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    Thirsty Lion - Desert Ridge

    4.2 (1k reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    THIRSTY LION - DESERT RIDGE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials

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    Becca W.

    We weren't very hungry but wanted something to snack on along with a good cocktail. We found Thirsty Lion on Yelp and decided to give it a try. When we walked in, the host asked if we had a reservation. We said no, and he grabbed a menu and led us to our table. Unfortunately, he didn't smile or show much expression during the interaction, which didn't make us feel very welcome. Our server was okay, a bit friendlier than the host, but still not particularly warm or engaging. I ordered the Cucumber Rosemary Gin & Tonic. I could taste the cucumber, but there was no hint of rosemary. It was also loaded with ice and seemed light on the alcohol, definitely not worth the price. My husband ordered the 20oz Mother Road Tower Station, which was just okay. For food, we ordered the fries, artichoke dip, baked soft pretzel, grilled burger sliders, chicken tenderloins, and the pear & prosciutto flatbread. The fries were overly salty and tasted like they had been cooked in reused oil. The color of the fries gave it away. The pretzel wasn't very soft, which was disappointing. The rest of the food was decent, but nothing really stood out. Oh well, we gave it a try, but unfortunately, we won't be back.

    Spicy chicken sliders... not spicy
    Darci Y.

    First time eating here! Took a little bit to get seated, but once hostess showed up, we were seated immediately. The food had great flavor, was cooked well and nothing was left! We came at 8:30 so there weren't many patrons. We got the Tuscano Chicken which had amazing flavor. Even the veggies were delightful! It does have a slight kick to it. The kids food was cooked well and they finished it all. The fish and chips were also quite good. The fish was cooked well and wasnt too dry. The only downside is the kids juice is quite small and there are no refills... other than that, everything was really good. I would come again! I would come again!

    Smoked turkey club
    Elsie M.

    A friend suggested this place for a late lunch/early dinner recently before heading out to an event. Since we had an event to go to after, I decided to order a "safe" option and went with the smoked turkey club with a side of fries. The sandwich was delicious, had a nice balance of flavors and textures, and was satisfyingly filling. The fries were unfortunately overly salty. Overall, service was friendly and attentive from start to finish. For the quality and quantity of the food, I would say the prices are reasonable.

    Miso Mizo Glazed Teriyaki Chicken Bowl
    Debbi P.

    Great vibes and always so accommodating for large parties!!! New summer menu items added and they are so delicious!!! Got the teriyaki miso chicken bowl and it was amazing!! Everything on it was so fresh and flavorable!!!! Met a large group of friends for lunch and Maggie B was the best waitress!! Handled our entire group so beautifully. Went off without a hitch and everyone loved their meal!!

    Green Chili Chicken & Avocado Sandwich gluten free
    Jorey C.

    Pretty standard experience, only came here because Backyard was an hour wait and we wanted to watch March Madness. While there are TVs playing sports, most people are not there to watch the game and there was no camaraderie in cheering on any team. And this was to determine the final four!! I appreciate a separate gluten free menu. Not too much piqued my interest but I went with the green chili chicken sandwich with fries. It was a standard sandwich, the chicken itself was okay, I liked the crunchy slaw that offered good contrast with the creamy chipotle aioli and avocado. I dipped it in ranch and that upped the flavor even more. The gluten free bun was pretty good, a little crumbly and dry but better than some other gf buns I've had. The fries were seasoned well - very peppery - but were inconsistent in terms of some being crunchy and more being soggy. Overall, it wasn't a bad sandwich by any means, good but wouldn't come back for it again. My boyfriend got the fried chicken mac and cheese and enjoyed it but it was pretty small for the price. Again the restaurant served its purpose and we still had a good evening but wouldn't necessarily go back. Comfy chairs, pretty good service.

    Laura M.

    We stopped into Thirsty Lion Gastropub for a quick bite on our way home from an event, and it ended up being the perfect choice. It was after 9pm on a weekday, and as usual, most places in Desert Ridge Marketplace were already closed. We knew Thirsty Lion would still be open, which made it an easy decision. We grabbed seats at the bar and ordered from their reverse happy hour menu. We had the artichoke spinach dip and the salmon cakes, and both were great. Just what we were looking for as it was late and we needed a little something. The bartender was also very friendly. Overall, a great late-night option with good food and a welcoming atmosphere.

