We went to Desert Ridge Improv over the weekend to see a comedy show with a group of friends, and it was definitely a fun night out! We arrived about a half hour early so we could be seated together. On our last visit, the service was pretty slow, so this time we were hoping to get our drink and food orders in right away to make sure everything arrived before the show started. Our group noticed that the menu prices are definitely on the higher side, but it is what it is. We ordered our drinks and food at the same time. For drinks, we had a mix of beers, wine, and cocktails. For food, we ordered the nachos with no protein, cauliflower bites, wings, and chicken tenders. Our server was really nice, but he definitely seemed overwhelmed. The nachos arrived pretty quickly, well before our drinks, and the chicken tenders came next. The wings and cauliflower bites arrived about 15 minutes later... and we were still waiting on our drinks. Those finally showed up after the wings. I totally understand that it gets extremely busy with everyone trying to get their food and drinks before the show, but we definitely would have preferred to have our drinks arrive before or at least during the beginning of our meal. The nachos were a little difficult to eat because of the way they're served. They come stacked really high on a small rectangular tray. I'm guessing this is designed to save table space since the tables are pretty small, but I think a larger tray where the nachos could be spread out would make them much easier to eat. The wings were great! Our table did half Buffalo and half garlic Parmesan, and it was nice that they were able to split the order between two different sauces. The chicken tenders were just okay and unfortunately weren't very hot when they came out. The comedian was great, and we had so many laughs. One thing we did notice was that the neon sign on the stage was half burned out. Come on, guys!!! Get that fixed! Even the comedian noticed it and made a joke about it during the show. Overall, we really enjoy having a comedy club right here in Desert Ridge. Despite the slower service and a few food issues, it's always a fun evening out with friends. A few tweaks and it could be so much better! read more

Desert Ridge Improv - Nachos - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Purchased tickets for a show last night. Been here prior and it was great. Unsure why the ball has dropped so far from the once great place. Doors opened at 8 pm. They were nice enough to provide mini water bottles in the line, since it was so hot standing in line outside. We were told to go through Copper Blues for entry, which I had previously not done at the prior show, and asked to just stand there. All the tables were taken, and there was just a huge crowd standing around all these full tables. Waitresses come up to you for a drink order, but when you order from them, it does not count towards your 2 minimum drink order inside the club. There were overserving A LOT of guests. Women were extremely drunk, and a lot of men were becoming aggressive. No organization as to how we were supposed to line up, or stand. A lot of shit talking about people feeling like others were cutting them in line, yet no clear instructions on how to line up if you didn't have a wristband of blue or yellow. Ushered into the comedy room and put in a booth which was nice and close to the stage. Told again about the 2 drink mininum. My spouse and I ordred 1 alchoholic beverage each, and 1 soda each. It was $60.00 before tip. read more

Good vibes! I loved the crew and experience, but it was overcrowded and got a little pricey. We sat in VIP and I just recommend they remove a table to maybe make it feel slightly like an upgrade. We just had loaded nachos and they weren't bad. read more

Came for a show to see Samuel Comroe who is so funny. I was able to walk right in an hour early with no line (bonus) and got sat at a table. There were plenty of people there already but I still got a good seat. Of course there is a 2 drink minimum. I ordered 2 angry orchards which came out to $24. No surprise . That's kind of expensive for an Angry orchard though. I still had a wonderful time. I like the vibe of Desert Ridge Improv. read more

Desert Ridge Improv - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

See all

This place is just awesome. Steve who greeted us on line and was so incredibly kind and thoughtful. What a prefect welcome and true gentleman. Servers Zai and Bri are amazing! The Pretzel and cheese are so delicious! Nachos are very filling, healing pile of nachoness. Chicken tenders were good. Tender and fries were plentiful. Honey mustard was delicious and we dipped into our leftover cheese which was great! read more

See all

The staff were super friendly and the waitress was great. She kept our glasses full as we watched the show. We went to see a stand up competition. A friend was performing that night. Bring a sweater or at least long sleeves. Their air conditioning works incredibly well. read more

