I've been here a few times and it's usually an ok experience. This time around was similar. It's always lively and a cute decor. I ordered the steak frites. I couldn't taste the truffle butter but it was ok. The fries seemed like an after thought. My sister ordered a Cesar salad and added salmon but it looked like salmon nuggets and not a piece of salmon. A manager ended up getting her a new salad and appropriate sized piece of fish. read more

Culinary Dropout - Cesar salad with added salmon - New American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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We went for happy hour, which is traditionally only offered at the bar, but we had our daughter with us so they graciously let us order off the happy hour menu at a regular table! The service was a little slow, took over 30min for 2 appetizers. We ordered the pretzel bites that were good, but not amazing. Also got brussel sprouts which were delicious and we were wishing for more! They have a great cocktail selection on their happy hour menu. Unfortunately, no beers on happy hour. We sat inside, but they have a covered patio area, which is great for the young professional crowd (bar, ping pong tables, seating etc). read more

Culinary Dropout - Soft Pretzels & Provolone Fondue - New American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

It's hit or miss. The food is quite tasty with a variety that usually suits a group. It's a very large restaurant with both the inside and outside (fully covered area) being quite noisy. You go there for the fun atmosphere and not usually conversation. Service can be good at times - hit or miss. Depends on your server and the time of day, if they have large groups or parties. It can be a good place to watch sports but don't count on your team's game being available to watch from your assigned table. In the outdoor area TVs are mounted from the ceiling and not that large so actually watching a game in comfort is, well, hit or miss. Even communicating with staff can be difficult because of the noise. They are cheerful and friendly but don't always follow through so, yup, it's hit or miss. It's a great location, plenty of parking, good food, great cocktails, price points that are competitive, food service until quite late. . Fun atmosphere with the games and activities available. So know the pros and cons before you go. It won't stop me from going there. (I like to be around when Arizona basketball staff and team members are there!) But don't count on quick and accurate service, a place to chat, or watching your favorite team. Even if it's the Arizona Wildcats. read more

This is a cool little spot near the college in Tucson. We stumbled upon it while driving around trying to find a place to eat dinner. Not a lot of options in the area. This is definitely geared towards college life. It's cool inside but can get loud. I can imagine on a weekend or game night it's insanity! Food was good. I wouldn't say anything overly special but it was solid food for the price. I would go back if in the area. Safe. Quick service. Friendly service and cool bathrooms. read more

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They fry their fish with the chicken and the French fries. Gross. The chicken tasted like fish.

Huge space with so much to so and love how certain nights they have live entertainment. Food and drinks were really good and wait staff was very attentive and friendly! read more

Anniversary spent well! Charles treated us so kindly and quite frankly provided the best service I've ever had. Food was impeccable. Such a nice atmosphere as well lighting was turned down making it very intimate. I recommend 100% especially for that spicy shrimp sticky rice. Thank you again charles for explaining every little detail of the dishes we were curious about. Again excellent service. read more

I had only been here once before and let me say, my visit this weekend was redeeming. Previously I felt the menu was small and the food was poor quality. This was closer back to when it first opened. This past weekend however, I went with a larger group and we all enjoyed ourselves and the food. First off my burrito was huge. And it was really good! I do wish they had other meat options for it though, outside of sausage. The other portions seemed to be hearty as well. The menu was also a little pricy to me on some parts. For instance you could build your own chucuterie board, however each option was $6 or more. To get a board already made was $30, which seems like a lot to me for some light snacks. Looking at the pictures, those portions don't look to be hearty. They had us sitting in this lounge area which is cool for groups, except for the fact that there's little place to place your food. It makes eating awkward when you're trying to eat and talk with others, but leaning over to the fire pit. You find that the best option is to place your plate in your lap. Side tables or even the ones that scoot under chairs (tv dinner-like) would be a good option. When we first sat down the fire was actually on in the middle. I could see how this can really help on a cold day. This place is huge and house corn hole, ping pong, and other games as well I didn't check out. There's a private room as well it looked like in an area called "the coop", a sizable bar area, and it looked like there's even a stage area. This is definitely a great place for groups. read more

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Burgers and fries are delicious cheeseburger yummy five stars it's so good! Love it, it was my first time and I'll be back! read more

