Whether you're looking for a light Italian meal before a night of clubbing, or just want to check out some late-night bite offerings in Old Town Scottsdale, EVO is a recently opened spot worth checking out. I saw a packed house when I went there for some pre-local show grub on a recent Friday night.\n\nThe restaurant is just how I like it -- dim lighting with candlelit tables, along with an expansive bar serving up tasty cocktails amid the pretty people crowd. The cocktails (all $10) are strong and infused with fresh ingredients. I loved the Grapefruit Basil, infused with fresh basil.\n\nFor dinner, my pal and I sampled so many of the delicious offerings. Let's start with the Risotto Balls ($5). They usually come in a meat sauce, but we got ours vegetarian. It's fried risotto in a tomato sauce -- every bite was scrumptious, and it's a perfect portion to share as an appetizer.\n\nWe also shared the Evo Salad ($10), with Brussels sprouts, kale, pear, and pine nuts -- again, we made ours vegetarian and skipped the pancetta. I never in my life would eat Brussels sprouts willingly, but this salad had me dipping my fork in again and again. I loved the crispy texture, and now, at least at EVO, I'm a Brussels sprouts fan.\n\nWe dug into the Caprese salad ($10), which, compared to some of my faves around the Valley, stacked up just fine. Again, this is a great light appetizer before hitting the town.\n\nFinally, we noshed on a Margherita pizza ($11), one that almost rivaled what I've had at my favorite Valley pizza place, Cibo. Everything at EVO just tasted super-fresh and handmade, and with impeccable service, the experience was delightful.\n\nOne of the coolest things about EVO is that it's open late-night, which has been a hit with the Old Town Scottsdale service industry looking to wind down. The spot's late night menu is served until 1:30 a.m. every night, and Sunday's would also be a fun night to go, since there is live music and half-off bottles of wine all night.
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