The entire process in getting to the venue is interesting because it's in the basement of a building but the food, drinks & ambiance makes it all worthwhile. Are the prices for the food & drinks a little high, sure but the quality and variety of spirits and the portions of favorable dishes will validate the rates. read more

One of the best restaurants I've been to! The decor and ambience is exquisite. My server, Hilary, was ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! Before I would even think to ask for more water she was already pouring. The bartender made me a custom cream soda which was sooo good. Could not recommend this place enough!!! read more

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Horrible, Bewildering experience. Frankly awaiting an apology.....This evening I took my husband for his 50th Birthday. We requested to sit at the bar and were happy to go as we had not been in quite some time and were to attend a show immediately after dinner. Oddly, after depositing water and menus no staff interacted with us for 10 or 15 minutes. Then a woman approached and asked us to leave immediately. We thought it was a joke -seriously. She said the female bartenders had "complained" about us at some visit sometime months (a year?) ago, which was strange. We thought they must have us confused with someone else. I asked for the manager because the woman refused to give any details about the complaint or the timeframe of the alleged infraction. She told me she was the owner and was "protecting her female staff...." I asked from what? She refused to answer. She insisted however that we leave. Now. My husband is diagnosed Aspergers (high functioning autism) and I told her that as sometimes his behavior is different than others. I asked that we be accomodated and seated at a table away from the bar. Nope. She refused us service without explaination and with a rude, indignant attitude. I would like to know 1. What on Earth is she talking about? 2. When did this alleged thing happen, and to whom and by whom? and 3. Why wasn't it discussed at time of occurence and/or why were we not contacted by phone or email in a timely manner if it was a situation??? We are terribly disappointed and upset by the actions of Kyla Hein last evening, and believe we deserve an explaination, especially since we have taken many friends, family & colleagues to this place over the years. I always drive, so I am careful about consumption and my husband has never been there without me, and we have never been asked to leave, never been "cut off", never been told there was any issue at all. And we dine out all over the metro at high end places consistently and have never had any issues anywhere else! So obviously our impression of the restaurant (and the entire hospitality group) is severly tarnished, and we will share that and will refer all business that we had been referring....elsewhere. Having been an owner/operator myself of high volume venues in two different states I can tell you Ms. Hein's customer interaction tonight gets an F - . We had never seen this woman in our lives! I hope management reviews internal practices as this type interaction carries, at some point, liability. Staff probably need better training & policies in place when working in a place of public accomodation. Just WOW (and not in a good way). Hope you are not the next boogeyman! read more

The speakeasy vibe is awesome. When here for my 21st and it was a great experience. Drinks are great and the appetizers were good! read more

Rough Rider - Lemon drop martini - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Went for Birthday dinner with my husband and could not have been happier with the pick. We did have a reservation which I'd say is a good idea. We had no issues finding like others mentioned however parking was crazy $40 (we did go on first Fridays so that's that!) The service was personalized and fantastic. Inside was cozy and dark woods with a cool vibe. Food was delish! The smoked salmon was a cold dip and good salmon flavor. The duck breast was cooked to perfection and the grits were equally as good. My husband had Pork Chop and was impressed how well it was cooked. We were too full for dessert but the cocktails were tasty! read more

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If I could give this place 6 stars, I would! I read reviews prior to coming here and noticed so many people raved about the food. I was skeptical because could that many people really love the food THAT much? I kept my expectations in check so that I wouldn't be disappointed, but OH MY GOSH, everyone was right! The food is AMAZING!! My husband and I like EVERYTHING that we got. We got the: - Fried Cauliflower: my husband said this was a 10/10 - Baked Crab Dip: warm and comforting - Seasonal Fish: The fish was trout at the time and was very similar to salmon. I loved it! And the spinach Florentine sauce was so good. - Bone-In Pork Chop: My husband finished the whole plate. Super tender pork and the apple slaw was very refreshing. I've been recommending this place to everyone since we went. The food is incredible, the atmosphere is so cool (love that you specifically have to take the middle elevator down), and we had such a great time here. I can't wait to come back here again! read more

