Spotted Donkey Cantina — Restaurant in Scottsdale

Overall, this restaurant was very disappointing and over-priced. The menu "presents" as authentic Mexican fare. However, the food served is pre-packaged and frozen. Also, I ordered the priciest wine on the menu (which I was familiar with and knew it was a generic table wine, at best) and they stored it and served it above room temperature and the wine had clearly been opened for a bit and had oxidized quite a bit. The last faux pas was they punched in the incorrect appetizer and attempted to deliver it to us...we told them it was not our food. The bartender gave it to another customer for free, which is fine, but then...actually charged it incorrectly to my bill and left it on the bill. I had to point out the error and had to have the item removed. 2 drinks, 2 apps, $60+...which is insane for Eben good quality food. The guacamole was clearly Wholly Guacamole spooned into a small bowl and dressed up, and the shrimp were deep fried at the wrong temp, which required a longer time in the fryer causing the coating to flake off and the oil to cling to the shrimp. We left after that and I only drank 1/3 of my wine. There are DOZENS of really solid and even GREAT Mexican restaurants in Scottsdale. The Spotted Donkey (and I love the name) is NOT one of them.

The Hilton owns this restaurant, and it is attached to one of their very high-end resorts...management needs to fix the food quality and service, but especially the food quality. Chili's is a better choice for Mexican food and drinks. This restaurant needs a chef, not a cook. It should ALL be freshly made with nothing frozen or packaged and served up like it is "legit". We loved the grounds, our room, the resort staff, but man...the food is a HUGE reason people will choose you over the Four Seasons, Marriott/Bonvoy, etc. Clearly, the resort is knocked down 2-3 pegs due to the poor quality food. BTW, we got room service after we left the Spotted Donkey. It was average..."maybe" 3 stars. Not terrible, but also NOT Curio Collection. Please fix it! I want to love Hilton, but this...

It had been quite a while since my last visit and I was excited to find ample patio seating and reservations available through Open Table.

We arrived 5:15pm on a Friday evening and we're seated very promptly, we made reservations for a table on the patio. The inside had a good amount of people dining in as did the patio but still plenty of availability for people without reservations. 5:45 seemed to be when more people started to arrive and the patio started to fill up.

We were pleasantly surprised to find that they offer their happy hour on the patio, very reasonable prices for some of their appetizers and lots of drink specials (photo of happy hour menu added). I started with a Mexican Mule ($13 regularly, $11 on HH) which was noted as having charred pineapple with basil and cilantro, it was tasty but the flavors of the pineapple, basil, and cilantro weren't very strong. Next I tried their classic margarita and it was excellent and on Happy Hour only $5, certainly would choose the classic over the mule on my next visit for taste and price.

For dinner my husband had the chimichanga and was raving about the meat inside it. The presentation for the chimichanga was great because it ensured the outside crisp during each bite as it wasn't smothered in sauce but cut on half with the middle of each side standing in the sauce.

I had the donkey protein bowl and was really pleased with the presentation as well as the ease to mix it all up and get a little of everything in each bite without having to spend all my time cutting through the bowl. It comes with avocado but I added some guac on the side and greatly enjoyed the addition. When I ordered I also got a side of Spanish rice not knowing if the bowl would be filling enough without the addition. Happy to report it would have been totally filling without the rice. The rice was good, but not necessary add to the bowl for the $4.00 side.

Looking forward to visiting again in the near future to try out more dishes and the happy...

The Spotted Donkey is a delightful dining experience that I highly recommend! The food was delicious—each dish bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. Whether you’re in the mood for something savory or sweet, there’s something to satisfy every palate.

We were here two nights in a row, because we could not find parking in down Town Scottsdale on a Saturday. But that was to our benefit. Why bother being in a place where everyone is trying so hard to be someone, when you can kick back and just be yourself at the Spotted Donkey. Don't get me wrong, there are wonderful places in downtown Scottsdale, but it comes with baggage.

Sitting at the bar, chatting with other patrons and the bartender, we once again ordered the the nachos. They are unbelievably delicious and serve two if you are also having an entree, of which all offerings are equally delicious. There is a wide selection of Tequila and locally brewed craft beers. What more could you ask for?

With seating at the bar (preferred), inside tucked away in banquettes for two or a four-top as well as outside under the stars, this place is both comfortable and a find. They will also cater to larger groups.

The service was equally impressive. The staff was friendly and attentive, making sure our needs were met without being intrusive. They clearly take pride in providing a welcoming atmosphere, which made our meal even more enjoyable.

If you're staying at the Boulders Resort & Spa, The Spotted Donkey is incredibly convenient (just charge to your room). It’s just a short distance away, making it an ideal spot to unwind after a day of activities. Overall, it’s a must-visit for anyone...