Had a reservation on Saturday evening. We were greeted right away by a very pleasant host, checked us in and seated us quickly. Server came over right away with waters and asked if wanted anything else to drink. We needed a moment to review the menu and he said he'd be back. Our server was amazing throughout the evening. Knew the menu and the drinks very well and was so nice! He seemed to be waiting on a lot of tables, but didn't look stressed at all. We decided to try a few different apps and go family style. We had the tuna crudo, sonoran squid, wings, tuetano and brussels. They were all amazing. For drinks we tried one of ciders on tap, the paloma and the lychee rose. All very good! And then for dessert, we had the chocolate cake. Delicious. We will definitely be back; I really wanted to try the salmon, but we were too full - good excuse to return. The speakeasy, Afterlife, although a short walk down a hallway, seemed like a totally different atmosphere. And you couldn't hear anything going on in the restaurant while I was standing in there (just checking it out). Very cool vibe. We will definitely be back! One of our new favs! Thanks for a great meal. read more

Thank you for responding. I want to clarify a few points because I think some of my review may have been misunderstood. First, I will absolutely own that I may have misquoted the mocktail by a dollar or two. I was looking at the alcoholic drink pricing when I wrote the review. However, my criticism wasn't simply whether it was $13, $15, or $16. My issue was that there was only about a $2 difference between the mocktail and its alcoholic counterpart, while the mocktail was served in a relatively small cocktail glass. I actually thought the drink was good. My concern was the value and portion at that price. The larger issue for me was the restaurant's presentation of its food. I understand and agree that Arizona has a very broad culinary landscape. But when a restaurant specifically uses descriptions such as "Arizona Known Food" and "Tucson Local Food," there is a reasonable expectation that diners will experience flavors and culinary traditions recognizable as Tucson or Arizona-inspired. Tucson has a very distinctive food identity, particularly its Sonoran Mexican influence, along with Indigenous desert ingredients and traditions. That's what I understood I was coming to experience when I read the menu and restaurant presentation. If the concept is actually Arizona ingredients interpreted through Indian flavors and techniques, I have no problem with that. I love Indian food. But I would expect that to be communicated somewhere on the menu or in the restaurant's description. I didn't see anything that led me to understand this was an Indian-inspired interpretation of Arizona cuisine. Instead, we repeatedly experienced very strong lemon aromatics and what we perceived as Indian-inspired spices throughout the meal, the fries, carrots, mushrooms, potatoes, burger and other dishes. Those flavors aren't inherently bad. The issue was that they became repetitive and, to us, didn't taste like the Arizona/Tucson fine-dining experience we believed we were ordering. I also want to address the mole, because I understand my use of the phrase "mortal sin" offended you or others. If it did, I sincerely apologize. That wasn't my intention; it was an expression of how strongly we felt about the dish. However, I do stand by the substance of my criticism. Mole has an expectation attached to it. Fine dining can absolutely reinterpret traditional dishes, but there is a point where a dish has been changed so substantially that a diner can reasonably question whether it is still recognizable as the dish being advertised. For us, this did not come close to what we expected when we ordered mole. My husband disliked it so much that we asked to replace it with the burger, and the mole ultimately went uneaten. We were also disappointed that the original mole remained on the bill after we made the substitution. The same issue applied to the $55 ribeye, which arrived poorly trimmed with a significant amount of gristle and fat. The mushrooms again carried that same strong lemon/Indian-inspired flavor. The $16 carrots were also heavily influenced by that flavor profile, and the potatoes didn't work for us either. The Brussels sprouts were actually the standout dish of the meal, which is why I specifically mentioned them as the best thing we ordered. I also want to make clear that I did compliment our waiter. He was kind, pleasant and lovely. My criticism wasn't directed at him personally. We also weren't the only diners who seemed disappointed that evening. The couple seated beside us ultimately canceled the remainder of their food after the salads, which reinforced our feeling that the experience wasn't simply a matter of our personal tastes. Ultimately, this was a nearly $190 dinner for two, and at that price point, expectations are naturally high. The restaurant is attractive, the concept is interesting, and I genuinely wanted to like it. That's why I was disappointed. I'm happy to acknowledge where I got something wrong, including the exact mocktail price. But that doesn't change the central point of my review: the experience we had did not match what we understood Nex to be presenting as Tucson/Arizona fine dining. If you're willing to look into the billing issue, particularly the charge for the mole after we changed the dish to the burger, I'd be more than happy to speak with you directly by phone and discuss it. I'm always willing to have a conversation and give a restaurant the opportunity to address a legitimate concern. I appreciate you taking the time to respond, and I hope this clarifies where my criticism was coming from. read more