    Eggs Benedict
    Andrea H.

    This restaurant is located in the Desert Ridge shopping area in the north of Phoenix. I met a friend here on a Saturday at noon. I expected the place to be crowded, so I reserved a spot using Open Table online the night before. We didn't need it though. My friend arrived early and got a table without the reservation or a wait. The booths here are really long. It will seat a large group easily. If your midsection is growing, you might find it a bit tight to get in and out. It's a good reminder to choose something healthier and eat perhaps a little less. They have a special weekend brunch menu with breakfast items and cocktails. You can also get lunch and mocktails too. They cater to all tastes. I opted for the traditional Eggs Benedict. It was done perfectly. My friend had the BBQ burger - her favorite. Our waitress was very laidback, despite her very mellow demeanor, she was timely in her delivery of our meal and refills of drinks. She was even prepared with "to go" boxes and "to go" iced tea when we finished with our meal. My friend and I ended up hanging out for several hours chatting, but the waitress didn't disturb or rush us. I would certainly be willing to return to this restaurant because the food and ambience were both of a decent standard.

    Jules F.

    We absolutely love this place and it continues to impress every time we visit. The drinks, food, and service are all excellent, and everything tastes incredibly fresh. You can truly tell this is a scratch kitchen, which makes a huge difference in both quality and flavor. There really is not a bad choice on the menu, and everything we have tried has been consistently delicious. We started with the pickle fries and the wrapped shrimp as appetizers, and both were fantastic. The pickle fries were crispy and flavorful, and the wrapped shrimp were perfectly cooked and full of flavor. For our main course, we ordered the ribeye with grilled shrimp, and it was outstanding. The steak was cooked perfectly and paired beautifully with the shrimp. Our sides of jasmine rice and vegetables complemented the ribeye really well and rounded out the meal nicely. We also ordered the sausage mac and cheese, which was beyond delicious and easily one of the highlights of the meal. The atmosphere is welcoming and family friendly, making it a great spot for any occasion. At the same time, it is also a great place to sit at the bar, enjoy a drink, and watch a game. This restaurant truly offers something for everyone, and we will absolutely continue coming back and recommending it to others.

    Seared ahi salad
    Todd P.

    We stopped in on Black Friday weekend Sunday night. When we walked in at 4:30, we were one of three people at the bar. And the restaurant was mostly empty as well. We came for happy hour and started with a couple of beers. After a bit, we ordered queso and chips. Surprisingly, we had more queso than we had chips. After a bit, we ordered chicken tenders and the seared ahi salad. Both were very good. The salad featured lots of ahi tuna with a flavorful dressing. Both bartenders were very, very friendly and we enjoyed our time there.

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    15 days ago

    Tatum was amazing! Friendly, attentive, and the pear martini recommendation was spot on. Great service from start to finish!

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    2 days ago

    When you can count the fries when you order fish n chips .......... Not good too much coleslaw more fries needed

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    11 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Food is amazing! Service by Kim is superb!!! Sad we don't have this in California, but will definitely be back!!!

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    Page 1 of 27

    Thirsty Lion - Desert Ridge Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Thirsty Lion - Desert Ridge

    Was the Thirsty Lion once located at the Scottdale Fashion Square?

    Yes it was

    Dog friendly patio?

    Yes

    Is this good for teenage children?

    Yes. Family fruendly

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Twenty6

    Twenty6

    4.3
    (35 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Came here for a little staycation with my family and decided we didn't wanna leave the hotel so we…read morepicked 26 for dinner. I'm gonna give three stars because the service was great at the bar and the server was attentive outside and quick although she didn't know the menu well. I ordered the cheese plate to split with my children and no one knew what was on it when I asked, but I was later informed that I got a tomato jelly and honey mustard as the sauces. To me a $30 cheese plate would not come with a container of honey mustard so I was not impressed. When I asked what cheeses were on it they told me there was 2 different cheddars. There was no way it was a cheddar it was a very soft cheese. I believe it was a goat cheese. The almonds were probably the best part of the whole platter. My husband got wings, which were very big. He enjoyed those and the sauce, and my other daughter got meatballs, which she enjoyed, but thought they were a little spicy, I find that usually when kids order things that are spicy servers will say just so you know that has a little bit of heat to it to which the waitress did not again, I don't think she was very knowledgeable on the menu in general . For the type of hotel twenty6 was kinda of major let down. Definitely will pass on the next visit.

