I am a big fan of Level 1 Arcade in Mesa. Alchemy 48 is a speakeasy that is located in the basement…read morebehind Level 1 Arcade Bar in Downtown Mesa. In order to enter you will need to see the staff at the back patio and descend down the staircase behind Level 1. You must solve a brief riddle to reveal the entrance. A group of us hung out at Level 1 recently and had a fun time checking out Alchemy 48 afterwards. The bar offers a unique experience with decor that transports visitors back to 1920s Prohibition era. Alchemy 48 has purple velvet walls, unique lighting, creepy wall pictures and a fireplace at the center. The staff is dressed in authentic speakeasy-era attire. There is live music on occasions. There are several cocktail drinks like the Alchemy R N' R, The Peacock, Old Fashioned, Dark Arts Black Manhattan and the Rittenhouse Rye, For food, patrons can sample a charcuterie boards and other light snacks. I love the vibe here and enjoyed a fun evening out with friends for my first visit here.

This is as real as it gets! From the secret entrance to the crafted cocktails. The staff are…read moredressed the part and provide fantastic service. This is a great spot for an intimate date night. Jon and Brandon are gifted mixologists and come up with the best cocktails you've ever had.

Killing time in downtown Mesa, I stumbled upon this particular distillery. The reviews looked good,…read moreand as a lover of spirits and cocktails, I decided to give them a try Through the front doors you take a right and enter a very intimate lounge and bar area. The light is very dim, but you can see the central bar, the almost decorative stills behind glass in the back, and many booths and seating areas You order your drinks at the bar. They have a list of signature and classic options using spirits distilled at the whiskey as well as other spirits. Each cocktail is a work of art. The artisanal elixirs are made to order right in front of you at the bar. This means they are quality drinks, but it also means they take slightly longer because they're made with care... they also might cost you a bit money The staff are friendly. We spoke to a couple about the cocktails, the distillery, eating options in the area, etc The drinks are solid. They aren't the heaviest of pours or too strong. Each cocktail has specific drink rate, garnishes, etc that will accompany it The distillery has a prime location, smack dab in the middle of the downtown Mesa. You can find restaurants, bars, shops, and even a place where you can both play pinball and shop for antiques or a spot where you can eat Cronuts while playing Super Mario Kart (Outcast) Some tips: Tell the bartender what you enjoy drinking and let them guide you towards a selection They offer tours on Saturdays (1hr in length) where you can learn more about the distilling process and try samples They have a couple clarified cocktails that were truly unique and refreshing. If you're into that They are open 7 days a week but their hours vary depending on the day Cheers!!

Updating my original 4 star review to 5 stars! AZ distilling is a fantastic place to grab a…read morecocktail or two, at their beautiful bar situated in downtown Mesa. I've grown to really enjoy the expanded list of cocktails on their menu and that has improved my experience when I go. Plus, I just love sitting at that horseshoe bar. Until next time, cheers!

I had been waiting what felt like an eternity to try out this disco-themed speakeasy! Disco balls,…read morelots of moving lights, swanky vibes, groovy music, and attentive and intelligent servers! Love it! I started out with a cocktail - the Mega Viral! Once you try it, you will understand the name. One of the more innovative cocktails I have ever had... and I ended up having two! So delicious and an experience in itself!! We enjoyed some light bites as well - the Edamame Hummus and Shishito Peppers. Both were fantastic! I love that their menu points out which items are gluten-free... and our server even warned me that the plantain chips in the Edamame Hummus could have cross-contamination... so I very much appreciate that heads up! I opted to order them anyway and I am so glad I did - so good! And I experienced no gluten issues. Awesome! I'm already looking forward to a return trip! Overall rating: *****FIVE STARS***** Gluten-free rating: *****FIVE STARS*****

Drop Dead Gorgeous is a 70s themed speakeasy located inside of Filthy Animal. My friend and I…read morearrived around opening hour and got a good spot in the middle of the bar. I love the giant disco balls and the aesthetic of this place. We started with the appletini and lemongrass highball (non-alcoholic). My friend and I ended up switching drinks because we liked each other's more than our own. For the second round, we ordered the brandy spritz and primrose martini. We weren't fans of the brandy spritz, although my friend grew into it. The primrose martini was quite good, I liked it better than the appletini. For snackies, we ordered the glizzy gaunlet, which was basically a tower of carbs. It came with 5 mini dogs with milk bread, and potato wedges. There were 3 sauces, my favorite in order were the: truffle dijonnaise, kosho aioli, and korean ketchup. We enjoyed this more than the food at Filthy Animal. Although it was pricey ($22) for just carbs and hardly any protein. The milk bread was delicious and the mini dogs were pretty good too. The potato wedges were cooked perfectly, slightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Would I return? Probably not. The food was better than the drinks but it wasn't outstanding.

