This would be my first time to this place as for my husband he had been here a handful of times. We came for dinner and wasn't sure if we would be able to get seating without a long wait, but we were in luck. We choose to sit indoors. The restaurant is very cozy with dimmed lighting to add to the evening ambiance. It has a casual feel but you can dress up or down. Some people were casual and some more dressed up. We were seated at the front by the stage where live music was about to start. I thought this would be nice since I do enjoy live music. Well the speakers were facing right at our table and it was noticeably loud when the entertainer began to play. We asked for another table. We could not hear ourselves talking. I ordered a cocktail, The Giddy Up Espresso Martini. That was very delicious! They do have a full bar, it's nice to have choices as far as alcoholic beverages. Our food, Fish & Chips, BBQ Nachos, Aged Manchego, Crusty Bread Garlic Oil & Balsamic, and Molinari Sopressata. Everything was absolutely delicious! The fries with the Fish were perfect. My favorite besides the Martini. was the Crusty Bread with Olive Oil and Balsamic. Our server was the best! Amiriya made sure our drinks stayed filled and asked us what we thought about the food. Even on this busy night. After our meal we walked around the outside seating and game area. This place is a fun place to meet with others especially with the outdoor/patio game area. I would love to come back when in AZ.. But, I don't have to wait until then because we have a CD restaurant in the San Diego area! Woohoo! I can't wait to try some other dishes and have another Espresso Martini. I probably would pay for a shot of Bailey's added to the drink. Restaurant parking is busy but they do have additional parking just across the way. It happened to be busy because we were up against Valentine's Day weekend. read more

After a long very hot drive we were in need of some dinner. We wanted something with a good atmosphere and delicious food so our son suggested Culinary Dropout. We arrived around 8pm on a Monday night and were happy they were open and seemed to have quite a few full tables. We were seated promptly at a very comfortable table. Our server took our drink orders right away and was very helpful in answering our questions regarding the menu. I ordered the most delicious shrimp Louie for my meal. My husband ordered the club sandwich which he thoroughly enjoyed. Our son ordered a pasta dish which he loved. Even though we don't live in the Tempe area, we would definitely dine at Culinary Dropout the next time we are in the area! read more

Culinary Dropout - Shrimp & Avocado Louie - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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We really had an enjoyable time. Played some corn-hole. Now, I have never had couscous quite like I did here, however it was tasty. read more

We love coming to the Culinary Dropout. We had a mixture of salad and fish and chips and pastrami. The live Music was wonderful. And highly recommend Old Town Love, for parties and events. The ambience is great service food was wonderful! read more

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We were visiting from out of state and looking for a lunch spot not far from Papago Park and hopped into Yelp for nearby suggestions. We chose Culinary Dropout and it did not disappoint! Interesting interior -- light, bright, spacious, airy. The menu had a lot of tasty sounding items. My husband chose the Mongolian Short Ribs and I had the shaved prime rib dip. I also ordered a non-alcoholic beverage of watermelon juice, lemon and coconut water, which was so refreshing in the 112 degree heat. Both dishes were superb. I think the photos speak for themselves. We would definitely return if in the area! read more

Culinary Dropout - Mongolian Short Ribs over sticky rice - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Amazing place, hands down. I don't know what was better, the food, or the service. Atmosphere was great as well, but comes second to the food and service. Cheers read more

Came here for lunch and it was really good. I got a salad with salmon and once again I forgot to ask for dressing on the side but it was still good. Salmon was perfectly cooked and tasty. Plenty of parking outside. This restaurant is huge and can accommodate large parties should you need a place to bring friends and coworkers. The staff was very nice and helpful. read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Got the crispy chicken katsu. The buttermilk toast goes so well with the katsu. I like mine without hoison sauce. There is a lot of seating inside. The service not so attentive but friendly. read more

Culinary Dropout - Crispy Chicken Katsu - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

The Wellness Retreat is one of the best cocktails I've ever had. Please never take this off the menu! read more

Culinary Dropout - Wellness Retreat Cocktail - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Came in with a large group and was happy they were able to accommodate all 14 of us, even though it was very crowded on a Tuesday. Malone was an amazing server, catering to our every need and sent out other bus people to assist when she couldn't service us. Pretzel bites were fresh and delish. Loved my salmon and corn mush. read more