Desert Ridge Improv - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

See all

I went to Desert Ridge Improv for a "Wicked" drag brunch. It was fairly pricey at $25 per ticket -- I did see that it said a two drink minimum not realizing that their drinks were about $20 per drink!! These were general admission tickets too and that basically means first come first seated -- however we were escorted to our table and weren't able to take whatever seat we wanted -- this resulted in my back to the majority of the action that took place in the middle of the seating arrangement (not just on stage). This is the first drag show I have been to in Phoenix and I do have to say it was pretty tame -- it might have been the PG subject matter -- "Wicked" The host was the best act iMO -- but overall it is hard to have a bad time at a drag show!! Now back to the drinks and food -- My friend and I opted for the bottle of champagne and mimosa's -- we actually set a trend and by the end of the event everyone at our table ordered the same -- I like this option because you know you aren't getting a watered down drink -- but I did see some of the drink specials looked super cute, likes ones in a fishbowl. We also ordered food -- I had the sweetie tots and my friend had the avocado toast. Her toast was totally flavorless -- basically was like avocado with no spices, citrus or salt and some micro greens on top -- she had to get some salt and pepper from the waiter but it still didn't help. My sweetie tots were pretty good but very cheesy -- they were sitting in a pool of queso at the bottom of the plate -- so needless to say I didn't eat too much because it was so heavy. The service was very good -- they are obviously very used to the chaos of a bunch of drunk brunch drag fans, LOL. No complaints on the service at all!! So really giving it 3 stars for the cost of drinks and food, as well as the seating but it was super fun -- and am tempted to come back to see some comedy shows. read more

See all

Went in for a date night with my husband. We were seated side by side along with other people, initially found it odd but it was okay after all. The comic was very funny, JR Dr Guzman he had a great voice singing funny songs while playing guitar. We both don't drink alcohol so there were good options for Zero Proof drinks that we enjoyed. The sound system was great and we were so near the stage for a General Audience ticket that was priced well. Minimum 2 drinks needed to be ordered read more

See all

This has become our go-to date night in Desert Ridge. Great food, strong drinks, and consistently IMPRESSIVE talent... from headliners to openers, you can tell they book legit comedians. We get to hang out, laugh a ton, and for a while my wife doesn't have to hear me talk. Big shoutout to Chelsea, who somehow knows our drinks before we even order. Lena, Kayla, Jake, Steve and the whole crew are always friendly, accommodating, and make everything feel smooth from start to finish!! If you're looking for the best bang for your buck for a night out in Desert Ridge, don't sleep on the Improv. read more

Desert Ridge Improv - Secret menu - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Such a nice venue and in a great location! I came here to see my favorite podcasters Joey and Ellyn from ITN do a live here. The venue made up specialty drinks for them and the podcast which I thought were amazing and so did they! Apparently that was a surprise. Plenty of room, seating was very comfy -it was bar seating you know at bar tables but still cozy. I feel it was very budget friendly but I don't know how much they have to do with that or if that was the podcast. Anyways had a great time and can't wait to see another event here. read more

See all

BFF and I came here for the Y2K Drag Brunch show on 8/30. This was my first time visiting this venue and I very much enjoyed the experience. As many of the reviews state this and the venue website as well, there is a 2 drink minimum purchase. Our server was upfront about this right away when he first came to our table but it doesn't seem to be enforced. I got away with only ordering 1 drink and our server never pressured us into ordering more, which was appreciated. Drinks do not have to be alcoholic - I ordered a non-alcoholic mocktail and BFF had sodas. Water was brought to every table automatically. We also ordered 1 dish to share as well. The drag queens for our show were excellent. My only regret was not bringing enough cash to tip them! (Singles preferred). If you are going to see a drag show here, please show your love and tip! They work hard to give everyone a wonderful, entertaining show and are super gracious for pictures with you. If I had to critique something, it would be the food and drink prices. They are very reminiscent of Vegas prices and the food and drinks offered I feel doesn't justify it. The food menu was super limited as well. Just keep in mind that the menus on the website is to give you an idea of what they serve. The actual menu during the show may be different. You can have a good time here on a budget but it will take some careful planning beforehand. read more

See all

Comedian headliner was 10/10. Server was quite pushy and kept interrupting to ask if we wanted more. Drinks are $15 each at the cheapest (that's for a beer), and the food was subpar at best. I'd expect more from a $20 burger! Nachos were mostly chips and a bit of topping for also like $18! Tickets are given freely cause they'll get you on the drink and beverage side of things. Ugh. Editing reviewer after manager replied below to say: individual beer prices are not listed on the menu. We asked the server and he said they're about $13-17 each depending on what you order. Also, the water and soda being options for the drink min was not explained. read more

