Confluence

It’s our go to spot… 4 days a week, well, because that’s the only days they’re open! Husband and wife run the whole show and they are delightful as well as talented. Gazpacho is on the menu and is the perfect refreshing summer soup. Stop in and support this local restaurant!

Well, we made it back to try the five course dinner, and it did not disappoint. Victoria and Brandon, husband, and wife, and also the owners of this establishment. I have to admit I haven’t seen a better oiled machine, than the two of them at this restaurant. Super clean organized unbelievable, the whit mushroom soup was delicious. We honestly cannot wait to go back and partake in the chef experience again. I WOULD RECOMMEND

The menu is small, but everything we had was fabulous. All the appetizers were great, but the scrambled goose egg was the best. For the main course, we had the veal and the duck breast. Both were great. The full bar and wine selection are good. The place is small but nicely decorated. A lovely couple runs it. She manages the bar and serves the food with a nice smile and lovely comments. He is the chef in an open kitchen. It was a lovely dining experience.

Last night was our first time dining here and we did the chef’s tasting menu… every course was amazing and inventive. The local Guinea hen was such a surprise, and was prepared so inventively. Our favorite of the evening was a tossup between wagyu beef cheek appetizer and the pumpkin cheesecake dessert. They also brilliantly paired the meal with wines throughout the course. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming too! We will definitely be back, especially since the menu changes with the seasons and with with whatever gem ingredients the chef sources.

Absolutely fantastic dinner experience. We had a group of about 20 and they husband and wife owners took the liberty of shutting down the restaurant so we can experience it for ourselves. Top notch service and even better dishes, highly recommend it. Go with confidence

I can't say enough great things about this restaurant. This husband and wife team are amazing. Absolutely amazing food. Lovely restaurant. If I lived closer I'd be there every week even if it was just a small bite and some of the great selection of wine. She made us some of the best Old Fashions we've had. Please support this gem.

I want this chef closer to home! Everything we had was incredible and unique in flavor! I had the roasted pumpkin soup that was delicate, beautifully presented and delicious. The halibut was light and hearty at the same time with a wonderful smoky flavor and just prepared to perfection. The iberico plume was a party for your taste buds and I wanted more of that blue cornbread to take home. Wow!🤤

Oh my God, what an experience! I would put Confluence up against any professional restaurant. The food was absolutely phenomenal. Add to the fact that the bar manager is very knowledgeable and keeps a very nice selection of spirits and you have yourself the night out of a lifetime. Trust me, if you want that truly awesome experience, get the 7 course Chef's tasting menu. You will not be disappointed!

Perfection. It is a rare thing to lick the plate from such delicious food! We stopped in for a light bite randomly after realizing that buffalo chip was way too crazy of a scene, seeing the unique menu. Foie gras was the best my mom has ever had and she's spent a lot of time in Europe! We also had filet mignon- excellent, and the yam sauce appetizer with truffle...I actually think it was listed as a desert, but so so good. The chef is talented! Service was excellent. The wine menu looked amazing and wish I could have indulged if I didn't have to drive so far after. Highly recommend this restaurant; you won't be disappointed! I will def be going back if I'm up that way again!

DELICIOUS food and superior service. Will definitely return. Fillet mignon was perfect.

Chef Brandon is a savant! Every dish is incredibly flavorful and creative. If are looking for a quaint and personable dining experience, Victoria and Brandon will take care of you! Unique, exotic, and thoroughly enjoyable! We had duck, veal, crab, steak tartare, and gazpacho... every dish was incredible. Victoria took great care of us with a great wine list and my Nigroni! Their menu changes often... we will be there next week.. without a dout!

Consistently good food. Excellent service and a comfortable environment. We love the menu variety. It allows us to come here more often and to try new items.

Wow! What a unique and lovely experience! This place is a gem - the husband and wife team are passionate about food and service. Friendly and fun. Had dinner last evening with friends who had been there before and raved about it. I had the gazpacho, arugula salad and blackened calamari steak. Perfect portions, flavorful and beautiful presentation. My husband had the filet (perfectly prepared) and the corn & crab chowder. Our server (and owner) Tori made some wonderful wine selections to accompany our meals as well! If you haven't tried Confluence yet, I recommend doing so - make a reservation - it is a small and intimate setting. Thank you!

