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It has been over 2 years since my original review of Roosevelt, the night of the very first Phoenix Yelp event ever. Aw, look at our little Yelp...so big and grown up now!
Back then I lived in North Scottsdale so the Roosevelt wasn't always on my radar. Now that I live downtown I'm a pretty regular patron. It is one of my favorite places to relax, and my absolute favorite of the homes that have been converted into businesses.
The bar snacks are comfort food for sure. The sandwiches are loaded with meat and cheese and if that is what you are craving they are a great choice. The tomato soup and grilled cheese is one of my favorites, as is the pretzel. You cannot go wrong with the cheese plate, it is large and full of goodies. If you see the mustard cheese on the board you absolutely must order it. It is amaaaazing.
The little rooms lend themselves to whatever kind of group you are with or mood you are in that night. You can sit at the small bar, grab the one of the front rooms with the big couch, the back room with the big table, or any of the spaces designed for small groups.
They seem pretty dedicated to having a good rotating beer selection. I can't really comment since I don't drink beer, but my husband always enjoys himself. I have noticed they tend to have a lot of hoppy beers, so if it is not your think keep that in mind. Their rotating wines are pretty good as well and I have found that most of the servers do a good job in suggesting a wine to suit your palate.
Three last notes. 1- It can be really dark in here, especially in the middle room. Really dark as in you will have to hold the candle up to the menu to read, and even then it may be difficult. 2- Avoid on First Friday. If you do go on First Friday wait until later in the night when the crowds die down. 3- They are closed on Mondays which makes me sad because I always seem to want to go on Mondays!
Why are places in Phoenix in buildings that look like abandoned houses? I swear every time I go… Read more »
Dear The Roosevelt,
My friend and I, in town from Boston, came in to enjoy a delicious beer on the night of First Friday. We thought this would be a big mistake. Thank you for proving us wrong. And thank you for proving that you are by far the superior beer drinking and food eating establishment in the downtown area.
We took it upon ourselves to steal some seats at the bar. Despite the crowd we were given above and beyond attention by your staff, the lovely ladies behind the bar. The beer flowed continuously and the food was quick and delectable! (Who knew you could do that to a hot dog?!)
Thanks for keeping such an impressive roster of beers on tap!
See you soon!
I love The Roosevelt! It's all been said. Low lighting, cozy spaces to sit and just a great all around vibe. On First Fridays it gets crazy packed, to the point where it's hard to find a place to sit or stand, but the people are cool and it still manages to be a chill atmosphere.
I went two weeks ago on a non-First Friday night (a Saturday, I believe), and the friendly people at the bar told us there were "two cubes in the front room" for my friend and I. Sure enough, two comfy little cube-like seats and a table too. It wasn't dead, but not nearly as crowded as it is on First Fridays.
I haven't had the food, but the beer selection is great. It is only a beer and wine bar, so don't go in craving a gin and tonic.
L
O
V
E
I am certainly adding this place to my growing list of favorite downtown bars. The vibe was so spot on, I could probably come here 3 nights a week and not be mad about it. I love the seating, even though it makes absolutely no sense. Comfy couches and chairs big enough for Brad E. and I to share and fit both of our badonkadonks in.. trust me on that.. junk. in. the. trunk. I ran into Joel L. here also, which is always a pleasure. Apparently the tomato soup and grilled cheese is absolutely phenomenal, and I am craving it more than anything in the entire world right now. The bartender boosted my ego about 63 notches by telling me what a lovely redhead I was, so thank you sir. You are the most wonderful person of the weekend. Their beer list is also killer and the outdoor seating area is big enough for a frat party.
I honestly cant wait to come back here. If anyone, I mean, ANYONE is in the mood for The Roosevelt, call a bitch, I am so there.
The Roos is my new favorite place in the entire area...not just downtown. I miss San Francisco every day, but this place is a great place to remind me that there are some cool, laid back, non-Scottsdale, fun-loving, good-to-drink and eat spots here in PHX. Excellent beer list and taps (sure more rotation would be welcomed from a beer geek like me) and a thoughtful and reasonable wine list as well.