Came here on 6/21 to see Jeff Garlin perform and had so much fun! We bought VIP tickets and ended up getting right up front in the action. There was a line when we showed up and general admission is first come first serve seating wise. They funneled VIP into long tables up front and it felt super immersive! There's a 2 drink minimum since the tickets are so reasonably priced. Be warned the cocktails are expensive! But we were also able to get just a couple beers and a glass of Coke. They also forgot our waters for about an hour and a half and we were definitely thirsty with the hot crowd in there. We were crammed in pretty tight with everyone so if you get easily overstimulated or need a lot of space, keep this in mind. The crowd was great and the comedians super engaging!! Overall such a good time and a great date night idea. The venue is super intimate and easy to see the stage from all sides. Remember, if you can see them, they can see you. Hecklers be warned, you WILL be called out by the comedians! Hahaha read more

Desert Ridge Improv - Entrance - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

See all

I've been to Desert Ridge Improv twice, both for comedy shows. Once on a Thursday and once on a Friday evening. Located in Desert Ridge Marketplace, it's a popular entertainment district but you won't have trouble finding a parking spot. There are plenty of restaurants and bars in the area if you're trying to make a night out of it. Ambiance (3/5): Desert Ridge Improv is a relatively large comedy club. If you get a general admission ticket, which I've done on both occasions, they seat you wherever you would like. If a show is sold out, you're pretty much packed in their like sardines. A little too close for comfort (with barely any room in between your seat and the people next to you), but I understand they're trying to maximize their profits. Service (3/5): Desert Ridge Improv has a two-drink minimum per person which is annoying but is consistent with other comedy clubs in town like Tempe Improv and Rick Bronson's House of Comedy. The servers generally do a good job taking care of a large group of people all placing orders around the same time. My only other pet peeve? You pay on those electronic payment systems. They just show you the total amount and I've noticed that the tip options include tax rather than pre-tax as it should be. I'll have to make sure I ask for an itemized receipt next time to make sure I'm calculating my tip correctly. Drinks (3/5): On the adult beverage side of things, Desert Ridge Improv has wine (both by the glass and bottles), beer (craft and your standard stuff, bottles and beer buckets), and various cocktails. They're overpriced, you're paying a "venue premium" here. Food (3.5/5): Given that it's a comedy club, I didn't have high hopes for the food. I had some food on one of my visits: the chicken tenders and fries. Good portion size, though their food is also a bit expensive. The chicken tenders were your run-of-the-mill chicken tenders. The fries were well seasoned. It's a filling meal, so I'll give them that. While the food and beverages, service, and ambiance are all part of the experience, it's the opportunity to see comedians that's most important. Desert Ridge Improv brings in a good amount of big names. If you're looking for some good laughs, and you respect comedy as an art form, it's a cool experience to let loose and relax. read more

First time to see a comedian at this venue. Food was just ok. The drinks were not only horrible they were horribly overpriced! The bartender didn't know how to make a strawberry daiquiri. Then I was charged $25. for the smallest glass of yuck! If you go to see a comedian at this venue stick to bottled water. It was delicious! read more

Comedy good. Sound good. Food limited but good Seating terrible. They squeeze you in with other parties and seats are uncomfortable even when venue less than half full. Hard to see if you are not sitting in one of the two end front seats. Would not advise going until the rotate the tables 90 degrees and don't seat you so close to other parties you do not know so you are literally touching each other. Never seen this setup before and go to lots of comedy clubs. read more

Went to see Girls Night Out Murder Mystery tonight. There is not anything redeeming about this performance. The sound quality was horrible the girls were over acting really poorly, the film clips looked like old school porn quality. The Only mystery was the cost of the drinks. It cost $40 for 2 beers and two iced teas and I wasn't even shown what I was actually charged for. The service was lacking the waitress forgot my water that I ordered with my drink. Then forgot the beer the second time around. What a waste of time and money. Save yourself the misery. read more

First time at this venue and absolutely LOVED it! Employees were awesome and welcoming. The gal handling the seating assignments was wonderful. Reyna our server was top notch with excellent customer service. Give her a raise! We had a blast and will be back. Great venue to see great comedians! read more

Listen, it's improv comedy--so of course, you're going to need to buy at least two drinks instead of just one. Of course, the waitstaff will be nudging you to order some food, and yes, you'll probably end up leaving a hefty gratuity when the bill is settled. But you go there for the talented comedians and a night filled with laughter that you won't forget. read more

Desert Ridge Improv - Ready for the show - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

See all

Strictly from an outside perspective of any other reviews. Desert Ridge improv did a great job for tonight's show. The food was great and the service was fantastic. I'll definitely be back. read more

