My wife and I recently went to dinner at Culinary Dropout for the first time together at the Yard. We have both visited before for work meetings or with friends separately but not for a full meal. We have been to other Culinary Dropout locations and have always enjoyed it. This visit was no different. We got there early before our reservation and decided to sit at the bar though it was busy, and it took some time to find two seats. Once we sat down, the bartenders were pleasant and helpful, and drinks were prepared rather quickly. We had a relatively favorable experience at the table when ordering food, and we fortunately did not have to wait long at the host podium for our reservation. The food was very good, and we will likely return another day. When we were seated, our server quickly identified herself. We ordered Soft Pretzels & Provolone Fondue (our favorite!) as an appetizer. They arrived and were delicious! We then ordered a Classic Caesar Salad with Salmon & a M.A.C. Burger with fries as our entrees. They also showed up in a reasonable amount of time and were tasty. We finally ordered Monkey Bread for dessert, which came out well and yummy. The service in general was good, and the server made a point to offer rapport. A manager also stopped by to greet us and to ask how our meal was, which is always appreciated. We also enjoyed live music that was being performed not too far from our seats. This Culinary Dropout location differs from the other locations as it has The Yard (which the Tempe location does, too), which is essentially a large, social hangout spot (often a renovated garage) with lawn games, fire pits, and an indoor-outdoor bar designed for casual dining, drinks, an entertainment. One of the big challenges with this location is the parking. There is self-parking during weekday lunch though you have to use valet (which is complimentary) at all other times, and there is quite a wait to drop off a car or pick one up on the weekend (and possibly the evenings). If you go to the Culinary Dropout website (https://www.culinarydropout.com), there are sometimes promotions where you can get a $20 or $30 bonus promo gift card for every $100 in gift cards you buy. You can also make reservations on the website (or OpenTable), learn about upcoming live music performances, and see each location's menu. Also, if you sign up for their Ebites (https://www.culinarydropout.com/ebites-email-signup), you will get a coupon for $10 off a $20 purchase and get notified about special events and offers. read more

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Came here on a Saturday with a group of eight. Upon arrival, valet was available, but we were in an Uber. The entrance is a bit unassuming and could easily be mistaken for another establishment, but it has a cute charm. Inside, the space is roomy with plenty of seating and an open kitchen that lets you see all the cooking action. The restrooms are labeled for men and women, but the space itself is unisex. They had a Saturday special with $7 brunch cocktails and live music, which added to the overall vibe. Our party ordered a variety of items, but what stood out to me was the steak and frites (not listed on the menu but available to order) and the kale and butternut squash salad. Overall, this place was great, and I'll definitely be visiting the location in my home state. From what I understand, the menu changes often, so if you see something you like, don't wait! read more

Culinary Dropout - Steak & Frites - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Went to Culinary Dropout recently and overall had a good experience with a few hiccups. The food was mostly delicious, the Brussel sprouts were a 10/10. The sauce on them was amazing and easily the standout dish of the night. The popcorn shrimp was pretty good, and the spicy rigatoni had great flavor and was genuinely delicious... but surprisingly had zero spice, not even a hint. It also came out slightly undercooked, which was disappointing. Our server was really nice and friendly, but our food took about an hour to come out, which definitely put a damper on the experience. The vibe was very family oriented with lots of children so wasn't a date night spot compared to the waterfront location. On a positive note, the cocktails were reasonably priced, which was a nice surprise. Overall, great flavors and good vibes, just hoping for quicker service and a little more consistency next time. read more

Culinary Dropout - Spicy Rigatoni - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I had a great dinner at Culinary Dropout. Our waitress was outstanding--she was attentive without being overbearing and gave us perfect recommendations. I ordered the Korean Style Ribeye Cap, which had the perfect amount of spicy kick. My friend went with the Roasted Salmon, and it was cooked to perfection--a total 10/10. For drinks, don't be intimidated by the ingredients in 'The Hass' mocktail. It sounds like a wild combination, but it tastes exactly like key lime pie with a bit of fizz. It was like dessert in a glass! I wanted to self park but that didn't work well. They do have complimentary valet so that's nice. I wish I could give 4.5/ 5. The only negatives were we had a 15 minute wait but there were several empty tables when we got seated. Maybe a tad bit pricey, but at least the food was tasty. I updated my review to 5 stars because I love the fact that the business checks review. It shows they value the customer experience. I'll be back in for sure! read more