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As the self-appointed king of speakeasies, it is my duty to share another review about, well, you guessed it, a speakeasy. I had the pleasure of checking out Rough Rider on a Wednesday evening for dinner. Located in Roosevelt Row, I parked on the street for free. I didn't do a lot of research on how to find the speakeasy, but it ended up being a fun scavenger hunt of sorts. Ambiance (5/5): I'm a stickler for a speakeasy being a true speakeasy...meaning it should be hidden. As you walk down the street, there's a graphic on the wall instructing you to keep walking and enter the building through the side door. Once inside, by the elevator, there's a sign telling you to take the middle elevator down to the basement. Once you do, you'll arrive at the speakeasy. Upon entering, I was immediately impressed with the old school, classic charm of Rough Rider. The speakeasy is Teddy Roosevelt-themed, who's nickname was Rough Rider. You'll see various decor with his face on it, he has a cocktail named after him, etc. I sat at a nice booth. The speakeasy is also larger than I expected, so there are a good number of seats. Service (4.5/5): Our waiter was friendly and gave helpful suggestions. My only complaint? He could have stopped by a little more frequently. Outside of that, an excellent service experience. Food (5/5): I judge speakeasies by their drinks, but I was here for dinner, too. The menu features shareable small plates, seafood, and a small list of entrees. I outdid myself and went with one cocktail shrimp, which is served on ice with your classic dipping sauce. From there, I had the crab dib which features crab, celery, onions, and scallions. It's served with Noble bread. And finally, the duck confit, served with a root puree and blackberries. Delicious all-around. The crab dip was served warm in a skillet. The bread was fresh and crispy. With the crab dip smeared on top, it was a great starter. Crab is one of my favorite seafoods, so no surprise there. I also don't often pass on an opportunity to have duck. While not a large portion size, the duck drumstick had a crispy skin interior and succulent gamey interior. The sweetness of the blackberries complimented the duck perfectly. I was also excited to try a root puree for the first time which had a slight taste of oysters. Very cool. Drinks (5/5): Now to the good stuff. Speakeasies are known for elevated cocktails. Which is certainly what you'll find here. The drink menu is split up into five sections. Since I had to catch them all, I had a drink from each category. These included the Hello, Mr. President (served with a champagne side car), a cocktail that incorporated fresh jam, a tiki-style cocktail, and more. Each and every cocktail was unique and well made. The presentation was nice, though not over the top. I enjoyed each one, and the differences between them all. Rough Rider is an awesome experience, but it won't come cheap. You're going to pay a premium, but the food and drinks are quality. I think it's safe to say that this speakeasy is one of my top 5 favorite (probably top 3) that I have experienced in Phoenix so far. read more

This is a in the basement speakeasy. We made reservations for 10 PM. The atmosphere was low lighting, almost like a romantic late night vibe . we ordered the salmon dip which I really enjoyed but my friends didn't , they enjoyed the crab dip which was warm. The salmon dip was more like package tuna when you mix mayo on it. I did not enjoy the crab dip. I got the chicken breast, which just came in a white sauce with artichokes inside that was tasty as the sauce was creamy, but I was not blown out the water by it. My drink of choice was not very impressive as well. This will be a place that I may have to give another try and try some other things on the menu read more

Rough Rider - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

So Good!! Our server was fantastic even though it was a busy time we never were left wondering where she was or waiting on her. Ordered a couple appetizers for the table and their craft cocktail selection was extensive. Everyone was able to find something they wanted without it being overly sweet read more

Rough Rider - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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This was our first time coming to rough rider and it was everything we were expecting and more. When we arrived we got into the elevator to the basement and were transported back in time. The speakeasy was so cool, and we came for happy hour so we got some of their drinks and a charcuterie board. The service was amazing, and the server made sure to give us great recommendations when struggling to choose. read more

Rough Rider - Charcuterie board - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Once again, fantastic experience. Perfect place to relax with friends and have a good meal in this summer heat. It's dimly lit and nice and cool. The decor is exquisite, and there are plenty of seating options. We were greeted & seated right away; and they take reservations through Open Table. The service was great, Pop F. was very friendly and attentive. The food is so delicious, a great combination of decadence and comfort. Don't sleep on the chicken entree... it literally is divine. The crab dip is delicious, but the cauliflower app and the roasted potatoes with crispy artichokes are top notch. They absolutely need to improve their dessert menu. The selections aren't great, but also not why I go there. The food is prepared well, seasoned perfectly, and definitely gets you to come back. I have been here 4 or 5 times in the last year, and it is always good. Seriously, try the chicken entree, you will thank me later. And RR... please never take this off the menu, it is TOO GOOD! So comforting like a warm hug from grandma, and so delicious. read more

