My go to place for the best espresso martini and to see my favorite server, Abril! It's always a great experience here love the vibes!

Honestly, I'm surprised by all the lower reviews. We stopped in mid afternoon on a weekday for some beers and yard games. The place was practically empty, which made it more enjoyable because we could try all the different games. We had a tab running with the bartender and he took great care of us. We ordered a few appetizers to share and they brought them out to the game area for us to enjoy. The atmosphere is what makes this place awesome. The decor and vibe from the moment you walk in is exactly what we wanted. The good service and quality food was all a bonus. I do wish they had a bigger draft beer selection but that's just a minor complaint. The pretzel fondue was delicious and we loved the onion rings and nachos. The different games were a lot of fun which included ping pong, corn hole, and shuffle board. Our only complaint with the games were that the ping pong balls were the cheapest you could buy and they were hard to play a game with. The box of bags for corn hole were all the same color so we had to swap sets as well. read more

See all

WOW, what an amazing night out to eat with my wife and son. Eric and MK set us up with the royal treatment for our 4:30 reservation. The appetizer assortment was absolutely delicious. The staff at the table and throughout the restaurant were friendly and very attentive to all the tables. The fondue pretzel bites was awesome. I ordered the pork jalapeños ribs with french fries and it came out finger licking good. Dipping the fries in the fondue cheese was perfect. My wife got the fried chicken with homestyle biscuit and coleslaw. My son got a very well made burger. And as if that wasn't enough goodies, the desert came out with their in house homemade peanut butter soft serve...it was so delicious. The monkey bread also offered a warm and sugary delight to the pallet. If you are looking for great food, friendly atmosphere, and some incredibly delicious treats...look no further. One of the best places to eat in Tucson. read more

See all

Let's just say...AWESOME! From the interesting name to the exceptional service and food, Culinary Dropout delivers on all levels. We came in on a really busy Sunday holiday evening, luckily with reservations. The large parking lot was packed, so I assumed service would be just okay. This place is BIG, lots of seating in two different sections and a large private room. The kitchen is gigantic and looks like it runs as smooth as a Swiss watch. The menu is a mix of traditional American favorites with added flare and taste. I ordered the cooked to order bacon cheeseburger, my wife ordered the salad with salmon. To our surprise our food came before we finished or first beer. Both were fantastic. We never felt rushed at all, multiple servers checked on us throughout our visit, all were incredible, and I wish I could remember our servers name because she was incredible, (petite fiery redhead) with an absolute welcoming personality. Based on the quality of food, pricing, and exceptional service, Culinary Dropout delivers one of the best value packed dining experiences I've had. read more

Went for lunch, service and food were good, not great. Been to others and same experience

DO NOT COME HERE. UofA graduation had to make a change to reservation. Got here early and tables are 50% empty all over. Refused to seat us early. Horrible customer service. DO NOT COME HERE. Maine hostess was RUDE! read more

Culinary Dropout - Empty tables all over - New American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Wowowow! We have been to a few culinary dropouts but This one might be the best yet! Javi was great, knowledgeable of the menu & the mission behind culinary dropout being all scratch made. I wish they would open up one by us! Don't forget about UConn as you expand! read more

What a fun, upbeat restaurant! Our server Mae was so sweet and attentive! She really made our dining experience so wonderful! 5 stars for Mae! read more

this restaurant was pretty good. very nice atmosphere very nice servers. drinks refilled fast. food was amazing. I would recommend going here with family or friends. Nice little activities. read more

This week I visited Culinary Dropout for the second time for a company outing. The atmosphere is always great, fireplaces were on to keep us warm and games such as corn hole and ping pong. The service has been great both times I have been. I am a from NC, so some foods lack seasoning in my opinion but the mashed potatoes and pretzels are delish! read more

Lots to choose from on the menu and a cool space! Service was quick and friendly! I had the Katsu sandwich and it was really good!