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Had a great experience at Culinary Dropout. Started with their pretzel bites which were delicious with the warm cheese dip. We al had the steak frites which were cooked perfectly and tasted great. Don't pass up the brown bag special... surprise beer in a brown bag. Always fun. Very great vibe and our server was great. You won't be disappointed. read more

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WOWWW!! This place was unassuming but absolutely delicious. All six people in our group were super happy with their meals (only three pictured here). Not one miss! The fried chicken was perfectly cooked with great flavor and an extra crispy crust. The biscuit that came with it was buttery, fluffy, and melt-in-your-mouth good. The chicken katsu sandwich blew all expectations out of the water. The crisp on the chicken was perfect, and the spicy miso aioli paired so well with the soft Japanese milk bread, keeping every bite flavorful and moist. The Asian crunch salad was my personal favorite. We added salmon, which was perfectly cooked and seasoned with a nice crispy outside. Phenomenal. The dressing tied everything together, and the mangos were a fun, bright touch that made each bite pop. Even the small details impressed me. The Arnold Palmer was perfectly balanced (not too sweet!) and ended up being bottomless, which our server kept refilling without us even asking. Speaking of service, our waitress was genuinely so sweet and attentive. The atmosphere was relaxed and fun. Great music, sports games on the TV, cornhole, ping pong, and a perfect spot to hang out and unwind. Overall, such a memorable meal and experience. I'll go back next time I'm in phx. read more

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Culinary Dropout is bistro with a passion for great food, expertly crafted cocktails, and a deep love of music, they defy the conventional dining experience... There is corn hole and pong ping in the back! We came here for lunch and I got the French dip with fries!!! The service was ok this time, the server did not mention all the sides available, we had to remind them for refills tho! read more

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Service was great and we had a very big group. Food was super good . It was a wonderful event that they catered at their private room. You can earn the fifth star by not suppling straws or plastic containers for take out. read more

Culinary Dropout - Yummy food. - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

We had such a fun and memorable time! The service was great, and the DJ kept the energy high with fun music all night. The atmosphere was vibrant, with plenty to look at, and the restaurant was clean and well-kept. Everyone loved the food. We started with the Soft Pretzels & Provolone Fondue and the Crispy Brussels Sprouts -- both were delicious. The pretzels come in a generous portion, making them perfect for sharing with a large party. We all enjoyed cocktails, which were refreshing and unique. The Evil Jungle Princess is my go-to every time I visit. For mains, the Chopped Chicken Salad was packed with flavor and is one of our favorite salads on the menu. I had the Chicken Cacio e Pepe, and it was outstanding -- the perfect amount of sauce and full of flavor. Overall, an energetic, delicious, and all-around great experience! read more

Culinary Dropout - Chicken Cacio e Pepe - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Decided to come back again and brought a friend from out of town. Had the brilliant thought to actually reserve a table, and thank goodness I did. It wasn't super busy when we rolled in around 7:30, but the line behind us got long fast. Not my usual deep-dive review since I was more focused on catching up with my friend, but here's the rundown: I kicked things off with the Paloma Spritz. Bubbly, bright, and not overly grapefruit-y (which I appreciated). Solid start. We ordered the Crusty Bread with Garlic Oil & Balsamic. Flavor was nice, but the execution? Odd. The bread was toasty but cold. And instead of dipping into oil and vinegar, it was already poured over the bread, which made it less of a shareable snack and more of a soggy situation. Tasty, but not the experience we expected. Next up, the Spicy Shrimp Crispy Rice (avocado, kimchi rice, chili crunch, sweet soy). I took one bite and nope. The "sweet soy" was a sticky puddle at the bottom and so salty I couldn't taste anything else. No kimchi tang, and I swear I didn't spot a shrimp. My friend ate it, though she was also unimpressed, but it was a miss for me. They redeemed the experience with the soup of the day: French Onion. THIS is where they shine. Rich, beefy broth, onions caramelized to perfection. Honestly impressive. Only letdown: the bread and cheese topper was just a sad little triangle with half-melted cheese, so it turned soggy quick. Still, I'd 100% order it again, I even texted my husband to say that we HAVE to get it if we're there when it's on the menu. Overall: drinks stay winning (8/10), the food is hit or miss (currently at a 6/10 for me), but the vibe and patio are unmatched. We were sitting outside in 108° weather and I was chilly in shorts! The misters and fans are seriously that good. Patio gets a 30/10, no question. I'll keep coming back, if only to sip something cold under the best patio setup in Phoenix. read more