Nex - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Walking into NEX on 4th Street feels like you just found a spot that's trying to be a whole experience, not just dinner. Shoutout to brothers Raj and Kush on their latest venture because this clearly isn't their first rodeo, you can tell there's real intention behind the concept. The space is vibey, the music had me fully locked into an 80s new wave moment, and the bar was honestly the move for us since monsoon season said absolutely not to patio seating. Bartender had personality which I always appreciate, service was solid, and the speakeasy "Afterlife" tucked inside is probably the most aesthetically fun part of the whole place. Crowd was interesting though, like very split between elevated date night energy and young hipster hangout, no real in-between yet, which makes me think they're still dialing in their identity. Now let's talk about the vegan lion's mane steak because that's why we came and yes, it was good, like actually good, very "steaky" for a plant-based dish, but at $35 I wanted a little more wow on the presentation. The flavors were there with the chimichurri, gravy, and those thick fries, but I kept asking myself if it hit that price point. Pro tip that I wish I knew earlier, add the extra lion's mane mushrooms on top because those were a standout. Olives to start were solid, menu overall looks thoughtfully curated, and I didn't have a bad time at all, just not a mind-blowing one either. Giving it a 4 out of 5 because there's a lot of potential here and the foundation is strong. If you're vegan, this is definitely a must-try spot in Tucson, and if you're curious about a new elevated concept with a little edge, go check them out. Review for speakeasy ; Total vibe at Afterlife Speakeasy ! This speakeasy is located inside the Nex Tucson Restaurant & towards the back . Very easy to book for private parties and events . There's an outdoor private beer garden space out back adjacent to the speakeasy as well . Great area for those in your party who like to smoke . read more

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Great service and food - the speakeasy in the back is a fun sexy twist to the place. Plus the chef was so sweet - I absolutely adored her!! read more

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All the food was delicious. The carrot appetizer and the brussels sprout appetizer were particularly good. The service was quite prompt and very polite. The ambience was a bit cold. It has a bit of a bar/warehouse. read more

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Really nice dining experience at the site of former Hermanos. I highly appreciated the vegan options here and my wife loved the non-vegan food. The roasted carrots have a deep flavor and a nice mix of crunchy and soft texture. The vegan steak frites is made from Chunk and cooked perfectly. Comes with Lions mane mushrooms cut up in gravy and thick cut fries with Sonoran seasoning. Would definitely repeat that order. read more

Nex - Vegan Steak Frites* - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I loved my time here! I came with a date on a Thursday night. I ordered the steak frites and my date for the salmon. Both dishes blew me away. The chimichurri on the steak was bright but balanced. The fries were perfectly soft on the inside but crisp on the outside. I got a side of aoli which was fantastic. I was almost jealous of my date's salmon which was sooo good. I am definitely getting that next time! We ordered a few drinks but my date and I favored the cucumber crown which was tasty, refreshing and light. read more

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This restaurant popped up on my IG feed and was immediately added onto my want to eat list. I went here for a late birthday dinner with my dad and we had a delicious meal. We ordered drinks and got the downtown wings with a dry rub and buffalo sauce (both versions were tasty but buffalo sauce will always be my boo), the Atlantic salmon and the steak frites. Everything was delicious! Our server was great- stellar personality- and provided great service. One of the better restaurants I've eaten at downtown and would absolutely both recommend and return. read more

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Stop by after kids concert this Saturday noon. Not very busy. The inside is neat, clean and pretty big. Awesome food & drink. Great service. My husband like their tres leches, the bread is soft and fluffy. I ordered downtown wings. I like the dry rubs..it's chrispy outside, tender and tasty inside. And it comes with some kind of pickled vegs that is very good! My daughter love the kids mac and cheese...she said "very delicious" And the french fries is chrispy with enough saltines and have a bit garlic flavor...yummy! And I got a very pleasant surprise, because tomorrow is Mother's day, the chef gives me a delicious sweet treat . Thank you!! Bit tricky with the parking, but it's very understandable because it's in downtown area. read more