I do not expect perfection when visiting a restaurant, but I pay attention to the overall picture. Specially how management handles an issue (big or small). We had been here about a year earlier and overall had a good experience. We were invited to visit again and we had a small incident but it was handled flawlessly by management. That earned a lot of respect from our party. During that visit we had pesto shrimp pasta, and short rib stroganoff. We visited back a few days afterwards. read more

This is the second time I've visited a Culinary Dropout - my first time was one of their Phoenix locations. At both, I've been really impressed with their fun, creative interiors that manage to be indoors and outdoors at the same time. The space here is huge, and perfect for parties and groups whenever that can happen again. In the meantime, they're doing a good job of spacing tables and people out. We visited for brunch and all 4 of us decided to get the fried chicken/biscuit dish which serves up chicken, biscuits, eggs and a very interesting Old Bay Gravy. It's a great flavor combo for sure with just a little heat in the gravy. You won't leave hungry either - this was a hearty dish so I wished for the ability to add something lighter like fresh fruit. Service was friendly and efficient once we had someone stop by - it appeared that we were forgotten for a bit but then once it was figured out, everything went smoothly. Definitely worth checking out if only for a $2 mystery beer and some of their delicious homemade chips & dip. read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Never been so frustrated at a restaurant before. Brought family from out of town thinking it was a good idea, and I have to say it was a disappointing experience.Seated almost immediately but , and ended up waiting over an hour just to get our order in. Almost two hours for our actual food. The menu looked promising, but the dishes we ordered were bland and poorly prepared. The pasta was mediocre and some of our food was even cold. The coleslaw that was paired with the 36 hour cooked ribs, was so salty it was just inedible. The food was just overall average tasting and underwhelming. All seven of us felt frustrated and unsatisfied. With such long wait times and subpar food, I can't recommend this place anymore. There are plenty of better options out there. read more

Fried chicken was good, biscuit was better was better, and the mashed potatoes could have been better. I heard the mac burger did indeed taste like a big Mac. read more

Culinary dropout is a staple of restaurants in Tucson and must go if you are there. Attending college at the University of Arizona. Everyone seems to gravitate towards culinary dropout as a nice meal to go to during the year, as well as during family weekend. I can say I have probably been to this place about 20 times now, and every single time it always wowed me. They have a great selection of very unique foods as well as very unique drinks. One of my favorite things is the paper bag beer, where are you get a random beer of deservers choice in a brown paper bag and you see once it comes to the table. The brussels sprouts are to die for as well as their burgers and sandwiches. Great selection of beers on draft as well as mixed drinks. This was the go to restaurant for when my family came in town to come visit. It was also the go to spot for me and my friends to go to with a large group. They have plenty of space and can accommodate parties of up to 40+ people. They also have a room that you can rent out for larger gatherings. It is fun as it is an indoor outdoor mix where the larger outdoor-ish area has ping-pong tables, cornhole, and other fun games. Would highly recommend the spot as somewhere you should go when you are in Tucson! read more

This place consistently hits the mark every time we go. I would definitely recommend making a reservation through open table on weekends and potentially busy weeknights. It's nice to be seated right when you get there. The restaurant is a fun mix of pop culture artwork and yard games like corn hole. It can get loud at times with the music and crowds so again if it's a weekend expect a not so quiet meal. The speciality drinks are great. We usually try one or two when we go there on a date night. I recently had a campfire which is made with 100 proof bourbon, and man... it's dangerous. Almost too good. This is a great place for an appetizer meal with their antipasti plate and meat and cheese selection, especially hitting the mark which are build your own. The staff can guide you through the different cheeses and meats to make it right up your alley. On our most recent visit, we had the STEAK FRITES (steak & fries). The steak was juicy and flavorful and the fries were well seasoned and perfect. The staff is always super friendly and for the quality the prices are where they should be. Expect to spend around $100 before tip for 2 people with one drink each, an hepatizing and main course. Cheers! read more

Great food and casual dining. Friendly service. You can look through a window and watch them prepare food.

Went there with my wife last night. First time there, but it had been on our radar for a while. The place is super trendy inside and is a mix of a sports bar, bar and restaurant. If you asked me I would say it's struggling with a bit of an identity crisis. Not a bad thing and it was very inviting, just not what I was expecting for a place with "Culinary" in their name. The staff is very friendly and the service was great. One of the managers made it a point to go around and introduce herself and check on the patrons. That's a nice touch as usually you just see those people in the shadows directing things. As far as the food goes, eh. It wasn't bad but it was far from great. Had the food been exceptional I would plan another visit. Being what it was, I'll probably pass. We ordered the onion rings as an appetizer and they were so beyond crunchy it was hard to eat them. My teeth (which are all real) hurt trying to bust through that crust. The fried chicken was lackluster for 3 pieces at $22 and the 36 Hour Ribs were more like 30 minutes of cook time. Not the "fall off the bone" one would expect for something that they claim takes a while to prepare. Desert was good and the specialty non-alcoholic drinks we had were great. Two people and $100 later all I can say is it's good, not great and if you are looking for a party, go here. If you want a great meal in a relaxing setting, keep looking. read more

