"A celebrity-chef Italian steakhouse with the polish a deal dinner needs — Beau MacMillan's kitchen turns out lobster risotto and wagyu bolognese to a North Scottsdale crowd that expects to be impressed."
9.3Food
9.2Ambience
8.6Value
About The Americano
The Americano is a modern Italian steakhouse on North Scottsdale Road, with Beau MacMillan overseeing the kitchen and Peter McQuaid as executive chef. MacMillan — the longtime chef at Elements and an Iron Chef America winner — gives the room a recognisable name, which matters when you are hosting clients who read the credits.
The format is prime steaks and house-made pasta under one roof, plus a raw bar and a long Italian-leaning wine list. MacMillan and McQuaid relaunched the menu in 2026, per AZ Big Media.
The Kitchen
The pasta is the tell. The Tagliatelle Wagyu Bolognese ($36) uses Terra Heritage wagyu with pork, veal and fontina fonduta; the King Crab Cavatelli ($52) comes in a shellfish broth with tomato sofrito. For the table, the Maine Lobster Risotto for Two ($115) is the showpiece, and MacMillan's hand-cut fries ($16) are a deliberate, dressed-up bar snack.
Steaks are prime and cooked over high heat; the seafood tower anchors the raw bar. It is priced as a $$$$ steakhouse, which is the point for an expense-account dinner.
The Room
The room is dark, leather-and-brass North Scottsdale — high-backed booths, a busy bar, and enough acoustic separation to hold a negotiation without shouting. It is built to signal seriousness, which is exactly what you want when the meal is really a meeting.
What to Order
Open with the seafood tower, move to the wagyu bolognese and king crab cavatelli to share, and put one prime steak in the centre. The lobster risotto for two is the move if you want a single dish to do the impressing. Finish with an amaro from the cart.
Why The Americano Works to Close a Deal
A name-chef kitchen, booth privacy, and a wine list deep enough to flatter a guest — the table does the talking. See the Close a Deal guide for the wider field.
Not for
Not for a quiet first date or a budget night — it is a loud, expensive room engineered for groups and occasions. If you want intimate and low-key, this is the wrong steakhouse; if you want to be seen spending, it is the right one.
Frequently Asked
Who is the chef at The Americano in Scottsdale?
The Americano's kitchen is led by Beau MacMillan, who oversees the food, with Peter McQuaid as executive chef. MacMillan is the longtime chef of Elements at Sanctuary and an Iron Chef America winner, which gives the steakhouse a marquee name. The two relaunched the menu in 2026.
What are the signature dishes at The Americano?
The standouts are the Tagliatelle Wagyu Bolognese ($36) made with Terra Heritage wagyu, the King Crab Cavatelli ($52) in shellfish broth, and the Maine Lobster Risotto for Two ($115). Prime steaks cooked over high heat and a raw-bar seafood tower round out a menu built for sharing.
How expensive is The Americano?
The Americano is a $$$$ steakhouse: pastas run $36 to $52, the lobster risotto for two is $115, and prime steaks and the seafood tower push the bill higher. It is priced and positioned for expense-account and special-occasion dining in North Scottsdale rather than a casual night out.
Where is The Americano located?
The Americano is at 17797 North Scottsdale Road in North Scottsdale, Arizona. It is an upscale, reservation-driven steakhouse; booking ahead is strongly advised on weekends and during peak season when North Scottsdale dining fills quickly.
