Ristorante Tuscany at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & spa
480-293-3988
5350 East Marriott Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85054
4.5 out of 5 stars
Nestled in a corner of the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa is Tuscany, a delicious little piece of Italy full of authentic Italian flavors, affordable wines and attentive service. Guests can share in a journey of Italian cuisine guided by an experienced staff through an array of mouth-watering small plates, generous sharing dishes and individual entrees.
At Tuscany, hand-crafted pizzas, delicious pastas and authentic cheeses rule the day. A seasonal menu focuses on locally grown produce fresh from local farms, as well as their very own organic herb garden. Our team of tasters enjoyed this evening of food and Italian style fun.
Here’s what we found:
Antipasti Bar
This appetizer is a fun and inventive way to create your own plate of Charcuterie. Make your own cutting board plate full of cured meats, delicious spreads and flavorful cheese. We recommend the Salami, Prosciutto San Daniele and hand pulled Mozzarella. Be sure you don’t overlook the “to die for” Maple Walnuts. The EVOO drizzled bread served with this appetizer was simply unbelievable.
Veal Marsala
Tender Veal, ridiculously fresh wild mushrooms, spinach and the same Mozzarella we raved about in the appetizer all covered in a delicious Marsala Sauce. This was by far our favorite entrée.
Wild Mushroom Pizza
A delicious pizza full of shallots, truffle oil, chives and sweet onions, perfectly cooked in authentic wood-fired pizza ovens. This pie had wonderful flavors, a nice balance of toppings and a drizzle of truffle oil that tied it all together beautifully.
Salsiccia Pizza
The flavors of sausage, garlic sauce, Peppadew peppers and spinach come together in this fantastic pizza dish. A healthy kick of crushed red-pepper for heat and sweet spinach made this pizza a favorite.
Sweet Corn Gnocchi
Of all the dishes our group tasted, the gnocchi was the least appreciated. We felt the consistency was off and it was just too chewy. The accompanying sauce was flavorless and we would not order this entrée again.
Veal Ravioli
The taste of spinach pasta, zucchini, brown butter and oregano came together in this tender homemade pasta. There was a hint of sweetness and a melt in your mouth goodness we just couldn’t get enough of.
Risotto
A signature dish of Tuscany made of English peas, pancetta and sunny-up eggs. We love risotto and this dish was no exception with its rich, complex and hearty flavors. Next time, we may add the optional spicy prawns, or rotisserie chicken.
Black and White
Half chocolate brownie and half chocolate chip cookie, this dessert is served warm with house-made vanilla ice cream. While we enjoyed the taste, it was your standard fare found at a number of other Desert Ridge restaurants.
Berries in Heaven
The name says it ALL. Fresh berries floating in a light, airy custard made with Limoncello, cream and mascarpone. HEAVEN served in an old style canning jar.
Tiramisu
An Italian classic, but this Tiramisu was a little too sweet and a bit on the dry side for our taste.
