New Scottsdale Restaurant Ranked Best Mediterranean Spot In U.S., Ranking Says

Yelp ranked Old Town Scottsdale's Pinyon the top Mediterranean restaurant in the U.S. in its all-time guide.

By Vianella Burns, Patch Staff

Jul 29, 2026 1:31 PM MST

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — A Scottsdale restaurant has earned a top spot on a national dining list, taking the No. 1 ranking among Mediterranean restaurants in the country, according to Yelp.

Pinyon, located in Old Town Scottsdale, was named the best Mediterranean restaurant in the U.S. in Yelp's all-time guide to the Top 25 Mediterranean Restaurants. The list was created using reviews and ratings from members of Yelp's Elite Squad.

The restaurant has more than 340 Yelp reviews and carries a $$$ price rating. Yelp highlighted Pinyon's coastal Mediterranean-inspired menu, including house-made pita, artichoke hummus, yellowtail crudo and seasonal dips. Reviewers have also praised the restaurant's upscale atmosphere, happy hour offerings and baklava cheesecake.

Pinyon is part of Scottsdale-based Hi Noon Hospitality, the restaurant group behind Buck & Rider and Ingo's Tasty Food. The group was recently named Best Restaurant Group in Arizona Foothills Magazine's Best of Our Valley 2026 awards.

"At Pinyon, our goal is to provide more than just a meal," said Adam Strecker, founder of Hi Noon Hospitality. "We want to give our guests an authentic Mediterranean experience, one that highlights the region's rich culinary traditions while fostering a sense of community, one plate at a time."

The Old Town restaurant opened late last year and has quickly gained attention for a menu inspired by the 22 countries that border the Mediterranean Sea.

Dishes are prepared using a Barcelona-made Josper grill and oven, with a focus on seafood, open-flame cooking, seasonal vegetables and house-made breads.

The menu includes Pinyon's Hummusiya, a rotating selection of hummus and dips served with warm pita, as well as raw bar offerings such as chilled shrimp, fresh oysters and Peruvian scallops.

According to Yelp, the ranking considered the volume and star ratings of reviews from Yelp Elite members. Restaurants were also limited to five per state to create a geographically diverse list.