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La Zozzona at the Scottsdale Grand Hyatt: An Italian Dinner That’s Meant to Be Experienced, Not Rushed

Walking into La Zozzona, tucked inside the Scottsdale Grand Hyatt, immediately feels different from the usual Scottsdale Italian dinner routine. There’s an energy here that signals you’re not just grabbing a quick bite before heading somewhere else, this is the destination. The lighting is warm, the room hums with conversation, and there’s a subtle sense that dinner is going to unfold in chapters, not courses.

This is the first Arizona restaurant from celebrity chef Richard Blais, and that context matters. Not because the name alone carries weight, but because La Zozzona feels intentional in a way that many resort restaurants don’t. It doesn’t lean safe. It doesn’t feel like it’s trying to please everyone. Instead, it invites you to slow down, order generously, and let the night stretch out.

I came in expecting solid Italian food in a beautiful setting. What I walked away with was a full, layered dining experience, the kind where drinks turn into shared plates, shared plates turn into pasta, and suddenly it’s been two hours and no one is checking the time.

The Setting: Resort Dining That Doesn’t Feel Like Resort Dining

One of the biggest surprises with La Zozzona is how grounded it feels despite being inside a luxury resort. Often, hotel restaurants can feel transient with guests passing through, a lack of personality, a menu that plays it a little too safe. That’s not the case here.

La Zozzona feels lived-in. The dining room is active without being overwhelming, polished without being stiff. You see couples on date nights, groups celebrating birthdays, locals who clearly came here on purpose, and hotel guests who stumbled into something better than expected.

It’s the kind of place where conversation flows easily. You’re not rushed. Plates arrive with a rhythm that makes sense. The room encourages lingering and that’s important, because the menu rewards patience.

Starting with Drinks: Setting the Tone for the Night

If you’re doing La Zozzona right, drinks aren’t an afterthought, they’re the opening act.

The Smoked Old Fashioned is a moment. Served tableside, the glass arrives under a dome filled with aromatic wood smoke. When it’s lifted, the scent hits first, followed by a cocktail that’s rich, balanced, and unmistakably intentional. Made with wagyu-washed Maker’s Mark from a GHS private barrel, demerara, and walnut bitters, it’s bold without being overpowering. This isn’t a novelty drink, it’s a signal that the night is about more than just eating.

The Build-Your-Own Spritz is the opposite in the best way. Bright, customizable, and perfect for easing into the meal, it invites experimentation. I went with an Amaro and blood orange combination, which struck that ideal balance between bitter and refreshing. It’s the kind of drink you sip slowly while scanning the menu, already planning what to order next.

A Menu Designed for Sharing

One of the smartest things La Zozzona does is encourage a communal approach to dining. This isn’t a place where everyone orders their own entrée and checks out. The menu nudges you toward sharing, tasting, and passing plates and the experience is better for it.

The Burrata Basil Pesto is a perfect example. Creamy, delicate burrata paired with herbaceous pesto and pine nuts, it’s familiar but elevated. It sets the tone early: simple ingredients, treated with care, meant to be enjoyed together.

Then there are the Parmesan Tarts, small, rich, and deeply savory. With smoked crème fraîche, smoked salt, royal ossetra caviar, and chives, they’re indulgent without feeling heavy. These are the bites that spark conversation at the table, the ones everyone reaches for just one more time.

The Hamachi Crudo brings brightness into the mix. Light, clean, and balanced with tomato water vinaigrette, fried capers, lemon oil, and sea salt, it cuts through the richness of the earlier dishes and resets the palate.

And the Crispy Mozzarella? That’s comfort food done thoughtfully. House-made mozzarella fried to golden perfection, finished with Calabrian chili honey that adds just enough heat and sweetness to keep things interesting. You best believe you will get an amazing cheese pull too!

Fresh Pasta as the Heart of the Menu

Pasta is clearly the backbone of La Zozzona, and for good reason. All of the pastas are made fresh in-house and that care shows in both texture and flavor.

The Truffled Parmesan Gnocchi is indulgent in the best way. Pillowy gnocchi coated in a mushroom ragù, accented with cavolo nero and parmesan, it’s rich without tipping into excess. This is the dish that slows the table down, forks pause, conversation quiets, and everyone leans in.

The Spaghetti & Clams offers a different kind of satisfaction. Middleneck clams, cherry tomatoes, fennel, and scampi butter come together in a dish that feels coastal, bright, and deeply comforting. It’s the kind of pasta that feels equally appropriate for a celebratory dinner or a long, relaxed night out.

For something more classic, the Chicken Parmigiana Platter delivers exactly what you want, tender chicken, house-made mozzarella, shaved parmesan that is executed with care and generosity. It’s familiar, yes, but it’s also a reminder that when classics are done well, they don’t need reinvention.

Don’t Overlook the Sides

Sides at La Zozzona aren’t filler, they’re part of the story.

The Confit Carrots are unexpectedly memorable. With pistachio pistou, candied pistachios, sage honey, and pickled raisins, they balance sweet, savory, and tangy elements in a way that feels thoughtful and complete.

The Crispy Potatoes are exactly what you hope for: golden, crunchy, finished with sea salt, parmesan, lemon, and chili flakes. They’re simple, satisfying, and quietly essential.

Dessert Is Not Optional

If you’re tempted to skip dessert, don’t.

The Chocolate Hazelnut dessert is rich and layered with chocolate cake paired with hazelnut crème, caramel, stracciatella gelato, and praliné cocoa sauce. It’s decadent without being overwhelming, a perfect way to ease toward the end of the meal.

And then there’s the Tableside Tiramisu. This is more than dessert, it’s a ritual. Espresso and rum soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone cream, cocoa powder, scooped tableside. It’s interactive, nostalgic, and exactly the kind of moment people remember long after the check is paid.

The Kind of Place You Come Back To

What stood out most about La Zozzona wasn’t just the food, it was how the night unfolded. There was no rush. No pressure to turn the table. Just a steady rhythm of drinks, plates, conversation, and shared moments.

This is a place for date nights that turn into long conversations. For group dinners where everyone orders a little of everything. For locals looking for an Italian restaurant with personality, and for visitors who want more than a standard resort meal.

La Zozzona isn’t about ranking or declaring favorites. It’s about experience. It’s about slowing down, leaning in, and letting dinner be the event.

If you’re looking for Italian dining in Scottsdale that feels intentional, communal, and genuinely enjoyable, this is a place worth spending an evening.

For a BTS of my visit, check out my dining experience here - https://youtu.be/upyW6AEK5g8