Culinary Dropout in Scottsdale - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Large food portions and the food tasted great!

Great food, great service! Our server C.J was top notch, definitely made the experience worth it and more enjoyable!

Excellent service. The fried chicken, and the pretzels are to die for! We also ordered a build-your-own charcuterie board which was so-so. The prosciutto was crispy on the edges which is probably due to sitting uncovered for a while.

Had the bolognese and the chicken cacio e pepe - would both recommend, it’s insanely good. The service was unlike everything I have experienced at a place of this price class, our waitress was the best. Perfect place for a late lunch - tip: catch the happy hour during 2-5pm and get cheap snacks as well as the watermelon sangrias, they are so good! Also, the pretzel is supposed to be really good, so give that a try for a small hunger or as an appetizer.

I was expecting better from here like the other ones i’ve been to But the food was cold. Fries were cold. Steak was cold and the chicken I believe wasn’t all the way cooked.. the bread with the Balsamic vinaigrette tasted old & it was hard. very disappointed will not be coming again.

The food was delicious, but Georgia, the waitress, was amazing!! She treated everyone like she had known us forever.

I was very disappointed in this restaurant. I have been to their gilbert location and love it, hence why we tried this branch. Sadly, nothing was really great here. The seating inside is so loud near the kitchen , all I heard all night was dishes and order numbers. Plus the food was terrible (might have just been an off night) my Chicken Pasta dish was gross! it was like eating cream and chicken slices , I hardly ate any of it. Our waiter brought a full bottle of siracha when asked for a side, vs putting it in a saucer, very tacky. The portions of the steak frittes was small not filling. Our waiter was nice, but forgot a few things had to ask twice. I would not come this location again. I will stick w/ gilbert. On point though were the hostesses and the reservation process.

we absolutely love culinary dropout! They never disappoint! Christopher our server always takes great care of us! thank you sir!

Excellent experience! The staff were so hospitable and accommodating! We had allergies and some other special requests and they made us feel welcome and cared for. Nice atmosphere too, outdoor seating would be nice probably at night more than during the day just due to the heat, but it was tasteful and looked comfy too. Nice Bob Marley mural to admire while relaxing and enjoying our drinks and food. Will be back! Love the vibes ✨Shoutout Abby, Asia and Madison!!! Very good vibes 😎

Good: The food was excellent, the atmosphere was friendly as well as the wait staff. The alcohol drinks were on point! Bad: The waitresses need to wear more appropriate tops & not have their breasts falling out. The waiter greeting my wife & I with "Yo!" Kind of hard to have a romantic evening eating out with these 2 factors. There is no way to distinguish between staff & patrons. Overall: A good experience & would go there again for the food & drink, but i would be more prepared for the things mentioned above.

We were met by kind hosts and a lively atmosphere. It is the best option for food around Scottsdale mall and would like to try more food here before I form a concrete opinion. All of the food looked good from what I saw from the table. We ordered Fish and chips, Hush puppies, a small charcuterie board and a beer. All was tasty and served without delay.

It's name is justly deserved. Limited menu, average food and mediocre sevice.

The food was really good. Everything we had was tasty and came out in the perfect time that it needed to. As someone who works in the hospitality industry, I’m super big on customer service and the Culinary Dropout did not disappoint at all in that department! Ellen ( the super kind waitress who served us) was so amazing and went above and beyond to make our lunch wonderful. Even went the extra mile to write down attractions for me and my cousin to visit while we vacation in the phoenix area. Thank you, Ellen!!

OH MY GOSH! I have never had a better server. If you get a bite to eat and you get CJ as your waiter just know you are in the best hands. CJ went above and beyond for me and my family and he made our experience a million times more enjoyable. I will be coming back and request CJ, he made everything taste better. He has killer drink and food recommendations 💕💕 Thank you CJ

Not a wide option list for dietary restrictions. Service was mediocre. I like the bar and atmosphere but food just wasn't something worth the price.

Georgia was INCREDIBLY KIND!!! Very attentive and friendly. Maybe the best service we have ever had!!

A terrible experience from the moment I walked in. The blonde host at the front desk needs to be fired immediately for her rude behavior. Very unpleasant experience. Food is delicious but staff need’s an ego check.

One of my favorite places to go in Phoenix. The atmosphere, the staff, the food, everything is amazing.