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The owner was very rude and unwelcoming, but our server was warm and friendly. The old fashioned cocktail we ordered was too sweet and syrupy. The steak frites were advertised as having a chimichurri sauce on them, but the sauce didn't taste anything like chimichurri which the waiter agreed with us on. The steak also had a weird taste to it. They don't have regular ketchup, just a roasted poblano ketchup which had a chunky texture. We did not like this place and won't be coming back. read more

Came for the vegan steak! And glad we did. Also had the lions main mushroom on the side. So good. The steak was flavorful and a great steak like texture. The steak isn't on the menu, I wish it was. But they knew exactly what I was asking for. Vegan options were marked clearly in the menu. A great vibe and great service. Pricy but worth it. Sit by the window for nice lighting. The bar is also really nice. read more

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Went here with the girls on a weeknight. We had amazing service. One of the group is vegan and misunderstood that a vegetable dish was cooked in beef tallow. We let our waitstaff know and they were able to fix it with the kitchen and it was so appreciated. The food and the drinks were so good. I really liked the dry rub wings. I also felt like the seating was comfortable as a larger person, which is always appreciated. I loved the overall vibe of the restaurant and the chill friendliness of the staff I encountered. I hope to go back soon! read more

This was one of the biggest disappointments in quite some time. I had gotten us Sat night concert tickets at the Fox and she wanted to buy dinner for us beforehand. It was commencement wknd but she had secured 5:30 reservations a week earlier. Upon arrival our 2-top was the only open table and we were seated on time. So far an outstanding start. For those familiar (and missing) Ermanos like us, the inside is 95% unchanged. The host explained that their goal was to recycle as much as possible. He added that refabbing historical sites is a bureaucratic nightmare. Our waiter was witty and personable. We ordered the Brussels Sprouts ($14) and their Old Fashioned ($16) and Cucumber Crown ($14). Here is where the first wave of disappointments hit. The OF was too sweet (demerara syrup) causing it to lose its characteristic bite. And the latter was too weak to provide the "crisp relief" it self touts - weak in both alcohol and in any noticeable cucumber/citrus "relief." The Brussels arrived crisp but barely room temperature. Even the mini cast iron was barely warm (we could hold the pan in the palm of our hand). We were also not provided appetizer plates so we hockey-pucked the little pan back/forth. I decided to mention the tepid appetizer and he earnestly apologized and would bring it to the kitchen's attention for future benefit, but that was it. On a bright note, we were unaware of their happy hour (4-6p) which knocked $3 off of each drink and $4 off the Brussels. After an unusually long delay our waiter returned to take our entree orders but sadly they were already out of her first choice (at 5:30p?): the super intriguing Squash Mole Pasta. She pivoted to the standard Steak Frites ($35) and I made the leap for the ($50) Short Rib. Food arrived within 10-12 minutes... but again(!) both entrees were just barely above room temp. Her steak was almost "cold." It had a good sear and the inside was her requested "medium" so the steak must have either been "rested" for too long by the cooks or by the delayed wait staff. The Short Rib was the biggest disappointment though. It is my go-to in any restaurant so I am well familiar with this cut. As the pics show, it looked pale, as if merely poached or boiled. The meat was tough whereas normally it should be fall-apart-tender. Moreover, it appears to have not (yet?) been trimmed because it ended up being about 1/3 gristle, veins, and large pieces of fat (see pic). There is no way this could have been the finished short rib... especially at $50. The bed of grits that it sat on were properly cooked, but again, just luke warm, almost cold. We were both famished and had a concert schedule to keep so we didn't mention this to our waiter, especially after the non-solution to the whole Brussels experience. We had time for dessert and had spotted the Mexican chocolate cake. At $16 for a single slice we were intrigued. After about 15 minutes we caught our waiter passing by and asked if everything was ok. His eyes briefly widened and he said he would check on dessert. He returned moments later and said they're making it. Another 10 minutes went by and I simply caught the eye of our waiter again and shrugged. Without going to the kitchen he politely repeated that they were making it. About 5 minutes later a beautifully crafted cake with the two described creme's (corn chantilly and choc mousse) arrived. The cake was warm and had a subtle crunch to the edge. In hindsight perhaps it was baking? but if that was the case you HAVE to tell your dinner guests the nature and length of the delay and/or comp them a drink or... something! 25 minutes in limbo at this level is unacceptable. The dessert itself was a mixed bag - the cake was exceptionally dry for some reason and could truly benefit from a half-cup of light olive oil in the mix. It's warmth (hopefully not by accident of circumstance) was a nice surprise and blended symbiotically with the two creme's - the corn/chantilly was excellent, almost a subtle ube flavor, but scant in quantity. The mousse was deep chocolate with just the right bitter/sweet balance... and ample to rescue the dry cake. The bill took another 15 minutes (not an issue as we had set aside 2 hours for our pre-concert dinner) but we did want to walk to the Fox (5 blocks) with time to pause here/there. The final "miss" by this newer restaurant was the bill. Though minor in comparison to the really disastrous food errors, the cake was charged as $17 (I didn't catch that until reviewing the details to write this review). Oh and bear in mind, the handheld checkout device will INCLUDE tax as part of your pre-tipping total. It is really difficult for me to give less than 4 stars and viewing my history one can see that to be verified. However, this experience was demonstrably bad, on multiple metrics, particularly given this $150 price point for two. Tucson has become a wonderfully competitive culinary hotbed in that range. As a result, there are many better options. read more