See all

First time was a charm. Always room for improvement. The atmosphere is spacious and fun. The outdoor side is comfy and a person doesn't seem to be shouting their conversation. Our waiter (G) was outstanding and very tentative. 5/5 of all of the above. Critique of food... trout is a 5/5! Moist, with some amazing green beans/almonds. 3/5 - "French dip" was extremely tender... however, the ajour dip was lackluster, the added cheese... just wasn't complementary. Lastly the house made chips with onion dip. Chips hit the spot!! Wonderful. The dip, fell flat. Could hardly taste any onion. Too thick/rich... w/o flavor. The passion fruit tea!! Amazing. Come in, relax... enjoy. read more

Amazing food, service and overall experience! We have a 3, 6 and 8 year old and this was fun for the whole family! Visiting from CO and this felt like a vacation! read more

Culinary Dropout - 0ur table and eaten food! - New American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Visited their other restaurant in Phoenix and was told that we have one in Tucson. Tried the one out in Tucson and it was not bad at all. Would definitely come back here again. The service was spectacular and the food was fairly good too. It's fairly good place for the kiddos as it has games and such, not to mention the large nice bar read more

Quality: 3 Presentation: 6 Preparation: 6 Creativity: 5 Flavor: 6 Texture: 6 Value: 4 Restaurant Service: 7 Restaurant Atmosphere: 8 Ideal Date Spot: 7 Total Rating: C (58/100) This is a vibrant place. It can be very loud at times. It is popular restaurant for the younger crowd. There are games and activities such as ping-pong and corn-hole. The food portions are poor, but still a nice setting for date night! read more

Culinary Dropout - Dinner Menu - New American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

UPDATE- since posting my review, management direct messaged me. They were nice enough to refund the 2 items (ribs and steak) that were not edible. I've updated my review to 3 stars for the care and communication. Per my review, the staff is great. The staff COULD NOT be nicer. We've been here twice in the last 6 weeks and the food is just not great. The skirt stake was inedible. We sent it back once and the second wasn't any better. The ribs were questionable at best. The house salad is 2 ounces in a toddler sized bowl, and the salad dressing was so garlic heavy that it was gross. The waitress even commented on how inconsistent the kitchen is with the size of the salads and how they serve them. The pretzel bites with cheese were decent, as were the brussel sprouts. One person in our group had a good meal - the salmon. We ordered a bottle of Prosecco and 3 glasses - 2 had to be sent back because there was lipstick on them. Place itself is great, aesthetically, although it's hot even in the "indoor" section. For the price point, I'd expect for the food to all be at least edible. Not rushing back. read more

The food, service and especially ambiance here is amazing! We have been here a few times and always have a good time. They have holiday cocktails right now (not picture) we tried a bunch the egg nog one was my favorite but there was a minty one that was good too and my husband got the donut whiskey cocktail. No complaints we can't wait to go back. read more

See all

We love coming here. Ximena always takes great care of us and provides exceptional service. The fruity pebbles ice cream scrumptious!!! Will definitely be back soon. read more

The whole restaurant concept is pretty neat. Super open space with corn hole, ping pong tables, foosball tables, and shuffle board. It's a cool place to hangout and that's honestly it. The food is very mediocre and with those prices, I say it's not really worth it. I was going to give this spot 2 stars but their ranch alone made me give it 3. So definitely try the ranch. The brussel sprouts were tasty but a little burnt, the Crispy Chicken Katsu was pretty bland, the Crispy Shrimp Caesar was, again, super mediocre. The service was also not the best. It truly felt like our waitress was giving us attitude when we asked for certain things. It was a Monday night so it wasn't packed at all, and we still had to scramble to get our waitress' attention whenever we needed something. But once we did have her attention, you could barely get in one request before she was leaving. To me, this place would be best to just grab a drink and play some games and maybe even an appetizer. I would like to give this place another try, maybe some of the other foods are great so hopefully i'll be back! read more