The service was incredible. The bartender was extremely helpful and obviously very passionate about…read moremaking something or recommending something I'd enjoy. The ambiance was really pretty and it was a great contrast to Devils Hideaway.

Okay the vibe was so cool! You felt like you were in a different era. The drinks, however, none of…read moremy friends and I enjoyed. We had to make a reservation as well as they get booked up quick.

12 west is generally a solid option for food and drinks in Downtown Mesa. I used to really love…read morecoming here when Mike was one of the main bartenders, he made excellent cocktails. I've been here a bunch of times over the years. Giving 4 stars simply due a mix of experiences, good and meh. Most recently we sat at the cocktail bar ordered a beer & whiskey sour. Drinks came quickly but then it took a while for anyone to ask if we wanted food (we originally intended to). I think what happened is that our original bartender may have gone on break, while a new person coming on shift was busy doing things and didn't know to check with us since we already had drinks in front of us. It wasn't a major issue. It just created a long gap which gave us the option to decide to go elsewhere. We also noticed the beer we ordered was flat and we eventually let the new bartender know. She offered to get us a pint of something else but we had decided today wasn't our day at 12 West and move on. Typically beers are great, cocktails are solid, and food is good too. What seems to vary the most is service.

My husband and I stopped in for an impromptu lunch date over the weekend. The weather was perfect…read morefor sitting on the patio. We got a couple drinks as well as the popcorn chicken and Birria tacos. This wasn't our first time visiting this location and probably won't be the last. It's a great spot in downtown Mesa. There's ample seating for larger parties. They have a couple patio areas as well as a couple bars inside.

We recently hosted our son's rehearsal dinner for 40 guests at The Social Hall and could not have…read morebeen happier with the experience. Since we were planning the event from out of town, having a team we could trust was incredibly important -- and Bailey and the entire staff handled everything flawlessly. Even the decorations were set up beautifully and exactly as we had hoped. The food was excellent, the staff was friendly and attentive, and everything ran smoothly from start to finish. A special thank you to Bailey, the Event Coordinator, who was wonderful to work with throughout the entire process. She was organized, responsive, and made everything feel easy and stress-free leading up to the event and the night of the dinner. The highlight was definitely the Rafter Room -- it was even more impressive in person than in the pictures. The space had a great atmosphere for a rehearsal dinner and made the evening feel really special for our family and guests. Highly recommend The Social Hall for anyone looking to host a private event in Tempe.

Visiting Tempe for a music festival. This was our first spot and let me tell you it was perfect…read more Great cocktails and an extensive food menu. The service was fast and our waiter was great. We ordered quite a bit of food, but it was all really good and fresh, not greasy at all! I would recommend the Brussels to share because they give you a bunch! No complaints here

Thanks for hosting my family here from San Diego. What a great Chinese place we found after we…read moreweren't able to get into our first choice restaurant since we didn't make a reservation. This is a Korean pub. Soooo cute. They had a "Christmas tree" made out of Soju bottles! Sooo smart, so creative! I think I should do that next year. But yea, no thanks my dog will knock that down in an instant and it won't be pretty. We chose 6 different items to share. We all had different types of Soju, but I can't remember which ones. Some were specials, so I don't remember (yikes...did we drink that much). Food: fried Mandu (potstickers), french fries, parmesan garlic mandu, salt & pepper shrimp and tteokbokki, chicken wings (pina flavor), pineappple fried rice, and pork belly salad (had to have some greens)

Service was great Had specials…read more Clean Lots to choose from on menu Tasted great Good size portions

I want to give 5 stars for the amazing dinner experience at Filthy Animal. I've been a few times…read morenow, and the food and service during dinner have always been incredible. The oysters are a must, the steak is cooked perfectly, and everything is plated so thoughtfully it really feels like a full experience, not just a meal. The dinner staff has also always been attentive, friendly, and on point. That said, I recently came in for brunch and had a very different experience. I'm a huge pancake person, so I was excited to try the strawberry pancakes, but they were honestly disappointing. They were soggy, lacked any fluff, and had more of a cornbread texture than a pancake. The strawberry topping also wasn't very appetizing--it seemed like it was meant to be more of a sauce, but it didn't quite work. I completely understand that higher-end restaurants like to get creative with their dishes, but I think some basics like pancakes should still be done really well. I'll definitely be back for dinner, but I'd probably skip brunch next time.

