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| - YARDWORK -- Culinary Dropout is Too Cool For School.
Sam Fox is crazy. Crazy like a--well-- "fox." With Fox Concepts restaurants dotting the culinary landscape, you can't go far without finding one of his kitchens' cooking. Zinburger, NoRTH Italian Farmhouse, Sauce, True Food Kitchen, Olive & Ivy, Arrogant Butcher, Modern Steak, Wildflower and Blanco Tacos + Tequila. They're sprouting up like portobello mushrooms.
His latest "gastropub," Culinary Dropout, not only has a location in chi-chi Scottsdale (natch!) but one in viva Las Vegas, inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. The latest Dropout is part of a burgeoning campus called, "The Yard."
After pouring $8 million dollars into the gigantic 53,000 square foot facility, another Dropout debuted. Culinary Dropout has a pleasing, tasty (if largely unadventurous) menu. Think "comfort food" with a little twist. With an uncomfortable price tag. An attractive antipasti menu featuring meats, veggies and cheeses kick off the event with prices from $2 for bread & olive oil and (yikes!) $13 for Iberian Ham, a Spanish delicacy.
Shared plates include brats or black mussels ($12) and their fabulous Soft Pretzels & Cheese Fondue for $10. Seven different sandwiches can be yours. Turkey Pastrami is served on a pretzel roll with Swiss cheese and coleslaw for a pricey $13. Nice. But not necessarily a bargain. A French Dip with shaved prime rib, fontina and au jus is a wallet-busting $17.
Six different salads are featured; the Winter Salad ($12) with sweet potato, apples, farro, pomegranate, black kale walnuts and goat cheese is something you'll find yourself craving.
The 11 entrées prove to be a hard choice; prices range from $13 for Meatloaf served with familiar friends, mash potatoes, gravy and green beans. The highly touted Fried Chicken gives you a rather puny breast, leg and thigh for $16. Ours was served room temperature along with the mashed potatoes and a biscuit. If it was hot, it would've been heavenly--but still expensive. I wish I knew the secret to the breading, however.
Cast your line for the delish Rainbow Trout, de-boned, beautifully filleted, prepared with plenty of butter and daintily topped with French green beans, a few caramelized shallots and toasted almonds. A nicely sized fish, but it looked a little lonely on an even bigger platter. A spoonful of Rice Pilaf or a polenta would helped justify the whopping $19 they reel out of your wallet.
Try out a few nibbles available at Happy Hour for a fraction of the price on Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. A tempting Brunch Menu is available Saturdays & Sundays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
The Yard will also house Little Cleo's Seafood Legend, which opened March 20.
One draw for The Yard will be the never-ending patio, stretching as far as the eye can see. McDonald's has a PlayHouse with a Jump- Jump and slides for AD/HD brats. Dropout has the same thing--except for hipsters. Ping- pong tables, cornhole, bocce and tetherball will keep you occupied while you wait. And wait. And wait for a table. On busy nights you can expect a 2-hour wait. At least. Parking is a challenge, but valet is free.
The Yard is still worth a look/see. But watch out: look at your wallet. See it disappear.
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