Culinary Dropout - It's so delicious yummy five stars so good it's fantastic cheeseburger and fries delicious - New American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Wow!!! If you need a hip place this is the place to be. I just to one of the patrons and mentioned the food is good. The music is definitely groovy, they have ample parking and they even offer parking/charging of electric vehicles! The venue is very spacious but I highly recommend booking a reservation especially on weekends because for a table of 3 it was a 25 minute wait. The food was great, it was even better because our order was free since our food took awhile to arrive, we were in good company so we didn't even realize but the staff took it upon themselves to let us know the food was on them. We still made sure we left a $25 tip. read more

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Wow!! This place rocks! Atmosphere 10/10, food 10/10, drinks 10/10, service 100000/10!!!! Megan was our server and she was so friendly and took AMAZING care of us recommend her if you're looking for a wonderful experience! You have to come for a fantastic dinner and ask for Megan! read more

Kudos to the chef and former bartender, but this time, there's this one: SADIE. She made the whole dining experience such a pleasant one! She was sweet, polite, down to earth, wholesome and always made sure that we were enjoying everything. She needs to be cloned. Thanks Sadie. Food was epic. Drinks were even more epic. The hostess listened to my request and sat us down at the cushy corner. Overall score: 4.85!! read more

We came with 10 people for Family Weekend and while less than a quarter of the restaurant was sat at 2 in the afternoon on a Sunday they quoted an hour wait. We even spoke to the manager and she was rude and unaccommodating. I watched 4 smaller groups walk out too because of the same reason. Eveyone was standing around (servers, kitchen staff etc.)) so not sure what the deal is here but wow. Don't plan to come back read more

I had a great experience here. Alan was very consistent and friendly with our experience here. He was very welcoming and easy to talk to. The food was amazing as well. There are tons of activities to do here and it was a great experience 10/10 recommend. read more

Recently went to Culinary Dropout with my family and had the best time! The service was super friendly and attentive, and everything felt so relaxed and welcoming. The food was really good and perfect for sharing! Everyone at the table loved what they ordered! The vibe is what really makes this place. Fun, lively, and comfortable, it's a great spot to hang out with friends or family, especially for holiday get-togethers. Definitely a place I'd go back to again. read more

Food was great.Try the Korean short ribs wth a new Sangria that is new on the menu. Our waiter was quick and attentive and the manager Katy, came by twice to make sure we were happy. read more

My nephew was in town for a U of A visit--as he will be a freshman there next year. Much of our clan lives here in the Sleepy Pueblo and we all wanted to visit with him before he returned to New Jersey. Our crew quickly became large, resulting in our needing a place that would offer a variety of menu items to chose from-- so that each person in our group (*some can be picky) could find something that would satisfy. It was decided that Culinary Dropout--(with its open-seating, friendly staff, interesting menu items, fun ambiance, and close proximity to the U of A)--would meet our needs. We had a super-friendly and kind-hearted server. He checked in on us frequently, anticipated our needs, and was well-supported by his serving teammates. The food was really good (as always). I went for the Chicken Katsu sandwich--which is tasty, and filling, and paired nicely with my iced tea. I was told that this particular sam-ich can be a bit messy to eat, so decided to go, "bougie" and use a fork and knife to gormandize the simple meal. (I'm sure that neighboring tables must have thought I was European). My life-partner decided that she would, once again, opt for the Spicy Vegan curry. This one would have been my choice too (had she not chosen it) as it is really hits the spot with its savory flavor profiles, slightly crunchy vegetables, and forbidden (black) rice that swim in a rib-stick'n broth/gravy that tosses off hints of ginger, fennel, pepper and coriander. It is really good. Other's in our gang chose burgers, and specialty salads. A turkey pastrami sandwich was split between two at our table. All of the choices received praise. We slid on over to play a little corn-hole and ping-pong. The friendly competition capped off a nice meal. This is a good place to chose for so many reasons and is one of my favored places to hang out for a bit of time and a bite to eat. read more

The entire experience from start to finish was absolutely phenomenal!!! The food was hot and fresh while having amazing flavors, the servers that had helped me and my fiancé with our first time experiencing this establishment were so nice and friendly!! And the atmosphere was absolutely incredible as well as the enthusiasm for fun and excitement was on point!!!! read more

