When you're spending $150, $200, or more on a night out, where should you go?

Scottsdale has no shortage of restaurants where dinner is about more than what's on the plate.

It's about the room. The cocktails. The crowd. The service. The energy. And, yes, whether the food is good enough to make you want to come back and do it all over again.

This week, we're putting two North Scottsdale restaurants head-to-head that may look like competitors on paper but take surprisingly different approaches to the same idea:

il Bracco vs. The Americano.

Both serve Italian-inspired food. Both have serious cocktails. Both have polished dining rooms. Both attract Scottsdale's see-and-be-seen crowd.

But that's where the similarities start to fade.

One feels like the stylish neighborhood restaurant you wish you had around the corner.

The other feels like dinner has been turned into an event.

So, Scottsdale...

Where should your fork go?

6160 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale

il Bracco is the newer kid in this particular fight, opening its Scottsdale location March 30, 2026.

And Scottsdale didn't exactly have to wait patiently for it.

The restaurant's Dallas roots gave it a built-in following before the doors even opened. Western Addition Restaurant Group brought the concept to Arizona as its first expansion outside Texas, and the Scottsdale location took more than four years to develop. The result is a roughly 5,000-square-foot restaurant with about 165 seats, an open kitchen, a substantial bar and a patio that wraps around the building.

Scottsdale didn't take long to notice.

By June, Phoenix New Times described the restaurant as packed, from its travertine bar to its plush booths and patio. The publication's take was particularly interesting: the food isn't trying to reinvent Italian cooking. Instead, il Bracco leans into familiar dishes, quality ingredients, and polished execution. (phoenixnewtimes.com)

And honestly?

That's kind of the point.

il Bracco knows exactly what it wants to be.

It's upscale without feeling overly formal. It's sophisticated without demanding that you whisper. And it's designed to be a place where you can have a long lunch, meet friends for cocktails or settle in for dinner.

The menu centers on house-made pasta, fresh seafood, prime meats, and Italian-inspired classics.

The current menu gives us plenty to work with.

The Crispy Artichokes are $21, the Meatballs are $25, the Housemade Focaccia is $14, and the Sicilian Crudo comes in at $26. Pasta runs roughly $24–$30, with the Spicy Gemelli at $25 and the Bolognese at $30. (ilbraccorestaurant.com)

Then there is the Chicken Piccata, Mediterranean Sea Bass, jumbo scallops, and USDA Prime steaks.

And, of course, there is the dish that has probably done more marketing for il Bracco than any billboard ever could:

House-made gemelli tossed in spicy vodka sauce, basil and Reggiano.

It's the restaurant's signature for a reason.

But il Bracco isn't simply about pasta.

The Center Cut Filet is currently $62, while the NY Strip is $59. There's seafood, chicken and plenty of lighter options, making this a restaurant that can accommodate the person who wants pasta just as easily as the person who wants a serious piece of meat. (ilbraccorestaurant.com)

And then there's the cocktail.

A frozen Greyhound made with Aperol and fresh Ruby Red grapefruit.

It's $18, and if you're sitting on the patio on a Scottsdale evening, it's almost impossible not to understand why this drink became part of the restaurant's identity.

The restaurant even sells a 32-ounce Bracco To-Go for $40. (ilbraccorestaurant.com)

That tells you something about il Bracco.

It's not trying to be precious.

It's trying to be fun, polished, and incredibly easy to like.

17797 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale

Then there's The Americano.

That's important to know before we put it head-to-head with il Bracco.

In January 2026, celebrity chef Beau MacMillan stepped away from his culinary-director role with Clive Collective and Creation Hospitality, saying he wanted to get back to what he loves most—being in a kitchen and mentoring a team. He remains a partner in Cala Scottsdale and Tell Your Friends, but he's no longer the culinary force behind The Americano. (Phoenix New Times)

At the same time, Clive Collective took over operations of The Americano, adding the restaurant to its growing North Scottsdale footprint alongside Tell Your Friends.

And they're not simply keeping things exactly as they were.

The Americano recently underwent a renovation, and Clive says it's tweaking the menu with lighter, more shareable dishes and some lower-priced options, with the goal of moving the restaurant beyond the traditional “special occasion splurge.” The group says it wants The Americano to become a place people might visit once or twice a week, rather than somewhere they save for a birthday or anniversary.

That makes the restaurant particularly interesting right now.

The Americano still has the bones of a modern Italian steakhouse: steaks, house-made pastas, Italian antipasti, seafood, a raw bar and an ambitious cocktail program.

