Loved the DJ who was playing music with joy, as well as the ping pong tables! The food, waitstaff and customer service was excellent! If there were concerns with the meal, they were willing and amenable to correcting those issues. If only customer service were like this everywhere. read more

In my opinion, best espresso martini in town (all locations). this is a place for every occasion. truly one of my favorites and recommend it to anyone that is passing through town! It's a scratch kitchen, making food wait times a little longer than normal but IT IS WORTH THE WAIT read more

We love it!! The food was delicious and hot everything on time. Very friendly staff. Place clean. read more

Inconsistent. Ordered their pork belly nachos for delivery like usual. This is the second time wonky things have happened with this order. Last time the chips were stale and seemed like they came out of a chip bag from the grocery store. This time the pork belly looks like it didn't get the extra bbq love that it normally does. This app is usually stellar otherwise. Maybe something is up with the management/staff, but it certainly makes me not want to try again. read more

I will cut to the chase because there are many reviews here. Seared ahi tuna salad is not only the best thing I have eaten in a while, it may be the best salad I have ever had. Perfect balance in taste and texture. Lightly sweet, some wasabi kick, crunchy, creamy.. it simply had it all and I can't recommend it enough. The place is loud and crowded, but modern and fun. Foodie without being prententious, and seems to have a little sense of humour. Live music was good and not at an overpowering volume. I am here in Tempe on business and came in strictly off Yelp reviews, and can't see how I won't come back again while I am in town. Service was on point. Lots of nice choices on the beer menu. Also had the prosciutto deviled eggs, which were great. read more

Culinary Dropout - Seared ahi tuna salad. Absolutely amazing. - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

This place was amazing! Such a cool vibe and eclectic menu! Mock tails were great too! Highly recommend!!!

Enjoyed the unusual decor however, it's very loud and difficult to carry on a conversation. Food was so so.

Food is very tasty and approachable! The portions are good and the quality is present. Service is friendly and good - inside is my favorite place. Outside is good for casual group gatherings and can be busy and lively ! Drinks and sitting at the inside bar is great. Drinks are always good You will enjoy - I go to the phoenix location but Tempe is equally nice. (More casual) read more

Great food, service and overall experience. Made a last minute reservation as part of a work trip and had a great experience. Highly recommend! read more

Nothing was necessarily wrong but I've heard great things and had heightened expectations so was ultimately disappointed. Ambiance was cool they definitely fit the vibe they are going for. Got a "cheap" salad that was still 9 dollars that was very meh and the fried chicken as an entree. Don't remember my servers name but she did a good job. read more

Great food here and every time I go I try something new and I'm always pleasantly surprised.

My coworkers and I went over this place on Halloween eve. It was a last minute plan for us. We had a great time, I enjoyed my dinner, great burger and delicious beer. I'm a fan I will be coming back for more. read more

Culinary Dropout - The Pub Burger; havarti , bacon and house bbq sauce. - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Ah one of my favorite places!! It's so hard for me to break away from my staple Seared Tuna Salad - but today the Chopped Kale Salad was calling my name and was so awesome - not bitter at all! And the La Vida Verde - yes! It's like a green drink of healthy with a clear touch of alcohol! :) and jalapeño to spice it up! Can't get enough of those!!! read more

Culinary Dropout - La Vida Verde - jalapeño kick is awesome! - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Came here a few days ago and I really liked the layout of this place because it's very modern and has a very unique vibe to it! The service was great and friendly! I'm giving this place 4 stars is because the food just didn't quite hit it for me. I had the steak tacos, my bf got the meatloaf, and the cheddar and potatoes pierogies! The only thing that was really good was the cheddar and potatoes pierogies and that's it. The steak was really dry and they give you a big bowl of beans for only 3 small tacos. The meatloaf was really dense and dry as well, and the mashed potatoes tasted like they were instant mashed potatoes. Overall, the food wasn't worth the price but the atmosphere is worth the visit!! read more