Great Meal, But Uncomfortable Dress Code. I've been to Culinary Dropout several times, and it's always been a go-to spot for great food and a fun atmosphere. The dishes are consistently delicious, the portions are generous, and there's a wide variety to choose from, so I've never been disappointed. Whether I'm with friends or family, it's always a great time. The environment is relaxed and lively, and the staff is always fantastic. The waiters and waitresses are friendly, efficient, and attentive without hovering. They really know how to make you feel taken care of while you enjoy your meal. That being said, I do want to mention something that made us a little uncomfortable during our last visit. It was a Friday night, and we noticed that many of the female waitstaff were dressed in outfits that were significantly more revealing than usual. One waitress, in particular, bent over slightly while serving a nearby table, and we could clearly see her underwear--more than we expected or wanted to see for our night out. It just felt out of place for the setting. To be clear, it wasn't just her--several of the waitresses were dressed similarly, and it seemed like the overall dress code had become more skimpy than we've experienced during our typical afternoon visits. I totally understand that the restaurant has a certain vibe, but for us, it felt a bit too much that night. My wife and I just wanted to enjoy a nice meal, and the attire of the waitstaff made it hard to do so. I'm not trying to sound prudish--just sharing our experience. Despite this, the food and service were excellent, and I will continue to come back. I'll probably avoid evening visits, though, if this is the standard at night. I'd just hope that the restaurant reconsiders the dress code to keep the focus on the great food and fun atmosphere, without anything detracting from the experience. read more

I enjoyed my first visit to Culinary Dropout. I was there as a part of office outing. We were given a private party section. Our section was attended to by multiple waiters. I have to admit I was quite impressed with the level of customer service that we received. Everyone was nice and super attentive. The food was delicious! I especially enjoyed the pretzels and fondue. The monkey bread dessert was also tasty. The waitress recommended that the monkey bread could be split between multiple people, so I only ordered one to go order to split. It was a fail! The portion of the to go order of the Monkey Bread was smaller than the pictures that I saw online. Take my advice and order your own portion because the ratio advice didn't add up. My team and I enjoyed the corn hole section of the location. I have to admit I was a bit competitive. It was a lot of fun! While playing corn hole, I happened to notice another private party event. The ordered different menu items from my party. I have to admit that the fried chicken looked slapping. I sincerely hope that chicken didn't go to waste because it just sit under a lamp for hours. All and all, Culinary Dropout is a vibe! I recommend visiting this establishment when you are in Tucson. read more

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My mom, good friend, and I all had a great dinner on Valentine's Day. There was a mistake with our order because they had run out of Figs in a Blanket, but the manager Alan did all he possibly could to make our night awesome! Also, our server Troy was super nice and accommodating as he could be. The singer that night, Ariel Miranda, was very talented and had a beautiful voice. Overall, great food, great service, and a great experience overall! read more

another great experience at culinary dropout! excellent service from daniel, and floor manager katie was also great. both of them kept checking with us to see how things were and if we needed anything. had the wagyu pigs-in-a-blanket and chicken wings, and the butternut squash kale salad. all excellent! pro-tip: order the house chips when you place your drink order to munch on while you're deciding on your meal... they're awesome and pair perfectly with the onion dip! thanks C.D. - see you again soon! read more

Culinary Dropout - get the house chips!! - New American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

On 4/12/2025... It's interesting how little transparency there is around private events here. You'd think a place that prides itself on community would actually communicate with it. We came on a Saturday evening only to find the restaurant basically empty--less than 10% occupied--because of a private event that no one seemed to think was worth mentioning in advance. If private events are such a priority, maybe it's time to invest in a designated space for them, instead of turning away regular guests on one of the busiest nights of the week. Us and almost 30 people showed up thinking it was open, it sadly we all were dealt the shorter stick. read more

I have always liked this restaurant. I typically go to the one in Austin Texas. I noticed that they had one in Tucson when I was visiting, so I went for dinner with my friend. We both enjoyed our meals. The atmosphere is fun and they had live music the day that we went. We only had to wait about 15 minutes, but you can make reservations. Every time I go I get the fondue with the soft pretzels because it is delicious. I got it again that day. The portion is pretty big so you can share with more than two people. We typically take it home because we can never finish it between two. This time I ordered the crispy shrimp Caesar salad. Loved it. It had enough shrimp. I had a glass of Cabernet. no complaints about the wine. Our waitress was friendly and efficient. She was there when we needed her without us having to flag her down. The restaurant is big. They have inside and outside covered patio seating. Parking is on site, but it gets full pretty quickly. read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Ambience.. ambience.. ambience.. it's a HUGE place to eat and play as well.. one area with AC and the other side has multiple fan mists. They have great food.. great service as well.. We loved the pork belly nachos, banana bread toast, and 36-hr pork ribs.. the kids enjoyed their food and played for so long. My husband liked his mocktail as well. They have a place to rent for private events as well. read more

Stopped by culinary to grab a drink, but was enticed by a bowl of pretzels walking by...I ended up with a three course meal haha. Very nice staff, will be comin back for more turkey pastramis and monkey bread read more

LOVE THIS PLACE. Always a great atmosphere. Everyone is amazing. The food is on point!