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Culinary dropout was crazy delicious -- everything I ate was phenomenal. Great for large groups -- we had about six in our party but I saw other bigger groups. The wait staff is very good and extremely attentive, which can be hard with lots of big groups. I was having so much fun eating and enjoying my friends that I didn't pay too much attention to the surroundings but enjoyed my night immensely and will definitely be back very soon! read more

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I'm a bit behind on posting this review but it definitely needs to be shared. I came here for a work offsite just before taking time off to get married and this place blew my mind. We had a large group, shared a bunch of appetizers, and all ordered entrees and literally nothing was terrible. All of the food we had was good, we were sharing with each other and raving about all the flavors. The service was incredible and the restaurant was so clean. It was really a great experience and highly recommended. read more

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If you are looking for a lively place to grab good food, listen to good music and be submerged in an environment full Of emergency this place is for you. It is Loud but comes with great service, comfy seats, good DJ and excellent food. Parking is limited but they do have a complimentary valet. read more

Culinary Dropout - Steak frites - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Stopped by after work to get together with friends and family. FYI only one way to enter and exit, Entrance: The entrance to the restaurant is in the back, in the parking lot, away from the street. Montebello ave and 7th street, enter thruway curbside pickup and valet will meet you there to park your vehicle. Culinary Dropout in Phoenix offers complimentary valet parking during weekday lunch and all other times, including Thursday evenings, Friday evenings, all day Saturday, and Sunday brunch! My coworker used to work here so he100% recommended the fried chicken! $24 Here is the 411 (comes with dark meet, leg, thigh and a breast 3 piece. $6 extra for white meat Comes with 2 sides: mashed potatoes and gravy & coleslaw along with buttermilk biscuit. $2 sub for side of your choice, fries, Sub Mac & Cheese,etc. mac & cheese totally worth it ! To drink I ordered $8 Sicilian Lemonade Stand, it was perfectly refreshing: pureed strawberry. Peeve-tree sparkling lemonade Total with taxes: $36.92 Our tables sharables: WHIPPED FETA & TAHINI DIP 14.5 caramelized squash, apple, date, roasted pistachio, grilled ciabatta $14 SOFT PRETZELS & PROVOLONE FONDUE sea salt $17 They have game spot and lots of lounge sofas 11/10 experience! Shout out to our server we had a party of 10 and we all arrived at different times. Exceptional service Excellent everywhere start to finish valet, waitress! Ps our table was a fan of the fried chicken we had 3 orders in our group! Can't wait to stop by again! read more

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The name makes me chuckle-I'm pretty sure it's tongue-in-cheek, because there's no way that the chef here dropped out of culinary school. Everything we ate was delicious. I joined a group of colleagues here for happy hour after work Friday and we had a smorgasbord of different appetizers. The pretzels, hot dog bites and Brussel sprouts were my favorites. The environment is perfect for happy hour-lively, upbeat and fun. We were seated at a picnic table near a group of people playing yard games and they were sure having a good time! The decor is a great hybrid of the indoors and the outdoors grouped together. Service was fantastic-we were checked on frequently and our server made sure we had plenty of drink refills and recommendations for appetizers. Parking was a little tricky-but they offer valet, which made it better. I'd be happy to return and get a full meal here next time. read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Love the food and ambiance here. I loved my Pub burger. It was an all American juicy burger that was perfectly seasoned. I will get the steak frites the next time. The struggle oil in the fries was just the right amount. Valet parking! read more

Culinary Dropout - Steak Frites* - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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The food and service were excellent, but the music was so loud that you couldn't hear one another, and risked hearing loss. This was a Friday evening, and the restaurant was packed, so perhaps it would be different on a weekday evening. But the extremely loud noise from the band and recorded music ruined the experience for us. Valet parking was required and free of charge, but it was difficult to find the entrance. Most of the driveways were blocked off and the only open one had a sign saying "Valet pick-up only." We went there and. after some time in line, reached an attendant, who said that yes, we could drop off there. We had made a reservation online, but there was still a wait. read more

