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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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

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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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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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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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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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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It has a neat concept with a speakeasy like no name entrance in the basement and cool decorations around Teddy Roosevelt, which is a bit odd for folks who are downtown. The food was underwhelming and not all dishes worked. Overall, it is on the heavy and greasier side. The fried cauliflower was wonderful, rich aioli underneath. The charcuterie was unexciting The ragu pasta was decent and worth sharing The salmon was ok The iceberg wedge was not great, what a terrible idea for a horrible salad dressing instead of something classic or light and creative. It's for most who want a cool photo for expensive food, but it wasn't for people who appreciate a great meal that is based from a strong and creative chef. This bodes more of Instagram gastro pub that leaves you heavy and question if it was wor th it read more

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

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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We absolutely LOVED Rough Rider! Hubs and I went on a spur-of-the-moment Saturday date night over the summer. To our pleasant surprise, we were able to score a reservation. The only one they had available was at the raw bar which we happily accepted! Rough Rider is located in the Ten-O-One building on Roosevelt and Central. There's a sign near the elevators instructing you to take the middle elevator down to the restaurant. Once you exit the elevators, you're transported to the Victorian era. We were greeted by the hostess right away and were taken to our table shortly after. My husband and I rarely go on "official" date nights, so we decided to splurge a little. We ordered the following: Cocktails Tuna crudo Small seafood tower Smores cake Holy smokes! Everything was excellent -- from the cocktails and tuna crudo app to the seafood tower and dessert. The small seafood tower came with six oysters, six shrimp, chilled salmon dip, and a half pound Alaskan King Crab legs and knuckles. It was perfect for us to share as our "main entree," but it would also be a good starter for up to four guests. The seafood was very fresh and tasty. But the smores cake... Graham cracker blondie, chocolate, and the most perfect marshmallow whip. It's what dreams are made of! It's been five months and I still think about it. Service was great. The space was lively. We will definitely be back. Would love to dine in the main dining room by the bar next time! 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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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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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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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

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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My friends and I were exploring the bar scene in Downtown Phoenix and decided to check this spot out. There is a parking garage next to this regular looking office building, and they do validate up to 2 hours. Once you are in the building, you find the bank of elevators and take the middle elevator down to this awesome restaurant/bar. It has speakeasy vibes that I absolutely love. Reservations are recommended, but we were able to grab a seat during happy hour in this lounge area that to me seemed like the best seats in the house. On their website they say it's like traveling back in time to the 19th century and I totally agree. The name of the place sounded like a biker bar or something, but in reality, this place is really paying homage to good ole Teddy Roosevelt. There's alot of references like this in the general area. Our servers were excellent. They were attentive and never let our cocktails or waters get low without asking if we needed more. We came at the tail end of happy hour which included quite a few of their drink going for 10 bucks. That is a great deal for expertly made cocktails. I started with the Forbidden Fruit which was a vodka based drink with guava, lemon and honey. This drink was not only delicious, but it was refreshing as well. Between my friends and I, we tried a variety of things. Some were slightly too sweet, but overall, we enjoyed everything. I would totally come back if in the area. From what I saw and smelled, it looks like their food is just as good as their drinks and I definitely want to try it. read more

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The staff, ambiance, and food were amazing. It was a challenge to find this hidden gem but once found it was worth it. From the greeting upon entrance the entire wait staff was exceptional. Recommend you try this for yourself read more

I wish I would have been informed about the sushi rice. I'm not a fan of it also looks terrible and the rolls are not traditional. Just not my cup of tea. read more

Cocktails are spectacular here!! Both the Violet Hours and my husband's martini were fireworks!!! Rarely do I go to a restaurant and find myself drooling over 2 different drinks at the same time!! Both our apps, the charcuterie board and brussel sprouts were exquisite!!! Talk about flavor pop for the brussel sprouts!! I've never tasted brussel sprouts prepared with cream, but WOW!!! Gimme, gimme, gimme!!! By the time the main course arrived, I was stuffed and couldn't enjoy the bone-in pork chop. It was my least favorite dish out of everything I had that night. It was too fatty and not as lean as I usually prefer my meat. The restaurant had a very underground, cool, speak- easy vibe. Our server was awesome! Even with how high inflation is right now, he scored me a complimentary panna cotta for my bday dessert!!! And boy was it heavenly!! Looking forward to coming back and enjoying those crazy good cocktails and apps!! Oh, and make sure u take the MIDDLE elevator down to the basement after entering Teddy's Preserve!! Cheers! read more

