Culinary Dropout

Lunch here was good! I shared the prime rib beef dip and the pub burger with a friend. The pub burger was the standout, really good flavor, however we asked for medium doneness and it was very rare. The prime rib beef dip did not disappoint either. Nice garlicky note to it and bread was perfectly toasted. The fries were pretty much your regular fries.
Ambiance is trendy with extremely vaulted ceilings and a large open floor plan. I noticed that the built in bench needed some repair as some of the buttons have come off. It’s pretty dark inside so facing the bright windows will backlight your friends and hurt your eyes, my friend moved seats because it was bothering his eyes so much.

Yummy the vodka, ginger, lime mule is the bomb! I had the seared tuna salad. My husband had bistro steak with herb fries, (small portion), both were delicious. We also ordered hairloom herb tomatoes, with garlic goat cheese and garlic balsamic taost. All very tasty.
A little pricy. However I would return.

This restaurant is in a prominent location right across from Fashion Square and the décor is very stylish. We stopped in with just 10 minutes to go before happy hour was over. There were a decent amount of people at the bar and about half of the tables were filled. The tables and chairs are cool and allow for some privacy in a pretty open place. The server took our order just before happy hour ended so we got the HH prices. The happy hour menu includes 13 items so you really can make a meal out of it if you want and they don’t rip you off with mini portion sizes like some restaurants do. Like most others we could not refuse the pretzels and cheese. Impressive presentation and very tasty. Needless to say I ate too many! We also had the pork nachos– thick chips and very tasty toppings. Drinks were a little delayed but the food was brought out unbelievably quickly. There were one or two people-​other than the waiter– taking food and drinks to the tables and this really seemed to help their service. After all of the HH appys we were not very hungry so two of us shared the meatloaf and the other two had «yesterdays soup» which was chicken tortilla. Here is where I took off a star. It was very salty! I could not finish mine. They had live entertainment starting just as were were leaving so I am sure it gets even livelier.

Wow! This place is amazing! We made a reservation for 7 people. Unfortunately, we had to wait for our table longer than when our reservation was made. BUT, the staff genuinely apologized for the extended wait. Also, they provided a free appetizer to snack on which was very very help to prevent us (me) getting hangry. Ordered the fried chicken dinner, which was very delicious. Also got the brown paper bag special, which is a random cheap beer in a brown paper bag with a small travel size of random vodka or tequila for $ 5. Definitely will come back or recommend this place based off the great customer service. But the food was phenomenal as well.

Came here for a bachelorette party before a night out. It’s a fun environment with interesting décor and live music on the Saturday evening we were there.
We ordered a lot of appetizers and my favorites included the pretzel bites, hummus and deviled eggs. Because the appetizers were so good I was very let down by my entrée.
I ordered the mussels and when I got them, the broth was lukewarm and the bread was hard. We didnt get all of the entrees at once so I wish they would have brought the mussels out when they were ready.

If I could give this place 6 stars, I would… cuz the server was AMAZING! Here we are, on vacation and we get treated like we are in a 5 Star restaurant. I didn’t expect much from the menu, but we dug right in to the pretzel fondue and kick a** sandwiches (must get the grinder) at lunch. Bryors recommendation were spot on! 3 Jalapeño Lemonades+delicious bites+super funny waiter=6 Unilocal Stars!

The perfect place to go grab something light to eat or get fun cocktails. I highly recommend the beef jerky because it’s amazing and what other restaurant makes beef jerky? You can’t go wrong with any cocktail because they are all unique and that good!

I’ve been to — and loved — all the Culinary Dropout locations in Phoenix, but I chose to write about this one due to some great service! A small group of friends and I went to Culinary Dropout on Camelback Rd to have a nice meal and celebrate my bachelorette weekend. As always, the food was great. My friends and I split a number of small plates; the salmon, the pretzels and cheese sauce (must try!!), parmesan chips, meat and cheese board, and pork nachos. I also recommend the Room Service cocktail (gin, strawberry simple syrup, prosecco).
When we got to the restaurant the host staff was very friendly and we were seated immediately, but then it took a little while to get things going. Once they found out that my sister had called ahead and left us a bottle of champagne and prepaid half the dinner, they were much nicer to us and doted on us, but I saw other tables being annoyed by the lack of service they were receiving. I don’t remember the name of our server — just that he looked a lot like Jason Mraz! He was very friendly and took whatever ridiculousness my friends and I were saying after a bottle of champagne and 2 cocktails each with a smile and a laugh. He was a great server and I hope some day to return and learn his real name! :)

This place is great. It’s a young semi classy environment located right across the street from the mall. Our service was excellent (shout out to our server) and the food was just as good. The only down side was that we really didn’t want to stick around for 10 & 11 $ drinks all afternoon. Which were good but not worth it.