Connie was our server and she was great! All of her recommendations were delicious. There were six of us and I tried almost everybody's dish and loved everything. The atmosphere is great as well. They had a terrific duo playing music inside. Highly recommend. read more

I ABSOLUTELY LLOVE this location of CD on the 7th St. It's my second time visiting in like two years or and both experiences were equally amazing and memorable! The staff was polite and accommodating, offering insightful information on seating and menu item suggestions. The ambiance is inviting and comfy and so are the bar stools! Lol I had the amazing M.A.C burger and friend along with a watermelon spritz mocktail. This place is a must try for all reading this! read more

Culinary Dropout - Juicy Watermelon Spritz - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Mason was so kind and helpful! It's people like him that make restaurants experience amazing. Thank you Mason From: Amal &Nala read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Went here for lunch after a volunteer event. I went with the fish and chips. How were they? Pretty damn good! 3 pieces of white fish, nice batter. Came with some good fries, and cole slaw too. Also had a couple of my friends ribs which were fall off the bone delicious. Service was friendly. Good spot for a large group. A little $$ IMO, but work paid, so all good. read more

Culinary Dropout - Fish and Chips. Very tasty! - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Food was good. Smaller portion for the price. The indoor area was very loud. The waitress was good.

Haven't been to the restaurant in 3 years. For large groups they have a set menu. Loved their zucchini and popcorn shrimp, loved the French dip but it was half the size . The fries was not the steak fries , their decent menu was very limited. Server was attentive and friendly. They added a service charge plus a tip . read more

I made a reservation at Culinary Dropout at the Yard this past weekend for a party of 12 to celebrate my sister-in-law's birthday. Overall, the experience was average, but unfortunately the service was very disappointing. Our server initially took drink orders from only about half of the table, and we had to track him down so the rest of our group could order beverages. We then had to find him again to place our food orders. When the food arrived, it did not come out at the same time for the entire table. Throughout the meal, we repeatedly had to ask for drink refills and, later, for our checks. I've been to Culinary Dropout at the Yard many times before, with both large and small groups, and this was by far the worst service experience I've had at this location. The food itself was good, as expected, and we continue to love the outdoor patio atmosphere, but the level of service we received was very disappointing and took away from what should have been a special celebration. I wanted to share this feedback because this experience was not consistent with the high standard of service I've come to expect from Culinary Dropout. read more

We went just to order appetizers before another dinner reservation and oh my. These were so good. The crunchy shrimp crispy rice was so yummy and the sauce on top just made it all the better. They weren't super filling though so they are a great starter. The wagyu pigs in a blanket tasted very nice and the croissants breading deal was so delicate and paired nicely with the meat. read more

Culinary Dropout - Wagyu Pigs in a Blanket - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Visited a new location of Culinary Dropout, and it became my new favorite spot! Positive service from the moment we walked through the door. Jonathan was our server and he was great! Very attentive and helpful, even though we were a large a party. Food was fantastic, and if you're a dessert person I HIGHLY recommend the Mississippi Mud Pie! read more

Environment is so nice of its like semi outside , they have lots of seating and like two bars! The service was okay we could've gotten checked on more especially since it was a bday celebration (no free desert or anything for birthday girl ) but overall the food was not so bad! Honestly I enjoyed overall the drinks and atmosphere theres games you can play and all! Our tab for a group of 7 was around 500$ including tip.. Another thing to note the sinks in the bathroom are shared!!! So even if you think your in the wrong side of the bathroom your not lol.. one you enter you have to go to another door that leads you to either men or womens. Lastly they have valet parking don't know if its like that all the time but yeah so be ready for that but tip is optional to the drivers, ofc we tipped though read more

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Such an awesome spot with the BEST cocktails I've ever had. Tons of unique menu items, specially the apps and loads of seating for large groups. Their outside area is gorgeous and perfect to watch a game and inside is nice enough for a date night for two. Our servers were super friendly and we stuck around for 3 hours or so and they didn't kick us out! Would definitely come back again. read more

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

I've been coming here with friends and family for 10 years and I've always had a great time! They have a large space with indoor and outdoor seating with games outside. Every time I come here, I order the soft pretzels and fondue. A definite favorite! We also ordered the popcorn shrimp and zucchini which was tasty! The garlic aioli was ok. In the past, I ordered the shrimp kale caesar that I really enjoyed. The kale, shrimp and dressing were all fresh and tasted great. Our server was very sweet and accommodating. She was friendly and attentive to us. Would recommend this spot! Also really appreciate the complimentary valet parking at this location. read more

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Music was good, waitress was awesome. Appetizers came out really quick. Food was delicious.