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I was really disappointed by this restaurant. Upon glancing at it online, I thought it was this was a new really nice restaurant. Had I researched it a little bit more, I would have noticed it was on fourth Ave... which isn't a dealbreaker, but it did make me a little bit skeptical about the type of restaurant it was. My husband and I chose to go to this restaurant on the day that Arizona was playing the final four game... meaning all the TVs were tuned into that game, and people were OUT downtown. They have both a patio in the front of their restaurant as well as one towards the back, which was nice since that one is a little more private. It also has TVs out there. Our server was really kind and the best part of our experience. We tried to order a few things which were all sold out that night including the tuna Crudo. We ended up getting the Elote salad and the Nex burger. Both were lack luster . The burger bun was very dry and the burger itself was reminiscent of a basic burger you might get at a free neighborhood event.. definitely NOT a burger you would pay $21 for. I expected the salad to have this a elote spin on it, including the taste. However, it was a basic salad with some corn in it. Online, this restaurant comes across as a fine dining experience. The prices are also reflective of more quality food. However, in reality that is not the experience. The experience is more like your average American food/bar college quick stop . The $88 total (before tip) that we paid did not seem to be representative of the actual food we received (a burger, a salad, and two orders of 6piece wings). read more

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We originally planned on going to Forbes Meat Company yesterday, but downtown Tucson was an absolute mess (as usual). Several roads were closed, maybe for a graduation or some other event, and parking was a nightmare. After driving around for a while, we finally ended up at NEX instead. We were planning on getting the steak frites at Forbes, so we decided to order the same thing here and do our own little comparison. NEX did not disappoint! I'm counting calories right now, so I swapped out the fries for the carrots. There was a small upcharge, but that's okay. I was expecting a pile of diced carrots, but what arrived was much more interesting. The carrots were served over a light white sauce that reminded me a little of goat cheese, but much lighter and smoother. There were roasted carrots along with what I think were crispy fried carrot shavings on top. It was a really cool dish. I'm not entirely convinced I saved any calories, but it was delicious nonetheless. My fiancée got the regular fries, and here's my recommendation: ASK FOR THEM EXTRA CRISPY. Trust me. Unless you're one of those people who doesn't like crispy fries. If that's the case, I hope our paths never cross. I was genuinely surprised by how well the steak paired with that white sauce from the carrots. It worked way better than I expected. Even the manager stopped by the table and said he was going to try that combination himself next time. As for the steak, we ordered it medium rare. Most of it was cooked perfectly, though there were a couple spots that were a little too rare for my liking. I put on my big-boy pants and powered through it, and it was still a very good steak overall. Great food, friendly staff, and a fun surprise when our original plans fell through. We'll definitely be back! We also got the POKE tostada. that was decent. read more

