The Dirty Drummer
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A good friend of mine was in Phoenix for a few days and I was just getting back from a trip back in CA. We decided to have dinner the night I returned since we were both hangered. We arrived at The Dirty Drummer and it looked like it was closed or like it was abandoned. We were skeptical to even walk up to the door because a peddler walked up to the trash can and quickly rummaged through it before walking away. We mustered up the courage to walk up to the doors and opened them. We were surprised and shocked to see that it was CRACK-A-LACKIN' in here!!! Lol!! The place was poppin' on a Sunday night and the vibes were good! No one apparently chose to eat out on the front patio, but everyone was in the dining room enJOYing good food and company. The food we ordered was very filling and the prices weren't bad! The alcoholic drinks were a tad heavy on the alchi, but we didn't mind. We just babysat out drinks for a while and then mixed them to evenly distribute the goods. Our server was on point checking on us every so often. We didn't wait long for our food and had a great time catching up. It is a bit loud in here, so if you're looking for a quiet place, this isn't it. However, come on in if you're down for some good food and drinks! This won't be my last visit!
I'm an out of towner. I had a conference in Phoenix and wanted to go somewhere after my conference to get some good local grub. After a Yelp search I found this place which many other reviewers said had good wings. I will attest that this place has amazing wings. Perhaps the best I've had. I recommend the 'grilled/double dipped' wings. The wings are moist and juicy; a great subtle grilled, char flavor and just awesome.
I recently went to The Dirty Drummer for the first time for an event that rented out the bar, and it was a great location with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, different rooms, and tasty food and drinks. The event was about four hours long, and my friend and I both enjoyed some food and drinks while also watching the large-screen televisions, meeting plenty of other people including special guests, and taking part in a silent auction. We found an open table just before the start of our event near the bar and not far from the front of the room. We were quickly greeted by a server who provided us waters and over the course of our event, brought us food and drinks we ordered. While we stuck with sodas for drinks, my friend ordered wings and mozzarella sticks. I went for a dozen dry wings with both the garlic parmesan and teriyaki sauces on the side for dipping along with ranch dressing and vegetables. The wings were a bit burnt, but I think I asked for that when I was offered for them to grill my wings. Now, I know for next time to say no to that question. Either way, we were both happy with what we ate. The service was good! The atmosphere was fun. The first Dirty Drummer opened in 1975 in Phoenix, which was reopened in 2019. Go to https://www.thedirtydrummer.com, and sign up for their e-mail newsletter to learn about special events and shows. Also on the website is a list of events, menu, specials, gift cards, merchandise, and more. The bar hours are daily from 11 AM to 2 AM with kitchen hours from Sunday through Thursday from 11 AM to Midnight and Friday through Saturday from 11 AM to 1 AM. Happy Hour is from 2-6 PM on weekdays. There are also daily menu specials. They even have their own theme song (The Beat Goes On). We had fun at the Dirty Drummer, and I hope to make it to future events there. I certainly recommend it for a fun bar atmosphere!
Not our first visit, and definitely not our last. We love Dirty Drummer -- my husband has been coming here for 40+ years, which is basically a lifetime loyalty program. Abby was our server today and she was great: friendly, attentive, and clearly knows how to keep things moving without breaking a sweat. It was Steak Sandwich Wednesday, so obviously we had to participate. Grilled Angus steak on a toasted hoagie with au jus -- we added Swiss cheese and grilled onions and went with onion rings on the side. Absolute perfection. Super flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the cheese and onions took it fully over the top. The onion rings were a touch greasy, but let's be real: if they weren't, we'd be suspicious. We also ordered a half dozen wings because these are, without question, our favorite wings in Phoenix. Pro tip: get them double dipped and grilled -- they come out perfectly crispy every single time. Garlic parmesan is our forever sauce (and yes, it's the correct choice). Crispy, beautifully charred, and unapologetically drenched in that glorious garlicky goodness. Dirty Drummer is a Phoenix institution for a reason. The vibe is exactly the right amount of dive, the live music never disappoints (shout out to Little Jane -- love ya!), and the food is consistently on point. No trends, no gimmicks, no pretending to be something it's not -- just solid food, cold drinks, and a place that knows exactly who it is. And honestly? That's harder to find than a good steak sandwich.