July 6th- Jon Heffernan headliner) there were three very funny comedians and it was a joy to see my friend belly laughing. Service was good. French fries yummy. Pleasant atmosphere. 5 stars Tonight 7/19 Stev Byrne just swore a lot and insulted so many people, I finally signaled to my friend to leave. He was awful. Zero read more

My husband bought the VIP tickets online for the comedian Kevin Nealon. Our tickets were for the 7:30 pm show. We stood in line outside around 7pm. We were pretty close to the front. Right at 7:30pm they started letting us in. We actually got good seats close to the front. They did require a 2 drink minimum. I ordered a coke. There wasn't any gluten free options so I passed on the food. The drinks were super pricey. The show was good and the cost value made it a fun date night. Plenty of parking since it's located at Desert Ridge Mall. read more

See all

The comedian we saw told clean jokes, so we thoroughly enjoyed him. (John Heffron) Our server was great, friendly and attentive. The food we got was ok. I guess my biggest complaint is how they had the tables set up. Half of the room had their back to the comedian and had to try to turn their body/chair to see him. We were packed in like sardines. Meanwhile, tables toward the back were empty. Seems like there should be a better way to set up the room. There's a two drink minimum for each person, which I didn't like, but understand. Their food menu was pretty limited and there was nothing that I could really eat with my dietary needs. We didn't have time to eat supper before going to the show, so we ordered as best we could. Still, lots of laughter during the evening. read more

See all

Went to the show on Sunday June 14th and ordered a few drinks. The bill showed up and the server or the system charged me a fee for on the rocks. The same ice cubes that are used in the water for free. It was ridiculous to see a $4 charge for ice. IIf it was an ice ball, I would not be complaining. On the bright side the Comedian was awesome! read more

Last night we had a chance to go to Desert Ridge Improv to see Michael Yo perform! He put on an amazing show and we even got a chance to meet him, but what really made our experience stand out was our server Alexis! I've never seen someone so busy Work so calmly and collectively, she truly changed our experience, being that it was 95° inside and that we were all the way in the back packed in like sardines! Next time I come, I'll be requesting Alexis. read more

Had such a great time here for a drag brunch! I went with 3 stars only because we couldn't see the performers for most of the show based on how the place is set up. We snagged a booth and thought we totally scored, but while it was comfy it was not elevated like some of the tables, so we couldn't see the performers at all unless they were on stage or right by our table. Having been to lots of drag shows and brunches before, I haven't had this problem to this so it really stuck out to me. If you go, make sure to get one of the tables in the middle, the reserved spots along the back wall that are high up, or one of the elevated tables around the middle of the room. Our server was great -- they were packed and super busy but he still managed to come by and get our orders a couple times. The drinks are super overpriced, but I think that's how they make their $$ so it's understandable. I got the cucumber highball and if you like mocktails, I definitely recommend it. read more

Desert Ridge Improv - Stage - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

See all

The seating is absolutely awful. Long table perpendicular to the stage. If you aren't sitting up front, don't plan on seeing the Comedians. Crammed in so tight no on can move. read more

This place used to be the go to place well they can go to Hell as far as im concerned. We would always get here early to sit in the front and now im told you and your whole party have to buy a drink at the bar to get priority seating. So it just turned into a 3 drink minimum store instead of 2. They just lost frequent customers. I hope you burn for this. Disgusting read more

The staff was great! The food was great too and in large quantities. We went to see Frank Caliendo to laugh and escape the tension in the world. Caliendo was funny after he got done with his political schtick. The crowd leaned a certain direction so he went with them , which only empowered them. It was very uncomfortable (scary) to be aware that I was in a room with so many who leaned loudly a different direction from me. A crowd who had had a few drinks wasn't bothered when Caliendo stated this wasn't a political show. They made it one. I went out last night to laugh and to avoid the tension in the world. Instead I got it handed to me. Just leave out the politics, Frank! Or at least, reduce the time you spend on it. read more

