About Reserve
Reserve is the fine-dining sister to Cafe Monarch, set across the street from it in Old Town Scottsdale at 6934 E 1st Ave. It seats just 25 diners a night, Wednesday through Saturday, around a single tasting service in a courtyard.
Chef-owner Gustavo "Gus" Lewkowicz runs the kitchen with chef de cuisine Ben Wald, an alum of the three-Michelin-star Inn at Little Washington. The format is a 12-course seasonal tasting shaped by Lewkowicz's 2019 travels through Spain, at $285 per person before wine; pairings push a couple toward $400 to $500 each.
It opened in 2020 and has become Scottsdale's clearest answer to a special-occasion tasting room. Our Food, Ambience and Value scores average 9.1. Book early: three advanced sommeliers work the floor, and the 25 seats go fast on weekends.
Why It Works for Birthday
A milestone birthday wants a meal that takes the whole evening, and a 12-course tasting for 25 people delivers exactly that. The courtyard is intimate, the pacing is deliberate, and the kitchen tailors courses to the table. For other rooms built for a celebration, see our best birthday restaurants and the broader tasting-menu guide.
Not for a spontaneous or a budget night — there is one seating of a single 12-course menu at $285 a head, only 25 seats, only Wednesday to Saturday, and weekends book out well ahead. If you want flexibility or an a la carte option, this is the wrong room.
Reserve — FAQ
Is Reserve in Scottsdale worth it?
Yes, if you want a full tasting-menu evening rather than a quick dinner. At $285 per person for 12 courses it sits among the most expensive meals in Scottsdale, but the 25-seat format, the seasonal Spanish-influenced cooking and a kitchen led by an Inn at Little Washington alum justify it for a milestone. Treat it as the night's main event and book ahead.
How do I book Reserve?
Reserve seats only 25 guests per night, Wednesday through Saturday, so reservations are released in advance and weekend dates go quickly. Book through the restaurant's site and aim several weeks out, especially for Friday and Saturday. The single seating starts in the early evening and runs late, so plan the whole night around it rather than scheduling anything after.
What is the dress code at Reserve?
There is no strict jacket requirement, but most guests dress up given the price and the occasion-led nature of the room. Smart-casual is the floor; a blazer or a nice dress reads as appropriate rather than overdressed. The courtyard setting is intimate and candlelit, so people tend to treat it as a special night and dress accordingly.
What does a meal at Reserve cost?
The 12-course tasting menu is $285 per person before drinks. Wine pairings, guided by three advanced sommeliers, push the all-in figure to roughly $400 to $500 per person depending on what you choose. There is no a la carte option, so plan for the set tasting as the full cost of the evening. See our anniversary picks for similar rooms.
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