The Ends — Restaurant in Scottsdale

The Ends Scottsdale I began my “journey” at The Ends with homemade biscuits and thought I might have died and gone to heaven. The flavor and texture of just the biscuit with the drizzled fermented honey alone was delectable. Adding the whipped butter and jam that accompanied it made it unbelievably good.

Next up was the Hamachi Crudo. This dish was colorful in every way: the presentation, the texture, the taste. It was a tender fish with spiraled onion, flower petals, and dollops of sauces. No one flavor overshadowed any of the others, they just complemented each other.

Afterwards, a large meatball surrounded by thick pomodoro sauce and topped with a creamy whipped cheese (fondita) creation showed up and was delightful. And this is coming from a very persnickety Italian lady.

Next was the burnt ends under shared plates. Very surprisingly sweet and savory. The pork belly was nice and lean and the cucumber creation on top helped tame the palate in between bites. A completely different delicious than any of the other plates.

Even though I was already full, we needed to taste some of their ‘made in house’ pasta. The Garganelli ala Zozzona was a basic pasta dish made with a creamy, cheesy version of their pomadoro sauce. The texture of fresh pasta made this dish different and very tasty.

The surprise of the night for me was the Agnolottini pasta. I am still trying to wrap my head around what my tastebuds were experiencing. It was possibly the lightest pasta dish I’ve had due to the freshness of the lemony sauce but so, so tasty with crab and fennel. It blew me away!

Even though I was sure I was going to pop, we ordered a tiramisu for dessert. It was brought to the table in a glass with layers of traditional tiramisu ingredients. There was a crumble on top that ended up just decorating the table even though I tried to be careful. The espresso was rich and shone through the dessert. The bottom layer was a lovely surprise of either gelato or ice cream. Super yummy.

Yes, The Ends blew me away! The service and attention to detail did not disappoint. Congratulations to the chef and the kitchen and best wishes for success. The Ends has earned my highest rating for restaurants. I hope you get to try it out and put this review to the test....

In the competitive dining landscape of Old Town Scottsdale, The Ends has rapidly established itself as a notable contender. This establishment, conceived as a tribute to the late Anthony Bourdain, offers a dining experience that merges nostalgia with contemporary flair.

Ambience and Service: 9/10 The restaurant's mid-century modern aesthetic, complete with a prominently displayed portrait of Bourdain, creates an atmosphere that is both sophisticated and approachable. The staff, refreshingly authentic for the area, contribute significantly to the overall experience with their engaging demeanour and informed recommendations.

Cuisine: 8/10 The menu at The Ends is a globally-inspired affair, reflecting Bourdain's culinary philosophy. Standout dishes include:

Biscuits ($12): A holdover from the owner's previous venture, these are served with fermented honey, seasonal jam, and unpasteurized butter. Meatballs ($18): Nonna-style with pomodoro sauce, Parmesan Reggiano, and garlic bread. 8 oz Bison ($38): Served with maple brûléed bone marrow butter and au poivre sauce. While most dishes impress, some, like the Tempura Enoki Mushrooms ($14), fall short of exceptional.

Beverages: 9/10 The cocktail programme is particularly noteworthy. The Second Best Dirty Martini ($16) and the Cherry-Pistachio Negroni ($15) are expertly crafted and visually striking.

Value: 7/10 With mains ranging from $18 to $38 and cocktails averaging $15, The Ends positions itself in the upper echelon of Scottsdale's dining scene. While the quality generally justifies the price point, some may find it steep for regular visits.

The Ends has quickly become a talking point in Scottsdale's culinary circles. Its unique concept and execution set it apart in a crowded market. However, to maintain its position, the restaurant will need to ensure consistency across all menu items and justify its premium pricing consistently.

As Bourdain once said, "Context and memory play powerful roles in all the truly great meals in one's life." The Ends seems poised to create such memorable contexts, but only time will tell if it can sustain this level of performance in...

Dined here with a party of 3 on 8/10/24

We sat close to the kitchen and the lighting of the room and decor was quite nice. The server gave a great talk introducing the menu. Cocktails tasted amazing however the alcohol level in th drinks were very low and it was $19 per drink..definitely not worth that price. But while we were waiting for our food, a small mouse came out of the kitchen and ran through the restaurant (I'm sure this is a city code violation for restaurant operations). Even a couple of kitchen staff came out looking. We were all shocked and told our server but she played it off seeming so surprised and hoping it won't startle her She pointed somewhere toward the kitchen and said the prep is done at a different room and the door is always left open which would explain the rat coming inside. How is that an excuse/explanation for this to ever happen in a restaurant!!? Not even the general manager of the store came by and acknowledged the rat situation. Literally all of the main room staff was snooping around trying to look for the rat while everyone was eating...(very obvious that something was wrong)

The food was mediocre. Presentation was nice but flavors were 3/4. Don't get the chicken..it was raw on the inside bleeding. We asked our server about it and she just said sorry and took it back to the kitchen. Her mood just changed as if we were being needy or complaining too much. It wasn't until a different server that took the food away and comped it.

Also, we ordered 4 plates to share together. Tell me why I had to personally move all the dishes to make room when there were 2 other server assistants that stood there and did nothing? It even made me spill some of the sauce from the laos sausage dish that I really liked.

Overall, attentiveness from the staff was non-existent. If you want to pay overpriced mediocre food with poor service, treat yourself to this place. Better off going to STK (across the street) for happy hr food.

4 plates of food and 4 drinks came...