The food was SO good! Nachos, ribs and MAC burger were great. Plus, some fun live music on a Friday night. The service was definitely a miss here though. Our waiter was not attentive– we really could have used a second round of drinks! Oh well.

Went here during a girls night out while visiting a friend. It was a large restaurant and easily accommodated our party of 5 on a Saturday night. There was no wait for a table. The interior is kind of dark, and there was a stage up front with a guy doing cover songs of all kinds of music from Micheal Jackson to Black Sabbath. It sounds weird, but it was actually really fun and upbeat, lots of people in the restaurant were singing along. We were starving when we got there, so we ordered a few of appetizers to share.
Pretzels and cheese– so delish. the portion size was big and the cheese stays warm because it’s served with a little candle under the dish. the pretzels had a crisp exterior and were soft and fluffy in the middle. the cheese was light and creamy and maybe kinda buttery tasting.
Pita bread and hummus– meh, nothing special
crusty bread, garlic oil and balsamic– pretty simple, it also came with some type of bruschetta on the side, but it was weird because it tasted like salsa so i didn’t really care for it.
for my entrée i ordered the grilled chicken club (because I wanted french fries) it was really good and very meaty. it has chicken breast, ham and bacon. I was getting full from all the appetizers that i ended up eating the inside of the sandwich and took off all of the bread. it had a lot of flavor and the havarti cheese was a good balance with all of the meats.
The service was really good. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. I’d come back here.

There is so much I want to say about this place but what comes to mind each and every time are those damn pretzels. I could eat a tub full of those pretzels and the cheese. Yummy! It’s the perfect accent to the pretzels.
Why hasn’t the movies theatre found out the recipes to those pretzels.
The cheap salad with buttermilk ranch dressing. Wow that small salad packed a punch. I. loved, loved, loved it!
Next came this drink called ROOM SERVICE. It was so good. When I ordered this drink I didn’t know what to anticipate but when I took the first sip… my eyes began to close and I was somewhere else. can I order another one please…
Then the band began to play Purple Rain… my heart sank but here comes the blond waitress to with my Room Service right on time…
I love this place and would definitely return.

Got to say, this place would have been better if our waitress had paid attention to our table. It took 10 minutes to get our drinks after we sat down, which is pretty poor considering the restaurant was not busy at all. Once we did, the drinks were not correct, and the waters we asked for were not brought. That may seem trivial, but we were pretty specific that we would like water as soon as possible since we had just gotten off a plane.
Food came out super slowly, and the quality was not as described, which was disappointing. Thumbs up on the ramen bowl– it is very spicy. The French dip was yummy, and the pretzels and cheese is a must. Nachos, fried chicken, grilled cheese were not ones to try. Any place that uses Kraft singles tasting cheese is a no. Sorry, we wanted to like you.

Very cool restaurant with good food, good service, and nice ambiance.
My group popped into here after a trip to the mall, and we were immediately seated in their outdoor patio. Their menu is quite diverse. Sandwiches, salads, seafood, ribs. A little bit of everything. Although we didn’t try them this time around, their pretzel fondue is supposed to be delicious. I had the fish & chips and was very impressed with it. It wasn’t soggy or overly greasy, and the fish tasted really fresh. The fries were crispy and the coleslaw, which I gave to my Dad, he said it was some of the best he’s had at a restaurant.
The restaurant wasn’t busy when we arrived, but our waitress was still very attentive. Food was delivered quickly and hot. The food is on the pricey side, but it IS Scottsdale, where things aren’t the cheapest. For our table of three, it was $ 40-​some dollars. Parking can be a bit of a pain, but we lucked out and found a spot in the mall parking lot across the street.
I wish I lived in the area because I want to try the rest of their menu! I’ll be sure to stop by if I’m ever in Scottsdale again.

They re-​did the outside bar area to high tops & its better than before! Perfect for a cocktail on the patio :) LOVE the deviled eggs «snack» on the meats/​cheese menu. $ 3 for 3, we got a double portion. Strongly recommend!

To be honest, I was a little drunk when I arrived, so the specific details of our dinner here aren’t exactly crystal clear. With that being said, everything was memorably delicious. As a table, we ordered the pretzel app with cheese fondue, and I ordered the grilled cheese sliders and fries. Sure, those are items that are tough to mess up, but I appreciate that these otherwise standard items were definitely done right. The bread of my sliders was toasted to perfection. in addition the the cheese, there was bacon and tomatoes on each slider as well. My fiancé, who has had meatloaf in probably 100+ restaurants, really enjoyed his meat loaf entrée. Service was prompt, food was great, ambience and overall prime old town Scottsdale location was an A+, oh, and drinks were never empty!
Definitely can’t wait to go back and try some other items on the menu. The prices are pretty reasonable as well — another nod to my 5 star rating!