Culinary Dropout - Pretzel bites - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Great spot with a ton of beers on tap and plenty of bar seating. It fills up fast--especially during the brunch rush--so getting a table can be tough if you don't get there early. The wings looked amazing (presentation was a 5/5), but didn't quite fall off the bone, so I'd give them a 4. Prices are reasonable, and the servers were friendly, but the place gets pretty chaotic, so service isn't the fastest. Overall, a fun, lively spot--just be ready for a bit of a wait and some noise. read more

Culinary Dropout - Wings - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

It's been years since I've been back, and came here for lunch on a Thursday. It was quite busy! I recommend booking a reservation. They have complimentary valet which is nice. I ordered the Crispy Chicken Katsu sandwich ($19) with a side salad. it was delicious! Love that they used Japanese milk bread because it's so soft. My friend ordered the chopped chicken salad and it looked amazing. Would love to try that next time. read more

Culinary Dropout - Fried Chicken & Buttermilk Biscuit* - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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We had an awesome birthday celebration at Culinary Dropout. The facility is huge and incredibly lively, with a fun outdoor area that has games for all patrons to play. The long bar is impressive and the drinks were excellent. I had the Campfire Vibes, which I highly recommend. For food, we started with the pretzel bites, which Culinary is known for, but I also tried the crispy katsu chicken sandwich, which was out of this world. Great food, great service, and an all-around great vibe. Definitely a fun spot to visit in Tempe. read more

Culinary Dropout - Campfire Vibes - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Came here for an early lunch and the restaurant was half empty. Somehow that meant we still had to get slow service and a server who wasn't able to check on our table. I have never been a huge fan of the ambience of this chain because it's a little too trendy compared to the lack of imagination in the quality of food offered. We were less than impressed with our server who brought us a cast iron fondue of cheese atop a votive candle that was unlit. He needed to be asked to light it. He didn't check on our drinks for refills and hardly checked on our table, yet had time to stand off by the bar socializing with his co-workers. This wasn't my first time here but it was nearby our planned event in town. I think this wasn't my lesson that service is never going to get better. Lots of better options for the same budget around. read more

Amazing food, amazing band, great ambience and even better service from Andrea. She was truly top tier. I had the shrimp Caesar salad, which was so flavorful and left me wanting more. Monkey bread, dessert, which I couldn't stop eating, and a chocolate birthday cake shot with the new sangria on the side. Kiss the chef & bartender and give Andrea a raise. The hostess were beautiful, warm and inviting and so was valet. Great Friday night. I will be back sooner than later. read more

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We very much enjoyed our dinner here. I had the pleasure of being able to see into the kitchen with all the cooking action and the eye-catching dishes coming out. My love was taking in all the action in the restaurant. We started with the deviled eggs. While tasty, I probably wouldn't order them again. We have had better at other places. Our entrees were both cooked perfectly and exceeded our expectations. My salmon dish was excellent. We shared the Mud Pie for dessert and it was ah-mazing! The servers were all friendly, helpful and efficient. They had plenty of staff to take care of the dinner rush crowd. We enjoy the vibe here and find it easier to converse than at some other dining establishments that can get quite noisy. Definitely worth the try if you are in the area! read more

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Came into the restaurant for an event, and we had buffet style type of food. Everything was fresh and was restocked immediately when dishes ran out. The only downside was that some of the food wasn't that great. I normally love pretzels and cheese, but I wasn't a fan of them here. The burrito I had tried as well did not live up to my expectations. Other than that, the service was really great, and the bartenders were kind as well. read more

We came to see the jazz band with friends and had dinner. My wife and I had the burger and two beers. The burger (medium well) was a bit dry but its a generous patty. It had pretty good flavor and the fries were the best part. For a $52 meal, ($10 for the beers) I would rather have a steak and baked potato at Black Angus Perhaps I paid for the entertainment. Oh, the reason for the cheap beer... one was a $3 mystery beer. Don't bother, mine was a stinky 12 oz Mikey Big Mouth. Otherwise the beers are $7.5 to $9. read more

