The Cove Trattoria
Review of The Cove Trattoria in Scottsdale, AZ
About.com Rating 
The Cove Trattoria - What I Liked
- Casual neighborhood environment
- Family owned and operated, not a chain
- Open kitchen
The Cove Trattoria- Be Aware
- Largest pizza is 13"
- It's made from scratch, so it might not be fast
 Pizza at The Cove Trattoria © Judy Hedding |
The Cove Trattoria - The Mood
The Cove Trattoria is an Italian restaurant in Scottsdale.
Conveniently situated in central Scottsdale, families, business associates, dates -- all kinds and all ages were
dining at The Cove Trattoria on the evening I visited. Clearly there
is a core of regulars here. Attire is
casual, come as you are.
The Cove Trattoria - The Damages
At The Cove Trattoria you can enjoy upscale Italian fare, or opt for
pizza and salad. The menu offers a nice variety of antipasti ($8 to
$10), salads ($6 to $9), pasta, seafood and chicken specialty dishes
($14 to $19) and a few items from the grill, like salmon or filet
mignon ($16 to $23). Pizzas are priced between $12 and $15 for a
13" pie. Additional toppings are typically about $2 each.
My Review of The Cove Trattoria
It isn't really a pizza joint, although you can have just that
if you'd like. And it really isn't a spaghetti-and-meatballs place,
although you can make it that if you'd like. The Cove Trattoria has a
unique menu of Italian-inspired dishes.
 Grilled Halibut at The Cove Trattoria © Judy Hedding |
On our visit, we opted to try a pizza in an appetizer role. Unable to decide, they were amenable to making half the Pizza Rustica ($15) with Portobello mushrooms, red peppers, spinach, caramelized onions, mozzarella and goat cheese (beware -- goat cheese can be overwhelming in flavor) and half Piccante ($14) with mozzarella cheese, sweet Italian sausage and pepperoni. My friend is typically the meat-lovers type and I am usually veggie, but in this case, he favored the Rustica and I fell in love with the Piccante. The pizza had thin crust and was not too cheesy or saucy. Just right. Pizza dough is lovingly made on the premises, and I understand that its pizza preparation is closely guarded by the patriarch of the family; no one else gets near the pizza. After having tried it, I can appreciate his pride in that product.
We shared a wonderful and plentiful Walnut and Pear Salad ($6), with crisp, fresh greens, light dressing and the perfect portions of crunchy nuts and sweet fruit. When I first glanced at the menu my eyes immediately became glued to the Lobster Ravioli with Sautéed Shrimp ($17) and I never recovered from that first glance. I'm glad it worked out that way, because it was delicious. If it is possible, it might have had too much of that wonderful vodka cream sauce, but it's a small criticism for a delightful entree, made from scratch by The Cove's Chef. My companion ordered the Grilled Halibut ($19) which was excellent with perfect texture and lovely presentation.
 Tiramisu at The Cove Trattoria © Judy Hedding |
We were directed (we gave in pretty easily!) to order the Tiramisu for dessert. I didn't let on that I have never been much of a Tiramisu fan, but after hearing how The Cove experimented until they came up with their own special version, I acquiesced. It was heavenly! Creamy, not gooey, sweet, but not too. Delightful. Do it.
The Cove Trattoria is one of those restaurants to which I know I will return. It is locally owned with fresh, excellent food at reasonable prices.
Located in the Scottsdale Seville Plaza, The Cove Trattoria is
open 7 days per week for dinner and 6 days per week (no Sundays) for
lunch.
Where to Find The Cove Trattoria:
7001 N. Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, Arizona 85253
480-951-8273
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Date of review: September 2009
All dates, times, prices and offerings are subject to change without notice.
As is common in the industry, the writer was provided with a complimentary meal for the purpose of the review. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
