Okay, let’s cut to the chase. Zinburger is Fox Restaurant Concept group’s burger (and wine) bar.
Like Culinary Dropout, Zinburger offers a Bacon Bloody Mary which is just as good:
Mix: Homemade using bacon-infused Smirnoff Vodka, Worcestershire & pepper
Chaser: None
Fixin’s: Bacon
Price: $7
Bloody Marys and burgers go well together, just ask AJ Bomber’s or Sobelman’s. Another winner from the Fox group!
Rokerij, serving authentic cuisine of New Mexico, is a favorite of many in my office.
From tapas to steak, your tastebuds will thank you for taking them on a culinary journey. I dined with a friend and we grazed the entire meal, ordering more small plates when the mood struck us.
Of course, I had to try the Bloody Mary:
Mix: Homemade
Chaser: YES-the only place I visited in AZ that offered!
Fixin’s: Celery & olive
Price: $?
The Bloody Mary was very good (and they get bonus points for the chaser), but I wouldn’t go out of my way to go to Rokerij for this drink. I would, however, go out of my way to go to Rokerij in general, because it’s awesome. Be sure to check it out.
Olive & Ivy is another-you guessed it-Fox Restaurant Concepts group member.
It’s like “enter[ing you]r own little Mediterranean world the first moment you set foot” inside. Everything feels very fresh and refreshing, including the “Ivy Mary”:
Mix: Homemade
Chaser: None
Fixin’s: Celery, lime & olive
Price: $8
Again, while delicious, unfortunately this Bloody Mary was nothing special. Skip it and indulge in an extra variety of bruschetta or flatbread at Happy Hour.
Oregano’s is a Chicago-style pizza joint that’s an Arizona institution.
Famous for their thin, pan or stuffed crust pizza, Oregano’s also has an extensive wine and beverage list.
It includes the Gibbilini Bloody Mary, named after the current owner’s father.
Mix: Homemade
Chaser: None
Fixin’s: Pickle & lemon
Price: $5.99
While you can’t beat the price or atmosphere, you’re probably better served ordering wine here as this Bloody Mary was pretty average (unlike most of their menu items).
Also know that when you go to Oregano’s–any one of their locations–you should be prepared to wait for your table. They are popular joints!
The Arrogant Butcher in the heart of downtown Phoenix is yet another feather in the Fox Restaurant Concepts group’s cap.
This one serves a wide variety of fare and features a large bar area.
In our quest to try all Fox Restaurants, we popped in here for late lunch and a Bloody Mary.
Mix: Homemade
Chaser: None
Fixin’s: 2 olives, 1 lime
Price: $5
Nothing special with this Bloody, but the food was very good.
Durant’s is an establishment that was noted frequently in my research of Phoenix-area Bloody Marys.
It is one of Phoenix’s oldest upscale restaurants and an icon.
You enter through the quaint back parking lot…through the kitchen.
Most of the dark décor inside is original, with the exception of the carpet, which I am told was only recently replaced.
Yes, opened in 1950, Durant’s remains largely unchanged. 1950s sports figures Sam Snead and Joe DiMaggio dined at Durant’s, along with movie stars of the era, including Clark Gable, John Wayne and Jane Russell and there’s quite a unique history here.
The stories may or may not be true, but it’s been said that “countless political and financial deals are still brokered back-room-style even today.” The bar’s namesake, James E. “Jack” Durant, and his silent backer Jack “Swede” McElroy met in Vegas where Durant worked for gangster Bugsy Siegel as a pit boss at the Flamingo Hotel. Bugsy was murdered and then Durant also got mixed up in the murder of a rival casino owner, so he was asked by authorities to leave Nevada.
So you see, Durant’s is deeply rooted in history and mystique. It’s a fun, clandestine place to hide away in during a weekday afternoon where you’ll have the bartender all to yourself; he’s likely been working there for many years like most of the staff and he’s more than happy to share a few stories with you over one of their excellent Bloody Marys… or three.
Mix: Homemade
Chaser: None
Fixin’s: Shrimp and lemon.
Price: $8.50
North is the Fox Restaurant Group’s Italian option.
Classy and upscale, this restaurant also keep its Bloody Marys pretty plain.
Mix: Homemade
Chaser: None
Fixin’s: Two olives, one lime.
Price: $7.50
Little Cleo’s is another member of the Fox Restaurant Group. This one is a seafood restaurant and it’s in a location called “The Yard,” a combined property with one of the Culinary Dropout locations in Phoenix.
Here, I highly recommend their daily selection of oysters and, their fresh Bloody Mary:
Mix: Homemade
Chaser: None
Fixin’s: Two olives, a lime and celery
Price: $7.50
This drink was simple, yet flavorful. Wouldn’t go out of my way to come here for a Bloody Mary, but you can’t beat the fresh seafood and the service!
If you’re ever in the Arizona area and you’re looking for a place to dine, you cannot go wrong by choosing one of the restaurants in the Fox Restaurant Concepts group.
They’ve got a variety of different restaurant types—from natural/organic and Italian to Southwestern and Mediterranean—something to suit every mood/taste bud and they’re spread out all around the area (and even into some surrounding states).
On my recent visit, I dined at Culinary Dropout for the first time. The Dropout features unique gastropub fare.
I was told I had to order the pretzels:
The Dropout also features a fabulous Bacon Bloody Mary.
Here are the stats:
Mix: Homemade
Chaser: None
Fixin’s: No messing around—just bacon.
Price: $8
This drink was simple, but one of my favorite Bloody Marys I enjoyed in Arizona. Again, highly recommend the Fox Restaurant Group family!
I had dinner one night at the Irish Wolfhound in Surprise.
This one was not on my pre-researched list of Bloodies, but hey, I was thirsty. So, in the good name of blogging, I ordered a Bloody Mary.
It was what you’d expect—pretty plain.
Mix: Average
Chaser: None
Fixin’s: Pickle, two Olives, Lemon, Lime
Out For Bloodies 