But the direction is becoming a little more approachable.

And that's an important distinction when we compare it with il Bracco, a restaurant that built its identity around being stylish, energetic, and approachable from the beginning.

Take the current menu.

You can start with Burrata & Prosciutto for $23, Meatballs for $21, a Tableside Mozzarella Cart for $48, or a filet carpaccio for $28. (theamericanorestaurant.com)

Then there's the raw bar:

Shrimp cocktail.

Scallop crudo.

Oysters.

Tuna tartare.

And if you're really going for it, a seafood tower.

This is where The Americano starts pulling away from the traditional Italian-restaurant category.

It's not really trying to be an Italian restaurant.

It's an Italian-inspired steakhouse.

The pasta program reflects that philosophy.

The current menu includes Tagliatelle Wagyu Bolognese, Braised Short Rib & Bone Marrow Ravioli, Mint Ricotta Doppio, Trenette all'Aragosta, and the restaurant's signature-style Pasta al Pomodoro.

And then there's the beef. Filet. New York strip. Ribeye. Dry-aged bone-in ribeye.

A serious steakhouse selection.

But here's the thing:

You don't have to order steak at The Americano.

You can have pasta and cocktails and call it dinner. You can order seafood. You can share plates.

Or you can go all out.

That's part of the restaurant's appeal.

This may be one of the most important differences between the two.

il Bracco has a very good cocktail program, but the personality is relatively straightforward.

The Bracco.

Asti 76.

Italian Martini.

Paper Plane.

Negroni Chinato.

It's Italian-leaning, approachable, and fun. (ilbraccorestaurant.com)

The Americano, meanwhile, treats cocktails almost like another course.

Its identity has long been tied to ice-cold martinis, inventive drinks and a more theatrical bar experience. The restaurant itself calls out its love of martinis as part of its identity.

And The Americano has another advantage if you're making a night of it.

Tell Your Friends, the underground cocktail and live-music lounge beneath the restaurant, gives diners the option of continuing the evening downstairs. The lounge was developed as a collaboration involving The Americano and Clive Collective and features cocktails, entertainment, and small bites. (experiencescottsdale.com)

That's not just dinner.

That's a night out.

This may be the closest fight of the night.

The pasta is approachable, recognizable, and comforting.

The Spicy Gemelli is the obvious crowd favorite.

The Bolognese brings beef, lamb and pork together in a rich ragu.

The Cacio e Pepe keeps things simple.

And the Al Limone adds shrimp, lemon, and brightness. (ilbraccorestaurant.com)

The pasta is more chef-driven and indulgent.

Wagyu Bolognese.

Short rib and bone marrow ravioli.

Lobster.

Ricotta-filled pasta.

Pomodoro.

There's more of a sense that you're getting an interpretation of Italian cooking rather than simply a great version of an Italian classic. (theamericanorestaurant.com)

Our edge: The Americano for creativity.
il Bracco for craveability.

And that's an important distinction.

Sometimes you don't want culinary creativity.

Sometimes you want a bowl of really good pasta and a glass of wine.

This one isn't particularly complicated.

The Americano wins.

That's what the restaurant is built to do.

At its core, it's a steakhouse, with a wood-fired grill and a dedicated steak program.

il Bracco has very respectable USDA Prime steaks—the current menu lists a NY Strip and Center Cut Filet around $59–$62—but steak isn't the reason most people are walking through the door. (ilbraccorestaurant.com)

At The Americano, steak is central to the identity.If steak is the mission, go Americano.

This is where things get interesting.

il Bracco has the more casual-luxury feel.

It's polished. It's stylish. It's lively.

But you can still imagine going there on a Tuesday because you simply feel like having pasta.

Phoenix New Times described the restaurant's Scottsdale crowd as young, well-dressed, and still arriving late into the evening, as other restaurants began to wind down. (phoenixnewtimes.com)

The Americano is more theatrical.

Dark.

Sexy.

Sophisticated.

The open kitchen and wood-fired grill become part of the show, while the dining room leans into the modern supper-club idea with striking art and intimate seating. The restaurant itself describes the experience as glamorous but welcoming. (theamericanorestaurant.com)

il Bracco says: “Let's go out.”

The Americano says: “Let's make a night of it.”

This is where things get surprisingly close.

Il Bracco's current menu generally offers a slightly easier path to an upscale dinner without the bill climbing quite as quickly.

Pastas are in the mid-$20s.