This was our first time at this particular Improv club. We've been to several around the Valley and usually stick to the west side, but we came here to celebrate our anniversary after an amazing dinner at Kierland Commons. The staff was very friendly, and we were able to get in quickly despite the sold-out show. Once inside, they seat you at the next available spots, often across from others in your party. We didn't love that setup, and neither did the couple next to us, so we ended up switching seats so both couples could sit together. The general seating tables are arranged perpendicular to the stage. We were seated at a center-back table, which meant our view was almost completely blocked. The gentleman next to me tried to be considerate, but even when I leaned around him, my view was still obstructed by others. I think I saw the main comedian's face maybe four times total. There were several moments when the comedians made gestures or facial expressions that the front tables reacted to, while those of us in the middle just looked at each other, confused. It felt like we missed a lot of punchlines. That said, the service was great, especially considering how packed it was and how little room the waitstaff had to move. Drinks were delivered quickly, and everyone we interacted with was helpful and positive. Unfortunately, I did find a random floating object in my wine--I'm not sure what it was, but I had to pull it out and set it aside. I understand trying to maximize seating for a popular show, but if I just wanted to LISTEN to a comedy set, I could have stayed home and streamed one while enjoying a good bottle of wine...without any unexpected extras. We'll likely stick to other Improv locations in the future. read more

We saw Kristin Key at Desert Ridge Improv tonight and it was amazing. I was enjoying the show until Steven, the security personnel, said not to "hoot and hollar", since he felt he needed to tell me to be quiet when I was doing nothing but supporting the comedian (and she even played off a couple comments to make the crowd laugh). Steven (the "head" of security) claimed that he received complaints. When my girlfriend asked him about his comments, he struggled to defend his actions and just said he "got complaints", and felt that "we had to agree to disagree". Steven then said he needed to end the conversation. He never accepted or understood that his words caused emotional distress and tears. I'm hoping Steven will take a moment to understand that his words and actions can have intent, but the impact will forever change the experience of seeing a show at Desert Ridge Improv! read more

Saw a show here for the first time last night. Sold out show, lots of people, 100 degrees outside, and very weak A/C inside. We sat in back half of the room from the stage at one of their long communal tables and nearly every person was sweating, using the menus as fans, trying to stay cool. The drinks were good; didn't have any food because there are so many other places in Desert Ridge to eat with better food. Staff was nice, show was good, maybe add some ceiling fans to help with cooling the place down. In no rush to go back, especially in summer read more

The show was great! The venue was not! It was extremely warm in the club, the chairs were so hard on our tushes that it made it difficult to sit through the whole show and the set up was too crowded! Won't be going back. Spend a few bucks and get a booth! read more

Besides being overpriced, this is an awful place to go. Treated with an attitude from the moment we sat down. Had to ask the server 8 times for my girlfriends drink, and she never received it. This must have upset the server because I was escorted out by security shortly afterwards. read more

Desert Ridge Improv - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Terrible experience. We usually love comedy everywhere we go and expect much from the food but this food is terrible. The food also doesn't count towards your 2 drink minimum purchase. The server also talked us into drinks that include tickets for another show and we asked if it had limitations on which shows and she straight up lied. The 2nd time we tried this place they let everyone in for free because it was dead, and sat next to next to the speakers which were so loud we had to leave. The server tried to say we didn't buy enough ($75 bill). To keep this short I'll leave it there. read more

We had an amazing evening at this Improv seeing Flip Orley perform his magical hypnosis. The show was for 7:30 but they suggested we come one hour prior. They opened their doors right at the box office to let us all in at 6:30. It was just enough time to get situated with drinks and food before the show began. Service was excellent. The drinks were little pricey but decent. There are two drink minimum but you can order soft drinks as it counts towards it. We enjoyed it. Highly recommend! read more

See all

We had a great time at the JR de Guzman show! But the two drink minimum is ridiculous. We had just come from dinner and had our fill of alcohol, so we just had waters. They were EXPENSIVE! Oh well, I guess that's to take care of the overhead??? read more

Going to the Desert Ridge Improv was an evening well spent. If you have a general admission ticket, get there an early so you can be seated nearer to the stage. They do have a lot people seated pretty close together but it makes sense for a venue like this. If you are later and toward the back it is a little difficult to see. They were very up front about the 2 drink minimum which is standard for a comedy club. Our Old Fashioned & Piña Coladas hit the spot and we enjoyed some spinach dip too. Of course the best part was getting to see a great comedian, Pauly Shore! read more

Drinks are extremely expensive and its a 2 drink minimum per person. Beers are 12 and cocktails are almost 19. This isnt Vegas, this place isnt nice enough to have these prices. read more

We attended the Hocus Pocus Drag Brunch today. Show was fun and entertainers were great. No bad seats in the venue, VIP tix not needed. Service was dreadful and we kept having to flag our wait person to order food & drinks. Half hour to get drinks. They ran out of silverware so we were given plastic forks, no knife. My meal was mediocre at best and toast came out bone dry. Food comes from neighboring restaurant so takes a while. read more

Desert Ridge Improv - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona