Scottsdale has plenty of barbecue with a designer logo and a craft-beer list. The Thumb has a gas station, a car wash and a gourmet market attached, was started by a former surgeon, and smokes competition-style brisket that would justify the drive with none of the novelty.
Order the brisket, hand over the keys, and eat while the SUV gets detailed. The market half of the building is better than it needs to be.
When to go: whenever you need gas, a wash and lunch, ideally all three. It’s counter service, so a weekday lunch keeps the whole operation moving.