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My husband and I were driving through the city and came across this prohibition style restaurant. You take an elevator down to the basement and make your way to an underground restaurant and bar. We made a reservation and we arrived 10 minutes before and were sat before the 10 minutes was up. The hostess with the curly hair was not very jolly but our waitress Hillary was. We were served water and our drinks right away. We ordered the small seafood tower which was $125 and the hirasama dish. For drinks I went for a glass of bubbly (comped because they did not have the one I ordered) and the "sweet nothings" cocktail which lived up to its name. My husband ordered a local IPA which he enjoyed. On the reservation we did request we were sat somewhere peaceful, and we were sat next to the main kitchen door. The "IN" "OUT" "CORNER" got a bit annoying. There was also a large amount of fruit flies down there. The shrimp was amazing, and the hirasama dish was delightfully tasty. The sweet nothings cocktail is literally just sweet nothings and it's very light. There was a very calming feel to the place even though it was packed we didn't feel rushed at all! Great music and the aesthetics were very ideal for a sexy date. The location is strange and there was a lot of homeless activity there before and after we left the restaurant. Overall great vibe, tasty fresh food that came out quickly. Hillary was great and bumbly and you could tell she enjoyed her job. 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

This was a very fun and unexpected experience: everything from navigating to the restaurant to the cocktail menu to the decor to the mixology show (sat at the bar). The service was great, the food was great, the noise level was intolerable on a Saturday night. Some ceiling acoustic dampening would be very much appreciated. We got the "Anywhere With You" cocktail, roasted chicken (mmm... crispy skin), and bone-in pork chop (if you don't like fatty bits, this isn't for you!). One might say that those two entrees are difficult to get right but it was amazing -- flavor, texture, doneness, juiciness. I've recommended this place to friends. If it weren't for the noise level, I would emphatically declare that "I'll definitely be back!" read more

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Amazing speakeasy! The Saint of Santiago & Potion Seller cocktails were perfectly balanced. Delicious, thick-cut hamachi crudo. Smoky Old Fashioneds were pricey but incredibly tasty & smooth. Highly recommend! read more

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

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 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

Wonderful service and fantastic atmosphere! Philip and Olivia were wonderful staff and made the experience 10/10. Really appreciated there being both a vegan dinner option and a vegan dessert option. Only down side was having to wait 15 minutes past our reservation to be seated. read more

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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

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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ambience was great! food was great! drinks were great! service was "meh" Server Pop was mediocre! did bare minimum and even when asked for another drink told us, "i'm off, you'll have to ask another server, can you cash out" upscale place yet service was "expected tip" We tipped $100.00 and it was the example of "tip expected" service! sad but need improvement regarding service.... read more

Fun place! A bit hard to find as it's in the basement of a build that you have to enter through an alley. Once you get down there you are transported into another world. The decor is awesome. The bar looks really cool. They have a solid cocktail program with sophisticated ingredients. Some are reasonable and some are a bit spendy but nice. Their take on a smoked old fashioned is legit. However, venture off of the usual cocktails and try some of the others as they are very complex and tasty. For appetizers, we had the potatoes and artichokes. They were quite tasty and the more you ate and things mixed together the better it was. We split a caesar salad. It's pretty large. I didn't love it. It didn't have much of a dressing component but it was alright. Then we split a ribeye. It's 16 ounces so there is plenty to split. read more

The pasta was the best pasta I've ever had!!!! When the waitress said it's made with love...she really really really meant it. I'm from out of town and want to come back to visit just because of the pasta! The Goat Milk Panna Cotta was soooooo good too!!!!! Pork Chop was great. Plus I love a good theme! It was so neat! read more

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came here to grab some drinks, and had a great experience! definitely on the pricier side, and i don't love that you can't substitute any ingredients on the drinks menu, but i did really enjoy the drinks that i tried. i think the ambiance inside the restaurant is nice, and we were able to walk in and get seated immediately on a thursday night. the service was great, and we had a very pleasant evening. i would come back to try some of the food for sure! read more

Fine dining prices with mediocre service at best. The food was OK. The saving grace of the experience. We had a party of 6 with a reserved table. Drinks were $20, entrées were $50-$100. We waited about 45 minutes from when ready before being able to order an appetizer and get a second round of drinks. Throughout the meal, routine requests took 20-30 minutes despite being simple. The server was at-least knowledgeable despite the faked hospitality. It seemed to me the chef in the back was able to pump out dishes very quickly, only minutes after an order came in. It's just unfortunate that our server was pacing so poorly. As the meal continued my mood progressively got worse. An undisclosed automatic gratuity was added, which made the poor service especially frustrating. I had a theory our server simply didn't care to service our table because she already knew she would collect an automatic gratuity. read more