Restaurant week is great for discovering new places you haven't been before. This was our chance…read moreto visit Espiritu in Mesa. There is construction in front so you walk through plywood walls to get to the entrance but the party is inside. The atmosphere is relatively dark and they have VERY old Mexican themed shows on the tv. They also have an incredible drink menu which my adult Daughter took full advantage. The service was also excellent as she tried to decide between drinks. Our waiter was very helpful and they always made sure we had enough water or anything we needed. The start of the prix fixe menu that week was clams or Birria Dumplings. Hello.....Dumplings! Is that really a choice. Went right for the dumplings and thrilled I did. There were a couple dumplings swimming in a red consume that was truly deep in flavor. The wrappers were tender and the beef inside even more so. It was so great, I would return just for those. Next we had the Chicken. I love dark meat and my son-in-law loves the white meat. We started to laugh when they presented a bowl with 2 legs to me and one with a breast for him. We laughed and asked, "How did you know". Both were fantastic. Again, incredible depth of flavor with the sauce, delicious roasted green chile and tasty potato discs. It was great and the legs were big! Finally, for dessert, I went with the Bourbon Flan. Very smooth and creamy with a great flavor and sauce topped with some Bourbon Whipped cream. I will definitely be back to try the Flank steak which a nearby table raved about.

Decided to give this place a try since everyone has been raving about the Smashburger there…read more I'll be honest, I don't see the hype. Is the food bad? no, but it is great? Also no. The menu is quite unique I.e Birria dumplings etc. It just didn't blow me away. Plus it's a little overpriced for my opinion. Now the service and the drinks, phenomenal. Now would I be back? Probably not unless it's for a nice cocktail

This place was so sleek! Great concept! Basement speakeasy…read morewith live music. Definitely worth the drive and time spent. Drinks are made to order and such a unique fun experience!! A++++

Such a fun little date night! We went to dinner first and then came here afterward. Definitely make…read morereservations, especially if you want to catch the live jazz music. FYI--the reservation email really doesn't explain how to get in, so here's what you need to know! Go into Level 1, which is an arcade, and walk ALL the way through to the back. Go out the door to the outside patio area and you'll see a security guard. Let them know you have a reservation for Alchemy 48. Someone will come up from downstairs, get you, and take you down to the speakeasy. Then comes the riddle! Don't feel intimidated if you're not good at riddles--I stressed about this part a little bit beforehand. Don't! Just read it. She gives you a clue that basically tells you what to do, and it's super easy. TIP: Make sure you take a picture in the little riddle/entrance room because you DON'T come back through that room when you leave! We almost missed that opportunity. Once you're inside, it has a really nice, romantic speakeasy atmosphere. We loved the live jazz and really enjoyed the whole experience. It would also be so much fun to dress up a little in Prohibition-era style for the night. For drinks, I had the Neapolitan and my husband had a Manhattan. Yes, the drinks are a little strong--but isn't that how they're supposed to be in a Prohibition speakeasy? Overall, we really enjoyed Alchemy 48. It's romantic, a little different, and the hidden entrance and riddle make it more of an experience than simply going out for drinks. Definitely a fun addition to a date night! Service is a tad bit slow

The vibe was very much speakeasy adjacent. I love how the bar is sunken in so that you can have…read moredirect eye contact with your bartender. I was here for a first date, and it was a great place for that. The drinks were strong, taste amazing and you can tell that they are very intentional with what they do and how they do it from the ingredients used to how it is presented. Bartender was very engaging, a great balance between being attentive but not being overly intrusive. Music was great and appealed to all demographics. Would definitely come back.

AZ Distillery is a great addition to Downtown Mesa. It has a moody, almost brooding atmosphere, and…read moreon a weekend evening it was busy and full of the noise of people having a good time. The bartenders were friendly and chatty, checked in often, and somehow managed to keep conversations going while still getting the work done. The drink selection is definitely geared more toward liquor and craft beer drinkers. My boyfriend enjoys whiskey and a good craft beer, so there was plenty for him. I don't drink much beer anymore and usually prefer wine, so the limited wine selection was a little disappointing for me. I ended up going back to a domestic beer, and $5 for a Coors Banquet felt a little steep. Cocktails seemed to average around $15. I'd love to see a little more variety for people who aren't liquor or big craft beer drinkers. That said, I'm impressed to have a place with this kind of atmosphere right in Downtown Mesa without having to head to Scottsdale for a night out. It gets very busy, so I'd plan ahead if you're going on a weekend evening. Overall, an enjoyable spot and especially a good choice if whiskey or craft beer is your thing.

