Cowboy Ciao Wine Bar & Grill

The goofy moniker might start spaghetti Westerns playing in your head, and the shabby-chic interior may be designed to appeal to yupper-class Scottsdalians with graying temples, money to burn and the fervent need to see themselves as still cool after all these years. But the food is intriguing, inventive and skillfully prepared, and the wine list is longer than a 19th-century Russian novel, with plenty of offbeat and affordable choices. Menu highlights include starters like the buffalo carpaccio -- paper-thin slices of seared bison rubbed with cumin-espresso -- and entrees such as the elk strip loin with hazelnut pesto and the sumptuous mushroom pan-fry with double-cooked polenta. Can’t go wrong with the sticky toffee/chocolate cake for dessert.

• Cuisine(s): American, Eclectic, New American, Southwestern

  Hours: Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. daily. Dinner: 5-10 p.m. Sun.-Thu.; 5-11 p.m. Fri-Sat.

  Price: $$$, $$$$

  Payment Types: All Major Credit Cards, Diners Club, cash

• Attire: resort casual

  Features: Smoking, Takeout, Private Party, Catering, Wheelchair Accessible, Business Dining

  Serving: Dinner, Lunch

  Alcohol: Full bar

• Reservations: Accepted, Recommended

  Parking: Street, Valet