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Been here a few times and it is delicious comfort food! The spicy margarita is a favorite! Yummy and memorable! Of course the pretzel bites are a must! read more

The food was AWESOME and I loved the ambiance. The only problem was that it took over an hour to get our food. Our waitress was very apologetic and the manager knocked 50% off of our bill so I appreciated that because it showed they cared! I'd DEFINITELY go back to this restaurant!! read more

Fun atmosphere, but way over priced for average food. Definitely a place for the younger crowd

Met out of town friends at this CD in Tempe - I actually ate there a year ago and boy has the food gone down hill. We were there at Saturday brunch time, not very crowded at all, and everything we ordered was lukewarm or cold. Just not very flavorful - got the chicken and biscuit, breakfast burrito, and the pretzels and cheese fondue. Pretzels were hard/tough and again everything was barely warm, which probably didn't help the taste. Won't come back here again. read more

This was not what I was expecting with the name of the place but the food has fresh ingredients and innovative menu choices and recipes. Food was delicious but expect a bit of a higher bill at the end. read more

Culinary Dropout - Spicy Spicy Vegan Curry - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Came here after work for dinner with some friends. I've been meaning to check out this place for quite some time because of all of it's raving reviews. First and foremost, parking. There's tons of parking space which is great! However, this place is seriously popular, especially after work around 5PM. Despite the relatively large parking space, almost all of the spots were taken -- my roommate and I got lucky and pulled in as someone was pulling out. I will note that there is complimentary valet though (bring cash, just in cash! Don't forget to tip!) Now onto the interior. Gorgeous, gorgeous place. From the floors, to the walls, to the women's bathroom, to the relaxed (or absence of?)dress code for the staff... this place is so trendy and hip! I'm especially fond of the lights (they dim then around 6pm!). I'd definitely love to get a little dressed up and go here to grab some drinks with my friends. This is the perfect place for that. The staff? The staff was great! Super accommodating and responsive. Constantly checking in on how our group was doing. Loved it. Now for the appetizers. We had two appetizers: the pretzel and provolone fondue as well as the pork rib nachos. Both were fantastic and very easy to share. So much flavor and cheese! I love cheese. I'd love to try all of the other apps (I'm thinking the wings next time!) As for the entrees, I ordered the Italian grinder with a cheap house salad on the side. The salad was awesome! It's presentation definitely did not match up with its name. Now, the Italian grinder looked quite delicious (I asked for lots of jalapeños in it!) but man.. it just wasn't good. I was pretty full from the apps so this may have contributed to it, but geez, I really couldn't bring myself to finish the sandwich. So I asked for a to-go box and decided to save it for tomorrow's lunch. When I got home, I had a HORRIBLE stomach ache (I'll spare you the details). I told all my friends thinking that maybe the appetizers were the cause. Everyone else was fine, except for me. Perhaps I had something else to eat earlier on in the day that upset my stomach? So I gave the sandwich another shot. NOPE NOPE NOPE. Eating the remainder of my sandwich ended up with the same results. I learned my lesson. I am never, ever going near the Italian grinder again. I didn't have the most positive first experience here... I will definitely go back to this place for some drinks and apps and MAYBE some of the other entrees but in all honesty, none of them really caught my eye -- which is how I ended up with the sandwich. At the end of the day, this is the perfect place for some apps and drinks, but I don't think I'd ever come here for dinner. But who knows? Maybe next time I'll change my mind and work up the courage to give some of the other entrees a shot. Maybe I'll check out the location in Scottsdale or Phoenix. Until then, my stomach and I will definitely be avoiding the dining area at this location for the foreseeable future. If I ever go back, you can find me at the bar. read more

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Food was delish... service was spot on..and the ambiance is very nice. We went at lunch time and it was just right. Got there before the lunch rush. We will definitely go back! read more