Board & Batten is a beautiful modern design restaurant with a great patio and comfortable seating…read more It's tucked away down a side street behind an industrial type area but the end of the street opens to this beautiful restaurant and the wedding venue next door, which is genius. What a great spot to host your rehearsal dinner, etc! There actually was a wedding going on during our time there which just added to the experience. We actually didn't start with any appetizers but did order a couple of salads for the table: Pear & Grape Lemon Caesar Both were delicious and a great start to our meal. Entrees: Rustic Tomato Braised Meatballs (order it!) Airline Chicken (delicious but small chicken portion) Alla Fresca Pasta (great!) B&B Flat Iron Steak served with mashed potatoes & Spinach (I wanted to lick my plate!!) All of our food was delicious. Our server Aaron took great care of us and I'd definitely return to Board & Batten!

Just a wonderful place to eat . The staff was amazing I…read moreloved the outdoor seating with the fire pits . It rained and we had umbrellas moved over our party by the staff . The food was delicious I believe it's a farm to table restaurant so the menu is always changing . I recommend this gem to anyone in the Mesa area.

I came in to Idle Hands for a cocktail making class. Christmas in July making call. We were…read morefortunate enough it was only 5 of us in call. So everything was hands on! We had such an amazing time. Shout out to Mickey for allowing us to go behind the bar to make the cocktails, it was a first time experience for me. We were able to make some eggnog from scratch and make ourselves a drink of our creation. I know they have other mixology classes in the future, I highly recommend it, it's such a lovely experience. I can't wait to take other classes.

Idle Hands is a really neat tucked away bar. The drink selection is super unique and the mixologist…read morewas extremely excited about the selection he'd created. I was asking tons of questions and he shared several stories giving us the background that made the drinks even more special. A must try!!

Loved everything about 12 West Brewing in downtown Mesa! The food was delicious, the drinks were…read moregreat, and the service was excellent. The atmosphere made it even better. Definitely recommend, and I'll be back!

Evidently this place just opened Wednesday. Great venue inside, setup for good music that should…read moresound awesome. Parking is going to be a problem, I'm here for lunch at 1:30pm & there's no parking in the rear. They are in between century link colo & a series of reserved parking spots. The front is right on the main street with the train in the middle, so maybe there's a lot for parking nearby that in not aware of. The venue really looks promising. The food.... eh. I had the birria French dip with fries; the fries looked good with the crust & texture, they were like warm & have a strange aftertaste, it's ok because I shouldn't be eating too many fries & maybe it's the "duck fat". ‍ The French dip was not my style, very disappointed, but it could just be me.

Recently arriving in Gilbert to visit a friend of mine from high school, we were looking to find a…read morevenue to enjoy some good cocktails. A Yelp search for local speakeasys led us to The White Rabbit, an establishment located roughly 30 minutes away from my buddy's home. Upon arriving, we provided the friendly security staff with the "secret" password for the evening. Entering the dimly lit bar, we were warmly greeted by a server and the vibrant sounds of laughter. After being seated, we began perusing the drink menus (they have an overwhelmingly amount of options) and I arrived on the "Smoke and a Smile" as my first drink. Taking in the environment as we awaited our drinks, I observed that this venue serves as an appropriate setting for either a date night or a night out with friends. Our drinks arrived shortly, in which we all expressed how delicious our selections were. So delicious that we all took turns passing our drinks around as if they were flight samplers. We ended up having three rounds of drinks before heading over to the dance floor portion of the venue, in which we had additional drinks while enjoying the nostalgic hits being played by the DJ. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at The White Rabbit, I will definitely make a return visit whenever I'm in town!

