The Mission

Experts: Brian Raab and Terry Ellsior, owners of The Mission; Charli Morrow, designer for Philip Charles Design
Aesthetic: Modern Latin
The World’s a Stage: Somewhere between “The Phantom of the Opera,” Ecuador and the Himalayas, The Mission was born. This trendy modern Latin restaurant in Old Town attracts couples seeking romantic candlelit meals on the patio as well as singles wanting good drinks and great company. The eclectic transitional design incorporates contemporary elements infused with dramatic Old World flourishes. “It’s supposed to make people feel like they were...the star in their own play,” Raab says.
Bar None: The pros all agree on their favorite spot: the bar area. Between the travertine floor, the marble bar top, the chandeliers, the onyx community table and the Himalayan salt block wall—all close by, and each exuding its own warmth—the bar area “really hits you with a ton of elements,” Raab says. “It’s all right here.”
Cuisine Continuity: Amid mahi mahi tacos and grilled sweet corn, chef Matt Carter serves homemade tortillas on heated bricks of rock salt reminiscent of the bar area’s salt block wall, and dishes up guacamole in palmwood molcajetes, which match the palmwood dining room floor. The incredible food, music and theatrical setting result in an unforgettable dining experience. “It’s not just the restaurant that is beautiful, it’s the whole ambiance,” Morrow says.
The Scoop: 3815 N. Brown Ave., Scottsdale. 480.636.5005, www.themissionaz.com.