Mike Shubic (Mike's Road Trip)
Google
As a seasoned foodie and travel writer, I was genuinely excited about dining at Sel Restaurant in downtown Scottsdale. The website, the glowing reviews, the inventive menu—all had my palate in a tizzy. We were a party of six, celebrating a birthday, and several guests had dined at Sel before and raved about it, setting expectations sky high.
Worth noting: for parties of six or more, Sel requires a meal deposit, which is applied to the final bill.
We began with cocktails. The menu offers intriguing options, though none particularly jumped out at me. I opted for their “Bartender, Take the Wheel” option—where you pick your base spirit and tell the server what flavors you’d like to avoid. I ended up with a tequila-based concoction: beautifully presented and well-balanced, though it didn’t pack much punch. My girlfriend had two cocktails and also felt surprisingly unaffected.
The menu offers both à la carte and prix fixe options, but for larger parties, the entire table must choose one format. We went à la carte and opted to share a few dishes:
Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras with fermented apple cobbler, Bordelaise sauce, and candied applewood bacon streusel was a fun mix of flavors. However, the portion of foie gras was scant, and the plating wasn’t particularly photogenic for a dish of that caliber.
A special diver scallop crudo, tostada-style, was the star of the evening. Vibrant, beautifully plated, and bursting with fresh, balanced flavors. We both really loved this one.
Jumbo Lump Crab with Uni Butter and Sourdough was flavorful, but the portion was tiny, and the infused butter was nowhere near enough for the amount of bread served.
Braised Lamb Ravioli with aged Parmesan and black truffle jus sounded like a winner. It was tasty indeed—but four ravioli with minimal filling for $42 felt hard to justify.
Service was generally warm and knowledgeable—our server knew the menu well and kept our waters topped off—but the pacing between courses was sluggish. Ironically, the restaurant requests that guests wrap up within 90 minutes to two hours, but we couldn’t have done so even if we’d tried.
We dined on the patio, which was charming under the Scottsdale sky. However, it cooled off considerably toward the end of the meal, and though heat lamps were nearby, none were offered or turned on. We later noticed other tables had them lit—just a small oversight, but one that stood out.
Presentation of dishes was a highlight. Sel uses unique serving ware that suits each course, though one plate arrived with a spot of food on the rim—an off note for a high-end restaurant.
Inside, the restaurant is intimate, stylish, and modern. The restroom was pristine, which always speaks volumes about a place’s overall attention to detail.
In the end, while the company I was with was absolutely delightful—and I had a truly enjoyable evening—the culinary experience fell just shy of expectation. The food was good, but not exceptional. And for the price point, I was hoping for something more memorable. It lacked the “wow” factor that lingers after a truly special meal.
If I could, I’d rate Sel 3.5 stars. It’s a restaurant with promise, and perhaps we caught it on an off night. But when pricing starts to stretch the bounds of value, expectations naturally rise—and sadly, ours weren’t quite met. I did have a wonderful evening with J.S. and her friends, they are amazing!!