We recently celebrated our kid's birthday at Culinary Dropout, and it was an unforgettable experience! From the moment we walked in, everyone’s attention was so welcoming, making the celebration extra special. The food was absolutely delicious— the ribs were on point, the burger and salad were perfect, and the pretzels were to die for. A special shoutout to our waiter, Christopher, for his outstanding service. He was attentive, friendly, and made sure everything was just right. We’ll definitely be back!

Always an amazing experience here! Food is delicious. Service is great, ask for CJ he is amazing!!!!

Thank you for an enjoyable experience this evening! Staff and food were excellent.. thank you again

Always a good place to hang out with your friends.

Awsome waitress, fantastic food. Drinks way to pricey, food a little on the pricey side but the food was good. They don't have domestic beer. That was kid of weird to us

On the costly side for small portions. Had the brussel sprouts and a curry salad, good flavors but out of balance. The atmosphere was louder than what I find comfortable for a meal. There was a table near us where a gal was seated wearing such a short skirt that her underwear was in full view. When she left, she was replaced by another patron with the same wardrobe malfunction. When we were waiting for the valet we were treated to a nipple slip on the curb. This was during the dinner rush on a Saturday. They might be heading to a club after dinner. Not my vibe but interesting.

Beautiful place, well designed. The food was delightful. Recommend!

We are from out of town and was looking for a restaurant with great vibes and food! The Culinary Dropout did not disappoint! These soft pretzels and cheese were 100/10. If you love any soft pretzels—you’ll adore these. You also can make your own charcuterie board, which is such a fun idea! They have live music and our waitress was very attentive. If you sit outside on the patio, they have water misters to help keep you cooled off in the heat. They also have wonderful cocktails! *If you are looking for a view of the canal from this location, it is not visible like the location name makes it out to be, there is no water to be seen.*

Great food, service, location and atmosphere. I love Scottsdale, but this was the highlight of the trip.

$29 for a small Salmon plate. Salmon was delicious but very small (2x3”). It was advertised with pesto. Which only had about a smear of a 1/8 tsp over the salmon. It also, included ONE thinly sliced asparagus. What a rip off!!!! I was expecting at least 3-4 asparagus spears. I opted for no Cherry roasted tomatoes but my friend who ordered the same plate only received ONE tomato. The salmon came over a bed of creamy farro , which is a nutty chewy grain. It was okay but not worth $29. The waitress didn’t impress me as I was expecting a more formal experience considering the expensive menu prices. There was no atmosphere as we arrived for an 11:30AM team meeting. Was not offered a straw for my glass of water. Nor did she make any recommendations of the plates or bothered to ask if this was our first experience at CD.. I will not be making a 30min drive for this restaurant again.

Fun place! Service was fantastic.

This place was amazing! We dined her for dinner on a Saturday night and it did not disappoint. The ambience and decor of this restaurant is very inviting and very relaxed, darkly dimmed. They have live music Thursday to Sunday. The waiting staff were super nice and accommodating. Everything on their menu with 2 red stars means it’s their house speciality. We ordered the pretzel with provolone fondue which was UNREAL they actually give you maybe 10-12 pretzel bites. Another app we ordered was the focaccia with olive oil. For our mains, my girlfriend and I both ordered the steak frites, which both came with fries and an arugula salad. The steak was succulent, juicy and cooked to perfection. I loved this place and would definitely return to try other menu items. 10/10 would recommend to others.

Food, service and drinks were all amazing. Busy atmosphere but I was loving it. Live music. Always good idea to make a reservation at least when dining in on the weekends.

Love this restaurant! We had great food and drinks and were new in town. Jamie told us all of the fun places to go on our way to Sedona via Prescott and Jerome - thank you! We loved our charcuterie board, pretzel bites, and craft cocktails on a hot summer day! Can't wait to come back for another trip soon.

Great place for dates or friends. Attractive staff. Great food. Eli in Tempe (barback) was very friendly. Love the turkey pastrami on pretzel bun!

Such a great vibes spot with live music

Great food and service, David was a great waiter for my family visiting Phoenix!

A friend recommended this place. Had a nice meal (Chicken Cacio e Pepe) with a great server tonight. I would come back, for sure.

First time...I had the fried chicken...the 💣...Great atmosphere and employees...I can't wait to return and try another dish!

