Hit the Dish

Binkley’s Restaurant

A never-ending flow of surprising and delightful bites

• Rating:  
• Address: 6920 East Cave Creek Road  
• Address: Cave Creek, AZ 85331 
• Phone: (480) 437-1072  

On the outskirts of the Phoenix metro area lies the historical town of Cave Creek. A throwback to Arizona’s Wild West days, Cave Creek is known for cowboy bars, steakhouses, and the contemporary rhinestone cowboys who roam the streets.

Tucked into an unassuming strip mall in the middle of this is Binkley’s. The menu is based on classic French cuisine, appropriately tweaked with seasonal, contemporary American notes. Inside, paintings by local artists grace the walls of the establishment. The main dining room is warm and inviting, while the “wine room” has only three tables for a more private experience.

The chef, Kevin Binkley, is a graduate of the Scottsdale Culinary Institute. After stints at The French Laundry and The Inn at Little Washington, he returned to his Arizona roots. Binkley works in partnership with his wife, Amy, a chef in her own right. Their approach is to use the best quality organic, seasonal, and local ingredients whenever possible and to incorporate novel techniques alongside classical ones. Their dishes reveal creativity, sophistication, and impeccable attention to detail.

It is best to order a tasting menu at Binkley’s and entrust yourself to the chef’s hands. You are guaranteed not to regret the decision. The four-, five- and six-course tasting menus are all highly recommended. Expect servers to deliver a panorama of amuse bouches before and between courses—a dinner at Binkley’s is a never-ending flow of surprising and delightful bites. Also expect to be surprised by the time when you get up to leave—the enjoyment level at Binkley’s speeds the clock. Consummately professional service is the final, perfecting touch.

Like other top-notch chefs of his generation, Chef Kevin Binkley uses principles of molecular gastronomy to extend the range of tastes and sensations he offers his customers. Duck yolk with bacon powder, puff pastry with balsamic gel, and noodles made of foie gras have all made recent appearances. Binkley doesn’t get carried away, however; flavors and textures complement each other, as they do in the Black Truffle Bantam Egg with Charred Sweet Onion, Turnip Latke and Truffle Jus. The Menage a Foie, comprised of a Puddin’ Pop, Terrine, and Cappuccino, shows off Chef Binkley’s deft touch with all things goose liver.

“Worth the drive from the city” doesn’t quite cover it. Binkley’s would be worth taking a moon shuttle. Many agree that Binkley’s is the best restaurant in Arizona, which is not so surprising.

Reservations are strongly recommended.

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