See all

Dining during Covid. We called and made reservations for a party of 7. We were seated right away with a choice of inside or cooled patio seating. We chose inside. We ordered the popular soft pretzels and provolone fondue. It was ok and expensive for bread and cheese. I ordered the spicy vegan curry. It came in a bowl with a chunk of grilled sweet potato in the center. The flavor was good but I wish it had more rice, it was mostly curry broth, another scoop of rice would have been good. We also ordered the meatloaf, MAC burger, and the chopped chicken salad. Service was ok. They dimmed the lights and it was really hard to see the menu and food. It was fairly busy for a weekday night. read more

See all

O M G! I loved Mae the server!!! We have the same name and she told us about the cool E bites program so we signed up for it and the ambiance in the restaurant was amazing and the food that she recommended was so good definitely coming back!! PS Loved Anita the manager!! read more

Had a fantastic experience at Culinary Dropout! The atmosphere was cozy, the service was friendly and attentive, and the food was absolutely delicious--fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Highly recommend and can't wait to come back! read more

Great menu variety. Fresh and served quickly. Love the pretzel bites and dip. A bit expensive though.

Big place. Good atmosphere. Food and service were good as well. Indoor cornhole made for a good time as well read more

Food is always pretty good, nice ambiance. However the music ruined my ears. It was wayyyyy too loud. You literally couldn't hear anyone at your table. I'm not the best singer either but if you are performing on a friday night lets make sure its some quality work. Drinks are ok, not best. read more

This was a first time visiting here. The ambiance was light and fun with a great mix of fun artwork. . They had regular seating as well as couches and high tops. They had fun yard games like ping pong and corn hole! It is a bit loud, but not too loud. The staff was super nice. I got the pretzel and fondue as well as the M.A.C. Burger. The pretzel thing was so delicious! The Burger was so yummy--please note, while it does not say on the menu, the burger comes with a 1000 Island dressing on it. So if you are not a fan, make sure you tell them no sauce! It is a bit pricey, however-- it really was a neat place. Would make a great girls night or even date night. read more

I go here a lot with my teenagers. They love playing the games before and after dinner. This the only reason why I keep going back. The space is huge. I love the decor and the vibe. To be in your 20s at this restaurant would be really fun. But, every single time I've been here, the food always comes out on time but my food is almost room temperature. I don't get it. It's like it sits in the expo window with no heat lamp and a breeze. I'm always so disappointed. The service is always great, too. The food looks great. The flavor and concept of the dishes are great. But no matter what I order. It's frigging room temperature. I. Just. Don't. Get. It. My kids always want to go there. I let them 1 out of 10 times because they like the games. That's it. Because my food is consistently cold or room temperature, I'm giving this 1 star. If I got hot food, I'd up the number of stars. read more

The food and service here were good. We went on a Saturday night and it was very loud. Probably a good place to go and blow off steam. Probably not a good place for a first date if you want to have a conversation without having to yell. The chairs for the outdoor seating were not very comfortable. Probably will not go back anytime soon. read more

Brought my family to Culinary Dropout while they were visiting Tucson and we had a really great time! The food and atmosphere were really unique from anywhere else I have been in town. There was a stage for live music and a covered patio with ping pong tables and corn hole. Alyssa, our server was incredibly kind and helpful. We had a mixup with a burger and she made the situation 100% better than before. We will be coming again and asking for Alyssa! read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

See all

Great service and fantastic food! Unique flavors and cooked to perfection. Will always return!

It was a fantastic lunch today. The appetizer was the asparagus and some deviled eggs our order arrived plated together and they made it look really nice and it tasted even better. Rich delicious and well seasoned would describe these accurately. The entrees were a salmon dish with farro that was one of the best dishes I have had in 2024 in a restaurant. Perfectly cooked and balanced in both texture of the salmon and the nice light flavor so well done. The chopped chicken salad was equally as balanced and tasty for us. We both had draft beers and mine was the light lager and my wife had the feature cider on draft cold light and refreshing. Service was excellent from hostess to waitress and all around well done. I was very impressed and thank you for the hard work and training of the staff really nicely done. read more

Tijuana Spa water has a delightful spiciness and refreshing taste. The wings for appetizers were crispy, crunchy, and packed with flavor. The atmosphere was enjoyable, offering a variety of family-friendly activities such as cornhole, ping pong, and table soccer. The service was good, but our waitress needs some improvement. read more

See all