We didn't eat, we just had drinks. The place was packed. The bar service was good, but I can't say much else.

5 stars for this great place! I was visiting in Arizona and Christopher made our time incredible. Great drinks , ambience and waiter!

Culinary Dropout was an absolute treat during our trip to Scottsdale. Our server - blanking on his name - was very patient as we waffled back and forth between many of the fantastic menu items. I really enjoyed the decor, the creative menu items, and their extensive list of alcohol to choose from. Don’t drop of out of this culinary delight 😎

Well our waiter CJ was awesome! The watermelon drink was the bomb! No more potatoe chips and homemade onion dip but they replaced it with the new and amazing whipped feta tahini with strawberry reduction! Amazing!!!

I hate not giving this highest marks but after several attempts it’s just not for me. I think they try and cater to foodies and the menu is so unique with rare combinations that’s it’s just not my kind of place. Others rave and it’s the top for them and I completely respect that. Just not my jam.

Fried shrimp was amazing! Steak was very lackluster. Brussels sprouts were pretty dry/hard and needed a sauce of something to go with them to improve overall texture. For me. I thought the entire dish lacked salt, but that’s easy enough to add. Ordered medium rare steak and got rare. I spoke up and the waitress fixed it IMMEDIATELY. Top notch service and great atmosphere.

It was good but it took a long time to get seated and a long time for the food.

This place was very good! Actually amazing! We will definitely visit again. Thank you!

Culinary Dropout is pretty great. I love their happy hour menu. Always come here after work for drinks. They have good food options and the atmosphere is really nice

I had an outstanding experience at the restaurant! Trenton our server was attentive, friendly, and made excellent recommendations. The food was delicious, and the ambiance was lovely. I'll definitely be coming back!

Food was decent, i got the chicken sandwich. Drinks were incredible and the wait staff was so kind.

I enjoy coming to Culinary Dropout, BUT if you have a big family or want to go with a large group of friends, DON’T reserve a table. You might be better off taking your chances by showing up the day of; otherwise, you’ll be forced having to coordinate a “special event” with a prefixed menu. I explained that I’m not planning a corporate event or anything that would need to be considered a “special event”, but I just wanted to make sure we can get a table. Unfortunately, that didn’t matter, as apparently any party over the size of 12 REQUIRES you to book with a “special even” coordinator. Unfortunately, this is the policy for all locations. I understand prefixed menus for corporate events, but not for friends and family that are trying to get together and are paying for their own tabs… I like Culinary, but there should have been a better way to handle this matter.

Great staff and good food definitely worth the price parking was valet just took a min to find a seat idk if you can call ahead to reserve a spot but definitely worth going to

This review is all about the service or lack thereof. Sat at the bar on a Saturday afternoon to get some lunch. After about 20 minutes we were able to order something to drink other than water. That didn't come until we asked for it again another 10 minutes later. But OK, we order some food but then our server just said "I'm ready" without anything to take down the order with, so she was just going to remember it. After another 15 minutes we noticed that she hadn't put one of the entrees in on our ticket. After claiming it was "just on another tab" she said it was no problem. Except it was. One entree came out and the manager finally comes over to apologize for the other entree not being out. Wait, I thought the order was fine, just on another tab? That wasn't true, the order wasn't in at all. So they just thought it was fine to let one person eat their entire entree that did come out while the other person has to sit there and watch because the other part of the order wasn't done. We finally had to ask for them to just scrub the whole order and leave. To be fair they deleted the tab, but after wasting over an hour and most of the staff to not care in the least is lame. Hey ownership, your staff is either poorly trained, doesn't care or both. Either way it's going to affect business because there are way more options for food and we won't be back.

Really cool place the vibe is kind of retro, relaxing great comfort food

Today is June 1st, 2024. My wife and I took our friends to dinner to celebrate our friends husbands birthday at the Culinary Dropout on 7135 E Camelback Rd. Scottsdale. We had a 6:30 reservation and when we got there the front doors were open and it was 98 degrees outside. It felt close to that temperature inside as well. When we were seated I asked nicely, if they turn the air conditioners on. I asked a second time, and after a while I realized that the restaurant had NO AIR CONDITIONING. What a miserable dining experience for the 4 of us. My shirt was sweated through along with the others. On the way out I mentioned that it was very hot in the restaurant to one of the 3 hostesses and I got a "OH WELL" response. This is not the 1950's we all need air conditioning if we are going to enjoy our dining experience.

