Anhelo: A Culinary Evolution in Scottsdale

As many of you know, I’ve long been a fan of Chef Ivan Jacobo and his remarkable culinary vision. Years ago, I wrote about the original Anhelo — back when it stood in the very space that now houses his charming concept Flour & Thyme (which I even featured in the first issue of EatLoveTravelPlay). I loved it then, but walking into the new Anhelo in Scottsdale felt like witnessing an evolution — one that could easily earn a Michelin star if Arizona had them to give.

A Dining Experience Like No Other

Having recently dined at The French Laundry in Napa and La Colombe in South Africa, two global temples of hospitality where service shines as brightly as the cuisine, I can honestly say: Anhelo now belongs in that conversation.

From the moment you step through the twinkling patio, there’s a palpable sense that something special is about to unfold. The air hums with warmth and precision, a sensory overture that continues as you’re welcomed by a team so polished, they could write the definitive playbook on fine dining service. Every gesture feels intentional, and every course tells a story through artistry and restraint.

The Grand Tasting Menu

The Grand Tasting Menu unfolds like a symphony, with each plate composed of Chef Ivan’s signature balance of creativity, emotion, and discipline.

• Garden Salad: This dish eats like poetry, layered with goat cheese snow and beet sorbet.
• Foie Gras Pie: Luxurious yet playful, wrapped in pistachio and punctuated by pomegranate caviar.
• Diver Scallop: Crowned with uni froth and squid ink, echoing both the sea and the soul.
  
  

And then, the A5 Wagyu Striploin. Perfectly seared, rich yet impossibly tender, it now officially earns a spot on my Best Bites list. While I have a fungi allergy (and the team was wonderfully attentive in ensuring every course was safe), this dish didn’t need the truffle accompaniment to impress; it was pure culinary excellence on its own.

The Wine Program

What elevates the experience even further is Anhelo’s wine program, thoughtful, daring, and expertly curated. It’s one of those rare places where you can confidently surrender the wine list to the team, knowing you’re in the best of hands. Their knowledge isn’t just impressive; it’s intuitive. Every pour, every pairing feels like a revelation, a seamless bridge between kitchen and cellar that deepens each bite and heightens every note of flavor.

The Atmosphere

Let’s talk about the feeling. I always appreciated the artistry of Anhelo, but the original location, while charming, never quite matched the caliber of its menu. This new home, however, is an aesthetic revelation: refined, luminous, and filled with a kind of understated luxury that lets the food lead. It’s elegant without ego, indulgent without excess.

We were lucky enough to end the evening on the softly lit patio, enjoying dessert with pours of Port and Sauternes under the glow of twinkle lights — a beautiful, unhurried ending to a meal that already felt like a masterpiece.

A Culinary Rebirth

Anhelo’s new chapter isn’t just an upgrade — it’s a rebirth. A love letter to the art of hospitality, and proof that Scottsdale’s dining scene is leveling up in ways that would make even the Michelin inspectors swoon (if only they’d venture to Arizona).

Chef Ivan, your evolution is nothing short of inspiring. What you’ve created here is not just a restaurant, but an experience—and one that will linger long after the final sip of Sauternes fades into memory.

Anhelo

7007 E 1st Ave

Scottsdale AZ 85251

602.596.7745