I really liked the atmosphere in the culinary dropout. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating with some great views the the upscale Scottsdale area. I was a little disappointed in the menu as there weren’t a lot of choices. It was a one page menu. Appetizers, entrees, desserts and drinks on the other. I ordered the Italian chopped salad as my main course and was still hungry after I finished it for 13 dollars. I ordered two cocktails that were 7 dollars a piece. I made it out of there with a 29 dollar bill adding tip left 35 dollars lighter and still hungry. Lesson here it’s a bit pricey but overall a good experience. Staff was very friendly.

It’s okay. Food is good, pretzels and fondue were the best! My gf and I had a reservation and stood in line to be seated by the hostess. When we got to the front, they asked if we wanted to join their email list… rather than asking for our reservations and seating us. They assumed we were there with the 2 men in front of us, who had just sat down in the waiting area for their table. Is it possible that two adult women had gone to the restaurant on their own agency and accord without the company of men? What a crazy concept. LOL

Wonderful food, but the service was the best part about it. We had the guy with the ponytail and he gave the best recommendations and was very friendly! The chocolate pie and pretzels are a must!

Went here with friends. Nice place and food.
Tips: foreign ID such as Canada id (which usually can be accepted in several places) are not working here. So bring your US ID, if you don’t have one, bring passport with you.

Wonderful atmosphere and live music on a Thursday night! A decent selection of delicious local microbrews but the food menu is TINY.

The Korean Beef is really good but overpriced.
The fish and chips were average.
The staff is friendly.

I have been to this location and the one in Tempe. Pretzels and fondue are enough for 3 – 4 people, or a meal in itself for 2 people. Beer selection is decent – mostly craft/​local brands. I ordered a burger and fries; my guy ordered fish and chips. They were nothing remarkable, but not bad; large portions. I liked the Tempe location a bit better as the staff were more attentive and professional; our waitress was wearing her winter jacket to stay warm indoors despite it being the 60s that day.

Cool place to have lunch! I love the atmosphere and the outstanding service! The pretzels w/​beer cheese is die for!
From the meatloaf to salads to fish n’ chips. Everybody left happy and full.
I will definitely go back when I’m in Scottsdale!

On a Saturday night, we on the patio overlooking Camelback. It was a beautiful night. Our server was friendly and had good taste in wine. She recommended a couple of wines that we really enjoyed. I wish I had remembered her name. That night, we ordered the charcuterie board, chicken wings, and fish and chips. I could go without the latter. But charcuterie board and chicken wings were awesome. I highly recommend them. I think that was the best they had.
At other times, I’ve had the hummus, pretzels and fondue, and fried chicken. None of it was good. In fact, food lacked flavor. I want chicken to taste like chicken. You know, when you don’t want to eat the skin but it’s so good. The pretzel didn’t taste like much. It would have been better if I had picked up hummus from Trader Joes, fried chicken from KFC, and pretzel and dip from Auntie Anne’s. All would have tasted better and cost less.

We had a great time and enjoyed the food and drinks.
We tried their staple pretzels with beer cheese as well as the antipasti platter, which features small portions of very expensive meats and cheeses at a reasonable price.
The deviled eggs were good but nothing amazing. We tried the fifty dollar bill drink and smashed Irishman, pleasantly surprised at how tasty they were.
We ended the night with the salted Carmel custard. My friend thought it was too sweet but I liked it.
Our service was outstanding. The only real negative was a hostess that my friend saw in the bathroom who didn’t wash her hands but proceeded to fluff her hair and rub her hands on her lips. Eww! We are hoping she was only a hostess and didn’t touch any food.
Note: if you’re looking for the game area, they are not at this location. This location is in a great area for wandering and shopping though.

One of my favorite restaurants/​bars in Old town Scottsdale — located right across the street from fashion square, great for people watching if you’re sitting at the bar or on the patio. The bar is great because the bartenders are actual mixologists that know what they’re doing & some of the drinks they make are crazy (ex: lighting things on fire). But, I’m boring & always get wine. Any who, the food is great, some of my favorites — the pretzels & cheese fondue is a must, culinary dropout staple. Then my other all-​time favorite, turkey pastrami sandwich, to die for. Those two things are you wont be dissatisfied.

This was a nice surprise on a weeknight… Great atmosphere and friendly staff. The furniture is rad, very eclectic feel in here with a great cozy vibe, and the food was really fun too. The pretzels with cheese fondue is delicious and huge, we couldn’t finish it and we were too full to order dinner– great app for 4 people to share. They have great little snacks that are cheap so you can try a little of everything and not worry about how much you’re ordering. I can’t wait to come back when it’s warmer out and hang on their patio!