Excellent service great food and atmosphere.

Great spot for delicious food to satisfy all types of culinary preferences.

Excellent food . Always make this a stop whenever I'm in town. On my latest trip to this restaurant I dropped by to place an order to go and it took an hour to get my food . Not happy about this .

This location is fantastic! We had a large party on graduation weekend and this is the only culinary dropout location that even attempted to help us. Jaime, the manager was so kind and was able to get us in for a same day dinner reservation. The staff was incredibly kind and efficient and Jaime even sent over complimentary appetizers. We had a fantastic dinner and I am forever grateful to Jaime and everyone working that night.

The service was very slow just to get drinks. ( 30 min wait) Food was too salty that had to be sent back. Pork belly nachos were just made with pulled pork no pork belly, so over priced! The name matches the restaurant it should be called culinary disaster! I wouldn’t come back

We saw good reviews and decided to try out this spot. We had a meat platter for an appetizer which was just OK. Then we had steak frittes and pasta bolognese. Dishes tasted OK but the portions were ridiculously small. My boyfriend got tiny piece of a steak which was a disgrace and we don't mind spending more money on good food but it's disgrace that you charge that price for tiny piece of a steak. And even fries weren't good. We won't be back. People, do yourself a favor and go somewhere where you and your money will be appreciated and where you'll be served normal size of portions and better food.

My family has been to the Culinary Dropout in Phoenix and it was amazing. We thought we would try the one in Scottsdale for mother’s day. The server and service was absolutely OUTSTANDING. The food was not. We ordered the salmon and the duck. Both were over cooked. We booked our reservations at 7:30 with the hopes it would have not been as busy which would help in the kitchen. Therefore, I was disappointed in the food. I hope this review will help in the future.

Nice place, but for the first time in a very long time I spent $100 and left hungry. The steak frites - smallest portion of steak I’ve ever had, sad because they were tasty. We ordered a make your own charcuterie board that was also on the light side for the money. My date had the pasta bolognese which was probably the best dish we ordered. The real stinger is at the table next to us someone also ordered the frites and his portion was double the size of the one on my plate. Would have said something, but I’m a tourist and will never come back here again. Wish we had gone someplace better.

We had fried chicken, ribs, nachos, and wygu pigs in a blanket. This place was clean and the staff was very accommodating. The food was pretty good, ribs being my favorite. I had the "Camp Fire Vibbs" drink, and it was really good.

Heard several good reviews from friends about this place, but I wasn't all that thrilled that we chose this over other restraunts in the water district. Good food and service but not what I had expected for the money.

Hubby took me here for Mothers Day. It was wonderful. I had the others Day Special- Lobster/Short Rib and Risotto. Out of this world. Hubby had the Ribs, wonderful as well. We sat outside, Must do again.

The vibe is better than the food. But the service is friendly and the atmosphere is awesome. I just remember the food quality being a little better previously.

Excellent Ribs and Fish N Chips. Tender and falling off the bone ribs, not too battered Fish. Definitely pricey but well worth it.

Fun spot to go for brunch or dinner. Enjoyed the menu and it is simply a good place to get social with friends.

Overall nice experience, nice place, patio can be very noisy with trucks idling and exhaust fumes !

If I could give this place more than five stars I would everything is exceptional Beyond exceptional the atmosphere the food the service the drinks the location this is the place to go if you want food in Scottsdale in my opinion best food I've had in probably a decade

Great food and drinks service was fantastic

What an experience. Why is everyone that works there so attractive?! It added to the atmosphere though!

The place itself promotes a lively atmosphere, with games and plenty of open air seating. The food, however, was really flavorless. In addition to that, the nearly $40 cost for steak frites yielded a laughable portion of actual meat. Hand for scale

A bit too loud for this ole lady☺️

We were in town for the Saguaro cup softball tournament Portland. Decided to head to lunch at Culinary Dropout. I can’t say enough about the service. Christopher and Christian were a complete vibe and made our overall experience incredible. I had the wedge salad with steak. The steak was cooked to perfection. I ordered the Arnold Palmer and the iced tea was delicious. Party of 7 and everyone loved it. Can’t wait to go back.