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Amazing good!! So much flavor. The oyster mignonette is green apple and challots. Absolutely amazing and unique flavor mixes. Excellent spice combination. Favorable, amazing pasta, basil...if you love pasta like I do....this is heaven!!! Excellent service from a very attentive wait staff. Friendly and accommodating. Took out a group of 5 for a customer dinner. My only negative comment is the place is so loud. I couldn't even hear the person sitting next to me. I wouldn't recommend it for clients. Take your loud and crazy friends instead!!! Highly recommend for the good!! Great Chef!!! read more

Rough Rider - Oysters from Maine. The apple challots mignonette is unbelievable!!! Oysters were PERFECT!!! - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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This is the perfect spot for a date night!! You take the elevator down in the ten-o-one building and you will be instantly impressed. The servers are extremely friendly and give great suggestions! We both enjoyed our cocktails and the crab dip is out of this world! Seriously if you get one thing only it has to be that! I will continue to come back this place is great :) read more

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I absolutely adore coming to Rough Rider. From the moment you take the center elevator down, it transports you to another time. If you're looking for a more upscale girls night, date night or boujee dinner please don't skip Rough Rider! The food is absolutely phenomenal, the drinks are not loaded with sugar but packed with flavors, and the servers will always give you the best suggestions! They are attentive and know their menu! read more

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This place has such a legit setup. Very historical. Service was ok. Our server disappeared after our first drink and bartender took care of 2nd drink. Our group found drinks a little sweet. Very unique menu. Not disappointed with anything we tried. Definitely recommend checking it out read more

Food was good. Service was great. Noisey, not condusive to a romantic dinner. Woman at the bar was so loud, we couldn't really talk. It's beautiful restaurant but the drinks are loaded with ice so it's not really worth buying cocktails. We won't be going back. read more

Several of my Ladi friends and I decided to go out and have dinner while our husbands were at a fraternity meeting. I chose this place because I have been wanting to come here for a long time. Let me begin by saying that the ambience is wonderful. It's kind of hard to find. You have to use the middle elevator in a tall building in order to go down into the basement and go to the restaurant. The service was wonderful. But now let's talk about the food and some of the mishaps. We ordered the muscles and the crab dip for appetizers. Both of those were good. However, it's where the wheels fell off for the entrées. I had the duck breast over grits. The grits were not hot and the duck was just OK. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. But I was a little disappointed that my grits were cold along with the greens that were served with the dish. Two of my girlfriends order the salmon. I don't know if the chef accidentally spilled a lot of salt into the dish or if it was on purpose. Either way it was way too salty and in not edible. We sent it back and they graciously gave us two more dishes. But when I tell you that it was overly salty, it was overly salty. I cook a lot and I like salt, but I couldn't even eat that because it was entirely too salty. I'm willing to give it another try. I just definitely will not get the duck again. The drinks were very good though! And the decor is amazing. read more

Rough Rider - Pork chop - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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One of our absolute favorites. We often bring family here when they come into town for the experience. The vibe of the place is so fun. It's set in the late 19th and the decor is right on point. The last time we went we got to sit at the bar which definitely gave a different view of the place too, we loved it. The service was great from the host to our waitress. We got great drink recommendations and our sober family member requested a mocktail that the bartender curated perfectly! The staff was attentive and we never felt forgotten. Food and drinks came out quickly. We didn't have much hopes for the food being anything too amazing since it's a cocktail bar but boy were we wrong. The charcuterie board was what's expected of one for the most part but the potatoes and artichokes were so delicious! The chicken was probably one of the best chicken dishes I've had since moving out here. The meat was juicy, tender and you didn't even need a knife to cut it. The s'mores cake was delicious and not too sweet. And we loved that they had a vegan dessert option for our guest with a dairy allergy. We will definitely continue to come back. read more

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This place is so cool. Tucked in the basement. Things come alive once the elevator doors open. We didn't have a reservation and they seated us at the bar. Looked like they had plenty of open tables. Food was creative and on point. Cocktails were intricate and were a cornucopia of flavor. Make sure to visit this place when in the area. read more

