Tanzy at Scottsdale Quarter Introduces New Lunch Menu & Artisan Chef Happy Hour

By Wynter Holden Wed., Apr. 27 2011 at 10:30 AM

Categories: First Taste

Tanzy takes the bitterness out of Brussels sprouts.
Tanzy, the modern Mediterranean restaurant that opened adjacent to the plush iPic Theaters at Scottsdale Quarter in January, began its run with a single menu covering both lunch and dinner hours. This week, Executive Chef Geoff Baumberger introduced a customized lunch menu with lower prices and smaller portions.

Sandwiches like this turkey panini are a new addition.

Thankfully, a few of the more notable items haven't changed, including the scrumptious housemade mozzarella and crispy Brussels sprouts appetizers. The latter are lightly spiced with cumin and fried, then served with pepper relish and a drizzle of garlic aioli. The sweet, tangy batter goes a long way in combating the natural bitterness of the sprouts, converting even the die-hard sprout hater at our table.

Pineapple-glazed swordfish and the eatery's popular pasta Bolognese make an appearance at about 1/3 the price of the dinner versions, and penne pasta and steak & tomato salads join the usual salad menu suspects.

Find out how the new fare fared in our taste test, and see what else is new at Tanzy, after the jump...

Tanzy's added lunch options include a fistful of sandwiches such as filet sliders, a Portobello and roasted red pepper panini with goat cheese, and a traditional club with applewood-smoked bacon. We sampled the turkey and brie panini, served on multi-grain bread with apple slices and a touch of Dijon.

This succotash ain't sufferin'.

The earthy cheese was a bit overwhelming, though cheeseheads (as in cheese lovers, not Green Bay Packers fans) will appreciate the thick slab of double-cream brie placed on the grilled bread. More of the crisp Granny Smiths would help to balance the sandwich, though.

New entrees range from NY strip steak and basil chicken flatbread to our selection, a delicate lemon sole and rock shrimp succotash. Tanzy's succotash isn't suffering: The combination of lima beans, corn and red peppers makes for a savory base to the shrimp and buttery, flaky white fish.

It's an excellent summer dish -- light and refreshing, leaving plenty of room for tiramisu or Tanzy's new chocolate banana tart, which combines the richness of high-quality dark chocolate with the lighter, subtly sweet flavor of roasted bananas.

Lunch is offered from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. Tanzy also recently introduced a "Taste the Trends" happy hour, where restaurant chefs set up a complimentary tasting table in the front lounge and offer culinary samples. Even without the requisite cocktail specials, the concept is pretty sweet. Visit the lounge from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday for happy hour specials.