Stopped in at Culinary Dropout in Tempe for an afternoon bite with some girlfriends, and it was the perfect spot to catch up over good food and drinks. We decided to share a few appetizers, BBQ pork belly nachos, pretzel bites with fondue, and Wagyu pigs in a blanket. Everything hit the spot (though the nachos definitely stole the show). My friends tried a couple of cocktails, a Mule and a Full Moon Party, and both got good reviews. Service was friendly and efficient without being rushed, which made the afternoon feel relaxed and easy. The atmosphere is casual but lively, the kind of place where you can snack, sip, and chat without feeling like you're taking up space. I'd definitely come back, maybe next time to dive into the entrees or try a few more drinks. Four stars for tasty food, good service, and a great hangout vibe. read more

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Yeah the place is cool. Good vibe, came on a Friday for spring training opening. It was hella busy so be prepared to wait, we waited about 45 min for a table. The food was great, everything was fresh. I got the fried chicken and it was definitely worth the wait as they say. Juicy, delicious and filling, even the sides were decadent. The drinks were also bomb. Definitely going to try the one by me back home in California now. read more

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Super fun, energizing experience with live music, good food, friendly service, and (thankfully) valet parking. Split the fried chicken with my daughter, loved their homemade "sweater weather" sangria. Shared soft pretzel with beer cheese dip with the table (and still had too much). Mother in law enjoyed meatloaf. Other members of our party chowed down salmon bowl and French dip sandwich. Dessert of banana pie a little disappointing after everything else was so good. read more

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I prefer the Gilbert location as it is easier to get to. My meal was good, service was okay for how busy it was. read more

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Culinary Dropout never disappoints! Every time I come back, it somehow gets even better. The food is always on point, and the service, don't even get me started. Truly some of the best service I get anywhere, every single visit. They absolutely deserve five stars. Of course I ordered their hot wings (my favorite!), and they were perfect as always. We'll definitely be back next month when we're in town for the Innings Festival at Tempe Beach Park. read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Came to the pop-up bar Blitzen for New Year's Eve for the limited cocktail menu, great service is always in an awesome ambience and seen. Definitely worth doing if it's still available during the holidays. read more

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First things first! I genuinely did not realize how huge this location was. It's massive, and service wise no complaints at all. The host and our waitress were both friendly, attentive, and kept things moving smoothly. That said, compared to other holiday pop ups around the Valley, the Blitzen pop up was a bit underwhelming. The décor felt minimal for a holiday experience, mostly string lights and fireplaces playing on the TVs. There was also a $6 upcharge per person to sit in the "holiday" section, which didn't really feel elevated enough to justify the extra cost. The drink menu was cute and on theme, but where this pop up really shined was the food. The Wagyu pigs in a blanket were absolutely the highlight! rich, savory, and worth ordering. The pretzels with provolone cheese dip were so good we ordered two servings at the bar and even took extra cheese to go. That alone saved the night. All in all, we'll definitely be back to Culinary Dropout. The food and service are solid, but we probably wouldn't return specifically for another holiday pop up. read more

Always a great place to go when in Phx. Flew in to see my Oldest, her husband and the grandkids and my father who moved back to AZ recently. Service was top notch food quality was really good Pricing was meh Ambiance was great - good place to bring the kids to be able to run around and not break stuff or be obnoxious to people since in the back they have lots of space read more

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On a late weekday evening my friend and I came here and was seated in their super enclosed patio area. Seriously, I have no idea how else to describe an area that has four walls but an elevated roof deck to allow fresh air and misters to keep cool. We had a third person joining us late and so we ordered and ate without him. I ordered the chicken cacio e pepe which was absolutely perfect. I am grateful our third wasn't present because I gulped it down like a starving woman with little to no grace or decorum. It was just lovely - perfectly al dente noodles, tender chicken, a creamy sauce - what more could a lady want? The cocktails were also very good - light, bright, and perfectly balanced. The service was absolutely amazing. Our server (whose name was Marco if I wrote it down right) was an absolute gem of a human being. He was enthusiastic and genuine. His energy was contagious. And he was so thoughtful too! He knew how to read a room. With my friend and I he was vivacious and conversational. When our third showed up (who had just got off a flight) he kept the talk minimal to match the mood. I was super impressed. I would absolutely return! read more

