Rusconi’s American Kitchen: Packed with flavor and care

If you’re looking for unique dishes and delicious cocktails, Rusconi’s American Kitchen has you covered.

Michael Rusconi, the chef proprietor, said it’s a fine dining, contemporary American restaurant that serves up a variety of dishes from seafood to grilled steaks.

Their best sellers, he said, are their pecan wood grilled blackberry glaze salmon and their beef tenderloin medallions with truffle-scented macaroni and cheese.

To cook up these delicious meals, they use a wood-fired grill. He said they use pecan wood for its great flavor and versatility.

To accompany a meal, Rusconi said they have an ever-evolving cocktail program.

He said they wanted the restaurant to have a warm and inviting atmosphere and achieved that through wood tones and a full-exposure kitchen.

“It’s supposed to be a very comfortable ambiance,” Rusconi said. “They can see the care that goes into our food.”

Guest Brett Gitskin said he found the restaurant during Arizona Restaurant Week, but it was their watermelon arugula salad that made it his go-to spot.

He also said it was the extra touches they add to their plates that sets them apart from other restaurants in the Valley.

Gitskin said he enjoyed the mussels alongside a delicious broth that had his whole party wanting more. He also had the tomato burrata salad with heirloom tomatoes and a scoop of basil on top that all melted together to create a delicious appetizer.

For dessert, Gitskin had the lemon and thyme crème brûlée, which he said had a perfect balance so it wasn’t too tart.

Gitskin’s pro-tip: Go on Sunday nights to enjoy their half-price bottles of wine.