Scottsdale has no shortage of Italian restaurants.

But when Richard Blais and Giada De Laurentiis put their names behind two upscale Italian restaurants just a few miles apart, that's a different kind of Fork in the Road.

On one side is La Zozzona, Blais' “Itali-Zona” kitchen at the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort. It's playful, rustic, bold, and unapologetically “messy delicious,” with house-made pasta, wood-fired steaks, shareable cicchetti, and a seriously creative cocktail program. (La Zozzona)

On the other hand, Luna by Giada is inside Caesars Republic Scottsdale. Giada's restaurant blends her Roman heritage with California influences, creating a more polished, sophisticated, and high-energy Italian experience. (Luna by Giada)

Both are splurge-worthy.

Both are built for a night out.

But they definitely aren't the same night out.

So the question isn't really which restaurant is better.

It's:

Located at the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort, La Zozzona is Richard Blais' first Arizona restaurant.

And the personality starts with the name.

La Zozzona means “messy delicious,” and that's exactly the attitude Blais brings to the menu.

The restaurant describes its food as an “Itali-Zona” kitchen inspired by the hearty, rustic dishes of southern Italy, while pulling from Rome for its pastas and Florence and Tuscany for its wood-fired steaks.

This isn't Italian food that's trying to be overly precious.

It's Italian food with personality.

The menu is built for sharing, starting with cicchetti like Crispy Mozzarella with Calabrian chili honey, Hamachi Crudo and Fritto Misto, before moving into house-made pastas like Truffled Parmesan Gnocchi, Short Rib Bolognese and Rigatoni “Alla Zozzona.”

Then come the big plates.

A Dry-Aged New York Strip runs $110, while the Bone-In Tomahawk Ribeye comes in at $195. There's also swordfish, branzino, veal chop, and a Chicken Parmigiana platter. (La Zozzona)

In other words, La Zozzona isn't just about pasta.

You can make this a serious steak-and-Italian-wine kind of night.

This is one area where La Zozzona gets particularly fun.

The restaurant has an intimate, speakeasy-style lounge with plush seating and a glowing firepit, making it a cocktail destination even before dinner.

And the cocktail list is anything but boring.

There's the Messy Girl Martini, made with mozzarella-washed vodka, a Smoked Old Fashioned, a Roma Paloma, several versions of a Negroni, and cocktails that lean heavily into Italian spirits and flavors.

It's the kind of bar where you could easily say:

“Let's just have one drink before dinner.”

And then realize you've ordered another.

La Zozzona has that resort-meets-Italian-dinner-party feeling.

It's polished, but it doesn't feel stiff.

The indoor-outdoor setting gives it a little more breathing room, while the lounge provides a darker, more intimate place to settle in.

The overall feeling is:

Come hungry. Order a bunch of things. Open a bottle of wine. Don't take yourself too seriously.

Then there's Luna.

Located on the first floor of Caesars Republic Scottsdale (A Hilton Hotel), Luna is Giada De Laurentiis' signature Scottsdale restaurant—and the personality is noticeably different from La Zozzona.

Luna describes itself as a sophisticated, high-energy environment, with a menu that embraces Giada's Roman heritage while incorporating vibrant California influences.

The food is polished, recognizable, and very much in the Giada lane.

And if one dish immediately grabs your attention, it's the Signature Lemon Spaghetti with shrimp, mascarpone, basil, and crispy capers.

It's joined by dishes like Lobster Arancini, Ahi Tuna Crudo, Lobster Tortellini, Tripolini with pistachio pesto and fennel sausage, Bistecca alla Fiorentina for Two, and Branzino.

There's also pizza— including the restaurant's signature Lemon Pizza—so this isn't strictly a pasta destination.

It's a full Italian night-out menu.

This is where Luna really separates itself.

The Luna Bar opens earlier than the restaurant, making it a legitimate place to start the evening rather than simply an extension of the dining room.

Happy hour runs daily from 3–5 p.m., with a reverse happy hour Sunday through Thursday from 9–10 p.m. (Luna by Giada)

And there are plenty of reasons to make a stop.

Luna offers cocktails, wine, beer and shareable bites, plus a $35 Pizette & Wine special from 3–5 p.m. (Luna by Giada)

The bar itself is sleek, stylish and social, with plush seating and a warm, polished atmosphere.

It's a little more:

“Let's get dressed and go out.”

Luna feels more glamorous and polished.

It's the kind of restaurant where the surroundings are part of the evening.

The room is contemporary, elegant, and energetic, while the hotel setting gives it a definite destination feel.

It's particularly well suited for a date night, celebration, business dinner or a night when you want cocktails to be part of the plan.

