Santé, a new high-end restaurant in Scottsdale, offers a fresh approach to health-conscious, organic dining. Co-founder Nico Doniele wanted to create a menu that caters to all food restrictions and appetites, while using only high-quality ingredients, sourced from farms and ranches. “Every ingredient on our menu is intentionally sourced to ensure that you’re getting the very best quality,” Doniele says. “The farms we work with are mindful of the environment, so the land is tended to with the same diligence as the crops. All the meat and seafood are selected from leaders in the space who put sustainability and quality before profits.” Try delectable dishes such as the Raw Chilled Zucchini Lasagna, Force of Nature Bison Ribeye or Pacifico Striped Sea Bass with farro, wild mushrooms and Meyer lemon butter. Here, Doniele shares his thoughts on the new restaurant and its mission.

What does “beyond organic” mean to you and how is it different from organic?

To me, “beyond organic” means that food is more than just the fuel to get us through the day. It can actively heal the body when the base ingredients are raised organically and ethically. We strongly believe in regenerative farming and supporting local farms. Every ingredient on our menu is intentionally sourced to ensure that you’re getting the very best quality. The farms we work with are mindful of the environment, ensuring the land is tended to with the same diligence as the crops. All the meat and seafood are selected from leaders in the space who put sustainability and quality before profits.

“Beyond organic” indicates that the standards go above and beyond how and where an ingredient is grown. We look at the purity and potency of ingredients, farming/ranch practices which include soil quality, planting cover crops, using no-till practices, animal welfare, no pesticides, no GMO, etc. Organic is a means of production—it is not guaranteed that the food is clean and 100% free of chemical contaminants. That is why we work with the finest farms and ranches that go above and beyond to verify the quality, purity and potency of the food we use.

Where did the inspiration for Santé come from?

The inspiration for Santé came from spending time in Arizona after living abroad and in L.A. for a long time and realizing there was a need for a truly organic restaurant in Scottsdale. I wanted to create a beautiful, elevated and inclusive dining experience where people with all kinds of dietary restrictions can dine together and celebrate.

With items ranging from vegan lasagna to bison ribeye, your menu certainly feels inclusive. What was the vision or inspiration behind offering so much variety?

Inclusivity is very important to us. We want everyone to be able to dine together with options that are appealing to them without being limited.

What do you hope guests experience at Santé the first time they visit?

When you walk in the door, it’s an experience, from the pink feather chandelier to the green living wall and biophilic trendy aesthetic. We want guests to experience that food can be “healthy” and not boring. We want them to feel chic and sexy, from the ambiance to the full dining experience.

If you had to pick a favorite dish on the menu, what would it be?

All of them! I created the menu, but if I had to pick just one dish it would be the bison filet. It’s truly amazing. Grass-fed and grass-finished, it’s the cleanest meat you can eat, with the highest nutrient density.

17490 N. 93^rd St., Scottsdale, lovesante.com