Stopped in on a busy Mother's Day afternoon after a long walk to get some drinks. Place was…read moreabsolutely crowded but room at the bar. Inside is truly unique blend of African safari, Aussie chefs complete with hats wood grilling tomahawks and tons of meat right in the middle of the restaurant. Decor is again rather unique with a mix of wood, soft furnishings, drapes, brass and stuffed exotic animals (which im sure are clever fakes) Josh at the bar was awesome, not just for me but extremely attentive and quick at delivery. Remembered drink preferences, even an unusual order i made which he delivered perfectly after serving 2 others who joined me. Everyone behind the bar kept my water topped up and the bar free of soiled napkins and empty glasses. Prices were extremely reasonable. Few drafts on tap and am extensive bar and cocktail selection. Definitely going to return back to enjoy the food, smelled wonderful.

Had the philli cheese steak this morning. Joe at the bar was the most wonderful bartender I've had…read morehere in Arizona. Super kind and friendly. Service was fast and attentive. Really appreciate the Hudson and Joe for the wonderful morning!!

If you blink, you might drive right past this little bar and grill, as it's set back offv the road…read moresnuggled up next to a bigger building. There is plenty of bar space if you're popping in for a drink.. of course, the actual bar that runs along the shelves of liquor, and there is also a bar on the other side of a roll-up door, perfect for people who come with dogs. There's also a bar space that runs along the window that separates the small dining room and the patio. There are a few tables inside as well as some bigger tables on the patio. The patio is nice with lots of shrubs right outside the rail. The murals on the wall are pretty darn cool - - they're like enlarged historic photos of the area. I love them! And I'm not sure who's giant face is hanging on the ceiling but it's short a spark conversation. The menu here has a little something for everyone. There's the regular loaded fries and wings, salads, and a nice election burgers. We ordered the Philly Salad and the Very Summer Salad with a side order of fries. They make their own ranch, and it is good. I will say they don't seem to skim on salad ingredients either - - the Philly salad was covered with shaved beef, and my berry salad had a lot of chicken and tons of blue cheese. The fries were delicious - - slightly seasoned and crispy. This place is clearly dog friendly. In fact the day we went there was a sweet Pitbull named Daisy who literally hopped up on a bar stool and sat there like a little angel the entire time. The bar had a dog full of water that they sat down on the counter next to her owner's beer. They also have dog biscuits to give. It made my day to see that sweet little dog hanging at the bar having a treat. This really is kind of a spot that feels like it's probably the hangout spot of many people. Great bar food and a good selection of beers. What's not to love?

I genuinely cannot WAIT to come back to this place. From the second I walked in, the atmosphere…read morefelt so classy, elegant, and elevated without being pretentious. It's the kind of restaurant that makes getting dressed up feel exciting and worth it, and I absolutely loved that about the experience. It felt like such a perfect date night spot or place to celebrate something special. The servers were also extremely attentive the entire night. Everyone was friendly, professional, and made sure we had everything we needed without ever feeling overbearing. The service honestly matched the upscale atmosphere perfectly and made the whole experience feel even more polished. And OMG... the food. SO SO SO SO SO GOOD. Like genuinely one of those meals where every single bite makes you pause for a second because it tastes that incredible. I got the chicken orzo along with the lime icebox cake for dessert, and both were absolutely amazingggg. The chicken orzo was phenomenal. The lemon flavor throughout the orzo was bright, fresh, and flavorful without being overpowering, and the tomatoes were the PERFECT addition because they balanced everything so well and added a little sweetness and freshness to the dish. But the chicken... wow. The chicken was perfectly crispy on the outside while still being super juicy and tender inside, which is honestly hard to do. Every component of the dish worked together perfectly. Magnificent is genuinely the best word for it. And the lime icebox cake was the perfect ending to the meal, refreshing, creamy, flavorful, and not too heavy after dinner. Honestly, I'm sitting here craving the food again just looking back at the pictures I took. This is definitely one of those restaurants that sticks in your mind long after you leave.

After the great dinner we had last night, we worried that this might be a letdown. It wasn't. Great…read morecraft cocktails. The crab cake appetizer had a ton of flavor, the meatballs were good as was the whipped feta dip, though it was quite sweet. For the entree, my mom and I got the wild mushroom pasta with chicken. Excellent and not too rich. Just a great meal and half the price of where we went last night.