Most entrées land around $30–$45, with prime steaks in the $50s. (ilbraccorestaurant.com)

The Americano climbs faster.

The steakhouse format, seafood, premium ingredients, and cocktail program can turn dinner into a serious splurge.

But there is a little secret:

The Americano currently offers Wednesday through Sunday from 4–6 p.m., with $3 shrimp cocktail, oysters, and scallop crudo, plus $6 and $9 bites including sliders, steak skewers, and a lobster slider. (theamericanorestaurant.com)

So if you're looking for a way to experience The Americano without committing to the full dinner bill, happy hour is worth knowing about.

✔ You want a stylish, upscale Italian dinner that still feels approachable.

✔ You'd rather have handmade pasta than make steak the centerpiece of the meal. The menu centers on house-made pastas, Italian-inspired classics, seafood, and prime meats.

✔ You like having plenty of choices at the table. Pasta, seafood, salads, sandwiches, steaks, and shareable starters mean everyone can find something they want.

✔ You want to start with lunch and turn it into dinner. il Bracco is open seven days a week, serving lunch and dinner.

✔ You like a lighter, brighter restaurant atmosphere with a beautiful bar, booths, and a covered outdoor patio.

✔ You want cocktails to be part of dinner—but not necessarily the main event. The frozen Bracco, Italian Martini, and Negroni Chinato give the bar plenty of personality.

✔ You're looking for the newer Scottsdale hot spot. il Bracco opened its Scottsdale location in March 2026 and has quickly established itself as a busy North Scottsdale destination.

✔ You want that “let's just have a really good Italian dinner” feeling.

✔ You want dinner to feel like an event. The Americano describes itself as a modern Italian steakhouse with a modern supper-club feel.

✔ You want steak AND Italian food. This is the better choice when someone at the table wants a serious steak while someone else wants pasta or seafood.

✔ You love a great martini. The Americano puts ice-cold martinis right at the center of its identity.

✔ You prefer a darker, moodier, more glamorous atmosphere rather than il Bracco's brighter neighborhood feel.

✔ You're planning a date night, anniversary, or special celebration. The restaurant specifically positions itself for intimate dinners and milestone occasions.

✔ You want to turn dinner into an entire night out. The restaurant's relationship with the downstairs Tell Your Friends cocktail and entertainment space gives you another reason to stick around after dinner.

✔ You like the idea of an open kitchen, dramatic room, and a more theatrical dining experience.

✔ You want to try the restaurant's current new chapter. The Americano is now being operated under Clive Collective and has been evolving its menu and overall experience. That's an important distinction for anyone who hasn't been back recently.

✔ You're looking for a restaurant that feels more like a Scottsdale night out than simply dinner.

This is one of those Fork in the Road battles with no universal winner.

And that's exactly why we like it.

il Bracco

If you're craving a comforting, satisfying Italian pasta dinner, this is where we'd lean.

The Americano

It's a steakhouse. That's its home turf.

The Americano

Especially if martinis and a more elaborate night out are part of the plan.

il Bracco

It's open daily for lunch and dinner, making it much more versatile for daytime dining. (ilbraccorestaurant.com)

The Americano

Especially if you're planning dinner followed by drinks and music downstairs.

il Bracco

The menu is incredibly shareable, the atmosphere is lively and there's something for almost everyone.

il Bracco

It's easier to have a really good meal without turning dinner into a major financial event.

The Americano

Dinner + cocktails + Tell Your Friends?

That's a complete evening.

If you're asking us where we'd send you for the food alone, we'd take a very serious look at il Bracco.

There's something incredibly appealing about a restaurant that knows exactly what it is.

The pasta is approachable. The cocktails are fun. The room is beautiful. The service has generally been well received. And the restaurant has quickly established itself as one of Scottsdale's hot tables. OpenTable currently shows a 4.7 rating from more than 500 diners. (opentable.com)

But...

If you're asking us what to do for a special night out:

That's The Americano.

It has more layers.

The raw bar.

The steaks.

The pasta.

The cocktails.

The open kitchen.

The atmosphere.

And then, if you aren't ready to go home, Tell Your Friends is waiting downstairs.

6160 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85253
480-550-7238
Sunday–Thursday: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Friday–Saturday: 11 a.m.–11 p.m. (ilbraccorestaurant.com)

il Bracco Scottsdale

17797 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-573-0001
Wednesday–Sunday: 5–10 p.m.
Happy Hour: Wednesday–Sunday, 4–6 p.m. (theamericanorestaurant.com)

The Americano