Comfy seating with a great home-like, come in and sit on my leather couch, feel and attentive staff make the good drinks and food even better. Sure the seating makes it hard to people watch, but that's not why you come to the Roos. You really can't beat cheese stuffed dates wrapped in bacon with a fine double IPA. Plus the rotating specials, including rotating cheeses, are a great idea and a good value -- 5-6 bucks for a great panini, hard to beat (except by cheese stuffed dates...). And, having a beer and wine special each night is a great way to encourage people to try new drinks.
Thank you to the Roos for helping me feel at home. I love you so much that I have proclaimed I am moving to a new home that will allow me to walk to you...is there a room in the back?
As confused as the seating is in this place, the decor, ambiance and product are spot on. Cozy furniture when you get a spot. Extremely delicious bar food. Choice selection of beers and wines.
The Roosevelt is a charming place. Spending a hour here can renew your faith in Phx.
Stopped here on First Friday and was happily surprised to get a seat, along with my date. Even more happily surprised to see Tobin James, Turley, and other good wines on the specials board at decent prices. The place got a bit loud as it filled up - maybe some artwork on the walls would help the atmosphere a bit - but overall, liked the feel. Reminded me of some of the renovated house/bars back in Baltimore.
Food is upscale comfort food. He got the artery-clogging fried bologna sandwich, while I got the grilled beef w/cheese and onions (probably just as artery-clogging). Spicy marinated asparagus was a unique touch.
Watched a bit of an old Clint Eastwood flick ont he large TV over the bar, as well. Much better than having mindless sporting events on. Will definitely be back on a less-crowded night.
I can't believe I've waited so long to review the Roosevelt as it is everything I look for in a bar: amazing beers (and a significant wine list), great food , friendly staff, and a crowded yet comfortable vibe.
The setting is just about perfect. A historic house that has been renovated with modern/industrial materials, yet still maintains a sense of authenticity and encourages mingling and meeting new,friends (or just as likely, reconnecting with old ones). And, yes it can get crowded on weekend nights (and especially First Friday), so don't expect a table or seat, but to me, that is part of it's intimate charm. If you insist on a seat, come during the week, or on an weekend afternoon when the D-Backs aren't in town.
Their tap is a craft beer junkies dream line up. The cover all the bases: ales, lagers, bocks, stouts etc, including a house beer crafted by my favorite local brewery - Four Peaks. Better yet, they rotate a few taps on a regular basis and have a unique 'guest tap' so there is always a mix of the familiar and the new. If, on the odd chance that nothing on tap meets your fancy, they have over 40 bottled beers to choose from.
The food is where the Roosevelt really shines as a bar, which shouldn't be too much of a surprise, given that the bar is owned by Matt Pool. As with his breakfast joint, the emphasis here is on familiar, yet high quality comfort food - hot pretzels, roast beef sandwiches, franks and beans, grilled cheese and tomato soups, with a gourmet twist.
Staff are friendly and outgoing, and contrary to other reviews, the crowds is diverse and welcoming -- sure there are the requisite downtown hipsters (esp on First Fridays) and the Scottsdale 'slummers' on Saturdays, but depending on when you're out, there are also T-Gen scientists, downtown professionals, visiting ASU parents, suburbanites on the way to or from a game, visiting conventioneers and local residents just hanging out.
Love the space even though I can never get myself into a good one. My timing doesn't ever allow me or my peeps to do anything other than try to continually move out of the way. However, the two times I snagged a seat (it was also dead), I HAD THE BEST GRILLED CHEESE and TOMATO SOUP EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is why I love this place. That and the fact that it's in a lovely old Hansel and Gretal house.
I swung by The Roosevelt recently for the first time. I totally dug it. First of all, I love the little brick house. The structure, the exposed brick and the decor give it a great vibe.
They had some great beer on tap - I tried the house brew which I believe is a Four Peaks? It was great.
Then I struggled with my order. I need to try the grilled cheese and tomato soup as I've heard such great things about it. Instead I got the chorizo and manchego cheese over toast. Not bad. I probably would have been in love with it if the toast were actually toasty. It seemed much more than toast. I also had the dates wrapped in bacon and stuffed with Parmigiano-Reggiano. These were ridiculous. Amazing flavors, rich, yummy. I'd be ecstatic with a couple orders of these and the house beer.