I like this fun lively place. Nice decor and well made drinks. But I struggle to eat the salads as then are time and time again drowning in too much salad dressing. The lettuce is soaked, I wish the salad had less dressing and was crisp. It seems like the house salads are made in advance and then sit around getting limp and lifeless. I'm a vegetarian and salad is one of my few options to eat. Please re think your salad dressing and plating. read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Always busy! I've been here a few times now over the years and surprised that I hadn't already done a review. The complex is HUGE and has multiple private rooms plus a covered outdoor area with games such as bags, etc. It was 8pm on a Monday and we were told 20 minute wait for a table. BUT the bar area had immediate availability so we grabbed one of the hightop tables there. I had a cold beer and their beef stroganoff dish - WOWOWOWOW. So good! Dessert of apple monkey bread with ice cream was a perfect recommendation from our server and hubs and I jousted a little with our spoons on the plate for the last of the AMAZING, premium hard packed ice cream. I LOVE great quality ice cream! Service was a little slow but as I mentioned, they were packed when we got there. Server was very sweet and personable. read more

Very cool vibe! Loved outdoor seating. The staff was not as attentive as other culinary dropouts I have visited but a very nice restaurant. Good is always good and consistent. read more

Food was MODERATE. Nothing special about this place but the service was great and everyone was kind and helpful!

Went for dinner and drinks a couple of weeks back. The drinks were excellent and the food was good. Had a couple of the From Soho with Love cocktails and the skirt steak for dinner. Everyone enjoyed what they had. read more

Culinary Dropout - From Soho with Love - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Ordered take out before going to Desert Botanical Garden. It's such a good place to chill before, but we ran out of time. Ordered: Devil eggs- normal. Delicious. Was starving lol Pork belly nachos- fat more than meat. Wish it has more pork. Shaved prime rib dip- dipping the sandwich with sauce is delicious. Inside of the restaurant looks nice. There are some games for guests. Check it out if you pass by. read more

We went here last week to celebrate my friend's, new job. If you are planning for friday, be ready for the crowd. My first impression was the place is quiet happening with all youngsters, yard was full with ping pong and other games. The music was loud and we and the waitress had to literally shout at each other for orders. We settled for some drinks, the cocktails tasted good but seemed a little over priced. I have removed all the stars because of the food. The food was ok, not that great and was very overpriced. we ordered thai chicken wings for appetizers and it was decent. I ordered salmon in entree which costed $22 and tasted below average. Their dessert chocolate with marshmellow topping was good. I was happy with the place and atmosphere but not the food. Its a good place only if u planning for drinks, i would have been ready to pay more for the food if had tasted good. read more

Culinary Dropout - Chocolate dessert - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

The service was fast and friendly. We were visiting from out of town and appreciated our servers suggestions. We really enjoyed our meal. I'll be going back next time I'm in town. read more

I had a pretty awful dining experience here last week, but I came back after Haley (the manager) reached out to me. She was kind, honest, and it was nice to see that she really values genuine customer feedback and cares about continuously training her employees. Came back with a different group of friends, none of which have been here before. We all had a good time! It was right after a work day on an early Tuesday evening. I had the grilled chicken club with bacon and a side of fries and it was delicious! The group also had the BBQ pork nachos and cheese fondue with pretzels as appetizers and those were to die for. The service this time was superb. Even though it was pretty busy for a Tuesday night, he checked in with us frequently. This was a completely different experience compared to the first one, and I'm so happy I gave CD another chance. I know every place has room for improvement, and I think they are in good hands with Haley proactively seeking ways to do so. read more

Culinary Dropout - Entrance to The Yard where Culinary Dropout is. - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Food so nice we visited twice...on our trip to Tempe/Phoenix. I can't really name highlights because everything was a highlight: the tomato bisque, the chips and onion dip, the turkey pastrami sandwich, and the peanut butter rocky road bar. I also could drink the Pink Cadillac Margarita at every meal. That's not advised, but you should definitely go and check this place out. There is enough variety here for everyone to find something that they'll love. read more

