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| - First, let me say, I am so happy to have Culinary Dropout open in Tempe in the Farmer Arts District. I think it is going to be an anchor establishment for lots of other development in this area and talk about a well run establishment, wow, one can almost hear the hum of operational efficiency in how this place is run and it is a big space and so popular! I took my work-team to lunch here today and honestly, no detail is overlooked and I have no doubt that in going here folks will have a consistently positive experience.
As for why it is only marked as A-Ok right now - well, my first time at this location and as with the other culinary dropout I find the food to be good but nothing, at least this time, sent me into foodie heaven. I got the fried chicken and while it was good, a bit sweet for me for some reason. Part of the reason may be that I had the Asian fusion style fried chicken from Welcome Chicken + Donuts the day before and it suffered a bit by comparison. Probably the big thing, the mashed potatoes come across as a bit too smooth - something like mashed new potatoes, done a bit thicker, would be a bit more in alignment with the sort of stomach grabbing mashed potatoes that complement fried chicken - same for the gravy, feels as bit too smoothed out versus say, a thicker gravy with a stronger component of black pepper.
I will say that the sweet potato cannelloni one of fellow diners had was well received and someone else had the M.A.C. burger and said it was one of her top five burgers. Accordingly, I bet most folks will find the food good enough. If one is a bit more of a foodie I would look to the antipasti menu where one can pick a variety of cured meets, cheeses (including pimento cheese - yum!) and other snacks - I saw some boards of those going out and they looked delicious.
Oh, the music was at a low (good volume) when my group sat down for lunch at 11:15 and then as things started to get packed, they cranked up the volume - I have a feeling that is meant to help keep things moving quickly or even more likely, I'm becoming a grouchy old guy but keeping music at a reasonable level so that it adds to the ambiance but does not overwhelm or overshadow the level of conversation seems important.
Key point here, a Yelp review is deeply personal and to some degree we have to throw in a level of "it connected with me" as a diner so that is why it is a three star - I don't hate it but I also don't go - wow, that was an uncommonly good eating experience - I'll make sure to go back a few times and see if things change as I try more things on the menu, including some of the house cocktails - at the end of the day I'm extremely happy to have this establishment in my neighborhood.
P.S. - one thing that was amazing, the apple monkey bread with ice cream dessert - that was amazing and worth getting again. :-)
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