This compact restaurant in Carefree, Arizona with a relaxed, semi-casual atmosphere actually has some of the best food in the Phoenix metro area. We started with the chicken liver pate, which was awesome. Next, we both ordered the vegetable soup, which was fresh and perfectly seasoned, served at a great temperature. Finally, I ordered the beef short rib and my wife ordered the pork chop. The short rib was the best I have ever tasted, and the veggies were perfectly cooked. The pork chop was tender, tasty, and perfectly cooked, not easy to do. No room for dessert so we'll get it next time. It's not cheap, but quality seldom is. We both felt like we were dining at one of the better places in New York or New Orleans. It was that good. It was great! Best meal we have had in months.

Confluence is personally one of my favorite places. Amazing food & service! Unlike any other place.

Confluence is a small, casual, but high quality restaurant and bar in Carefree that offers painstakingly made, seasonal, elevated modern masterfully prepared cuisine. Ala carte and tasting menus are offered. You can dine with mountain views at lunch or for dinner indoors or on the patio. Chef Brandon and his wife Victoria do most of the work in the restaurant themselves. They have many years of fine dining experience behind them (such as Binkley's for example) and it shows in what you receive. Confluence is also a great value for fine dining. Several other fine dining restaurants in the valley charge much more for similar quality food. You will pay far less here for the highest quality, detailed food that is complex and delicious with a multitude of flavors that can be paired with wine. Parking is also easy and close. Reservations are recommended . Your meal from Confluence will probably exceed your expectations!

Well, we made it back to try the five course dinner, and it did not disappoint. Victoria and Brandon, husband, and wife, and also the owners of this establishment. I have to admit I haven't seen a better oiled machine, than the two of them at this restaurant. Super clean organized unbelievable, the whit mushroom soup was delicious. We honestly cannot wait to go back and partake in the chef experience again. I WOULD RECOMMEND

We visited four times a year ago. First time, the best filet and best cheesecake we've ever had. Returning the second time, yearning for the same as the first visit. Ordered the same, not as good. Cheesecake, fabulous. Third time, had filet and another dish that was an odd mix of beans, lentils and fish. Not good. Not making cheesecake anymore, "he gets bored", not even by special order. Fourth visit. Filet was not very good. Same on another odd mix of beans and I believe fish. Nothing like the photos. The photos presented here are fabulous, we had nothing quite like that. Except the cheesecake. They need another person or two working. It was always just the owners, he cooks, she serves. And once they bickered a lot. He was angry it seemed over a bill. Very long wait times, very unattentive always. Unless there were known guests or "special". No desire to return. Very pricey, and was not fun after the first visit. I wish it were a better experience.

This place is amazing. Started off with an old fashioned and it was the best I have ever had. Perfect recommendation! 3 of us had the flirt and my wife had the Black Cod. The black Cod was perfectly cooked and the veggies were amazing. The salad we had was so fresh and tasty and were on par with veggies from any Napa Valley restaurant!! The steak was cooked PERFECTLY, med rare and so tender. Pricey.... Yes, but worth every Penny. Wine selection was superb. Not a bad one on the list. We had a Chardonnay and a Cabernet. Great atmosphere, quiet and perfect service. Chef was friendly and amazing. Server was his wife and made us feel at home. She also knows her bourbons. Her favorite is ours and not many people know this small distillery. All in all one of the best meals and service we have had in the whole country!!! We will be back. Lunch is supposed to be great too. I can't believe the negative review!! This place I wish was in Nashville, where we live.

First impressions: We almost did not dine here. We had a reservation for 7:00 pm and when we came to the restaurant... it was totally empty. Nonetheless, we drove 35 minutes for this place and decided to give it a shot. We tried the 5 course tasting menu on our trip to Confluence. Overall, the food was very good. A bit of variance with the cooked temperature of the meat within our party, but everything tasted how you would expect at a tasting restaurant. Lots of vibrant flavors and an interesting combination of dishes. I would say its a nice restaurant to try. Not the best tasting menu I've had (Michelin), but it puts up a fight. 4.5/5

Great atmosphere and views. Victoria was very attentive. I had the shrimp dish$31 Forgot that the ocean is far from here. I would definitely go back.

