Popular Old Town Scottsdale Restaurant Sel Bistro Closes After 10 Years

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Sel Bistro, a longtime Old Town Scottsdale restaurant led by Chef Branden Levine and his wife, May Levine, has permanently closed after a decade in business.

The restaurant, located on East Main Street, began as Sel and became known for its elevated, chef-driven dining experience. In later years, the Levines reworked the concept into Sel Bistro, offering a more casual French-inspired format with an à la carte menu.

The owners announced the closure in a message shared with customers over the weekend.

“After 10 wonderful years, it is with heavy hearts that we share that Sel Bistro will be closing its doors permanently,” the restaurant wrote. “Thank you for allowing us to be part of your celebrations, special moments, and evenings around the table. It has been an honor to serve this community.”

No specific reason for the closure was announced.

Sel built a following in Old Town with multi-course prix fixe meals, intimate service and a polished fine-dining setting. The later Sel Bistro concept took a more relaxed approach, allowing diners to order individual dishes, share plates or settle in for a full dinner.

Levine’s menus drew inspiration from a range of global cuisines, combining European, Asian and Mediterranean influences. Past dishes included squid ink capellini with littleneck clams and XO sauce, grilled Spanish octopus with fried rice and lentils, filet mignon tartare, and Korean-style beef short rib steam buns.

Levine began cooking as a teenager after learning from his mother, Bobby, who introduced him to from-scratch cooking. He later attended Johnson & Wales University in Virginia and worked in restaurants in Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., Kenya and Tanzania before establishing himself in Arizona’s dining scene.

During his career, Levine appeared on “Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell” and “Beat Bobby Flay.” He also participated in the 2017 Chef’s Classic Final Four on CBS and was invited to the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America event that year.

For 10 years, Sel and later Sel Bistro gave Scottsdale diners a distinctive restaurant experience centered on creative food, personal service and special-occasion dining.