How REALLY good are Mary Elaine's and Marquesa?

I'll be in Phoenix for a few days for business travel and am extending the stay to the weekend for pleasure. I'm going to be staying at the Phoenician and have read really good things about Mary Elaine's and Marquesa.

Being from Manhattan, I've dined at some of the best restaurants here in New York. Looking at the (very expensive) prices Mary Elaine's charges for dinner, I would expect food of a quality comparable to a select few New York restaurants. Is Mary Elaine's really comparable to Bouley Bakery or Chanterelle?

I've also heard that Marquesa is known for its Catalan food. Given the paucity of good Southwestern restaurants here in New York (no matter what Bobby Flay might claim), I'm actually looking forward to this restaurant, although any recent dining experiences and suggestions would be great. What are the best Southwestern restaurants in the Phoenix/Scottsdale vicinity?

The only other Phoenix restaurant that I have eaten at previously is Vincent Guerithault, which I thought was very good.

Any suggestions welcome and much appreciated!