I definitely need to go back soon and try the grilled cheese and tomato soup and the pretzel as I've heard so much about them.
My first visit definitely made a fan of me though and I will be happy to head back as soon as possible.
Solid stuff on tap for such a little place. Excellent atmosphere with its low lighting, spaghetti westerns and friendly staff. Finally tried some grub and the grilled cheese + tomato soup is delicious.
I've spent an entire night here with a large group and come in by myself just to grab a drink - never a bad time.
On first friday it's busy busy busy, but you will still get service asap.
One of my favorite places, ever. I often hear people complaining about Phoenix being "dead" or "boring". Well, those people haven't enjoyed a night at the Roosevelt with friends, obviously. The location is perfect. I find myself here about 3x's a week. Drink selection is right up my alley.... great wines, beer on tap, even bottled selections rock! I highly recommend this place.
The Roosevelt seeps a cool vibe that can only be attained by converting a historic house into a den of drunkeness. Ah, a banker's dream.
This is where my coworker, Dani, and I went after eating at Sens. She was going to a blind date and didn't want to show up alone, for fear that this guy would be a total psycho who would cut her hair and eat it in front of her. But this time, I already had two incredibly strong and delicious martinis from Sens and was very glad to have taken the light rail. I ordered the oatmeat stout and was quite pleased with it.
Can I just say how much I loved the decor? I totally want to move in here...or use it as inspiration for our next home.
So, the blind date guy wasn't a total scode and I let after half an hour. Dani, who was apprehensive about meeting this guy--who's a doctor, and I told her if she wasn't interested toss him my way (sorry, honey)--ended up having a good time with a nice guy.
We both ended the night exactly the same: Passed out with a cocktail in our hands.
Once again, Phoenix, you've shown me how awesome a house can be when you remove all the furniture and put in beer taps.
The place has a wonderful lounge-y feel to it. The separate, smaller rooms are great for giving any group a sense of intimacy, even when the place is packed and loud. You still feel like you and your companions have this little section of the place all to yourselves. The only problem comes from the fact that if the bar area gets packed, it can be a bit of an ordeal to get a drink.
The beer and wine selections have something to fit even the pickiest tastes. They offer beers on tap and in bottles, which is nice (sometimes draft beer just tastes better). They also have a great selection of bar food. One in our group had the chili dog and it smelled like heaven. I had the pretzel, which was warm, salty, and exactly what I craved at that point. We also saw someone indulging in grilled cheese and tomato soup. Even though I would have though that it was a bit warm for such fare, I couldn't help but drool a little at how good it looked.
I'll be going back here to try more of the food and drink. It's a great place with a good vibe. It may get crowded on the weekends, but it's worth it.
The Roosevelt is a welcome change to the packed, loud, and generic Scottsdale-type bar. They have an amazing beer selection and the location is quaint and charming.
Things I like about The Roosevelt:
- The beer selection
- Parking is easy (except on First Fridays)
- The wait staff is quick
- The snack food (yes, the pretzel!) is yummy
Things I do not like about The Roosevelt:
- The seating/layout. Because the place is pretty popular, it's nearly impossible to walk in there after dark and find a place to sit. I know the house is small, but I don't think the seating was planned to maximize the space. In the future I might think twice before going to The Roosevelt, just so I don't have to worry if we are going to end up standing in the middle of the house (and in the servers' way) because we cannot find a place to sit or mingle.
- There is a beautiful outside deck and no seating out there. In fact, you are not allowed to take your drink out there. I am sure it's some alcohol/zoning thing that they have zero control of, but it would be nice to sit out there.
Side Note: The last time I was there a security guard (or was it an actual police officer?) was standing in the back, stopping people from taking drinks outside. I totally understand that they need to regulate that situation and the guard/cop was VERY nice, but it was still a little odd to have him standing in the middle of the restaurant.
In conclusion, I really like the Roosevelt, but I think they need to re-think the seating.
My favorite downtown bar, hands down. Why? It's got the perfect atmosphere -- it's loud, but not deafening, it's cozy, it's got great character and it has a kick ass beer selection. Matt Pool can't seem to do any wrong in my eyes. Have you tried the grilled cheese and tomato soup? There's so much Gruyere on that thing it oozes out on all sides. And the creamy tomato soup, that mixture of heavy cream and savory tomato... it's bliss.