Gosh, was so wanting to try this place and was looking really forward to it after a referral from another establishments. We definitely wanted to try the wings & burger to compare to past experiences to see if it could stand up to our expectations. Came in around 5 PM Saturday evening and was able to find a spot at the bar top actually right near where the flat top and fryers are. Took a bit to be acknowledged by the male bartender, but when he did address us we were able to place our drink orders. Got a few beers on tap and decided we had to get those wings. The cooks were already cranking out lots of orders, so we were excited to go with their Honey Hot & Red Gold (half / half). As we waited, we noticed the atmosphere to be that of the 80's vibe. A place maybe our parents would have gone or taken us to in our younger years. So, such a great heart warming feeling! That said, they only had two kitchen staff tending the fryer & grill. We waited over 1 hour and 20 minutes for our wings. Our bartender ended up buying us a round of brews for the delay. In checking in with us, we told him to please put in an order for their Super Drummer Burger since we knew the wings were taking far too long! When the wings finally arrived, they were decent size (depending on weight you'll get 10-12). They could have been much crisper & grilled for more of that charred touch. That stated, with the exceeding tickets and wait time we were NOT about to send them back! The sauces were ok. The Red Gold was more like a BBQ & the Honey Hot could have packed some more heat. The Burger was decent nothing to write home about. I did end up requesting a side of thousand island to add some sass! Fries were good- seasoned well and cooked just right to give them that crunch. One thing we observed while there was that an employee came from the back onto the floor (where the two cooks were) & mentioned something about violations which was a little questionable & concerning! Unethical behavior by any employee to do this especially in front of customers! Moving away from that; these two employees were working extremely hard under pressure, doing the best they could under the circumstances and you have to appreciate that as a staff member and as a diner. The size of the establishment, the amount of patrons and their peak hours to have only two staff at the helm in such a small space is difficult & fairly certain it makes for many complaints, impatience and unhappy patrons. We tried to be as understanding as possible being in the business and being right there to see just how hard these guys were working. We gave them much encouragement and grace throughout our time there, yet at the same time we were still shocked at just how long it took to get our food! Our original bartender gave up on checking in on us after he bought us that round and another female bartender took over working with us. We appreciated her and her service, told her that as well. Unfortunately, this won't be a place we would return to in the near future. Glad we were able to try it out; however it's just to chaotic with a small kitchen and the demands it has in the dining room. The food staff was really on point, but it seems way too time consuming based on the off balance of the food prep space. Prices are fairly reasonable which was a plus! Recommend if you do try this joint, to go during the week for their happy hour from 2PM-6 PM. On Tuesday's they offer a $6.95 burger ALL day! Let's just hope you don't have as long of delay on your meal!
Visited The Dirty Drummer for the first time a few weeks ago to snag some drinks with some friends! They love this place and its basically their local watering hole and go-to spot. I didn't indulge in the full experience, so will definitely be returning, but did enjoy a few beers. They have a solid line up of cans and bottles, of course nothing TOO fancy , but do have a few local craft brews (no sours in sight! :( ) I enjoyed some pacificos, my husband enjoyed Montucky and Bud's for our friends - I told you nothing fancy! Service was great, we were comfortable in our booth and got to enjoy some loud music. It's definitely a vibe and your classic dive bar in a good way! They had it all decorated for the holiday with lots of lights, which I something I was told they rotate through for other holidays as well. I will definitely return again and hopefully indulge in more of their menu!
I love this place, simple... just go, super local, they support small business the cooks are moving like there hairs on fire but do not miss a beat! Awesome old school vibe. Step into the 80s and enjoy a cold one.
Pool table. Music. Food and drink. Outside space to hang. Ate here once, great- both in food and service. I mostly go to TDD for a live show, but this is one big hang . It gives many nods to bars of old. It ain't pretentious, and I can't imagine leaving here without having a memorable night. It's a vibe .
If there is one word to sum up the Dirty Drummer it would surprise you... WINGS! I've seen this place so many times as it's adjacent to Costco. I'm at the Costco semi-regularly and it was finally time to give this spot a try. My honey had read an article about best places in the valley to get chicken wings. Dirty Drummer was on that list, and yes, they live up to the hype. The wings are huge. They are heavily sauced and fried to perfection, or grilled as well. I actually watched them get cooked while sitting at the bar. it's an odd statement to make, but they have the griddle and fryers at the bar area. it's unique I'll say. The vibe is old school sports bar that is a bit divey, which I loved. Apparently this was a chain of locations back in the day, however this is the last standing spot from the 80s. Great bar, great for sports & groups, there's a pool table and they host live music some nights. Service was fast and friendly. What's not to like? However, if you only go for one reason, go for the wings. SO GOOD! We tried the hot and lemon pepper sauces.
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Fun local spot. Good Bar Food. The wings were amazing, we had the Teriyaki Wings, Grilled- highly recommend. The staff was great, totally attentive and nice people. Good Vibe, especially to hang out with friends and watch a game. Will definitely be back when in town. read more
This place has remain unchanged since my last visit about four years ago. I enjoy sitting at the bar and watching the "chef" cook me a fresh well done burger. The meat is clearly fresh as I watched the dude press it on the grill and this guy knew how to make it well done. We got a good bun and some addictive crinkle cut fries. Of course there is also the splash of wine that might make the difference. This burger is way better than even some local places like the CBCB factory. Cold beer and a burger and sports on TV - not much more a guy needs (in a bar). read more
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7 years ago
Cool local pub that has good food and good drinks! Thanks Cody for being g so cool when I popped in on a quick trip to Scottsdale! I'll for sure be back next time! read more
The wings here.. are.. AMAZING!!! We stopped by for a business lunch and a co worker suggested I get the wings. And OMG was I sooo happy I did!! These wings are seriously amazing! If you're a wing lover such as myself you NEED to come here! They grill them and bake them and the flavors are just so tasty! The garlic ones are the best but so are the mild! The entire vibe of the place is so friendly and chill, you really feel at home here. Everyone is so friendly, and have that local neighborhood feel to it. If you're a fan of supporting local businesses and enjoy a piece of Arizona sports history this place is for you. Great drinks, food, service, sports, and entertainment, this place has it all! I'm a huge fan of supporting local businesses and will of course be coming back and trying more food and wings! read more
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If you like a good old fashioned dive bar then the dirty drummer is the place to go. Plenty of parking available around the building so even when it's busy it's not too hard to find a space. The chicken wings are great, but make sure you ask them the lightly grill them, that way they are not smothered in the sauce of your choosing, I chose the honey hot grilled chicken wings with ranch dip and they didn't disappoint, very moist and tender and the perfect amount of honey hot sauce on them. We ordered 4 drinks each between 2 of us 4 buds and 4 tall vodka diets and the amazing grilled wings, our check only came to $34. The servers are attentive and alert and are more than happy to see you get what you ask for. I can see this place becoming a regular Friday hot spot for us, very close to us, cheap as chips and a good atmosphere what more do you need. read more
If you want a local spot that feels like what you see in on Cheers this should you be your new home. Hands down my favorite local spot to catch a bite have a beer or just relax. All the bartenders (Sal Kayla) and cooks(both Jessie's) I interact with are great. Friendly fast fun to talk to . Yes some of the tvs are older and the spot has a feel like its stuck inthe 80s but thats ok. Great energy. They have regulars who have been coming since hte 80s and before. I even have sat next a man who is over 90 and still sits up at the bar. I know all the daily food specials. I think Thursday tacos are one of the most popular. wednesday is chicken sandwich. tuesday is burger. monday is chefs choice. friday is fish fry(the onlyone I've never had) . They are know for their wings and I love them. I usually get bbq hot grilled. The hot is a mixture of franks red hot butter and maybesomething else. For me its too salty alone so the bbq offsets that. I prefer them grilled so I pay the extra dollar. Burgers are cooked made to order and are quite popular as well. They cook them with some house redwine and it adds falvor to it without being overpowering. They have a about 6 or 7 beers on tap. Not quite as cold as Applebees draft beers but not bad. Quite a bit of bottled selection including some craft beer cans as well. Reasonably priced beers and liquor is pretty average price for the area. Very casual environment. Pool tables a about 10 tvs. Most are high def flatscreens but a few older rear projection widescreens as well.They do put the sound for the local games on weekends and during the week the jukebox plays through the speakers. Overall my great local dive bar anytime of day. read more
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Always the best service ever !! This is a small bar and grill that has over 10 televisions with great food !! The wings are the best and you can get them fried or grilled !! I LOVE everything on the menu they have a bacon packed blt and my other favorite is the cheese steak sandwich the steak is thick sliced and the cheese is melted perfectly!!! And if you are like me and like a little spice you have to try the fire fries they have crispy fries hot Wing sauce with nacho cheese grilled onions and fresh pickles jalapeños and it's a HUGE portion .. The beer is always cold and the pitchers come with chillers to make sure your beer stays cold !!! read more
13 years ago
Haven't even tried the food yet! The waitress however has been absolutely amazing in catering to my needs. I will try to make a long story short here.. Delayed flight, made it to Phoenix couple hours late, lost bag, found bag, bag missing half my stuff, got in a fight over a cabi trying to rip me off. End of story I just really wanted a few drinks and to go back to my room. The waitress quickly served me my shots and beer as well as my food to go. Even helped me out with some beer to go " unopened " of course at an amazing price to go back to my room with. "Walking". I don't care if the food is horrible they helped end a terrible day good. However I hear the food is amazing! edit: food was amazing. Fire fries were magical read more
11 years ago
As I continue to try to find consistency in this mixed-up, inconsistent world of 'nowhere to get a burger and a beer' (or wine for me :) ), I came to where I know... Where I've been since I was younger, growing up with a mom who ALWAYS says 'why not Dirty Drummer for a burger?!?!' Moms really do know best :). I had the best burger - cooked to perfection (Medium), and my partner Medium Well (also perfect), and great service at good ol' Dirty Drummer. The place had a great crowd, and sports were a'plenty at their 44th St. location. Great food, great service - Lisa was our excellent hostess with the mostess for the evening. Char-broiled, excellent beef, melted cheese, and the most awesome fries with a crispy, light inside (complete with their signature mayo dipping sauce), is a flavor I won't soon forget or forget to repeat! Excellent :). read more
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More info about The Dirty Drummer
2303 N 44th St
Ste 8
Phoenix, AZ 85008
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(602) 840-2726
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http://www.thedirtydrummeraz.com/menu.html
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