. Check the photo, then DO IT AGAIN. I know, this isn't solely on the restaurant to police, but I am not exaggerating when I say we stood there for over 15 mins, so we could take ONE photo. Fortunately we came early. We walked in just before 9pm and checked in. **Here is where these “influencers” or selfish individuals are now the restaurants problem. (More on this at the end of my review too) They walked into the restaurant about 10 after. (By the way there were 3 of them, and 3 of us) they walked in with a ring camera light and videoed themselves entering the doors. Then walked to the hostess and said we are here for our 9pm rez. (Its 9:10!) and they walked them back immediately? Forget those of us on time (and early) who are waiting while they couldn't be on time. We were taken back about 5-10 mins later and sat in the backroom corner table closest to the bathroom hallway. Cool vibe, and it was packed. It was also extremely loud. We were met with the notorious birthday menus, a nice cocktail and appetizer. We ordered 2 glasses of wine and an ice tea. Which came much longer than it should, but it was busy. The server took our order. About 20 mins later, the ice tea is sitting empty and so is our table. No server or drink refills. A few moments after I said to my friends “how long do wedge salads take?” A manager stopped by and said “Hi there, your ticket got lost i apologize for the wait on your salads they shouldn’t take this long, I will be taking them off the bill” and we said thanks and he left. maybe another 10 mins and our salads arrived and drinks refilled. The wedge salad really was delightful tho! Another 20 or so minutes went by until our entrees arrived. And we NEVER saw the manager again, he never checked back. Now to our entrees. We ordered the potatoes Gratin and asparagus sides. My friends shared and split the 6oz filet and I got the salmon. The asparagus was dry, burnt and mostly just hard end pieces, our potatoes Gratin came as what I can only describe as mashed potato soup floating in butter. They were so thin and runny, AND not what we ordered! We waiting a few mins for our server, whom never came back, so we just sucked it up. We barely touched the asparagus. The steak expected to be juicy and cooked medium(and she has had this exact steak at M&A before) it was over done and a thin sad piece of meat, especially when it is $62 for 6oz. My salmon however was very delicious and I enjoyed it, but sad to watch my friend not enjoy her meal. When our server did return he did not read the room and recognize plates were barely touched, but our table was cleared. We felt we didn't have the time or opportunity to ever speak up as we were ignored and left for long periods where no one ever came around. We were just ready to go, it had now been 2 hours since we arrived! The influencers, you are in a dimly lit room with candles, and mirrors and this vibe that is supposed to be super swanky is now met with someones ring light bright as the SUN set up so she could be taking selfies! Bright flashes of her camera of her food and so on. We are expected to be dressed fairly nice to be there yet we are met with blinding cameras and lights at every turn. It’s pretty disruptive and silly that it is accepted. I will end with saying this place has potential I hope with some small changes and more attention to detail and unreasonable hospitality that they wont miss...

GROUP GOT VERY SICK We had a group of 5 and it was our first time at Maple and Ash. We went there to enjoy a nice dinner before our flight back home the next morning. They sat us directly in front of the kitchen. I wore a short dress but still ended up getting so hot I thought I was gonna pass out. I had to go to the bathroom to cool off twice before the food came out. I ordered the filet mignon which was okay, I was expecting a lot more though. Toward the end of our meal, my sister let me try her steak (she got the NY strip) which was more expensive than mine. I took one small bite and was completely flabbergasted. It was probably one of the worst steaks I have ever tasted. I made a face and she just said “yeah I know”. I asked her why she didn’t say anything this whole time, but I already knew the answer: She is shy and isn’t that person to ever say something to a server at a restaurant. But gosh, it tasted like cleaning supplies to me… something was off about it. I understand the steaks have a unique flavor because they cook them over Maple and Ash, but my filet didn’t taste anything like hers!!!! It was so odd, but we just let it go because we were all almost done eating at this point. We finished up, paid the bill and got a ride back to the Airbnb. And that’s when our guest of honor (the bride to be) got so sick she barely made it back home to use the bathroom. She said she felt HORRIBLE that night. Then, my sister (NY strip girl) and I (filet mignon girl) both got very sick that night and the next day. I woke up for my flight at 2 AM with some of the worst stomach cramps of my life. I managed to make it to the airport and board the plane, but it was rough let me tell you! I have never had a more miserable plane ride in my life. In the middle of the flight I had to stand in the back of the plane with the flight attendants for a while because I was so nauseous. It was unlike anything I have ever experienced, and truly a miserable time. Then, when I returned home, Monday around 11 AM, I couldn’t even go to my evening classes because I was still feeling so unbelievably sick. It’s Wednesday now and I am feeling better, besides for the fact that my sister and I have very sore throats and terrible coughs. Obviously, that could be from about anything so I’m not pointing fingers at the restaurant, but it is an awfully coincidental timing. At the end of it all, the only person from the group who said she felt perfectly fine was the one who ordered a lobster tail.