Nex - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Had an amuse bouche preview of Nex at SAVOR and couldn't wait for this place to open. Came here smack in the middle of the week for a "let's vent about work" dinner with the hubby. We were sat right at that front corner table, a great people-watching spot, cozy yet en vitrine. I had a delicious mezcal sour (I'm sorry purists, but it was delicious! I promise to sip the next one) to start. Because it was our first time, we decided to order 2 entrees then splitsies so we ordered the braised short ribs and the Nex burger. The short ribs were served over delicious grits and a carrot medley. The burger had sliced pork belly, a nicely toasted bun, and was cooked just as we asked. For desert I took home the olive oil cake. Loved the key ambiance, great for GNO or a birthday w/o kids. The staff was nice. Sophia took great care of us but there was that new-restaurant over hovering going on. She was checking on us then at least 2 other staff members did as well. I get it, you want to make a good impression. Sometimes a nod works, too, in case I might need something. That kind of thing usually works itself out but other than that would totally come here again. This place is spendy. $147 for 2 and only one of us had a cocktails. We did enjoy our experience but there are some professional service tips that could support the price. I hope this place does well. read more

I haven't been able to try much of their food, although the fries that we had were absolutely delicious! We did have some drinks and then visited their speakeasy bar, although we waited quite a while for that. Overall, ambience and vibes are really good, as well as food and drinks! read more

Recommend to us Guacamole and sauces made at table $12. Very good guacamole , best I have had maybe ever. Fish tacos shared -$ 10 good but better with guacamole and salsa Side of beans -$ 4 great with the guacamole and salsa Margaritas very good.$11- I restrained myself and did not add either the guacamole nor salsa. Server was Alex and very good service. read more

Food amazingy creative. Salmon perfect. Burger &fries the boom. Desert was creative and scrumptious. Cucumber drink refreshing and a must have. Service was with Conner. Great atmosphere and also a hidden gem on 4th. Can't wait to go back. read more

Excellent happy hour menu...ponme frites were crispy and roasted carrots were incredible! 10/10 would recommend, very friendly service and vibes are great read more

I stopped in with a friend for a late bite on a Thursday night after 9pm. We were graciously greeted at the door and happy to not have been rushed through the meal as the kitchen was getting to close around 9:30pm. Our server was super nice and well informed on the menu. We ordered a few different dishes to share; the sun roasted carrots, poke tostada, downtown wings with dry rub, and the tuna crudo. The standout dish was definitely the sun roasted carrots. I loved the different cuts and textures of the carrots and the yogurt sauce. I'd return for this dish. The downtown wings were also really good and seasoned just right. The tuna dishes were my least favorite, mostly because the texture of the tuna was off putting. It was little mushy. And the sauce on the poke tostada was a little pungent for my taste. I did like that the tostada was served with a side of tostada chips to share the tostada. I didn't drink any alchol on this visit but they have a decent wine list and interesting looking cocktails. I'd come back to try more dishes. They also have speakeasy bar called "afterline" inside the restaurant. Will try this next time as well! read more

Got here in time for the Late Night Menu ordered the Nex Burger and Brussels! Asked for the double patty! Filling and tasty! Ambience is great! Blasting 90s hip hop! Washed it down with an iced cold Coke Zero! read more

Nex - Nex Burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

If you go here, shoot me a text and I'll pick you up with your drinks (818) 690-5903. Yee yee yeeee

We took a chance on a new venue before going to a performance at the Rouge Theater. The menu was innovative but not over the top kitschy. The waitstaff well trained, attentive but not bothersome and our food was excellent. Will be back! read more

Chris, Amanda and Angie were amazing! We stopped by on St. Patrick's which i'm sure was busy enough and they all still provided fantastic service and were just cool in general! Chris made our group the BEST drinks ever and the atmosphere was just amazing can't wait to come back! read more

Nex - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

The bartender / waitress had an attitude . We came in with friends and she she arbitrarily put on our bill that we had a big group so therefore we got charged in nectar charge and added in the tip without asking If you won't be overcharged, go to the speakeasy. I suggest Dan don't. read more