I am a big fan of the owners of Culinary Dropout and North. I am very eager to try all of their locations and restaurants because I always leave satisfied and full!
My family and I came here for lunch on our annual trip to Arizona for the holidays. We were 5 women and sat at the cutest round table (my fav because you can see everyone) in fun, different arm chairs. The atmosphere is really chiq and lively.
We started off with the soft pretzels served with provolone cheese. I never knew melted provolone cheese could be so delicious, but it is! I think my cousin and I enjoyed this the most and probably ate the most because it is that good! As my lunch, I had the grilled cheese sliders. It was the perfect blend of cheese with bacon.
Culinary Dropout is a must try when in the Scottsdale area. I cannot wait to go back and try something else from their electic menu.

More pretzels and cheese, please!!! I mean really, they are THE BEST THINGS ON THE PLANET! I could seriously eat Culinary Dropout’s pretzels and cheese every day for the rest of my life and never get sick of them. SO YUM. Anywho, during this visit, I tried to go a little healthier for my main dish to offset the pretzels and cheese and ordered the Italian Chopped Salad but subbed chicken instead of the Italian meats. It was FABULOUS! Super light and delicious. I loved the dressing and the pickled veggies throughout. I would 100% order it again! I know for a fact that I will be back soon for their pretzels and cheese, happy hour specials and maybe even that delicious salad again!

Started on a positive greeting at the door upon arrival. The place has a great vibe. Since dining solo grabbed a seat at the bar. Promptly and pleasantly greeted by Louie. Super chill and gave me both beverage and food menus. There are so many interesting items to chose from. Hard to choose. Louie made some great recos describing the items. I decided on the Prosciutto deviled eggs. Craze great. The prosciutto is crisp, the deviled eggs are perfect and there is a taste of truffle oil. Let’s say a flavor explosion. Louie reco’d a lovely Pinot Noir.
I chose the Ahi salad as my main course. Nice steak size pieces perfectly seared along with crisp lettuce, cashews and great Asian flavor.
Service and food 5 star. Thanks Louie I’ll be back and reco to friends. And to try the Jerky.

The vibe here is laid back, in a trendy way. The waitstaff has a polished edge to them, if that’s possible. And the food has just traditional fair done gastro-​pub style. I feel like a hipper person for just knowing this place exists.
I’ve been here many times, typically for drinks and apps but occasionally for dinner as well. Tonight I was here for a company dinner for about 10 of us. It was a 5 star evening. Not all my experiences have been 5 star here, but they were on it tonight. Bravo CD!
The waitress was helpful and accessible while never obtrusive. Our meals all arrived at the same time. The water was refilled at half empty (or half full?). I ordered the seared tuna salad and enjoyed every bite. A few extra prices of tuna would have been nice, but for $ 15 I definitely got my money’s worth.
The bathrooms were clean, spacious, and had flattering mirrors and lighting.
Coming back isn’t a question for me. Great place!

I came here twice when I visited other stores in the same complex. The restaurant is extremely well decorated and the service is excellence. It is very opened allowing you to enjoy the outdoor view and sun light while dining inside the restaurant. The first time we were here with friends, we tried lots of different appetizers on their menu. They were all equally delicious and we all had a great experience/​good times. However, I ordered a Shrimp/​pork belly ramon noodles dish on my second visit and was somewhat disappointed. It was extremely salty, mostly filled out with vegetables and had very little portion of noodles in it. Presentation is very well done, but I probably will not order it again on my next visit.
Overall, I enjoy the beautiful and open space that this restaurant has.

Such a fun group of people that work here. Food is awesome and price is good too! Highly recommend. Been here for lunch and dinner. I’m sure you need reservations for the evening.
Come and enjoy!

First time coming here, on a Saturday night. They have live music on Friday and Saturdays which was a neat experience!
Must try the pretzel bites with cheese fondue. It was delicious.

Wow!
Went here for lunch as fellow helpers ha written that they had a mean Prime roastbeef sandwich also called the French dip by some. And it was certainly mouthdripping amazing! Tons of thinly sliced juicy roastbeef on a slightly grilled loaf with mayo and a creamy cheese. When dipped in the secret concoction called jus it was like an mouthgasm!!! It was extremely good that i even forgot about the hefty 17 $ pricetag. We also chared grilled cheese sliders with bacon that tasted really good as well. The cheese wich ever one they use was packed with cheesy deliciousness and the salty bacon complimented it perfectly. At 10 $ these little babys where a bargain.
Tried one of the local beers and i think it was called Scottsdale Blonde. Crisp and refreshing in the desert heat and a hit with the food.
The place has a great ambiance and interior décor and the place is located just a short walk from Fashion Square. Our waitress was fast, funny and did great.
Would come back for more the next time im in town!