Fantastic little spot serving what is probably the best food in the area. And just the friendliest neighborhood-spot kind of service. You can tell they put a lot of thought and work into all the dishes and really want everyone to leave happy. Even something simple like a roasted parsnip soup was super flavorful and creamy and filling. The wine options are also super cool and thoughtful: I've never even seen a sparkling Gruner Veltlinger for example, but I love the still versions, so was not disappointed! (And only $50 for the bottle too). Yes, the entrees may seem a little pricy -- but come on, it's a small little place using some really great local ingredients (the margins on that aren't great).

Service was bad , food was average at best , had to ask for another round of drinks. Took plates away before we were finished. Food has gone way down hill !

Pricing very high. Food portion and taste is very over rated. There are other restaurants in the Carefree area that are worth serious consideration.

Food was really pretty good. Especially for what seems to be a pretty small town almost 45 minutes from Scottsdale. Chicken liver pate was delicious. Cheesecake was actually pretty amazing as well. One thing I would say is that the servings for the tasting menu are much much smaller than the regular menu and I wish I had known that when ordering. The restaurant is run by two people only but they did an incredible job. Food came out fast and hot and it was generally just a very pleasant experience.

The duo (husband and wife I believe?) who run this eatery are rockstars. While it's on the expensive side, typical for the type of cuisine, it's always top notch and we love the seasonal menu changes. If you go expect to be there at least a few hours though if you opt for the multi courses! Also great wine and bourbon selection.

Incredible. Well worth it every time. The owners take such good care of the guests, and have a bright and inspiring menu and fantastic wines to pair alongside. Highly recommend for someone looking for an elevated dining experience in Cave Creek/N. Scottsdale area. Lovely patio, great bar, and a lovely team.

Best restaurant in the areas, including Civana's restaurant. It's a seamless two-person operation and we had a wonderful time. Amazing food, strong wine and cocktail options, and great service.

What a gem! Stopped by for lunch with a client and it was fabulous! Great service great food. I had the turkey cranberry sandwich...delish. My client had the chopped chicken salad and loved it. Will definitely be back!

Fantastic meal. Be sure to drive out in the daylight to enjoy the dramatic view. The restaurant is tucked in the corner of a small group of stores as u get into town. Super nice people that are very knowledgeable about the inspired dishes prepared by a single chef in the kitchen. Tasting menus portions were just right. Highly recommend.

Came in on a Friday night the place was very quiet for a Friday evening:( We always heard good things about the old Cafe Bonk but never got to experience it...we were excited to try this spot since it's near our home and the reviews were all very positive! My husband had the ribeye and I have a ordered the halibut. Both were good...odd presentations for both. My husbands meat was all sliced up??? We sat at the bar and ordered a bottle of wine. Good wine selection with +100% markups. We started out with the foie gras appetizer and it was good a bit dry..seems weird because I have never had it on the dry side before? Prices were on he high side for the quality/quantity of food we received.

Mom & Pop operation with innovative food choices made from the best ingredients. Victoria works the bar and tables and is super-friendly. Great dining experience. Have been there 4 times and look forward to many more visits.

Food can be sublime or not. Seems as if they are trying for a Michelin with some dishes which can be excellent or not. Inconsistent in quality. Service is good. Ambiance could use some help.

This was an amazing, unexpected vegan delight!! I'm enjoying the leftovers now as I write this well deserved review! It's not on the menu but this IS a chef driven restaurant and he exceeded my expectations. My other friends chose from the menu and they all loved their selections as well. The Chef's wife mixed a ginger Mocktail which was as beautiful as it was quenchingly delicious. PLEASE support this amazing, rare quality restaurant.

This is the best hidden gem around. husband/wife owned, he is the chef. The nicest people inside is small and cozy/intimate. Every single item is amazing. Flavors pop , presentation with every dish. lots of options with a seasonal menu. This is the BEST food I have ever eaten.

I had the hen breast and it was absolutely outstanding! My wife had scallops and they were equally good. For an appetizer we had pork belly...delicious. We also had a nice bottle of wine. We will definitely eat here again. It was a little more expensive than I would have expected, but I guess you get what you pay for. Food is 5 star price is 3 star?

Stopped in for lunch on a Thursday. Place was dead. Sat at the bar and split a sandwich. Prices seemed high, even for Cave Creek. We had a side of fries that were supposed to come with truffle ketchup. It didn't taste right and I couldn't eat it. The sandwich was okay but couldn't get over the truffle ketchup. Wouldn't go back.