Tuna appetizer was good but very small portion and pricey for the amount of food we received. Specialty cocktail Palomino was expensive even for the happy hour price and tasted watered down. Steak and Fritz was subpar. Very expensive for two for two drinks, one appetizer and a split meal. I felt the bill was way out of proportion. Server was nice enough, but slow service. Ambience nonexistence felt like an old warehouse that they didn't finish remodeling. We will not be returning read more

Had a great time at Nex! The food and service was great! We had their wings and the steak Frits with a really tasty and novel chimmichurri. The drinks were creative and really good. The smoked fig Manhattan or old fashion (we had it both ways). After dinner we moved to the back bar and continued with more and different cocktails. Great music but not too loud to distract from conversation Will definitely be back! read more

Every detail was meticulously crafted. It's obvious they go above and beyond! From the cocktails all the way to the desserts, we were highly impressed. Alexis was our waitress. I can't say enough about the awesome server, chef & bartender. They each deserve a shoutout. 10 out of 10! Can't wait to go back! read more

The ambiance of this place is incredible! Fun play list, lively staff, and delicious menu choices made this place a very solid choice for a late-night dinner! read more

Amazing service! The girl at the front was super kind! My server was super super kind. The food is a 10/10! The prices scared me at first, but I understand why because you get a lot for what you're getting. Big meals, amazing chef, incredible service. The space is amazing as well, always the perfect amount of natural light during the day, and such inviting ambiance at night. They also have a speakeasy in the back which was super enjoyable, the drinks are amazing and the vibe back there was so cool and classy. read more

This new spot on 4th Ave is an absolute HIT. From the second you walk in, you can feel that this place is something special. The cocktails are next-level -- creative, beautifully made, insanely good, and priced so well for the quality. Every drink feels like an experience. Easily some of the best crafted cocktails I've had in Tucson. And the food? So, so good. Everything coming out of the kitchen is packed with flavor, elevated, and clearly made by people who really know what they're doing. You can tell there's real talent back there. What really takes it over the top though is the team. Everyone is so warm, thoughtful, attentive, and genuinely caring. The service is a full 10/10 and then some. They make you feel taken care of in the best way. This is officially my new favorite place for date night, girls' night, and bringing people in from out of town. It feels fresh, exciting, and exactly what 4th Ave needed. And with the speakeasy opening on March 17? Even more reason to be obsessed. I already made my reservation today and I seriously cannot wait to go back. read more

We had a large party last night 4-8-26 at Nex! We dined outside. It was perfect for our large group celebrating a special Birthday girl! Wait did we try everything on the food & beverage menus.... Almost. Everything was scrumptious! Presentation Outstanding! Service A+! Even the owner came out to check on us TWICE! Prepare to be Astonished! THANK YOU NEX! Sincerely, Katie Mc read more

A must visit if you are in downtown Tucson for drinking and dining! They have amazing non-alcoholic cocktails and delicious appetizers. The mocktail I tried was exceptional! It was a mango hibiscus mocktail. The seating was comfortable and the staff was very warm and welcoming. read more

First time here, got the nex burger, poke tostada, and mole wings. Absolutely delicious and the service from Ryan was top notch! Definitely a Tucson must. read more

Ryan was an outstanding bartender! Friendly, attentive, and incredibly skilled at what he does. He kept the drinks flowing, made excellent recommendations, and created a fun, welcoming atmosphere the entire night. You can tell he genuinely enjoys taking care of people and making sure everyone has a great time. Great energy, great service, and amazing cocktails -- Ryan definitely made the experience memorable. Highly recommend sitting at his bar! read more

Ryan was great! Cocktails were amazing! Poke tostada is delicious. Service was great! Cool vibe!

I love this place. The staff is awesome and so accommodating. My friends and I found this place a bit ago and have been going quite a bit since. The food is really good and they have some of the best cocktails in Tucson. The front area of the restaurant is fun for chilling and hanging out, and the speakeasy is all good vibes. Definitely recommend. read more

Delicious food and the drinks oh my God fantastic! I had the steak frites and the old fashioned.

the food was fantastic and the service was great i will be going back again with my friends