Let's face it: August in Scottsdale can make the idea of sitting outside for dinner sound like a terrible decision.

But the summer heat has a silver lining.

This is the time of year when some of the Valley's better restaurants roll out prix-fixe menus, seasonal dining experiences, and special offers designed to bring locals through the doors.

And for diners, that can mean an opportunity to experience restaurants that might normally be saved for a special occasion—sometimes for considerably less than ordering everything à la carte.

We've rounded up several summer dining options around Scottsdale that caught our attention, from a $79 steakhouse menu to a five-course dinner served inside a 57-degree underground wine cellar.

So grab your calendar.

Summer dining is looking pretty good.

If you're looking for a serious steakhouse dinner, Bourbon & Bones has one of the more straightforward summer offers around.

The Signature Summer Menu is $79 per guest and is available Sunday through Thursday.

The menu is essentially a choose-your-own steakhouse experience.

Start with a choice of appetizers, then select an entrée, side and dessert. Entrée choices include options such as Prime Petite Filet Mignon, Kurobuta Pork Chop, Seared Salmon, and Broiled Chicken, with premium upgrades available.

Then choose your side and finish with dessert.

For a restaurant where a steakhouse dinner can climb quickly once you start adding appetizers, sides, and dessert, having a structured menu at $79 makes this an especially interesting Sunday-through-Thursday option.

It is also a good reminder that summer dining isn't necessarily about finding a bargain-basement meal.

Sometimes it's about getting more of the experience for your money.

Bourbon & Bones — Old Town Scottsdale
4200 N. Scottsdale Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
480-629-4922

Hours:
Sunday–Monday: 4–9 PM
Tuesday–Saturday: 4–10 PM

Website: Bourbon & Bones

Reservations are recommended, particularly on busy evenings.

If you're thinking about Mastro's for a summer dinner, there's a seasonal prix-fixe menu worth knowing about.

Mastro's Summer of Luxury is $100 per guest, available Monday through Thursday through September 24, 2026.

And just to make sure we're clear: this is the North Scottsdale location, not the City Hall restaurant.

The menu gives diners a choice of appetizers, followed by a selection of entrées that can include petite filet, organic lemon pepper chicken, double-cut pork chop and blackened salmon, with premium steak upgrades available.

Then choose a vegetable or potato and finish with one of Mastro's desserts—including the restaurant's famous Personal Warm Butter Cake.

For a restaurant at this level, the Summer of Luxury menu gives you a little more structure to the experience and makes it easier to know what you're spending before you sit down.

And if you've never had Mastro's butter cake, this might be your excuse.

Mastro's Steakhouse — North Scottsdale
8852 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-585-9500

Hours:
Sunday–Thursday: 5–9 PM
Friday–Saturday: 5–10 PM

Website: Mastro's Steakhouse North Scottsdale

If you're looking to turn dinner into more of an experience, Talavera at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North deserves a spot on the list.

Located at the Four Seasons Resort, Talavera combines prime steaks, seafood and seasonal ingredients with Spanish and Latin influences. The restaurant also takes full advantage of its location, with indoor and open-air dining overlooking the Sonoran Desert. (Four Seasons)

The current summer menu includes plenty of reasons to make the drive, from tuna crudo and truffle fries to an Arizona mushroom pizza, seasonal salads and more substantial dishes.

For the steak crowd, current selections include an 8-ounce Wagyu tenderloin, 16-ounce Arizona ribeye and 32-ounce dry-aged tomahawk. Seafood options include Sea of Cortez halibut, while other dishes bring seasonal ingredients into the mix. (OpenTable)

And then there's the setting.

Talavera is one of those restaurants where timing your reservation around sunset can make a difference. The combination of desert views, firelight and an open-air table makes the restaurant feel like more than just another steakhouse.

This one isn't necessarily about finding the cheapest dinner.

It's about finding a dinner that feels like Scottsdale.

Talavera at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
10600 E. Crescent Moon Dr.
Scottsdale, AZ 85262
480-513-5085

Hours:
Dinner daily: 5–9 PM (Four Seasons)

Website: Talavera at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale

Forking Scottsdale tip: If you're going for the full experience, consider booking around sunset and requesting outdoor seating.

Now we're talking about a summer dining experience that is genuinely different.

At LON's at The Hermosa Inn, a historic wine cellar beneath the restaurant becomes the setting for Cool Dining in the Wine Cellar.