I have been wanting to try the white rabbit for years and finally made it over! Expectations may…read morehave been a little bit high on my end at no fault of theirs. I did appreciate that the speakeasy was below ground and required a password. I do think it's odd that when making a reservation online, you are not prompted on how to retrieve the password. Thank goodness my friend receives the emails and let me know ahead of time what to say. You enter down a long hallway and wait at a bookcase that opens. It kind of feels like forever because there's nowhere to go and could create a little bit of potential claustrophobia/panic for people who may be sensitive to those types of environments. The drink menu was good but I really wasn't wowed. They did offer three mocktails which wasn't really impressive and the cocktails did include a variety of liquors and flavor profiles but again, wasn't as extensive or interesting as some other speakeasies around town. The food menu was very disappointing - a lot of dairy and bread - pretzels with cheese, flatbread, queso with chips, and "rabbit food" - hummus with bread and vegetables. We asked to have all vegetables instead of bread and they did accommodate with a generous helping of full-size rainbow carrots and cherry tomatoes. We actually ran out of hummus before we could finish the vegetables. I understand elevated pricing for the aesthetic/experience but I did think the pricing here was a little bit high for what was received.

Can't remember the drink I got but it has mezcal and pineapple. So yum! The other was an old…read morefashion. Such a quiet place. Nice for conversation and a slow drink. Bartender did a great job guiding me to the right drink that my tastebuds would love.

Went to Drop Dead Gorgeous expecting a secret speakeasy. The secret is... it's just a bar…read more The door wasn't mysterious, the drinks weren't magical, and the layout wasn't fancy. But the staff? Actually Drop Dead Gorgeous. They were amazing and saved the night.

Amazing food every time. This place is always a staple for us whenever we're on this side of town…read more Definitely recommend!

My friend suggested we come here for girls night and we were so glad we did! We ordered bulgogi and…read morepopcorn chicken to share. We also had the yogurt favored soju. Service was so prompt and they are quick to bring all the goods. We all had such a wonderful time. The vibe and ambiance is quite fun!

Had a fantastic Wednesday night, and a big reason was our server Max. From the moment we sat down,…read moreMax was friendly, attentive, and genuinely made the experience feel special. The recommendations were spot on, exactly the kind of insider knowledge that makes you feel like you're in good hands. Never had to wait for anything, and Max had a way of checking in at just the right moments without being intrusive. One of those servers who reminds you why going out is so much more than just drink. Will absolutely be back!

They had me at the name... though I will clear the air. There are no killer whales present at…read moreKiller Whale Sex Club. Nor is it a sex club. But, if you're looking for a really cool bar, KWSC is for you. I stopped by on a week day evening around 8:30 p.m. Located in Roosevelt Row, while there isn't parking, I found free parking on the street a few minutes away on foot. Ambiance (4.5/5): My type of spot. Dimly lit with a speakeasy vibe. There are eight or so seats at the bar, and the rest of your seating options consist of comfortable chairs and sofas. You'll see a lot of photos of people's bums on the walls lol. This is indeed part of the appeal. For free, if you would like, they will take a polaroid of your butt and memorialize you eternally on the walls. While I didn't do that, if that's up your alley, go for it. Service (2/5): This is the main area of improvement. After being seated, I was greeted promptly and got my first cocktail promptly. From there, things fell apart. I had to grab the bartender's attention to order my second drink and to close out. It was a week day and they weren't busy. And there were two bartenders. A lack of attentiveness. When I closed out, I noticed that the cocktails were both $2 more expensive than what was listed on the menu. When I inquired, I was told that the menus were outdated... umm what? If you're not going to re-print your menus, give people a heads-up when they arrive. I understand that most people won't notice, but this is deception. Food (N/A): I was on a liquid diet. If you're trying to eat here, all they have is snacks. The menu doesn't specify but I'm thinking it's probably chips or somethign like that. Drinks (4/5): A lengthy, and interesting, cocktail list. Similar to a speakeasy, you're going to see creativity and an interesting blend of flavors here. The most popular drink is Fuck Nazis. We're seeing a theme here. KWSC is an interesting spot. For various dollar amounts, you can get funny things outside of the polaroids of your bum. My first cocktail was great. My second one, a tiki drink, not so much. The menu said that there would be some flame action happening. It didn't. Just another example of the service falling short. If the service were better, Killer Whale Sex Club would easily be a five-star experience.