Culinary Dropout - Delicious cocktail - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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One thing about this place is that the ambience is really something... lol I came here with my boyfriend as a first date and they sat us in a very awkward table for two people. It was a round table with 4 chairs when it was just two of us. The service was fine and the food was average, but one thing that bothered the both of us is that they sat us right next to the stage where there was live music and we could NOT hear each other Overall, it was probably the worst time I have ever gotten at culinary dropout but every other time was good! The pretzels and fondue are always bomb. read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Love this spot. They have one of my favorite drinks of all time (Tijuana spa water) and the food is consistent. We bring our dog with us every time and any time we see Bri she always bring a piece of bacon for him Thank you Bri! We always love to see you read more

Culinary Dropout - Happy puppy, post-bacon treat - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

We received notification from another restaurant that our reservation was cancelled so we were scrambling to find a new place. We stumbled upon Culinary Dropout. We wandered in just as they were opening for the day. It was perfect timing. It got crowded soon after we were seated. The food was delicious. The staff was mostly attentive. The restaurant was clean. The bathroom door was a little heavy and I had the thought that it would be difficult for a person in a wheelchair to open. It was definitely worth a trip. read more

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This place is very impressive and fun. I wish they would implement an over 15 or somehow make parents watch their kids. The service is a bit spotty. We sat at bar, played some games, and ate appetizers. We ordered Wagyu Pigs In A Blanket 4.5/5, Popcorn Shrimp 5/5, and House Made Potato Chips 5/5. Full bar, large (but not awesome) draft beer selection. read more

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A nice concept - very large outdoor space w games etc . We had an event here and the food was pretty good - nothing too fancy but some nice fried appetizers, pasta and more. The cocktails were very good hence the 4 stars read more

Service was great. It's as loud as a sports stadium so not conducive to conversation. I ordered the fried chicken because the server said it was great but took some time. It arrived the same time as all of the other guests and it arrived fried to death. I was surprised they decided to send it out as it was clearly burned. I thought maybe it was just the coating but nope it was all overcooked with not a bit of juice left. But at least the bisket was good. read more

I heard this place was a must try in Tempe but unfortunately I disagree. We came on a Sunday and the place wasn't too busy but the service was SO slow. Our waitress forgot about our drinks. We had to flag her down to remind her and order our food. I tried the butternut squash and kale salad with added salmon which was delicious however, it took a solid hour to get our food. Or waitress did drink us an extra round of drinks because of the wait but at that point I was just too hungry to think straight. read more

Culinary Dropout - Butternut Squash & Kale Salad - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Thank you to the Culinary Dropout team. We originally booked for 10, but our group jumped to 17 that morning. I called ahead, and they made it work. The servers were sharp and managed our chaotic crew with ease--some guests had to order fast to leave early, others shifted seats mid-meal. The food was good (I had the prime rib sandwich), but the real standout was the staff--the servers, expediters, and bussers--you made our Tempe visit memorable. read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Really a great place. Activities and great food. Lots of people celebrating with different showers and birthdays etc. Deceivingly bigger than it looks. Only drawback is the parking. Especially on a busy night. The valet is also just not close to the door. Kind of defeats the purpose. I'd go back anytime! read more

We made reservation for Bar Blitzen at Culinary dropout. What a great and fun time we had the drinks and food was delicious the staff was totally into the Christmas spirit! The bartender made us a special Christmas shot. read more

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Lively restaurant with a huge space for patrons. Private rooms for groups and plenty of seating in the main dining area. The service was super slow. They forgot to take orders from 2 people and we had to chase the server down to get the orders in. The food is alright. Hoping this was an off day for them. The bathrooms were clean and the valet is very proficient. read more

Last night we had a group of 6 at the Tempe location. The first thing I'd like to comment on. You can't take SALT out of food. Whoever the cook/chef was last night loaded every single dish with salt. I've never experienced this at CD and I've been there often. Second, one in our group had violent vomit after the meal last night. That is brutal and she had the Short Ribs. I don't think this is the standard for your restaurant. I typically goto the Gilbert location and we've never had any issues. Please recheck your processes as something is off. read more

We went late, so it wasn't crowded. Really good service, great food and probably a lot of fun when college is in session.