Where to get great pizza and pasta in North Scottsdale? This review looks at a new, hip pizzeria.

On our first day of vacation in Scottsdale, my husband and I went in search a relaxing place to eat. We stumbled across Oggi’s, a pizzeria and micro-brewery. The North Scottsdale pizzeria is one of Arizona’s first branches of this southern California pizza chain.

The atmosphere is a casual sports bar, with televisions lining the walls. One section of the establishment is taken up with the brewing equipment. Yes, they actually brew several different types of beer, ale, and stout on the premises. One of the great features is the flight of beer. [Full disclosure: I don’t like beer. My husband will have a beer once or twice a year.]

My husband opted to sample the beers. They come in two ounce glasses, on a wooden tray branded with the names of the beers. The styles vary from very light to very heavy. My favorite was the German style Sweet Spot Hefe. It did not have the bitter aftertaste that I dislike in most beers. A few were described as very “hopy” and they were. If you are a “hop head” these will please you. The Black Magic Stout was described as coffee flavored. It was indeed! I expected to find coffee grounds floating in the glass.

What does the non-beer drinker have to drink? There are the standard soft drinks and an adequate selection of wine by the glass. I tried the Oggitini. This martini is a mixture of vodka and lemonade. It has the refreshing taste of limoncello. The Oggitini is a great choice as a hot weather drink.

Now for the food…I opted for the personal U.S. Open Pizza. This is a flavorful white pizza with mozzarella, goat cheese, pine nuts, and sun dried tomatoes. The dough was pillowy soft. Not my personal preference for pizza, but if you like thick crust pizza you will love it.

My husband had a pasta dish. The cheese stuffed tortellini is is covered with a creamy cilantro sauce with wild mushrooms. It was delicious! The woody taste of the mushrooms was at home in the brown sauce. The sauce was delicate with just the right amount of cilantro. The flavors married together well, without one over powering another.

The pizza and pasta choices are fresh and unique. There are also standard pasta and pizza dishes, such as lasagna. The menu is varied enough that a group can find something to please almost everyone. The service is prompt, responsive, and sociable. While this is a franchise, each Oggi's menu varies a bit from location to location.

When in the Phoenix or Scottsdale area and looking for an enjoyable place for pizza, take time in your day for Oggi’s.