Kinda tough to get in here on a First Friday, but the Sunday all-night happy hour is an awesome deal.
Now this a place to see downtown Phoenix culture. A renovated bungalow house made into a bar. I love their beer selection and they have chosen their wines carefully. Great little spot to grab a drink late night and unwind. Only negative, if it may be called a downfall, it can be very loud with the wood floors and structure. So it's not really a date place...unless you don't really care what the other person has to say!
Since having moved into the NEW & IMPROVED Holgas on 3rd St. & Garfield, I'm discovering all of these phenomenal little house/business ventures, like The Roosevelt, within a stone's throw from my front door. I'm very much a homebody-- you know, iffy about the concept of 'people'-- so I don't venture too far from either where I live or work. It was an eye-opener when I settled into the Roosevelt Row District having come from South East Tempe. Many of these places I've seen when I've bopped up for a First Friday-- but lordy be, with the crowds that bow the walls of these businesses those nights, you can understand why I've only peeked through the windows previously.
I meandered over to The Roosevelt after I returned home from a movie at the museum, discovered my cupboards were bare, and lamented that The Lost Leaf doesn't serve food. I'll admit, I was eyed curiously by both the bartendress and what looked to be a server as I wandered in, wandered around, and tried to assess the situation-- could I go out the back door? Were there servers or was I supposed to order at the bar? Was the long table open for seating? Was it even part of the bar? What's with the cop? Oy!
Eventually, I just followed the crowd and took the last open seat at the bar next to a couple obviously on a date. The bartender handed me a menu and directed my attention to the chalkboard with the wine-by-the-glass options. I ordered a glass of Russian Jack Pinot Noir-- a medium body, very lovely, $9 pinot-- and hemmed and hawed between the Pretzel and the Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup. I opted for the latter as I was feeling more 'mealy' than 'snacky'.
While waiting for my food, I absorbed more of my surroundings now that I had my bearings. Loved the atmosphere. The lighting, the colors, the black and white movie on TV, the whole trendy somberness of the scheme. When my food arrived, I'll say, it looked great. But it had a lot to live up to; in my head I'd built it up quite a bit because Fontina & Grueyere are a couple of my favorite creamy cheeses. It was good, very good, hit the spot for 'mealy', but it fell just a bit short for me. The cheeses are very thick, and mellow, and the bread was well, very perfectly grilled panini-- and it just made me wish for an accent flavor, i.e. maybe they could garlic-rub the panini, or throw a fresh herb in there somewhere-- something just to sharpen it up a bit. The soup was a good solid staple-sort of tomato soup, nice n' creamy.
I'll defintiely be back, but probably just for the wine, maybe a pretzel. And when I'm able to drop $25 bucks on myself-- or finagle someone else into buying.
We came to Arizona to watch The Dodgers at Spring Training, and we asked the local YELPers for some advice about where to have dinner and drinks. They recommended the Roosevelt Row for art\, food, and delicious beverages.
We didn't see much art, as we weren't here for the "First Friday," which seems to be the busiest day of the month on this strip, and we didn't really look too far for food, because we ended up at The Roosevelt, which tickled our fancies for plenty of great reasons:
1. Great beer selection - We had Delerium Tremens, Stone Arogant Bastard, Roosevelt House Pale Ale, Alpine White Rascal, and Hitachi White Ale, and all of them were delicious, as well as fairly priced.
2. Fantastic food menu - There were a lot of interesting options to choose from, but we went with the Pan Del Padre (Croustini with chorizi and manchego), Nocino (basically a Media Noche without the pickles), and the Wonder Dog (a very environmentally-concious frank with your choice of toppings). Everything was tasty, and we couldn't even finish it all, because the portions were so generous.
3. AMAZING service - We're from California, and we told the staff that. There is no reason that they should be so friendly and accomidating to us, as there's no way for us to become regulars. However, they were attentive, knowledgeable, warm, and welcoming. Kori, Rachel, and Leah were all alternating behind the bar, and we never wanted for anything. Our glasses were always full with great beer (see above), our questions about the city were always answered with excitment and vigour, and our taste buds were consistantly flattered by the sumptuous fare they recommended. A+
4. Comfy Ambiance - It's a converted house, like a lot of places in this area of Phoenix seem to be, but they did it right. It's warm, comfortable, stylish, and fun. Whomever designed this place did a bang up job.
Thank you, Roosevelt, you made our first night in Phoenix a great one.
Cute little bar to catch up with the girls over beers or wine. They have a good selection of both. They also served grilled cheese and tomato soup. 5 stars right there!
After going there again on Thursday night after the OYE, I have to give 5 stars now. I tried the Grilled Cheese and Tomato soup. Holy Shnikes!!! I could have had that tomato soup poured in a glass, with a straw, and just drank it all night. Phenomenal!!! Made me forget about the sauna/bathroom, which was still ridiculous, btw. The grilled cheese was amazing too!
I have been to The Roosevelt several times now and recently took a date for a post dinner drink.… Read more »
Things I like about the Roosevelt:
- You can park right in front of it, and have rockstar parking!
- They have hard cider. (I'm not too big on beer.)
- Great service
- Clean bathrooms - This is impressive being that it is a bar/tavern.
- Good place to sit and chat with friends even though its not a "lounge" - We went on a Wednesday night
- Laid back vibe
- Food was actually quite tasty
What is there not to like?
The Roosevelt (http://twitpic.com/408gd ) has an impressive beer selection (both on draft and in bottles), very friendly staff and the place itself is very interesting. Beer prices are reasonable.
It is located inside of an old house that has been renovated and transformed into a bar. The place has high ceilings, unlike similar historic homes in the area.
We had a good time there on a Sunday afternoon, relaxin at the bar and chatting with the bar tenders.
We did not try the food.
We'll be back!
After having worked next door to the Roosevelt Tavern for over a year I feel compelled to write something. Affectionately referred to as Rosie's by me and my coworkers - I have spent many of evenings here. We used to joke with Matt that we should have a running tab for the amount of time spent in this fine establishment.
"Rosie's" is located in an old house and definitely has that warm comfy feel of home. As you walk in, a beautiful fireplace with two arm chairs to the right welcomes you. Tables, chairs and couches are scattered throughout, in the several little rooms, comprising this house with the water closet centrally located. Each room has it's own charm down to the wall paper and moldings. The cozy atmosphere, huge selection of beer and yummy nibblies makes it tough to leave. They also offer a selection of wines to choose from. It doesn't hurt that Matt & Ernie know us all by name either.
I've tried a few items from the menu and highly recommend the chips and dip, pretzel, roast beef sandwich with caramelized onions, and the tomato soup and grill cheese sandwich. Matt makes a mean grill cheese sandwich!! :) The bread is really amazing - slightly chewy and sweet with loads of owey gooey cheese. Oh man, I want me a grill cheese sandwich.
If you haven't been to Matt's other fine establishment - Matt's Big Breakfast I suggest you give it a whirl too. Home cooking at it's best!
I give The Roosevelt Tavern five stars.
I don't know why I even bother trying to go here. Every single time I walk in this place I end up walking right back out. I tried to go there with Mark J TWICE in December and both times we ended up walking out within 120 seconds. Lame!
The Roosevelt is either too crowded, or there isn't any seating, or it's filled with hipster douche bags or the service eats a dick.
My recent problems with this place include:
- Inadequate seating
- Huge waste of space/not laid out well
- Staff consists of asshats mixed with a few very cool staffers. Most of the chicks who work here are cool, but I encountered several dick tard dudes.
- Why is there a security gaurd/rent a cop here at all times? He is nice but it is too creepy for comfort. What is this? The Arizona Mills Mall?
- The suckdom ruined my birthday
- Mean people giving mean looks hamg out here a lot
On the flipside the beer selection is good and I ate here once a looooooooooooooong time ago and I think I thought it was good. I can't remember because it was so long ago. I'd love to eat here again but I can't seem to tolerate this place for more than a few minues before I stomp on off and out the front door.
Do better Roosevelt.
