Walk into Fat Ox in Scottsdale, Arizona and you’ll immediately be charmed by an opulent environment. With mid-century modern decor inspired from diverse regions in Italy — infused into each aspect of the restaurant in subtle ways, dining embodies an organic Italian cooking experience. 

“Our aim is to be a restaurant that goes beyond just spaghetti and meatballs. Of course, we offer those too,” says chef and co-owner Matt Carter, a classically trained French chef. 

Fat Ox, which opened its doors in 2017, features aperitivo hour — an Italian tradition that occurs at sunset, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. “Located in the bar and lounge every day, it’s similar to happy hour,” he explains. 

If you’re looking for an enhanced culinary experience, but aren’t willing to drop too much cash, Fat Ox offers a compromise. 

“If you love fancy drinks, want to try unique dishes that surprise your palate, or even want to impress a first date — then heading into our restaurant for aperitivo hour is a good way to go,” says Carter. 

The bar is certainly more relaxed than the dining room where samplings include: whipped ricotta ($12), veal meatballs ($10), and plenty of other satisfying choices like pasta or artisan olives. 

“Guests can still enjoy dishes similar to the full menu, but with affordability in mind,” he says.”There’s plenty to indulge in.” 

At Fax Ox, handcrafted cocktails are designed to pair well with food samplings. The bar offers choices like the Ox Margarita ($12), a refreshing combination of corazon blanco tequila, fresh lime, and agave nectar, or happy hour wine ($9) and beer. 

For those partial to a trendy charcuterie board, the restaurant delivers. The affettati misti ($18) or italian cured meat platter, features in-house baked bread, prosciutto, pecorino, gorgonzola, marinated olives, calabrian butter and more. 

The restaurant encourages guests to partake in the “Fat Ox way.” This means paying attention to classic italian courses: ordering an appetizer, a first and second course, then a side dish or salad, and finally dessert. “I’d recommend starting with vegetables or shrimp, and then moving on to pasta.” 

The bar menu gives guests the flexibility to choose. 

“You can taste cured meats, and cheeses, and then smaller pasta dishes — the gigli ($16) or pappardelle ($18) are always sound choices,” says Chef Carter. 

Aperitivo hour also offers main course options in smaller portions. “Even though it’s not the usual steak portion, the 8 oz. Linz Prime Ox Cut Steak ($18) gives guests a taste of our progressive and flavorful steak menu.” 

Dishes are always a work in progress. However, some items are staples. 

“Right now, my team and I are brainstorming seasonal ideas. The backbone of our menu isn’t just specific to Italy, we also incorporate ingredients native to Arizona. This includes figs, lemons, tomatoes, dates and more.” 

Since Fat Ox reopened in September of 2020, Chef Carter has been focused on bringing constant creativity to the menu. 

“I collaborate with my sous chefs all the time,” he says. “We prioritize trying various pasta shapes, experimenting with a variety of cooking techniques and curating dishes based on flavor.” 

Fat Ox cultivates a sense of escapism for its guests. “Our goal is to provide a meal that exceeds expectations, and leave guests feeling satisfied.” 

Dive into the Fat Ox bar menu, here. 

Fat Ox: 6316 N Scottsdale Road Scottsdale, AZ; ilovefatox.com // @ilovefatox