Went here on a date and had a great experience. Seated quickly and got drinks. The drinks were strong and well made. Everything we got was delicious but the star was the duck and shrimp fried rice. Will definitely go back! read more

I've never had a bad meal here. I love the fun atmosphere. The service is always extremely slow which is frustrating. They seem to be very understaffed in the serving department, but there were tons of food runners. I've already spoken with the manager about my last visit so I won't take off any more stars for that. The French dip is one of the best I've ever had and that mud pie dessert was sinfully delicious. A chocolate lovers dream. They have great drinks too. Highly recommend making a reservation or you may have to wait 30 minutes to an hour. read more

Culinary Dropout - Shaved Prime Rib Dip - New American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Came for work event. The ambience and service were both great. The food itself definitely seemed overrated and overpriced. The appetizers are small and pretty bland. My katsu chicken sandwich was okay, although $20 for something that most fast food places do better. read more

One of the best places around to have something for everyone. The menu caters to the simple bar foodie with pretzels or the adult lunch ale crowd with charcuterie. The drink selection has something for every Lakey including the brew house bro and the sophisticated drinker with their custom cocktails. Their mains are inclusive from Korean to southern to good ole steak. Friday nights are great with the live music that never disappoints. read more

Culinary Dropout - Bar - New American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Could be a fun date place to check it. On one side is a covered outside area which some outdoor games, but you can still eat there as well and the other side is a bit more intimate. You can see the chefs prep each dish through the glass windows. What we had was pretty tasty and waitress was really accommodating. This was a great experience. read more

Culinary Dropout - Spicy Shrimp Crispy Rice - New American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Great service and ambiance with live acoustic music on a Friday night. I sat at the bar for dinner. I asked the bartender for his favorites/what they're known for (fried chicken, chicken katsu, cacio e pepe chicken pasta). A fellow diner said she's been going there 10 years and highly recommended the fried chicken. I didn't have a big appetite, so I went with the crispy chicken katsu sandwich which was fantastic. I was full, so I got the apple cinnamon monkey bread with ice cream to go. It was good but a little too sweet for me. read more

Culinary Dropout - Chicken katsu with house salad - New American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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We had never been to a Culinary Dropout before, so didn't know what to expect when we went to the restaurant in Tucson, AZ. It is a huge restaurant, with spaces for eating indoors and out, as well as a large room that appeared to be for large groups. However, the patrons in the indoor and outdoor spaces were also mostly large groups, some celebrating special events such as birthdays. The noise level was on the high side. The food was largely comfort food of moderate quality. Overall, this is a reasonable place for large groups, but smaller groups may prefer less of a party atmosphere. read more

Service was great! I could just drink the ranch dressing. Prime rib sandwich was very good and the au jus even better.

Good food Great service Restaurant is large & not quiet Have enjoyed the food every time I've gone. High menu with something for everyone, read more

It's expensive, portions tend to be small, use of provolone cheese with buritos and pretzels does not taste right to me, there are better restaurant choices around read more

We drove from Scottsdale to Tucson for try this restaurant today. We are not disappointed! Super Server" Dee " helped us on menu. Manager stopped by and he was so Cool as well. We ordered Their most popular items... fried chicken, Brussels sprouts, Pretzel with cheese dips and salmon dish which cooked with Perfection Thanks Guys for awesome job. read more

One of the best dips we have ever had. Pretzel and cheese bites were great too. Pub burger (minus the bun for gluten allergy) was yummy...a tad salty but so am I ;) the ambience was lively and fun...very spacious with plenty of room for your party, also ping pong, shuffle board, corn hole...plenty of games to keep everyone occupied and enjoy an experience rather than just a meal. Model. Industrial feel. Service was great. We got everything we needed and they were attentive and personable. read more

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Stopped by on a Sunday - they were serving the brunch menu but I asked if I could get the Steak Frites. They said, sure, and I am so grateful - it was amazing. Tender slices of skirt/hanger steak, med rare, topped with a very light truffle butter. Almost did not need a knife. Great fries and a beer to go with. Now THAT's brunch. Service was very good. Place is huge and still inviting. Want to go back soon. read more

Culinary Dropout - Terrific Steak Frites - recommended. - New American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona