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Carly's Bistro
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Nightlife Bars Lounges Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues American (New), Lounges, Music Venues [Edit]
128 E Roosevelt StPhoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 262-2759
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 11 am - 12 am
Thu-Fri 11 am - 2 am
Sat 9 am - 2 am
Sun 9 am - 12 am
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night, Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Hipster
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
170 reviews for Carly's Bistro
Review Highlights
"The bar is great also, with a nice craft beer selection."
(in 22 reviews)
"First went to Carly's during one of the First Fridays."
(in 10 reviews)
"I had the pear sandwich with orzo salad as my side and..."
(in 6 reviews)
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170 reviews in English
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Review from Taric W.
Phoenix, AZ
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Unique, QUALITY eats at reasonable prices, along with good staff and a great bar.
I was immediately drawn to the shelf of wine bottles at the bar. Tons of stuff I haven't seen in other surrounding establishments, available by the glass. Since I was feeling like a wuss, I ordered the sangria. Turned out ordering a sangria is pretty manly, as this packed a wallop. I had to sip on it with the amazing snack I had...apples, heated brie, walnuts, raisins, all on some toasty bread I'm too gauche to spell correctly. Ooh! Let's not forget the sweet onion relish. It was a little bit cumbersome trying to eat a stack of these ingredients, but it was totally worth it when all the flavors came together.
This is like the third or fourth time I've been here. All others were during First Friday, and it had a dive bar feel then. I like. -
Review from Niki N.
Phoenix, AZ
1/25/2012
They have a wonderful selection of beers, wines, and liquor.
The food is good, but some things I've gotten were a little overpriced for the portion.
My favorite Item is the Carly-Q sandwich. Really good roast beef, good barbecue sauce and a delicious horseradish sauce. I also really enjoy their meatball sub, but this is one of those items that's a little expensive for how small it is. I also wish they had more options for your side items.
The table service I've gotten here has been good, but most of the time the bar service is slow and not very inviting.
It's a good place to take people from out of town if you're downtown showing them the sights. It's also a good place to get brunch on a Sunday. They were voted Best Bloody Mary's in Phoenix.
Ambience- 4
Quality of food- 4
Quality of service- 3
Price- 3 -
Review from Dawn D.
Avondale, AZ
1/24/2012
Visited Carly's on many occasions. Love the Bloody Marys!.
Tried and true sandwich is the Carly Q. Roast beef on an onion roll with the best BBQ sauce.
Only complaint would be the service is a little slow, but the food makes up for it. -
Review from Alison S.
Phoenix, AZ
1/25/2012
Drinks & appetizers, that's my advice.
I like their beet salad..but the green beans are raw (or always undercooked?) and they make the salad annoying to chew/eat every time, otherwise that salad is one to try. -
Review from Michelle D.
Phoenix, AZ
1/18/2012
Cute but that is where it ends.
I ended up at the diner because my friend and I wanted a place to get a quick bite and perhaps a glass of wine before a movie. I have driven by several times and must admit i was curious so i was anticipating finally being able to go. The place is def cute enough as well as cozy. I was there during at an in between time so there was no band to mention. The seating is quaint and i really liked the raspberry red walls. From a looks standpoint it is a 4 star in my opinion.
I personally liked the menu choices. There was a lot to choose from and the some choices were somewhat unique. We got an anti-pasta plate - good; a cheese pizza paninni (or something like that) - alright; and a pear salad - not all that, it was lacking in flavor. We also ordered wine. I assume we were limited to the wine on the list we were offered so we ordered Moscatto - bad. So the star of the night was the anti-pasta. I was tasty, generous in size and had a good variety to sample from.
The main reason I gave this 2 stars was because of the waiter/bartender/whatever. He was not attentive at all. We had to get his attention for the basics: napkins, plates to eat our food on...extra napkins because he only gave us one. Never did come by to see if we were ok. I can almost say he went out of his way to not make eye contact that much so he can just do whatever it was he was doing. He seemed to be a different person at the bar from what I observed. He was interacting with the 2 couples at the bar and seemed to have a pleasant attentive attitude. But he did seem to come to life during the last 10 minutes when it was time to pick up the bill. Go figure.
In all fairness maybe I happend to go there at a bad time, who knows. I may never know because I don't see myself making plans to go out of my way to go back. If I end up there again it will be the same accidental unplanned way as it was for this visit. -
Review from Meg W.
Scottsdale, AZ
1/10/2012
Carly's is a solid 3 start joint.
Most of the food here I can easily make at home. The feta rosa is really really delicious though.
The live music here can be a little much sometimes. Especially when it's 5 pm on a Monday and a trumpet is blaring in your ear when you're trying to enjoy your Carly-Q. It makes having a conversation literally impossible, unless you want to get laryngitis.
I like that they have their $2 (or maybe its $3 now?) rotating draft. But it's almost always either Session or Kronenbourg. If you live downtown it's totes worth checking out. -
Review from Nicole G.
Phoenix, AZ
2/1/2012
LOVE CARLYS!! Sandwiches are delish! Get the Orzo with your sandwich, you won't be disappointed. Bruschetta is the best and you can get two kinds for only $10! Hummus is yummy too! Great beer choice and perfectly made Bloody Marys. Vibe is chill. Servers are very nice.
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Review from Ceci G.
12/26/2011
As part of our food day weeks. we arrived to this place. Our group grew from 4 to almost 15 persons. Food is ok, the bruscheta that I ordered was more like toasted bread with the additional things. The best deals seem to be the gyros or sandwiches.
The missing star is because our server found it too complicated to do separate checks, even when we asked him before and tried to merge some checks. The fact that they go under stress makes the experience less enjoyable. -
Review from François M.
Phoenix, AZ
1/27/2012
The dude with the dreadlocks is annoying and rude. I stopped going there just because of him. I advised my friends to do the same. The menu is okay though. Nothing groundbreaking or inspired.
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Review from Axe P.
Tempe, AZ
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
I am not going back here again, poor selection of food for the vegetarians. The ones they had though were either lacking in variety or were small portions.
I am a big lover of Bloddy mary and I didnt like their bloddy mary, which was apparently a phoenix winner in 2010 or something. It was way too watered down and despite my request to make a better one the next time, it came out the same way. was disappointed with the bloddy mary especially.
Out waiter wasnt very helpful either when it came to suggestions regarding food or drinks. -
Review from Olivia T.
San Diego, CA
11/29/2011
Out-of town visitor. Used to attend ASU, so I'm more familiar with that area. Last Friday night, arrived in town late and decided to take the light rail downtown from my hotel about 2 miles north. I knew going into it that downtown Phoenix isn't exactly hopping...but at 10pm at night, it was impossible to find dinner.
Yelp saved the day on this one. I was able to find Carly's Bistro, which was a short distance away from where we were at the time, using my iPhone app. Based on the reviews, I was expecting, well, a diner. Not a cool, funky restaurant like Carly's Bistro. My boyfriend and I shared the cheese plate and the meatball dish. The meatball dish was a late-night special and I would not recommend it. The cheese plate was good, it was mild for our standards so even the non-adventurous type could eat it. The beer was delicious and the bonus was the late-night happy hour pricing ($1 off draft beer).
Carly's definitely saved our night! Also, the service was attentive. -
Review from Renee S.
Phoenix, AZ
Updated - 1/1/2012
A lot of the old wait staff has either moved on or been let go...but, my most recent experience there was so lame that I doubt that I'll return. More than the food, quality of service and hospitality are more important to me, and that was the environment I was used to at Carly's. Sadly, I usually turn down offers to eat there because of this, even though I miss their meatball sub and all of their salads.
Listed in: My Neighborhood, Top Restaurants, The Places I Go Out
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/24/2010
Living within walking distance definitely makes this my #1 watering hole. It's a good after work… Read more »
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Review from Nora V.
Tolleson, AZ
1/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Been trying to check out local places in downtown vs. giving my moolah to a national chain & I have to say Carly's Bistro is a jewel! I love the restaurant it's location is great & the bartender is fun & interactive. We stopped in on a weekday after dinner time & every seat was taken but at the bar. Good... no, a great sign. I had the Prosciutto Grilled Sandwich aka panini that was as good as a panini I've ever had. I'm normally not a fan because they are saturated with some kind of oil, butter or what have you. But this was just excellent. I can go for days on why I loved it but just take my word this is the best grilled sandwich I've had. The man next to me at the bar ordered the orozo salad to go after he ate his entire entree. That again was another sign to order the orzo salad as my side & I was not disappointed. It was just what I needed with my salty, crispy, sweet sandwich. It was fresh & the ingrediants were on parr. Washed this down with the bartenders suggestion of beer (which I can't remember which Four Peaks it was but it wasn't the usual suspects ... something wheat berry something) which was good as all Four Peaks beer is.
The hubs ordered the Pastrami Grilled Sandwich & it was good. Unlike most of his orders this was pretty big especially being a grilled sandwich. I'm sure if it hadn't been grilled or a panini it would have been pretty big. So kudos to the hubs on this order & Carly's for rocking out the best grilled sandwich I've ever had & a great bartender to boot. -
Review from bob d.
11/16/2011
Had some late afternoon meetings here this week and enjoyed the place.
It could use a bike rack, which actually isn't a quibble any more.
Had a baked brie-based appetizer one day and shared an antipasto the next. Roasted peppers and sun dried tomatos - delicious. Breads - very good. Pesto - rich. Service - attentive, allowed us to linger for hours during the 'tween time.
Another non-quibble - the coffee is boring.
Overall Carlys deserves fan-hood based on these two experiences. -
Review from Omayra O.
Phoenix, AZ
1/7/2012
Carly's is a mainstay of the downtown area. Carly's was here and popular among the locals way before this recent downtown Phoenix renaissance. They have a full bar, are open late, and have live music most nights. It's a cozy spot to have a snack and a drink, or to meet friends. You won't have a phenomenal mind-blowing dinner here, but you won't be disappointed either. It's a reasonably priced soup, salad, and sandwich type of place. I personally always get the nicoise salad and sometimes the nutella croissant for desert. I probably go here once a month because it's such an important part of this neighborhood and because this establishment supports local artists by allowing them to perform their music and hang their art here.
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Review from Monika W.
Santa Monica, CA
10/12/2011
I have walked by this place dozens of times so was looking forward to finally trying it on the suggestion of a friend. I got there first and after standing at the door, looking for eye contact with someone who might indicate if I could seat myself, or needed to wait...and not succeeding...I finally seated myself. While waiting for the waiter, I noticed that there was a happy hour special. So when he finally came over, which took longer than I would have expected, given that it really wasn't all that busy, he pointed out that this special had ended 3 minutes before I asked. I pointed out that had he come to my table a little more promptly I might have been able to indulge in that special, but he did not offer to extend it.
I was tired after having a long day at work and rather than make a fuss I chose not to order a second beer (they would have gotten more money out of me with that second beer than they did nickel and diming me over happy hour)...and to write this review.
My friend's soup and my simple salad also took a long time to prepare, given the few number of customers in the place at the time we were there.
Maybe I'd be more tolerant of this level of customer service on a less stressful day, but I don't think I'll be going back to find out. -
Review from Becca C.
Phoenix, AZ
11/29/2011
Yummy, fun, and a cool spot to get some appetizers before bar hoping.
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Review from tana l.
Anchorage, AK
11/2/2011
I lived down the street from Carly's for 5 years and only managed to go there once. That was one salty, miserable biddy at the bar and from what I could see, that's the kind of trick they always like to hire. I am not trying to have an adversarial relationship with someone who is bringing me drink and food. Place reeks of the famous Phoenix snarkiness.... F that!
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Review from Blaise F.
Phoenix, AZ
8/29/2011
Three stars means medium ground - not bad, not mind-blowing.
I've had hit and miss experiences at Carly's. I like the idea, (often) the art, the food and the drinks. I've had mixed experiences with their servers / bartenders though.
On one specific occasion, after a lengthy bicycle ride, two of us stopped here for a beer. The place was empty; only 2 other people were in there, with 2 or 3 people serving + cooks. We tried a table for ~4 minutes - no one asked if we wanted anything. We moved to the bar, assuming the bartender would ask us what we wanted - sat there for another ~3 minutes. Finally we ordered some beers. The waitress who was getting our drinks held on to one of the bottles of beer while she continued a conversation with the bartender for at least a minute. It was a lot to invest for a simple beer.
I've had other good, bad and mediocre experiences. The place is often loud, with a mix of good and bad music. The thing Carly's really has going for it is the fact that they're open late, every day, and serve food late. I still come here from time to time, but there are things that make me a little evasive. Reverse-happy-hour is neat. I'd recommend staying away from the cheese quesadilla - it's *very* small. You think the price is great! But then it's a full tortilla folded in half. -
Review from Marie M.
Scottsdale, AZ
11/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great drinks, great atmosphere - food's good. I gave it a 3 out of 5 because I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to be there but it's a great place to be once you are there.
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Review from Alexandra K.
Phoenix, AZ
5/20/2011
The owner is this Australian transplant with dreads. He calls everyone "love", sometimes he's a grump. But you know... if you're nice to him, then he'll be nice to you.
Local art is on the walls and the tables. Parking is in back. Once you know where it is and where to park you're golden. You might want to google map it if it's your first time.
They're known for their hummus trio appetizer, and yeah it's ta-a-a-sty. Personally, I'd rather get the brie wedge. It comes with walnuts, dried cranberries, and relish on the side. They put warm toasted baguette slices right on top of the brie. Then the brie melts perfectly into the nuts and fruit it's sitting on. Just divine!
Happy hour you get that brie appetizer half off (what like four bucks?) and a dollar off your wine. Done and done. They've let me read an entire novel here before as I worked on my cheese and wine. No rush vibe.
(And yeah, it's a little on the trendy side. Be and be seen if that's your thing.) -
Review from christina p.
Phoenix, AZ
8/28/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I love the roasted red pepper spread and the beer selection!
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Review from Michael B.
Scottsdale, AZ
10/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Nice, hip secret locale for gourmet sandwiches and good beer choices. The place always feels a little dirty-- which i think is their intent. This is a nice little place if you want to grab a quick bite to eat and a drink before an event downtown.
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Review from Beth A.
1/24/2011
Overrated? One of a kind? Fantastic?
I think I've been to this place enough times to finally develop a concrete opinion.
Let me start out by saying I really see the appeal of this restaurant to those easily wooed by the hipster mystique. For those of us that can see through the "this little place I know..." mindset will find it more difficult to blindly rave about Carly's.
This hole in the wall on Roosevelt boasts an ever-changing local art sale/exhibit as well as live performances by local bands. I must confess I hate the local bands. Most of them are terrible, and I find it hard to enjoy my food with a wannabe Bob Dylan (not in a good way) singing about the ghettos or whatever. I just want to enjoy my $8 sandwich in peace, is that too much to ask?
The food is pretty good if you can even eat in the nauseatingly pretentious environment. At least the prices can't be argued with for the quality of food. I really like the hummus trio as an appetizer, the pear (without prosciutto) for the entree, and the gelato for dessert.
The drink selection is pretty extensive and inexpensive (yay for alliteration). The whiskey sangria is one of the best cocktails on the menu.
Overall it isn't a bad place to eat and drink, and the late night hours make it especially appealing if you can't stomach mozzarella sticks at the neighborhood Applebees. However, I wouldn't count this amongst my "go-to" places. -
Review from Mackenzie G.
Tempe, AZ
9/27/2011
The service is always terribly slow but the food is great and the happy hour prices on appetizers are irresistible. I want to bathe in the mediterranean bruschetta.
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Review from Page G.
5/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
10 PM on a Saturday night is rarely a good time to find delicious grub, but Carly's was definitely up to the task.
Drinks: try the Bloody Mary, it's the best I've had in town, and I KNOW my Bloody Mary's.
Food: I had the Cheese Dip Sampler which consisted of the Feta Rosa and the Artichoke dip. The pita seemed fresh, and tasted delicious. The Feta Rosa is super yummy, but only for those that have a love affair (like I do) with Feta cheese and Garlic. And the Artichoke Dip was delightful and definitely spicy, a nice take on an old favorite.
My complaint: the service was a bit sassy and slow. And it's a *teeny* bit hipster, so if that aggravates you, try to get past it, because the food is worth it. Especially if you drink a bloody mary ;) -
Review from Tabatha R.
Peoria, AZ
3/25/2011 8 Check-ins Here
I could eat at Carly's every single day of my life and still never get tired of it.
I am amazed at the wide array of drinks that they offer as well as the extensive food menu that offers vegetarian friendly items.
Sandwiches, salads, soups...it doesn't seem like a complicated menu, however it is very unique. Some of the sandwich combinations are things I would have never thought of in a million years, yet they are extremely tasty and fully of flavor.
I am very partial to the Turkey Melt, but the boy I'm crushing on is allergic to poultry, so when I go with him I will stick to the Pear or the Caprese.
The art is always changing in here! Every time you step foot into this place it looks entirely different, because the art is from a new artist they are featuring. You can buy the artists' work, if you please. I love looking at all of the works done by different artists around phoenix, it sort of gives me inspiration when I paint myself.
Anyway, Carly's is in my top 5 places to go... if you can top that Turkey Melt I will be thoroughly shocked. -
Review from Daniel T.
El Cajon, CA
5/31/2011
The one thing I hated about Carly's Bistro was the selection being so good I had the hardest time deciding which sandwich to order. Really, though. So many sounded so perfect at the moment that it took me until the end of everyone else's order to finally decide, and I even asked the waitress for her opinion. I went with the Prosciutto and Pear, which was absolutely delicious.
The Hummus trio appetizer was no joke, either. Great stuff.
The only actual drawbacks to the atmosphere of the restaurant were perhaps the noise level, (there was a DJ in there, and he played excellent music) but I guess we were sitting directly in front of the speakers. The other little discrepancy might be the lighting -- it seemed a little dark. But at the same time, it had more of a lounge feel, like we were in a dim hangout with music playing, and we just happened to be eating dinner.
No matter what the drawbacks, however negligible, the delicious food and excellent service trumps all. I was very disappointed not to have the opportunity to eat there again on my trip.
I'll most definitely come back. -
Review from Amanda K.
Phoenix, AZ
2/9/2011
I went to Carly's twice in one day yesterday. You say "fatass," I say "devoted to understanding the multi-faceted nature of the dining establishment." We're speaking the same language.
The first time was for a somewhat awkward and stilted department lunch...the second time, it was all about hitting up happy hour. Both experiences were excellent.
Lunch - I had the prosciutto sandwich. Absolutely delicious. The sweetness of the fig spread, the saltiness of the prosciutto, the delectable crunch of the bread...I was planning on being a lady and consuming only a delicate half, but was overcome and unable to resist the lure of the remaining portion. As other reviewers have mentioned, you receive only the barest smidgen of orzo. It's good, but, you know...blink, and you might miss that you were even eating it.
The service was slower than I would have imagined for how empty it was at the time we went, but our server was friendly and kind. No hassle about splitting our bill 6 different ways, which is always nice to avoid. Also...one of our dining companions was an adult affected by autism. He had brought his own lunch to eat into the restaurant, which obviously isn't appropriate, but the waitress handled it very gracefully and patiently answered all of his questions with a smile and no trace of an eyeroll. For me, that was what cinched a second visit.
Happy hour - We ordered the hummus duo, (olive tapenade, a generous portion of hummus, an equally generous collection of pita wedges, and chips) , the brie appetizer (a wedge of brie, a sweet onion...something? chutney?, walnuts, cranberries, apple slices, and delicious bread), and the Carly Q. All were excellent...daydreaming about that brie appetizer right now. No cocktails this time.
Service was, again, on the slower side, but nobody was a pretentious asshole or anything. In fact, nary a pretentious asshole was to be found. Maybe you only see them when you're obsessively looking for them so you can insert a scathing one-two punch into your Yelp review they will never read or give a shit about.
Just sayin'. -
Review from Steve W.
Phoenix, AZ
4/13/2011
At one time in downtown Phoenix,there was ONLY Carlys. We didn't have many choices. Now with more choices, Carlys has upped the ante. How? Breakfast!
A great sit-down brunch menu on the weekends. Now I can say ha ha ha to you who wait in line for breakfast, I'll be at Carlys getting good service, fresh egg smoked salmon and other kinds of sandwiches and such...including yogurts.
If they had drip coffee and not just coffee by the cup barrista style I'd give it 5 stars, but their Americano is a huge cup and it's strong enough for two cups of drip...and 4 cups of IHOP drip. -
Review from Bill B.
Jefferson, CO
1/17/2011
A definite favorite in the neighborhood.
The happy hour menu is always interesting and good. In several visits I've never had anything that wasn't delicious, and the beers on special are uniformly impressive.Listed in: My Virtual Living Rooms
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Review from Meghan T.
Glendale, AZ
4/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
While the ambiance was artsy and cool, the rest was good but not astounding. If you're in the area it's worth stopping by and giving it a try. The drink options were interesting, the menu looked great. The food presentation could have been better (yes, I like my food to look pretty!), but it still tasted great. The biggest downside was the service. They may have been short staffed (not sure), but the wait was extremely long. The restaurant is also a bit hard to find if you don't already know where it is.
All in all, I enjoyed my meal and may return if the stars lined up. Not sure if I'd go out of my way to visit again. -
Review from Alice C.
Phoenix, AZ
7/29/2011
Every Friday a group of about 7-10 of us will find a place in Downtown to have lunch. This week we went to Carly's.
My first comment when I went in there was that it felt like an Hostel. Mind you, I've traveled all over the world and stayed in hostels and have really enjoyed my experiences in them but I would not describle it as an upscale or artsy atmosphere. This place aims to be artsy with it's slight feel of uncleaniness but all it really acheives is, well, a slight feel of uncleaniness with that undefinable smell.
The menu was pretty interesting and I got the southwest chicken, which is basically chicken on toasted chiabatta. It was not bad, well, because I like chicken on chiabatta. But that's all it was - chicken on chiabatta with a little bit of mayo on the side. I would say it would have been great $6.50 sandwich - $8.50 if your in Scottsdale, $7.50 in Tempe but really, $6.50 in Downtown Phoenix. Unfortunately, it was $9.50.
Now a place like this I would expect really enjoyable (if not great service). I say enjoyable becuase it may be someone super friendly with an artsy background and kind of fun to talk to. Well, we got neither. Someone ordered a cup of coffee and when asked if he wanted a second cup, he said yes. Well, the bill came and he was charged for 2 cups of coffee. He said it surprised him and maybe you should tell people and the waitress said, well, no one ever said anything, with a side of sarcasm. Granted, it was the biggest side of the lunch order- the handful of terra chips does not really justify being called a "side". We asked for a to-go box and after sitting for another 5-7 minutes while she walked around and wiped down tables, I went and got my own containers. When she finally saw me, she tried to cut off the girl who was helping me and reached of them herself.
I love hole-in-the wall local joints. Unfortunately just because a place is painted oranged and has bars on the windows does not make it a cool local joint. Like the other reviewers who know downtown well, go to Cibo where the service is friendly, the food fantastic and the place is clean. -
Review from Zachary C.
Tempe, AZ
2/22/2011
This is a nice little spot.
I can imagine that it would be a nightmare to go to this bar/restaurant during any art event like first Friday. But, why would anyone subject themselves to such torture? I have found that it is better to wonder instead of worry.
On any average day, you can walk right in and have a wonderful lunch and a nice beer or drink.
Fine, fine, fine menu items include:
i. Pear - Thinly sliced Pear, Prosciutto and Brie w/ Balsamic Dressing on Focaccia.
ii. Santa Fe - Warm Roast Beef, Chipotle Mayo, Green Chilis & Swiss served on Onion Challah roll.
iii. Prosciutto - Black Mission Fig paste, Prosciutto, Gorgonzola & Provolone served on Napolitano
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How could you go wrong with these combinations of flavors between slices of artisan bread?
You can't. -
Review from Jeremy G.
12/5/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Carly's is one of those cool local spots that's a bit rough around the edges, but offers a one-of-a-kind experience. I always order the same thing when I come here. This is either an indication of my lack of imagination or means that my choice is just that wonderful. I am going to go with the latter. Southwest Chicken Sandwich. Huge chunks of chicken smothered in pesto sauce with melty cheese all bonded together by two pieces of crusty but chewy Ciabatta bread. And this bugger is massive, so it can easily be split or saved for a future meal. Best part is the chipotle mayo that comes on the side. Creamy and spicy.
The have really good happy hour specials too: half off apps, dollar off wines and beers and the beers and wines they carry are pretty good. This place is really crazy on First Fridays, so prepare yourself for that. Other than that it is a great place to grab a beer or a perfect lunch spot. -
Review from sean h.
Phoenix, AZ
1/14/2011
I feel bad giving this venerable downtown institution only 3 stars. It's got a damn good bar and vibe, and the service would be an easy 10 if it weren't for a distant memory of outside food or drink flack ... but two things: #1, it's a restaurant first. #2. I will always be back.
I first went here years ago and was profoundly disappointed with the selection of the side so much that I almost didn't come back: Chips or orzo. The chips are good, don't get me wrong, but a small handful of chips do not make an adequate side for a $10 sandwich. The orzo is a pile of boring rice-shaped nonsense in an equally idiotically small portion. And it seems like everything here is about a buck or two more than it should be.
Regardless, my standby here is the Carly-Q, a roast beef sandwich that destroys all its previous concepts found elsewhere with sheer deliciousness. Slather on the horseradish and I'm in heaven. Tonight, I deviated from the norm with a Santa Fe. Whoops. It was soaked in a bland "chipotle" mayo that killed the subtle flavors left over.
The Carly's Side Salad almost made up for it. The greens were above average, the dressing was just enough to write home about, and the bread was hands down the best side-salad bread I've yet to have.
At this point, with mediocre-plus eats, why would I come here?
Because nowhere else do I get my slice of Chicago in downtown Phoenix. Beer and music can make up for any lack of food offerings. Carly's is my late-night beacon, my super-friendly casual spot, my one of two or three places downtown I can actually stop by myself and not feel completely out of place drinking a beer or three and enjoying the music and everything the place has to offer.
Tonight, the DJ was good, not great, but he found a comfortable-enough mix between downtempo and hip-hop that one should expect from a joint that borders on the sophisticated. Carly's delivers with a live band every *other* night. D'oh.
The crowd is as diverse as they come--with every minority and majority represented. This is, as the mural with the bare-tittied vixen proclaims, a place for people.
Brief reality check/disclaimer before I go on--does your local suburban bullshit restaurant have a DJ or live music every night, if it's even open that late? Carly's does. High standards are set in Downtown for a reason. Carly's would be five stars anywhere else in the Valley but Downtown Phoenix.
I certainly enjoyed the service at the bar and my choices from the perfectly-priced vast beer selection. The front-end staff's steadfast patience among a growing crowd and my random requests after another made me feel right at home. I was thinking maybe this could still be a four or five star place--if it had a drinking patio, five would be a serious contender.
I've got to piss like a racehorse at this point, and then I remember my genuine test of a good restaurant or bar--the bathroom is a microcosm of the whole place. Shitty joint, shitty bathroom. Kickass joint, kickass bathroom.
My eyes wander as I walk in. Is the swarm of graffiti intentionally left there? Taken aback from the rest of the place, it really offers its own brand of kitsch. And then you see the slurs and gang tags and an overflowing garbage and fixtures that need a good once-over with the 409...
Ew. Three stars it is.
I only half-blame them for the bathroom. Keeping the graffiti clean would be a non-stop job, maybe they could help you complement it by dangling permanent markers from the ceiling. And every time I've been here at night there's only been two people up front to keep the place going, and they do a phenomenal job, so again, I feel bad for three stars--the staff shouldn't suffer for the establishment. But with only two people, you can only do so much.
The text on our star rating's rubric is "A-OK." And that's just what Carly's is. Maybe it's just me, but I don't go to 5-star places all the time...maybe they'd lose their luster too quick. The places I'm a regular at have their own annoying little quirks, but dammit, they are what they are for a reason that I as a lowly patron just cannot comprehend--the bar and restaurant gods have made it this way. It works, as it always has, and I go there happily.
And like true gods of their industry, Carly's will be a place that will stand on its own 20 and 50 years from now. It is Phoenix's core captured, largely for the best. -
Review from Fulano D.
Phoenix, AZ
3/17/2011
Its tough because Ive been coming here for a long time.
i was the guy at the bar studding
i had so many grand experiences but my last time there was such a disappointment i haven't been back
so do i rate low because of the one bad experience or do i rate high because of the past ??
ill rate fair
so the last time i was there the waitress took our order incorrectly.
when we got our check we noticed it was incorrect and let the waitress know.
she rolled her eyes and said shed let the manager know.
He came around and said that there was nothing wrong with the ticket because he helped bring out the meals and noticed that it was what the ticket said but i tried to explain to him that she took the order incorrectly initially, he was pissed. he walk away fixed the ticket then came back and said here you go LADIES, and walk away...(this is funny) we were a table of men
i laugh hehe.....because out of all the time i spent there and as much money as i used there and for them to think that i was trying to cheat them of some money was amazing.
so experience it for yourself and have a good time - i guess ill just have my memories of the good times, before the bad attitudes -
Review from Adeana X.
Los Angeles, CA
3/11/2011
Bloody Mary $4. :) artichoke dip $3
Friendly service -
Review from Emily C.
Phoenix, AZ
1/24/2011
Carlie's is my new favorite local watering hole. It is a small, cozy space that reminds me of the neighborhood bars in my hometown, Portland, Oregon. On top of that, they have good beer that is reasonably priced (I get so tired of $5 pints)! I waited forever to try this place, but I am so glad I did!
(The food is so-so, but reasonably healthy.) -
Review from Kaitlin A.
Peoria, AZ
10/2/2010
This is easily my all-time favorite restaurant. Excellent food, excellent atmosphere, and excellent staff. I've never been disappointed with any aspect of this establishment. The ingredients in the food are fabulous, full flavored, simple, fresh and delicious. Great art exhibits, clean bathrooms, and a low-key ambiance that is hard to find.
My only recommendation is if you aren't from the downtown area or if you're a first-timer... Steer clear of this place on First Fridays.