    Nana had the kids, so we stepped out for an after work cocktail date night. Twenty6 lounge is the…read morebar in the lower lobby of @jwdesertridge and is a casual spot for resort guests, or a couple on a mini date night. We each enjoyed a couple of drinks while chatting about life. Sitting at the bar was quick service and quiet, but you can also relax in a plush patio chair out in the courtyard. Next time, we will plan better and be sure to play some arcade games in the new space before it closes at 9!

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    Star 78 Speakeasy

    Star 78 Speakeasy

    4.0
    (22 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    I was searching for a nice speakeasy/cocktail bar to get after dinner drinks for my friend's…read morebirthday and found Star 78. It was easy making a reservation. There is parking on the street or in the lot. We weren't familiar with the area so it was a bit tricky to find. It is located in the back of a coffee shop. The concept of going through the phone booth is fun. The space inside was quaint and intimate. They have a regular menu and then had a special Valentine's Day menu. I got a nice fruity cocktail that was sweet. I enjoyed it. Everything was reasonably priced. All of our drinks were pretty glittery, it made everything really pretty. My friend got a free glass of prosecco for her birthday which was nice. A good speakeasy to visit. Menu has good variety. Service was great, they ran through the menu with us and was attentive.

    Came here for a friends birthday celebration. I remember when this space was called Gin n Reel, it…read morestill has the same vibe inside but it's been turned into a speakeasy and now serves food. The price for the murder mystery was $55 which was very reasonably priced and the drinks were tasty. I did the cipher which they bring out pen and paper and you fill out how adventurous you're feeling and they will custom make you a drink. The murder mystery experience was so interactive and so much fun! If I'm honest I'd pay just for the murder mystery but the food options weren't great in flavor. The appetizer (bacon wrapped dates) only came with two small ones, and the fig app was even smaller they looked the size of peanut size m&m's. The main dishes were also not great, the skewers were lacking in flavor and the polenta had a weird texture. The tri tip just came out without any ask to cooking temp and was overcooked (well done). The dessert was probably the best tasting of the meal and it was nothing to write home about. Overall I would go out for the murder mystery but maybe hold out for a better menu.

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    Bacon wrapped dates
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    Espresso martini

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    Espresso martini
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    3.8
    (137 reviews)
    3.4 mi

    I've been here multiple times. It's my go-to happy hour spot when friends come to town to have an…read moreelegant night but also not break the bank (at least for happy hour) Stunning interior and friendly service. I haven't had a drink I haven't liked, you can't go wrong with any of them. The 50 first dates has become my favorite, however. For food, the milk bread is a delicious starter. The chicken tenders are also amazing. Can't wait to go back!

    Was excited to try this place out as it seemed super cool on social media. We were a party of 3 and…read morearrived right on time for our Sunday night reservation. We made our way down the stairs and the hostess was there ready to check us in. We didn't wait at all and got seated right away. Once seated it took a while for the server to come take our order. There was live music going on which kept us entertained for the time being. After about 15 minutes, she finally came over to greet us and take our drink orders. We ordered: 1 WILD STRAWBABY - Ocho Blanco Tequila, Bergamot, Strawberry, Pineapple, Lemon, Almond Milk $22 1 50 FIRST DATES - Bumbu Rum, Cascara, Brown Sugar Date Syrup, Coconut Milk, Cinnamon Sprinkle $22 1 BLUEBERRY MULE - Blueberry, Lime, Ginger Beer $13 The drinks didn't take too long and another bartender dropped them off. Water was never offered to us and was only given to us after we asked. All the other tables were given water once they were seated. Our drinks were good but we chose to just have one each and we left. The live music was great. The musician was playing the piano and kept it fun and upbeat. The inside is pretty cool and unique but service could've definitely been better though. *There's a $10 cover fee per person when there is live music*

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    Thirsty Lion - Desert Ridge - tradamerican - Updated August 2026

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