Okay, after recently relocating to Midtown from the vapid vortex of the valley (aka N Scottsdale) I knew I was in for some culture shock. After scouring yelp for suggestions, I grabbed my best friend Lisa and we took off an a little mid-week impromptu bar crawl to help familiarize me with my new area.
First stop, The Roosevelt.
Oh my God. How much did I freaking love this place?? I literally felt like Alice and I'd stumbled down the rabbit hole upon entering this quaint and cozy little bar, especially after spending the last 3 years up north. Where were the steroid-induced and over gelled bartenders I had come to expect? And where was the group of young 20 something girls that looked like they wanted to rip my head off right as I walked in the door?? Every where I turned there were great little details. A guy reading a book while throwing back a beer in the corner snuggled up into a chair, a group of interesting looking women having a great time discussing lord knows what, and of course the fabulous bartender that let my friend Lisa (literally the most indecisive person in the world) sample practically every beer on tap until she found the one she liked the best.
And don't even get me started on the beer. For those of you that don't know me, I had a bit of a reputation back in school for basically being able to drink my weight in booze. And yet, after two tall glasses of their intoxicating house beer, shockingly enough I had a nice little buzz going on. No, it may not have been my first drink of the night but that's besides the point : )
Sampled some food at the suggestion of my fellow yelpers, and I don't think anyone in the world has ever inhaled a grilled cheese sandwich and bowl of tomato soup as fast as I did that night. Sooo good.
Only reason I am taking a star away is because of the 1 bathroom. A situation that has proved to become a bit problematic as the place fills up.
Oh well, I absolutely loved it and will definitely return!
My main feeling while I was at the Roosevelt was that they took me for granted as a customer. This came from two main things: 1) the fact that they will not, really, make any changes to their 'snacks' menu...as a vegetarian this put me off quite a bit. 2) the fact that when some friends ordered the snacks of the day, they were told that the kitchen "got a bit of a late start, so it might be a bit longer for your food." ? If you've worked in food service, you know you had damn well better be ready to serve food when the customers walk in. Unless the cook got into some kind of predicament where she or he is unable to begin cooking when the restaurant opens, there is no valid excuse for that. Maybe my standards are ridiculously high. :)
I did like the layout of the place and the way the sunlight came in...very homey. Our server was always there when we needed her, but didn't seem overly friendly.
I don't know...I guess it just rubbed me the wrong way. I will try another place before coming back here. I would love to give it another chance, though.
Grilled cheese & tomato soup....and I don't even like tomatoes!
Delicious.
Location: Superb. Decor: Quaint.
Never tried the food, but looks like more "upscale" bar food. I.E.…
Read more »
Absolutely charming....
A friend was taking me on a bit of a tour of all-good-things-downtown, and we visted The Roosevelt for a glass of vino.
I really enjoyed the cozy and intimate atmosphere -- the service was great too -- helpful, but not clingy at all.
Just a funky little place with some interesting wine selections.
It is places like this that make me wish I lived downtown or at least closer to downtown.
I don't know if I can write anything that has not yet been written about the Roosevelt. The decor, concept, menu, and atmosphere are incredible. It is the perfect low key drinking spot. The bartenders were slammed but still accommodating the server gave us the heads up on open seating in the front room and checked on us frequently despite the crowd. I don't know if we just picked the right night to go but we didn't encounter to many undesirable characters and they seemed to keep to themselves. I am anxious to go back and try some food and explore the beer menu.
I love this bar. It has a calm atmosphere that is great for a first date scenario or meeting someone for a cozy chat. It is rather small and can get pretty packed on busy nights though. I recommend getting there early and securing a seat.
The first time I was there about a year ago, I met Ernie the owner. She was so pleasant and friendly! Now every time I go in she welcomes me by name and gives me a hug!
Good people! Great place to meet a friend and have a brew.
I've been here a handful of times, but most recently found myself here for dinner and drinks on a random Wednesday evening. We found some seats at the bar, and enjoyed several of the different brews they had on tap. I finally tried out the grilled cheese and tomato soup- delicious as described below by several.
I love The Roosevelt, it fits in well with Central Phoenix's ability to turn historic homes into quaint businesses. Check it.
I want to keep going here, I really do. I want to drink from the massive amounts of beer selections, munch on soft pretzels and converse with friends.
