The Arcadia News features restaurant reviews each month.
If you have a question or comment, please see our
contact page.

Terrace Cafe
7045 E. 3rd Ave. | 480-603-1011
(inside Steven Paul Salon)

     Terrace Café at 3rd Avenue and Marshall Way in Old Scottsdale offers much more than gourmet sandwiches, salads and hand-crafted smoothies. I had previously visited the Steven Paul Salon to have some of my wrinkles buffed out, and had not even noticed the cheery café on the far side of the building past the retail space where the salon sells funky costume jewelry, boutique clothes and bric-a-brac for the home. Below Tiffany-style hanging lights, dark wood tables and chairs have fresh flowers on each tabletop. Next to the counter where one orders is a gigantic cooler full of a huge selection of domestic and imported gourmet sodas and waters in glass bottles with flavor choices like pomegranate and Dublin Dr. Pepper\ ($2-4). Above the counter, a drink menu lists specialty mochas and lattes made to order with tons of options, including iced, soy, and flavor shots ($3.50 and up). The woman in line ahead of us walked away with luscious looking red smoothie that did not seem to be anywhere on the menu. “What was that?” Companion inquired of the woman behind the counter, who looked like she was the face of some international fashion campaign, but had a quirky, friendly demeanor. “Oh, that’s just something I made up.
Some fresh strawberries, a Bossa Nova….,”she grinned. She agreed to duplicate the drink when Companion asked for one. Our main mission that Saturday, though, was lunch. We decided to split an individual Prosciutto & Mushroom Pizza ($8) along with a Club Sandwich ($8). “Grab a table and I’ll bring everything to you,” the gorgeous woman
smiled. Within a few minutes, she brought our food to us on white china along with metal flatware. No paper plates and plastic utensils here, which was nice. The background music of Big Band classics —like the Frank Sinatra era—playing softly was the perfect accompaniment to the tasty fare. The smoothie was amazing, said Companion. It must have been indeed, since it was gone so fast I did not even have a chance to ask for a taste. The Panini-grilled sandwich was stacked with lean ham, turkey and cheese, and slathered with an interesting Ghirardelli-brand spiced mayo. A side salad of gourmet greens tossed in tasty raspberry vinaigrette studded with bits of fresh strawberry was a nice touch.
A couple of women sitting at the small flower-laden patio out front eating a delicious looking pizza when we came in had spurred us into ordering one ourselves. The crusty pie was not disappointing with its heavy layering of Italian meat and mushrooms. I can’t wait to go back for breakfast one morning to try the Belgian Waffle with Strawberries ($7). Then maybe go back for lunch to try the Portabellini Mushroom & Goat Cheese Pizza ($9). Then again, I’d really like to try the Turkey and Roasted Pepper Spinach Wrap ($7); or perhaps the House Hummus ($7.50), or..