And yes, the cellar is kept at approximately 57 degrees.

The 2026 experience runs through August 30, Thursday through Sunday, and features a five-course dinner built around seasonal ingredients.

The experience is $165 per person, with wine pairings available for an additional $95 per person.

It's obviously not a "cheap eats" deal.

But that's not what makes it interesting.

This is a summer experience—a candlelit meal in a historic underground wine cellar that normally isn't part of the everyday restaurant experience.

LON's itself is one of the area's more distinctive dining destinations, with the historic Hermosa Inn setting, mature landscaping, outdoor fireplaces and an Arizona-inspired menu.

For a special occasion—or simply a night when you want to do something completely different—this is one of the more memorable summer dining experiences near Scottsdale.

LON's at The Hermosa Inn
5532 N. Palo Cristi Rd.
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
602-955-7878

Cool Dining in the Wine Cellar:
Thursday–Sunday
Through August 30, 2026
$165 per person
Optional wine pairing: $95 per person

Regular Hours:
Brunch: 7 AM–2 PM daily
Dinner: 5–9 PM daily
LON's Last Drop: 11 AM–10 PM daily
Happy Hour: 3–6 PM daily

Website: LON's at The Hermosa Inn

One important note: The Cool Dining experience ends August 30, so if it's on your list, don't wait too long.

If you're willing to venture into Cave Creek, Cartwright's Sonoran Ranch House is another restaurant worth adding to the summer dining map.

This isn't a Scottsdale prix-fixe special we're including here—the appeal is different.

Cartwright's has built its identity around Arizona heritage, Sonoran ingredients and the traditions of the American Southwest.

The restaurant combines steaks and game meats with seafood, poultry and Southwestern flavors in a rustic ranch-house setting.

The restaurant sits at the base of Saguaro Hill, and the setting is part of the experience.

Inside, you'll find a Western-inspired dining room, fireplaces and a covered patio overlooking the Sonoran Desert.

The restaurant's location and cuisine make it feel less like another stop on Scottsdale's restaurant corridor and more like a destination dinner.

And that's exactly why we're including it.

If you've got guests in town, are looking for something different, or simply want to take a break from the usual Scottsdale dining circuit, Cartwright's is worth the drive north.

Cartwright's Sonoran Ranch House
6710 E. Cave Creek Rd.
Cave Creek, AZ 85331
480-488-8031

Hours:
Dinner service generally begins around 4:30 PM, with hours subject to change.

Website: Cartwright's Sonoran Ranch House

Forking Scottsdale tip: Make this a destination evening rather than simply dinner. Head north, grab a cocktail, enjoy the desert setting and take your time.

Summer dining doesn't necessarily mean hunting down the cheapest meal in town.

Sometimes it's about finding the right experience at the right time.

For a classic steakhouse night, Bourbon & Bones' $79 Signature Summer Menu is hard to ignore.

If you're looking for a more luxurious steakhouse experience, Mastro's Summer of Luxury gives you a structured way to experience the restaurant for $100 per guest.

If what you're really after is the Scottsdale experience, Talavera brings together prime cuts, seafood, Spanish and Latin influences and those beautiful Sonoran Desert views.

And if you're looking for something you won't get at just any Scottsdale restaurant, LON's underground Cool Dining experience is about as unique as summer dining gets.

Then there's Cartwright's, where the destination itself is part of the experience.

Don't wait for Friday night.

Some of the best summer dining opportunities are happening Sunday through Thursday, when restaurants are looking for local diners.

That means a Tuesday night can suddenly become date night.

A Wednesday can become steak night.

And a random Thursday can turn into a five-course dinner in a 57-degree wine cellar.

Not a bad way to spend an Arizona summer.

Restaurant menus, prices, hours, specials and promotions can change at any time. We make every effort to provide accurate information based on current restaurant and official sources, but we recommend confirming details directly with the restaurant before making plans.

Forking Scottsdale is an independent local dining guide and is not affiliated with or paid by the restaurants featured unless specifically noted. Opinions and observations are our own.

Because in Scottsdale, things can change almost as fast as the menu.

Know about a Scottsdale restaurant special we missed?

Reply and tell us about it.

We're always hunting for the next great Scottsdale dining deal.

Deals and pricing can change, so it's always a good idea to confirm with the restaurant before heading out.