The House Brasserie Experience

He Said

A little cottage and from what I have read, the second oldest house in Scottsdale, houses a delicious menu with comfortable but efficient service.  Upon arrival I felt like I was transported into a Hansel and Gretel type house and immediately felt at home in this old cottage. Walking in had a dimly lit and bustling scene with all types of people from those going out later, to visitors from the Valley Ho, to those just wanting a great meal and then heading home. Warmly greeted and seated immediately, you definitely want to get reservations as it is a small space, especially during the summer when no one wants to sit on what looked like a fabulous front yard seating area. Little bistro type tables allowed more to be seated but we quickly learned didn’t leave enough space for lots of plates and glasses. Thankfully their servers were on top of it when it came to clearing things from the table. If I didn’t know better I would have thought someone was watching our every move to make sure nothing was left unattended. Bravo! Our server was prompt, courteous and helpful with suggestions. We never felt intimidated or rushed, just enough to make us feel as though our needs were important to them.

We decided to order some cocktails and what a list of cocktails. Not long and exhausting but different and exciting, I ordered one with a Dr. Pepper redox. It was delicious and definitely a sipper drink as it came in a small glass. Quality not Quantity seemed to be the name of the game here and I was happy to have it. We then moved on to the starters or shared plates as they are called. We enjoyed a crab fondue, Duck Confit meatballs, and a well-known favorite the Brisket and Biscuits. The latter being our favorite but all were enjoyed with no reason to complain. The crab fondue was a great consistency with good size chunks of crab of which you dipped sliced French bread with a pesto sauce ladled on top. I thought it was odd but quickly learned it was enjoyable. The meatballs were slightly crispy on the outside and had soft innards which I can only assume was the Foie Gras described on the menu. I’d happily enjoy all 3 again but the Brisket and Biscuits reminded me of a good old southern menu item and brought back happy memories of college. The white cheddar on top was decadent. Filling up on shared plates we shared a main entrée which they graciously cut and split the flatiron steak and accompaniments for us and presented it with beauty. It’s one thing for a restaurant to agree to a shared main entrée and it’s another all together for them to change the presentation instead of forcing you to cut and break apart yourself. The steak melted in our mouths and actually outscored some of the better steakhouses I have been to in the valley.

I can’t end this without mentioning the Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake with salted caramel and pistachio ice cream. On recommendation from our server we made sure every bite included a little of each ingredient. Wow! What a treat. The cake was moist and for such a small size dessert had large chunks of apple and the ice cream was creamy with lots of pistachios mixed in. somewhat hidden under the ice cream was the salted caramel. Together it was a perfect dessert to end the evening. Again I comment on the size. Some may complain but honestly, it was perfect for 2 people to share. Unless you want to just go all out and eat 1,000 calories then you might want to hit a dessert shop afterwards. My Irish coffee helped as it was made with espresso, Jameson, and topped with a bourbon vanilla cream. One of the best I ever had. I look forward to returning to the House Brasserie.

She Said

Nestled in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, a charming historical house has been transformed into The House Brasserie.

The whimsical exterior reminds me of an adorable cottage straight out of a Disney movie. The beautifully decorated interior is sophisticated with inspiration from the Victorian Era. Gold Damask wallpaper, framed mirrors and dimly lit chandeliers set an intimate scene.

The service was above and beyond. I was so pleased by the friendliness and attentiveness of the staff. Our waitress was ready with suggestions and tips throughout our dinner. Side Note: I had carried a clutch purse that night and couldn’t hang it on my chair. I placed it on the floor and within seconds a busboy picked it up, put a napkin down on the floor and placed my clutch on the napkin! WOW! I was so impressed! See Photo:

We started with three shared plates: The Duck Confit Meatballs, Crab Fondue and Brisket & Biscuits. The Duck Confit meatballs were nicely prepared. Browned and crusted on the outside with a soft tender inside thanks to the Foie Gras. The white bean puree and cherries (which always pair nicely with duck) enhanced the different levels of the poultry’s delicious flavors. The Crab Fondue was thick with chunks of crab and came with slices of French bread that were pre-smeared with pesto. Delectable! The rich combination of seafood with the basil & garlic from the pesto made this the ultimate crab dip! Now to my favorite small plate, the Brisket & Biscuits! Yum Yum Yum! Open faced homemade flaky biscuits were topped with thin slices of brisket, chili jam and white cheddar cheese. It was a classy spin on a classic!

For our main entrée we decided to share the nightly special of Flatiron Steak with potato and artichoke. Without even asking they split the meal into two halves on one plate which was so convenient. They kept the original eye-catching presentation but eliminated the awkward food diving process at the table. The steak was amazing. Melting with every bite. I literally stopped talking and went to town on this steak. I couldn’t get enough! Just as I was thinking “I should have got my own…” dessert popped into my head and was glad we shared the steak entrée.

For dessert we got the Carmel Apple Upside-down Cake. I may go back to The House for this alone. The cake was accompanied by salted caramel and a scoop of fresh pistachio ice cream. The waitress suggested to combine it all in one spoonful. OH YEAH! Heavenly! The saltiness of the caramel brought out all the traditional flavors of the warm apple cake and the pistachio ice cream cooled and melted all the flavors together in a creamy delightful way. Superb dessert. I am so glad I saved room for it!

I feel lucky we have The House Brasserie in Old Town Scottsdale, it really is an outstanding restaurant!