Great indoor outdoor event space for parties of all sizes! Love, absolutely love the vegan curry. Bummer it's the only vegan option but thankfully it's really delicious. Non vegan date loved theory biscuits & chicken. Service was friendly & quick. Good date night! read more

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

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I loved the food, drinks, and vibe at Culinary Dropout. They had live music when we came which was great. The spicy skinny marg was delicious. I could have had 100 of those! Thank gawd it was actually spicy. The food was also yummy, especially the brussels sprouts with gochujang. Service was lovely but sooo slow. Expect to wait a while for cocktails and slightly less time for food. Don't expect to be checked on, but do expect friendly service when you do see your server. read more

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Always a great time at Culinary Drop out in Phoenix. I have been in several times for different meals, or just kicking off a night out at their bar. It's very versatile from being able to have a quiet brunch, or a lunch with family and kids playing games, to a night out with live music. The staff is very personable, Mathew always stops by to make sure we are doing good, and shout out to both Sarah and Arriah, my daughter and I were in recently after a school dance and they made a point to stop by our table, ask her how it went and proceeded to tell her how beautiful she looked in her dress, that experience was a big deal for my preteen! Overall the Service and the Food are both amazing! read more

Went here for my fiancés work event. They had a whole section with a buffet set up. Food was great. Atmosphere was fun with option of cornhole and ping pong. I think an excellent choice for big gatherings. read more

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We've come to CD a handful of times, and the experience has always been positive. The food we've enjoyed the most is the Mac burger, the chop salad and the pork belly nachos - we've tried more but those were the standouts. We've done a bunch of work events here and the service has always been good at this location. A little slow but we're usually a large group so not excessively so. I would like to see them maybe expand the menu or do something seasonal maybe, as the menu only has so many options on it. But what's on it is very good so *shrug* it's my only gripe that they don't have more options to try how tasty their other food could be. read more

Great location for families with kids. Our server Hailey was amazing, on point with her recommendations! Will definitely be back

My brother recommended this restaurant while we were in town on vacation. Really loved the vibe of the place, the huge open patio area with all the games available and it was absolutely packed because it was graduation weekend. We still got in relatively fast and everything was fantastic food and drink wise. We started with a few drinks, and had the pretzels and fondue cheese and the whipped feta appetizer. The pretzels were really soft and the cheese was really delicious. The whipped feta and bread was also really delicious and light! We ordered the fried chicken dinner, chicken katsu sandwich and the turkey and pastrami sandwich. We also got side salads and the ranch was really delicious! Highly recommend the salad! Overall great ambiance, drinks and food! Highly recommend this place! read more

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All the above!!! Loved the brussels sprouts Are cushy round booth was perfect All most enough heat for me, but everybody else was comfortable. read more

Another great experience at our local Culinary Dropout! Zack, Sarah , Shayla and Seth were perfect hosts and hostesses and treated us like gold. The food and beer was amazing-my wife had the Mongolian short rib and I had the Korean wagyu rib top-perfect! We've thoroughly enjoyed our dinners with you guys for a few years and we will be back! read more

Service and ambiance were great. We were seated promptly and our waiter was very attentive and nice. I was celebrating my birthday and they brought out the monkey bread, which was amazing. It's made to order, definitely order it. I got the Mongolian short rib. It came with crispy rice and teriyaki flavors. This meal was interesting to me that the flavors were not what I was expecting, and the crispy rice really wasn't that crispy. I still ate so it wasn't that bad. My sister ordered the Alfredo pasta. She had to ask for more Alfredo, but after that, it was good. read more

Culinary Dropout - Mongolian Short Rib - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona