It is 113 degrees at 5 pm, and I am dining outside on purpose, and it turns out I’m not alone. A trendy crowd fills the 50,000-square-foot patio space known as “The Yard.” I have been here on several beautiful evenings, but always wondered what would happen here if it were scorching out. Well, with misters pumping and ceiling fans spinning, groups of young professionals started gathering at large tables and sofa seating nooks and taking over the play area. Undaunted and with drinks in hand, they are playing ping pong and bean bag toss (aka “cornhole”), and it’s the hottest day of the year so far. You can wander between outdoor patio and a beautifully styled indoor bar/restaurant called Culinary Dropout. There’s a newly opened restaurant here, as well, called Little Cleo’s Seafood Legend.
The first time I went, I had a feeling that I’d been there before. Sure enough, it used to be a Ducati motorcycle shop. Do you remember driving down Seventh Street and seeing all those used motorcycles parked outside under a tin roof? Perhaps you even bought one there as I did? Now it’s a compound of stylish food and fun that you have to try. I’m giving my recommendation upfront, because you will encounter a hurdle to getting here – finding a place to park. This place is wildly popu- lar, which means parking is hard. How hard you ask? Harder than La Grande Orange. Take you can. I braved the parking glitches and returned several times. Over the course of several visits, here’s what I had:
Moscow Mule $10; Vodka, fresh lime juice, ginger agave syrup, gar- nished with mint and candied ginger.
My teetotaling mother intro- duced me to this cocktail that she remembers from the ’50s. Traditionally served in a cop- per mug, these days the mug is copper plated, but the drink is no less refreshing. The candied ginger was a real treat and if you ask nicely, they will bring you more.
Humbolt Fog $6, Candied Gorgonzola $4
One of the lovely features of the menu is that it is filled with antipasti, cheeses, meats and snacks to munch while you drink. Humbolt fog is a California goat milk cheese that’s tangy, acidic and named after the ocean fog that rolls in where it is made. If you are a fan of bleu cheese, you will love this.
The candied Gorgonzola is a similar tangy cheese, creamier than the other, but absolutely delicious and at a great price. Again you have to be a bleu cheese fan. The unsung heroes of this snack are the slices of sourdough bread that are chewy, sour and fresh; again, if you ask nicely, they will bring you more.
Korean Beef on a Stick $6
Marinated skewer of beef, served over a bed of sautéed vegetables This was one of the best dishes I had. Served at happy hour only, the crispy charcoal-broiled outside disguised the soft medium-ra- re inside, and it was sweet, smoky and wonderful. Even more of a surprise was the warm bed of squash, peppers, mushrooms, bean sprouts and cilantro. My only complaint is the menu described none of that. Perhaps this is a cool way to make you feel like you are getting more than you expected, but I truly wish I had known. I just ordered it on a lark. If I had seen the full description, I would have ordered it for sure. This is a must try.
Meatloaf Sandwich $6
Again no menu description, so I had to ask if it was made with pork, and the server said, “nope, pure beef.” She did fail to men- tion the slice of gruyere cheese it was served with, that I had removed. OK, nobody’s meatloaf is going to be as good as your mom’s, but this was pretty good. Chunked and served warm on a large sesame seed bun, it turned out to be real comfort food. The sandwich had pickle slices that provided both a nice crunch and complementary flavor to the meatloaf. If it had been described on the menu as having pickles, I probably would have had them held, but not knowing turned out to be a good thing. Hmmm … maybe not knowing isn’t so bad?
Chopped Salad $6
Asparagus, avocado, beets, corn, kale, pistachio, parmesan Refreshing, earthy, sweet, cool – a perfect salad for a hot day. With so many ingredients, every bite tastes a little different. This small bowl was the happy hour size, but this salad is offered as an entrée named the Spring Salad. This is a must try.
Fried Chicken $16
Again, not much of a description on the menu, so I’m going to do it for you. Three large pieces of crispy battered chicken drizzled with Arizona honey and served with mashed potatoes and gravy, coleslaw and a biscuit. People with allergies are often advised to eat Arizona honey. Have I found fried chicken with health benefits? Wishful thinking probably, but this entrée is very good. The chicken is plump, crispy and juicy. The mashed potatoes and gravy are cafeteria-like yet oddly comforting and quickly eaten.
The staff was very friendly and the surroundings comfortable and unique. It is definitely built for groups of people to socialize, and the food is best described as pub fare. It’s not a gourmet experience, but it’s not priced like one either. What you will find is a unique gather- ing place to meet friends with good drinks and good food. Carpool if you can. Culinary Dropout is another in the series of successful Sam Fox creations with two locations in Arizona and one in Las Vegas.
foxrc.com/restaurants/culinary-dropout
CULINARY DROPOUT AT THE YARD $$ | 5632 N. SEVENTH ST. | PHOENIX, AZ 85014 | 602-680-4040
Contact A. Noshman at [email protected]