A friend of a friend recommended this place and we were glad we had dinner here. Must make reservations! Husband and wife team, big space but they have changed how many guest they will accommodate to ensure they provide great personal service and food. There were 4 of us and we ordered apps and three different entrees which were all shared and enjoyed by all. We will be back!

What an incredible gem of a restaurant. Wow. My husband and I had the four course tasting menu and were absolutely blown away. The foie gras mousse was OUT OF THIS WORLD! The aquaviche was refreshing and layered. The buttermilk fried chicken livers were rich and delicious. And we haven't even gotten to the 65 day dry aged American Wagyu ribeye. I mean cmon, this is like sitting down for a Michelin starred meal at a NYC restaurant - so finding this quality of food, creativity of flavors, and wonderful service tucked into a quiet corner of cave creek with views of the mountains is truly a find. Get in there now, this place is absolutely phenomenal.

Came to the confluence for lunch and was more than extremely satisfied. I often do my happy food dance when I eat good food and I was dancing this whole meal. We had the Salmon Tartare, pork cheek, turkey and bacon sandwich, wagyu beef pastrami, and french fries. I am not normally a tartare fan, but paired with the other ingredients on the plate it was flavor explosion in my mouth. The turkey and bacon sandwich wasn't your normal turkey and bacon sandwich, it had a sweet jam on it to separate itself from a home sandwich. I love fries and these did not disappoint. The truffle ketchup was just the cherry on top, but these did not need to be dipped in anything. I wish I had gotten pictures of the plates, but was too excited when the food came out.

I was disappointed. I had a salad and entree. The service was lackadaisical even though only 2-3 tables were occupied. I had the veal tender loin. The veal was recommended at medium rare. It came well done and unseasoned. The dry meat was exacerbated by the ingredients which were supposed to enhance the flavor like gnocchi, anchovy, coarse grained mustard, Brussels sprouts, etc. the were placed on the accompaniments. Did not touch the meat or form a coherent sauce. I found the chunks of anchovy sprinkled around the gnocchi off-putting.

So Disappointed! We have been there once before and remembered it being very good but our meal this past Friday was absolutely not. We went to celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary and were really looking forward to it. Sat outside and got a very nice bottle of wine. Good wine good service great view - so far so good. Now the menu changes up regularly as most great restaurants do so I opted for the 4 course tasting and my husband went with the pork. The pate parfait was very tasty as was the beef cheek appetizer, but quite small portions ( think like tablespoon size portions, no joke). OK, it's appetizers, and I thought perhaps smaller portions because of the tasting menu option? I definitely hope you'd get better portions ordering Ala Carte at $18 a clip. Now the entrees come, both my fish (seabass) and my husband's pork were literally like 3 inches square each. Now remember my husband did not do the tasting menu so his was the Ala Carte portion. Both proteins were cooked very over and completely dry. Accompaniments to the pork were forgettable (seriously neither of us can remember anything about them). My fish came with some mussels which were gamey and clams which were OK. For dessert I went with the cheese plate that had again, like a tablespoon of a soft cheese that was good, half a small fig, like 4 almonds and a piece of apricot. Huh. So we walked out of there disappointed and $200 lighter. I really hope this was just an off night, but honestly after that experience at that price I'll be hard pressed to return.

I'd read this was a hidden gem and that is 100% true. I only wish I'd come in hungrier. Everything we tried was so delicious. It sounds like the menu rotates often but if the sunchoke soup is on the menu, don't skip it! All I can say is come and try it!

Great food with a mix of great dishes. I really enjoyed this restaurant. Brandon the chef is the man

Meal was delicious. Perfect portions. We ate every bite. Relaxed, friendly and professional service. Looking forward to returning. Thank you!

Best fine dining in Cave Creek/Carefree area! I added a few photos, but missed taking some because I forgot to photo before I ate too much. My wife's monkfish (big portion) was amazing and so was her salad. I greatly enjoyed the tasting menu - as a value based reviewer, it was easily worth the price for so many courses (see photo menu) plus some unlisted small bites in-between. As expected, I enjoyed the seared tuna, baked Epoisses(cheese), black bean soup, Nantucket bay Scallops, venison au poive (pepper), and key lime custard), but I also got to try several small bites prepared by the chef and a bison tartare which I would not have ordered but loved. This restaurant only recently opened (6 months ago or so). Shockingly, they seem focused on their food and have not done the normal feat of padding their reviews. Chef Brandon and his wife trained extensively under the famous Chef Binkley, took over this location, and offer quality dining at a fair price.