Culinary Dropout - Chips and famous onion dip - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Love this place. This would be the place to go with a group of friends. Great atmosphere - fun servers- the different areas of the space break it up! We did an array of appetizers and a bowl of the broccoli and cheese soup! Array of Apps... Green chili cornbread, prosciutto deviled eggs, korean style brussels sprouts, pimiento cheese & almonds, and prairie breeze cheddar with bread for spreading. Stars of the show were the deviled eggs and the Soup! Although nothing we got was bad (the cheddar was not my thing ). Check it out it is an experience!! read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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I am such a fan of Culinary Dropout! You can never go wrong with them. Easy to make a reservation, check. Fun environment with table tennis, etc, check. Great service from our waitress, check. AC inside and mist sprays outside, check. And great food, check! I got an iced tea, which they kept refilling. Shared the strawberry and brie on balsamic vinegar bread appetizer with my fiancé and I loved it. And I got the strawberry and avocado salad with steak as my entree, which I loved. Tried my fiancé's pub burger, and I absolutely loved it - I rarely enjoy bacon, and I actually enjoyed theirs. Big fan of CD, and I think this is my favorite location of theirs, because it's not boogey and rowdy. read more

Sat on the outdoor patio that has corn hole, ping pong and lots of good seating options. Liked the atmosphere at the restaurant but the food was just so so. Grilled asparagus appetizer was solid but didn't expect it to be cold. I got the roasted salmon with Brussels sprouts and butternut squash farro risotto. The salmon was cooked well and crispy but there were almost no Brussels sprouts in the dish, no full sprouts just leaves. My partner got the ribs and they were hard to pull apart, very far from fall off the bone. Overall fine place but food was a bit disappointing. I'd recommend going to enjoy a drink and hang out but maybe not make it your main dining choice read more

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Based on the name, I expected good food. Don't expect that. It's a loud, party kind of place, with food to match. Service is similarly party oriented; not a lot of service other than a beer. We had empty water glasses the whole night, and empty beer glasses for much of it. Not a fan. read more

Culinary Dropout did not disappoint, nor does it ever. But this is not my typical go to culinary location, and food and service still remained good! Just keep an eye out for any possible seasonal menu changes. read more

We liked the set-up! Very spacious and had games to keep everyone busy. The downside is they got our order wrong 3x in a row, food took over and hour and when it came, it was just okay. If you want a beer or want to relax and play some corn hole or ping pong I would recommend. If you are hungry and wanting a good meal, I would look elsewhere. read more

I went here on a Saturday night and it was nearly impossible to find parking. The restaurant was good vibes, but the service was just ok. Everything took quite awhile to arrive to us due to how busy it was. We ordered the prosciutto deviled eggs which were good and the pretzel & queso dip which was good too. The vegan curry was just ok. Drinks are way overpriced. Added steak to the curry, and it ended up costing $24 total which I didn't think was worth it. Next time I go out, I will pick a place with more parking options and less crowded. read more

Culinary Dropout - Vegan curry add steak - New American Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

I moved to Arizona in July and have been to Culinary Dropout a few times (only once at this Tempe location). They seem to be a main staple in AZ with locations in all the "hip places" (Tempe, Scottsdale Quarter/Kierland, and right by my apt near Scottsdale Fashion Square). They are a place that can please many with a decent array of options. This one in Tempe seems to be the biggest. They have a big outdoor area to play games, and have fun. The indoor seating area is pretty big and there's a decent sized bar to watch games. I know I'm a newbie to the area but to me, all of the Culinary Dropouts I've been to are average. Half the time, I have to think really hard to even remember what I ordered....which indicates that the food is not memorable to say the least. I haven't quite figured out the right dish here, but I'll keep trying and hopefully I'll find it soon. Either way, I'm chalking this up as a 3 star (average) review. read more

Definitely enjoyed this place. I am in town for the weekend and it was one of the many options within walking distance of my hotel. It is a huge place and must be popular as it was super busy on a Wednesday night. The menu is unique and has a lot of options. I had the squash, kale salad and the pork belly nachos. Both were very good. I did forget to take pictures but I would certainly recommend. There is a huge bar as well and lots of innovative cocktail options. read more