This is a tough one.

La Zozzona brings the attitude.

Its Rigatoni Alla Zozzona, Short Rib Bolognese, and Truffled Parmesan Gnocchi lean into rich, hearty flavors. (La Zozzona)

Luna takes a more refined, California-meets-Rome approach.

And then there's that Signature Lemon Spaghetti.

Luna wins for signature pasta.

La Zozzona gets the edge if you want something heartier and more indulgent.

This one swings toward La Zozzona.

La Zozzona has a dedicated Cuts and Catches section featuring a Dry-Aged New York Strip and a massive Bone-In Tomahawk Ribeye, along with seafood and other large-format entrées.

Luna certainly isn't short on beef—the Bistecca alla Fiorentina for Two is a serious centerpiece—but steak isn't quite as central to the restaurant's identity.

This one is close.

La Zozzona has the more playful cocktail personality. The Messy Girl Martini, Smoked Old Fashioned, and Negroni variations fit the Blais personality perfectly. (La Zozzona)

Luna has the advantage if you want the bar to be part of the entire evening, with daily happy hour, reverse happy hour, and a sleek social setting. (Luna by Giada)

La Zozzona for creative cocktails.

Luna for the overall bar experience.

That's a tie in our book. 🍸

This might actually be the biggest difference between the two.

Playful. Rustic. Warm. Sexy. A little unexpected.

The indoor-outdoor setting and separate lounge give you options, and the restaurant feels built around having fun with dinner. (La Zozzona)

Polished. Sophisticated. Stylish. Social.

It's more of a dressed-up Scottsdale night, particularly if you're starting with cocktails at the bar and settling in for a leisurely dinner. (Luna by Giada)

If La Zozzona says “Let's have some fun,”

Luna says “Let's make a night of it.”

Neither one is an everyday Tuesday-night pasta run.

These are special-occasion restaurants.

At La Zozzona, pastas currently land in the high $20s, premium entrées climb considerably higher, and the Tomahawk Ribeye reaches $195. (La Zozzona)

At Luna, pastas range from the high $20s into the $40s, while larger entrées such as the Bistecca alla Fiorentina for Two reach $129. (Luna by Giada)

So this isn't really about finding the cheaper restaurant.

It's about deciding which experience is worth the splurge for you.

✔ You want a more polished, sophisticated Italian experience.

✔ Giada's signature style is what you're after.

✔ Lemon pasta sounds like something you absolutely need to try.

✔ You want a strong cocktail and wine program.

✔ You want to start the evening at the bar.

✔ You're looking for a date-night restaurant.

✔ You're celebrating a birthday, anniversary or special occasion.

✔ You prefer a sleek, energetic atmosphere.

✔ You want Italian food with Roman roots and California influences.

✔ You want happy hour before dinner—or a late-night drink afterward.

✔ You want Richard Blais' playful take on Italian.

✔ You like big, bold flavors.

✔ You want house-made pasta and serious steak.

✔ You'd rather share several dishes around the table.

✔ You're into creative cocktails.

✔ You want a more relaxed, playful atmosphere.

✔ You like the idea of an intimate speakeasy-style lounge.

✔ You're planning a group dinner or celebration.

✔ You want a restaurant that doesn't take traditional Italian dining too seriously.

✔ A $195 Tomahawk Ribeye sounds like the right way to celebrate. 😂

But here's the thing...

Neither restaurant is trying to be the other.

And that's exactly what makes this a good Fork in the Road.

Luna by Giada is the choice when you want Italian dining to feel polished, glamorous, and distinctly Giada.

La Zozzona is where you go when you want Italian food with a little more swagger, a little more fire, and a whole lot of personality.

So...

If you're looking for lemon spaghetti, cocktails, and a polished night out — pick Giada.

If you're looking for pasta, steak, creative cocktails and a little “messy delicious” fun — pick Blais.

Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort

7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
480-483-5590

Dinner: Tuesday–Thursday 5–9 p.m.; Friday–Saturday 5–10 p.m.
Speakeasy-style lounge with craft cocktails and fire pit. (La Zozzona)

Caesars Republic Scottsdale, A Hilton Hotel

4747 N. Goldwater Blvd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
480-914-6829

Dinner: Sunday 4–10 p.m.; Monday–Thursday 5–10 p.m.; Friday–Saturday 4–11 p.m.

Luna Bar: Sunday–Thursday 3–11 p.m.; Friday–Saturday 3 p.m.–midnight.
Happy Hour: Daily 3–5 p.m.
Reverse Happy Hour: Sunday–Thursday 9–10 p.m. (Luna by Giada)