THE GOOD THINGS: Our server was really great! He was very professional and explained the menu to us with enthusiasm. He even brought us extra mashed potatoes for no extra charge because he thought what the kitchen brought us wasn’t enough. He catered to us as though he truly cared for our experience! As a matter of fact, all the staff there did. I asked the person that refilled our waters where the bathroom was and he personally escorted me. Their staff did a really great job and they are clearly trained very well on how to properly care for the guests. Our favorite foods were, sadly, the side dishes. Amongst us we had ordered chicken, steak, and lobster, yet the sides stood out the most to us. They were each unique in their flavors and you could tell they were handcrafted by a very talented chef. The sides are the reason I give the food two stars...

A Father-Daughter Date to Remember at Maple & Ash

I recently took my daughter on her first official father-daughter date, and I chose Maple & Ash for this special occasion. It was also her birthday, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

From the moment we walked up, the restaurant was beautifully decorated for Christmas, which immediately set a festive and welcoming tone. We were greeted by three lovely ladies who smiled warmly and wished my daughter, Angelysse, a happy birthday. Like any eight-year-old, she got a little shy, but their cheerful and genuine attitudes made us feel so special.

As we were escorted to our table, we passed by the open kitchen. I was impressed by how clean and organized everything was, from the kitchen itself to the uniforms of the staff. It was a great first impression. When we arrived at our table, it was elegantly set with candlelight and sparkling glassware. The attention to detail was exceptional and definitely earned an A+ from me.

Our waiter, Alfred, was hands-down the best waiter I’ve ever had. From the start, he made us feel completely at ease. He greeted my daughter with another happy birthday, which again made her shy, but I could tell she loved the attention. Alfred’s professionalism and attentiveness were remarkable. He had a way of anticipating our needs without hovering, reading our body language from a distance, and stepping in at just the right moments.

At one point, I ordered a chilled cocktail, and when a waitress mistakenly brought it on the rocks, Alfred discreetly intercepted it before it even reached the table. This level of attentiveness blew me away because most places would let the mistake slide.

Maple & Ash also surprised us with a custom-made menu that said “Happy Birthday, Angelysse.” My daughter loved it and now treasures it as a keepsake. The food was incredible, and every staff member who interacted with us wished my daughter a happy birthday, making her feel like a VIP.

After dinner, Alfred brought out a fun surprise while my daughter was in the restroom—a giant candle holder placed on the table, which made her face light up when she returned. For dessert, we ordered a three-tier ice cream sundae with a variety of toppings. Alfred explained each one with enthusiasm and even included a birthday candle for my daughter to blow out. She was overjoyed.

As we left, the staff thanked us and wished us goodbye, making sure the evening ended on the same high note it started with. On the way home, I asked my daughter if she had a good time, and she said, “Yes, Dad, I loved that everyone knew my name and wished me happy birthday so many times. This was epic!”

Thank you, Alfred, and thank you, Maple & Ash, for creating a truly unforgettable experience. You made our first father-daughter date one...