But I need some space. The Roosevelt has become popular and that means Scottsdale people have invaded. You'll know them when you see them; guys with collars open a bit too far, six fake-blonde girls in one group and an air of snobbishness that excludes anyone not in their group to talk to them.
Matt, I wish you the best...but I'll still be there Sunday-Thursday. ;)
The house beer here... My friend and I dropped in here for our first times and ordered it. The sweet aroma of that brew was hard to pinpoint. I said some sort of berry, he said orange, and our waitress claimed cannabis. From that point on I was sold.
Overall, I like this place. The look and ambience of the Roosevelt with their beer selection and presentation makes for a wholly enjoyable experience. It's definitely worth all the trouble trying to find the place. Depending on how you look at it, the size of this place is either a pro or a con. It's a good thing in that it builds a relaxed and quiet atmosphere, but it might be a negative in the case where the space gets filled easily. The bar is literally a house that they converted which I find cool, but I will admit that some of the rooms give off a claustrophobic feel.
The Roosevelt definitely is and will be a staple of the burgeoning arts district, so try to go by there before it becomes too well known. Make sure to check out the crazy good berry-citric-weed beer too and keep the secret to yourself.
This place could probably be really romantic on the right night, but I haven't gotten lucky there yet. Something's always felt just not quite right at The Roosevelt. There are plenty of dark nooks and crannies in which to secret yourselves away, but unfortunately, the wait staff seems to lose track of you if you're too well hidden.
The menu is mediocre and the booze is a little overpriced for the surroundings. They were quicker to chase us off the front lawn for smoking than they were with our drinks, which is always a bad sign. I think some warmth from the staff would go a long way--and I understand the place is run by wonderful people, so that shouldn't be a problem. Hoping for better luck next time, as there aren't that many bars of its type downtown. Yet.
My lovely lady introduced me to this spot on our First official Date.
I love it. It's intimate, cozy and serves good, solid beer.
All of the times I've been, the servers have been courteous, warm and knowledgeable. They've explained in detail their beer specials, where it's brewed, what style it is, etc.
The sitting areas make it easy to get comfort and get lost in conversation. The place is fairly quiet for such a small place.
The prices are fair and they offer a small, yet satisfying bar menu.
I look forward to spending more nights at the Roos (as I call it) with my girl. It made for a great first date.
Others have said it better but this place is a diamond in the rough. I'm from the Pacific Northwest so to find a place with a great beer list and delicious food (YES to the tomato soup and grilled cheese) is a joy. Go here. Go here NOW.
I'll keep this short and sweet:
Best. Bar. Ever.
Brief details:
Food 5/5, Music 5/5, Service 5/5, location 5/5 (I live downtown), Beer List 10/5 (yes, 10 out of 5), not having to deal with Scottsdale clubbers: 5/5.
The cheese plate is truly wonderful.
Beer and wine selection is plentiful and of high quality (I think, I don't really drink that shit).
The servers are hot.
The ambiance is very soothing, like the velvety wallpaper on the back wall of the cool front room (http://designyourwall.com).
This place is chalk full of urban professionals and bobos (bohemian bourgeois).
Everyone stares at you when you walk in and when you leave.
Have a happy hour here if you're into the company of other people who work for a living. Or bring a date on a Saturday eve after dinner.
When you get a seat and settle in this place is the best. If you have to stand for awhile (and you very well may have too) that part is gonna suck no doubt about it.
Went here on a Saturday night and out of the 2 hours we were here the music was 95% Radiohead and Thom Yorke solo stuff, that's what 5 star drinking establishments are made of!
Extensive wine list with a few by-the-glass selections written on the chalkboards each night. Ton's of micro beers to choose from. We didn't get a chance to eat here but the food looked like the perfect match for this place, simple, fun, and creative. I'll be back for sure with my fingers crossed that they always play 95% Radiohead and I wasn't there on a special night.
Times are Tough 2-3-4 all day…
Phoenix, AZ
Discounts
Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Category: Art Galleries
Phoenix, AZ
Category: Public Transportation
Phoenix, AZ
Category: Bakeries
Phoenix, AZ
Category: Pubs
Phoenix, AZ
Category: Lounges
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