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Finally made plans and secured reservations to do a double date on a Saturday night and it was a swinging pendulum with the food & drinks... The ambiance, vibe, and staff are definitely top-notch here. If you don't know you gotta enter via the elevator going downstairs to access the restaurant. We were quickly seated and glazed over the menu trying to find the ideal cocktail to keep the night moving. Is it pricey, yes, so like any place you expect the best with food, drinks, and service. The mishaps for our night overshadowed the goodness. The best dish we had was the crab dip and cauliflower everything about the flavors & the sear on the food was just perfect. For dinner, I went with the ribeye steak cooked medium. The sear was great however, the piece of meat I had was extremely fatty so as I was cutting through it seemed like every piece had unwanted fat on it. Fat is key, but this was a bit too much as it was overpowering the steak. The Meatballs that were shared were good but didn't really stand out to be as stellar as they were sold. The one item everyone talks about is the Bone in Pork Chop so my buddy got that and I managed to have a few bites. Most importantly with the pork chop, gotta eat it immediately when it comes out as it got super tough towards the end. This place definitely met expectations from the Vibe & experience. Not all the food was stellar and missed the mark as far as expectations. Similar thing happened with my cocktail, as we ended up sending two cocktails back that night. One was extremely tart and nonalcoholic while the other was very strong and sat like cough syrup. I do appreciate our server Taylor as she was engaging, fun, and knew how to help us make pics from food to drinks. Looking forward to returning to try more food & drinks & hoping for less issues. read more

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The old fashion was amazing. Our server was awesome great attitude easy going. Great place to drink and chat. read more

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This place is really cool. Reservations recommended (maybe required?). It really gives speakeasy vibes, especially since it's underground and you take an elevator to get there! Staff were all very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. I think Andrew took care of us and he was great! We only ordered drinks, but food looked and smelled incredible! We tried three different drinks. The Don't Harsh My Mallow was my favorite!! The Port to Port was great, the bourbon and port were balanced perfectly. Infinite Playlist (happy hour menu) was so refreshing and delicious. read more

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Great speakeasy, the place has that probation feel to it. The drinks were well crafted the charcuterie board was done very well. Now our server was amazing she offered great recommendations and they hit perfect. read more

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First time visiting and will be back! Chris was our server and was very sweet and helpful as we navigated the cocktail menu which was fun and tasty. As recommended by others get the fried cauliflower and my husband enjoyed the pork chop served cut away from the bone. I had the blackened duck breast which was cooked medium and delicious! read more

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I came here in NYE 2022 and made a reservation and my party was put on a bar stood by the seafood. We were incredibly disappointed and frustrated but I liked the vibes so I wanted to try it again. For NYE 2024 my boyfriend and I came and we made reservations over the phone in November. I wasn't given an option about seating and when we got there there wasn't a table and we got seated at the bar. We were super frustrated because we had been planning this and it was not what we wanted. Along with that my boyfriend got stuck in the elevator. The only thing that saved the day was the bartender Brandon. He was so kind and considerate and just made us feel seen through the frustration and I cannot thank him enough. I hope he gets to see this review. He was so kind to get us complimentary drinks and was so attentive throughout the night. The food was almost pretty amazing. We shared the roast chicken and the meat and cheese board and it was incredible. So thank you Brandon for saving NYE. read more

Rough Rider - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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NOT a speakeasy IMO but still a great atmosphere with a great cocktail menu. Alive but not too busy (here on a Friday night). I can't attest to the food as we only ordered drinks. Prices are high, but reasonable considering the concept. read more

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My friend and I were so overjoyed to see the selection of spirits and liquors on the wall. We sat at the bar which was beautiful and spacious. We ate the Lamb Ragout with Pappardelle for our entree and the potatoes and artichokes for our side. Both were phenomenal. There was a variety of oysters to choose from which we took advantage of. Also, the cocktails were equally delicious. The bartenders were knowledgeable and friendly. We can't wait to come back to try more menu items. read more

Rough Rider - Chartreuse Green V.E.P - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I went with a friend who wanted to check out this underground restaurant, and I'm so glad we did! The place is absolutely beautiful, and the food was delicious from start to finish. Such a unique experience--I'd definitely come back again. read more

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Of course we had some trouble finding the entrance. I like what they did to the place. Ambience is 5/5. We didn't have a reservation so we sat at the bar. Oysters were fresh and delicious. Wife got a steak and I got the fish. Both were phenomenal. Food 5/5 Bartenders made us feel welcome and very hard working. Service 5/5 At these prices I expect 5/5 for everything and that's what we got. I highly recommend you give RR a shot. read more

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Parking was difficult to find and deal with. The music was so loud you couldn't have a conversation without yelling. The speakeasy theme was more hipster than anything. The food was inconsistent. We both had the duck - one was good, the other was completely burnt on the outside and raw on the inside. Soda comes in a can and there's no refills. Service was barely okay, the server seemed annoyed. The bartenders spent most of their time standing together chatting. The prices are way too high for what you get. read more