Excellent atmosphere and food…good place to have a good time with family and friends

I have gone a handful of times now since moving to AZ. Always a fun, great atmosphere. I love sitting on the patio because the people watching is fantastic!

The food was great, we git seated right away, and if we're ever back in the area, we would go back.

We had an excellent experience! Our server Clare and the manager were very polite and attentive. The cocktails were next level, I highly recommend the Campfire Vibes and Old Fashioned. Being from the Midwest, we are somewhat picky on our Old Fashioneds and I assure anyone reading this review that it did not disappoint. Now that we're moving to the area, I can and will definitely add this to my list of places to bring the family.

This place has such warm and welcoming hosts. It is a perfect place for a delicious meal and friendly service.

Amazing food, super great staff, and incredible atmosphere. We enjoyed the whole experience.

Party of 7, they served two meals cold. We saw them sitting on the window for 10 minutes - finally brought them over. Steak was cold. Sent it back. Second steak over done and tasted bad. Totally underwhelming.

Had a great night at their patio with friends. Food and drinks were great. The service was awesome. I loved their appetizers.

CJ was our server. What an amazing man he is. It is not always that you meet someone so personable and kind. Explained the menu always attentive to our questions and needs. We will definitely be back because of CJ. He is a true asset to your staff!

Amazing food & fun atmosphere! Pretzels are a must get app & kale salad is delicious!

Meh. Hospitality and Culinary Dropouts for sure. The food was blah and the service was meh.

Andrew, and the rest of the staff were top notch and incredibly friendly! The place has a great vibe and atmosphere that is great to sit back and watch the ebb and flow of the crowd while enjoying some incredible eats and fantastic cocktails. Their Espresso Martini is absolutely amazing, but dangerous. They are so good and smooth I very easily could have had one or two too many lol! Having lived a year in London, I have to say the taste and quality of your fish and chips is spot on with what I would expect to get from a nice shop in SE London. Keep up the great job guys! 😀😀😀👍👍👍

We had my son's wedding rehearsal luncheon there. Food was amazing, service was awesome. We sat outside, weather was perfect. Highly recommend.

Great ambience. I love taking people here for the first time.

The soup was cold. Salad was just okay. Fun atmosphere.

Really loud here. You have to yell at the people at your own table to converse, but the drinks are good. Expensive though.

Culinary dropout is great when you don't know what you want, but you want something really yummy and great beer and sort of a lively atmosphere, was my go-to back again and again and again and we'll be tomorrow

Fun food menu. Great flavor combination

Great experience last night. The bartender overheard my colleague mention a dairy sensitivity and she went out of her way to ensure his portion of the dish was "safe" despite not being asked to. Beer was cold, food was tasty, staff was friendly and attentive without being obnoxious: what else do you need?

This was our first time and Christopher (CJ) was AMAZING he made our visit so fun and made great recommendations for food and drinks. His service was top notch his personality was great. We had the Salmon & Turkey Pastrami both were so yummy. We would definitely recommend this place and we will be back next time we come to Arizona!!! Thank you CJ for making our trip so nice. The atmosphere was so nice too. 😀

Food and drinks were fantastic, service was top notch, really enjoyed this one!

Very fun, vibe and menu. Creative cocktails and delicious food. Right in the heart of old town Scottsdale and close to shopping. Walkable from Scottsdale fashion square mall. Five stars for the campfire cocktail.

My wife Lynda and I visited after attending a spring training game. We had never been to this particular location, and since it was closest to us, we stopped in. We had Lynda's service puppy (Poppy) with us, and wanted to sit on the patio so she could stretch out. The manager, Donovan, went out of his way to find us a spot that was perfect for us. Our server, Carlie, was amazing during the entire evening, giving us information on the menu and helping us select exactly what we wanted. She was also very kind toward Poppy, bringing her water and ice cubes (she loves ice). Overall, it was the perfect closure to a great day.

Have the fried chicken. Have the pretzels. Yum

This is true for most Culinary Dropouts, the staff always looks like you being there is an inconvenience. Cocktails are ok and the food is pretty good but the prices do not match up. $17 for a basic well old fashioned and a frown.

I heard about this place, so decided to try while in Arizona. I ordered the Shaved Prime Rib Dip Sandwich, was surprised on how good it tasted. I recommend getting a side of horse radish to add for that extra flavor.