"The Blind Pig in Scottsdale fills a much-needed niche in the Valley’s Italian food scene: New York-style Italian. This husband-and-wife duo-owned and operated spot is run by Michele and Brandon Gioffre. True to form, they fly in ingredients from the East Coast, and anything else not made on site is imported directly from Italy. While the menu often changes, there are always East Coast Italian classics like NY strip, shrimp scampi, chicken parmigiana, and linguine with clams. Brandon’s hand-pulled mozzarella, known Valley-wide, is a highlight, and Michele helms the dessert menu. The courtyard patio offers a charming spot to dine alfresco. Although they excel at dinner service, the Blind Pig also offers a fantastic weekend brunch from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m." - Mcconnell Quinn, Nikki Buchanan, jamiekillin, Rudri Patel