Love the ambiance of this charming cafe. Sometimes when I want to get away; I go and have a nice lunch here and sit on the patio! So relaxing.

We went her for our anniversary dinner, it. Was. Amazing. Everything we tried got better and better. We did the four course tasting. Just unbelievable. This is a place you go where you want to take your time and truly enjoy food. Don't go there and expect to be in and out. Just drink some wine and enjoy the dining experience.

Can not believe we hadn't tried this little gem before! We were always at Cafe Brinkley's ~ but missed the opening ....at any rate, I'm thrilled to have a fab cafe in our back yard. My friend has the Chicken Sandwich, which she dubbed the best thing she's eaten in forever. I had the Pork Belly Rueben and it was scrumptious. My only improvement would be toasted/warm. Even though, the sauerkraut was yummy and the mustard perfect. I had to admired with my friend, this was one of the BEST meals ever. Simple. Affordable. But if so scrumptious. The piece de resistance was a strawberry shortcake that was so good I practically swooned. In addition, the service was attentive and the space warm and inviting. In short, this is FABULOUS!

Just did takeout from Confluence for "date night" with my hubby! Did their decadent Chicken Sandwich with pancetta, balsamic onions & white cheddar. OMG! Started with a delicious crisp, fresh salad. And ended with perfect deserts. We tried both. Could not have been better!! Ahhh... PS... I noticed bread loaves on the menu so added one. It came out of the bag hot and crunchy. We have enjoyed the most delicious bread with meals this week!

Few restaurants go to extraordinary lengths to create fabulous cuisine. This is one of the few. I ordered the roasted chicken sandwich: 12 hour brined chicken then slow roasted in oven and placed on a fontina roll with fontina cheese, pancetta bits, caramelized onions, mayo and served with a pickle and side salad. The chicken was flavorful, moist and tender. Placed in a sandwich with the other ingredients, this turns into a super special meal. Hubby really liked his pork belly pastrami sandwich; however, would request little to no mustard in the future so as not to detract from the wonderful pork belly. The price ($14 & $15) was very reasonable considering all of the effort that went into creating this delightful meal.

We enjoyed a late Valentine's Day lunch at Confluence as we avoid going out for that holiday. It is a small bistro with a limited menu but the Chef obviously knows what he is doing. We both ordered wine, mine a French bubbly and my husband's a CA Chardonnay. The highlight of our meals were the appetizers. The guinea hen mousse liver was unctuous, silky, beautifully seasoned and as good as any foie gras or terrine I have tasted anywhere, even in Strasbourg, France. Just superb. I will be dreaming about that dish. My husband was equally happy with his sweetbreads appy. I ordered the buttermilk fried chicken with grits and broccolini. Probably the best fried chicken I have tasted, with delicious sides. My husband ordered the chicken sandwich. We had heard Confluence was famous for this sandwich. He said it was dry and uninspired and he didn't get all the fuss. That was the only disappointment. For dessert we both had the chocolate mousse. There were only three choices and the other choices didn't appeal. It was an ordinary mousse but beautifully presented. The espresso machine was out of order so we left to go home for an espresso from our machine. We want to return for dinner when the menu is more extensive. All in all a successful experience.

Truly exceptional dinning by far. This is fine dining in the Desert at its finest The plating is top notch and the execution of the dishes were excellent This is place very refined

Everything here is fantastic. Small and intimate. The couple who own it do everything. He is an amazing chef. Unique dishes that change frequently. Can't say enough about it.

This restaurant has deteriorated markedly over the past 5 years.It is only open 4 days per week and it is a business in demise.The menu is very limited and the prices are a colossal rip off.Gone are the days when Brinkley ran the business. My advice is stay away,don't get ripped off and go elsewhere. This restaurant is on its way out.

Food very good. Bit expensive but normal for the higher end foods & area of choice. Service is great, environment is very nice. Fun place great seating and food very good.

I love this restaurant! The food is always so delicious with big flavors, textures and colors! It may be overlooked because of its location (Carefree, AZ) but definitely worth it! The dining area is comfortable with lots of seating inside and outside. Victoria (front of the house) is warm, welcoming, and efficient. Chef Brandon is adept at mixing a variety of ingredients and presents a visually stunning and appetizing dish. Highly recommended!