Scottsdale has no shortage of Italian restaurants that could be anywhere. Veneto Trattoria, tucked into Hilton Village since 1997, cooks one specific place — Venice and the Veneto — for a loyal crowd that has watched the rest of the old-guard regional rooms close around it. Much of the staff has come from the region, and it shows.
The fegato alla veneziana is the litmus test: calf’s liver and onions, done the way Venice made famous. Doubters should order it anyway. Baccalà to start, risotto if you have patience.
When to go: lunch is calm and easy. Book dinner on busy nights, because the regulars already have.