Scramble

Scramble, a popular local breakfast joint with locations in both Phoenix and Scottsdale, is a casual restaurant that uses local produce and eggs to ensure the freshest meal possible. Because of the relaxed atmosphere and proximity to local trails, Scramble is the perfect place to fuel up before your hike or bike ride. The outdoor patio at the Phoenix location provides the perfect setting for a casual weekend brunch or pre/post workout treat. And it's dog friendly too, so it's very convenient if you are planning to take your pet along with you on the trails.

Scramble is a quick service restaurant which surprisingly uses ingredients from local markets and farms, which is always a big plus when dining out. The menu is very allergy friendly, providing gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan menu selections. All items are marked accordingly and staff has no problems making any substitutions. On the breakfast menu, you'll find a nice selection of filling meals including omelettes, scrambles, Eggs Benedict, stuffed french toast, oatmeal, cinnamon rolls, pancakes, burritos, and even breakfast pizzas. Special diet options include 4 vegan dishes such as a Vegan Mushroom and Spinach Scramble and a Vegan French Toast. They even have miniature packets of Smart Balance dairy-free butter available: I've never seen this in a restaurant before, however, it's a great idea! Gluten-free options are plentiful with gluten-free toast available for all meals and breakfast pizzas among the selections. Hash browns are gluten-free too, which is pretty rare in most breakfast places. The Veggie Omelette, stuffed with squash, zucchini, tomatoes, red onions, bell peppers, and Monterey Jack Cheese (avocado is a great sub for those eating dairy-free) was absolutely delicious. And the gluten-free toast and hash browns made for a delicious side. It definitely filled me up for my day out in Phoenix. A bit pricey at $10 plus an extra $2 for the gluten-free toast, however, still a great full meal compared to most restaurants who do not cater to dietary preferences. Our table also tested out one of the vegan selections, a veggie scramble which was loaded with squash, zucchini, tomatoes, red onion, and peppers. The dish was served with sweet potato hash and toast. This meal was not nearly as good as the veggie omelet, especially with the sweet potato hash. Regular potatoes just taste better with breakfast. Even though sweet potatoes are supposed to be healthier we all need a treat every now and then. Skip the sweet potatoes and order the regular breakfast potatoes! The bottomless coffee is a steal at only $2.50 with a variety of different options available including an excellent Italian Roast. The lunch selection at Scramble is limited to a few salads, wraps, paninis, and a soup of the day. Salads can be made gluten-free without the breadsticks or croutons and gluten-free bread is available for the paninis. In my opinion, visiting for breakfast is a better idea due to the larger number of offerings.

There really isn't much service involved as you order at the counter. Because you pay at the counter and get your own drinks, you can pretty much relax and leave whenever you want. Employees were friendly, had no problems with substitutions, and our food was brought out rather quickly. When we requested dairy-free butter, it was brought out immediately.

Scramble is a casual counter service cafe, so you will have to quickly scan the wall menu as you stand in line. This is a bit inconvenient with the busy setting as it is quite hard to try to read the menu with all the people standing behind you and even more difficult to decide on something so quickly before your turn to order. Therefore, I recommend scanning the menu at home in advance. Dining at Scramble is a good choice for those looking for a quick, casual meal, especially before a workout. You can even dine alongside your dog on the outdoor patio, which is great if you are bringing your pet along on a hike. It works out for those who want the freedom to refill their own drinks and leave whenever without being constantly hassled by a waiter. However, for those looking for a fancy restaurant experience with waiter service, Scramble isn't the best choice. Both indoor and outdoor seating is available, although the interior is too noisy, crowded, and cramped to enjoy a nice breakfast. Don't be scared to sit outside even during the intense summer months: the umbrellas combined with the misters surprisingly keep you pretty cool. And the relaxed, quieter setting, complete with views of palm trees and mountains is really perfect. Enjoy the views while you fill up on your unlimited coffee: sounds like a great way to start the morning!

Overall, Scramble is a good choice for anyone looking for a casual breakfast experience without sacrificing quality local ingredients. The main benefits of visiting Scramble include the wide variety of choices for every diet and the beautiful outdoor patio.