Rough Rider - The duck was too burnt and bitter on the outside and too raw on the inside. - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

We sat at the bar and ordered drinks and the crab dip. Everything was delicious! I enjoyed the artistry and speed of the bartenders! Will definitely return! Please note it was difficult to find! Just remember second elevator then basement! read more

I know some will be upset with the rating of three stars. We came in from my daughter's birthday. The atmosphere is nice love the decor. Our server was excellent and was good at recommending drinks. The food we ordered was average. My biggest complaint about the rough Rider is that it smells, moldy and mildewy. By the time we left, I had a headache. I could only be explained by the mold. read more

This place is great. It's like a sophisticated bar. You can definitely dress up or down depending on your mood and or occasion. I recommend making a reservation especially on the weekends as it can get pretty crowded. They have two bar areas with seating and then their main dining room. I've sat at all of them and you can't go wrong. The service is great especially at the bar. The bartenders are pretty cool and knowledgeable. The food is great. I haven't had anything that I didn't like here and the servers always make some great recommendations. Definitely a place to check out for a fun night out! read more

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This place is proof that if you come up with an interesting theme and dark lighting, you can fool the suckers. The drinks are overpriced. The food, especially the entrees, are bad. Somehow they managed to mess up a Caesar salad (bland) and chicken (dry and gross.) But people keep coming here because you take a cool elevator and it's dark enough that you can't really see the menu. Good for them. read more

Food was tasty and presentable. The drinks we exactly how they described and tasty with just the right amount of sweetness when needed nothing overpowering besides the presentation. Service was amazing our waitress was super quick and sweet very personable. The ambiance was spot on we dressed for the occasion. We would definitely go back considering we came from California to try it out. read more

Rough Rider - Mussels - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I came here because I'm a fan of Theodore Roosevelt. I was not disappointed with the food or decor. It'd be very easy to have made the theming super cliche, but the detail put into the choice of books, wall art, and drink names shows some care. I had a late lunch and wasn;t up to eat, but I wish I had been. The menu looked great. My two different drinks were delicious. There was a ton of variety. The bartender was sweet and helpful, and the feel of the place was perfect. I wish I was a local and could visit more. read more

We had never been there before and were sat like naughty kids in the corner facing a wall (raw bar).. we made the best of it. Waitress was a little abrasive but on the ball. It was definitely poppin for a Friday night and the basement vibe is pretty cool. We didn't get to see the main part of the restaurant but it was nice. We ordered drinks (AMAZING)!! We shared oysters (both east coast options were phenomenal), then there was everything else... ordered a Caesar salad, roasted potatoes & artichokes, and the ragu... The salad lettuce was old and soggy.. The ragu was SO spicy and was not exactly expecting that.. and the potatoes and artichoke.. what to say about that.. the artichokes tasted like burnt Brussels sprouts which was odd and the potatoes were just okay.. surprisingly they're cooked in what seems like the same way and yet grossly different. We definitely will try this again cause so many people have raved to us about it. Maybe next time with friends while not staring at a wall and definitely with trying other options read more

Rough Rider - Potatoes & Artichokes, Caesar Salad & Ragu.. - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Would you like to get tipsy and enjoy 10/10 appetizers on a date night? Then this is the spot. Ambiance?? Yes. Strong drinks? Hell yes. Delicious food? Absolutely yes. We had the crab dip, artichoke & potato appetizer, and the ribeye dinner and had an amazing evening with delicious food. Our waitress was perfection. 10/10 will be back. read more

Rough Rider - Martini - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Rough rider nailed it last night ! Some of the highest quality food I have had in a long time. Highly recommend the baked crab dip! However all the food we had was amazing and had fantastic flavors. The ambience sells it self with a unique location and great theme through out the restaurant. I felt like we went back to the 60s for sure. Lastly the service could have not been any better! Ten out of ten recommendation for a fancy date night or special occasion. read more

Rough Rider - Ribeye and Duck breast special - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

This was a very spur of the moment visit. We didn't initially plan to come but we were in the area and I have had this saved on my lists for a while now so we decided to check it out. It was a Sunday night around 6 PM and we were able to sit directly at the bar without a wait. The bartenders were extremely friendly, helpful, knowledgeable. The ambience was phenomenal, the lighting is very nice, the decor is time accurate. We definitely plan to come back and try their food selection. All we came for this time was drinks. The drink menu was extensive and creative. The bartenders were very helpful answering questions about any drinks. Pricing was very fair and drinks were very strong. read more

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