Rough Rider

Great spot in Phoenix for happy hour or a fun date night. Food was tasty and unique flavors, service was great and our server was very attentive. The noise level gets a little loud but the decor is super cool and it's a great place to meet friends for a bite. We had several drinks, would recommend the smoky drink and one of the cobbler drinks. The crab dip was delicious, good size and good amount of crab. Would highly recommend the roasted chicken, it was savory and the puree under it was creamy and delicious. More of a limited menu but everything on it was delicious. Unique food combinations, not a typical steak house at all.

It’s a 5 star bar and a 4.5 star restaurant. Located ever so slightly out of the way, it has whispers of speak easy vibes. You have to take the elevator down to the basement. As you exit, you step back in time to a great bar/restaurant. The waitresses will guide you very well with the cocktails based flavor profiles that you enjoy. If you’re not in the mood for a cocktail, they have an extensive selection of high end whiskeys and tequilas that can be enjoyed neat. We had 6 people in our party and made a reservation. I don’t think we would have been seated without one for that many people. The cauliflower appetizer was great and I don’t even like cauliflower. Pictured for dinner are the market fish (trout @ $40 that night) and the pasta. The trout was excellent. We will definitely go back this bar.

I dined here on Valentine's Day with my boyfriend and we absolutely loved it! Our night at RR started off nicely with the wonderful hostesses. They were so kind, welcoming and proactive! Our server Pop (I think that was his name), was AMAZING! He was extremely attentive and friendly. Our water glasses never were less than half full. We ordered one of the Valentine's Day cocktails, the charcuterie board for our app. and we both ordered the duck for our main. That duck was one of the best things I've EVER put in my mouth. It was absolutely divine! My first time having duck too! RR was busy that day, but our food came in a timely manner. When leaving, every staff member that we walked by greeted us goodnight! We absolutely enjoyed every moment here and will DEFINITELY be back !! Thank you!

Great speakeasy/restaurant in fun basement location in downtown Phoenix. Great location and atmosphere. Service and food however was lacking ordered the seafood tower. It was pretty delicious but definitely overpriced. The mussels, steak and pork chop were just ok. Service took forever and it wasn’t very busy. And the staff barely checked on you.

This place is absolutely amazing. However, I will say it’s not in the best location of downtown Phoenix, but it is worth it. Find a place to park around the building. The food is unbelievable. The service is unbelievable. The ambience is unbelievable. I highly suggest going to Rough Rider. You gotta try the Caesar salad….OMG….the best! We ordered from the shareable menu. The muscles were fantastic. Everything was awesome.

The service was incredible! You’re definitely getting the five star experience when you dine here. The seafood towers are incredibly delicious and we split between 3-5 people I would argue it’s a fair price point! Everybody gets a little taste of everything. The drinks are top notch and the atmosphere is unbeatable. I mean it’s a secret little underground restaurant that you have to know how to get to ;-)

This restaurant/bar is easily one of my favorites in Phoenix. We started off with some oysters and jumbo shrimp from the raw bar. Oysters were perfect, and the shrimp was nice and juicy. The crab dip was also phenomenal. There's cheese in it, but it wasn't too cheese, so the crab really got to shine through. Tbh the quality and flavor almost reminded me of new england/Maryland crab, so I was definitely pleased. I went with the don't marsh my mallow drink which is part of their jam series. The drink had homemade raspberry rose jam. Definitely unique and tasty.

The roasted potatoes and artichokes were amazing! Highly recommend. The crab dip was also good. The alcoholic drinks were unique and tasty. The vibe was really cool. Definitely recommend going at least once.

This was my second visit to Rough Rider, and it did not disappoint! This time, I tried the Thai Me Up because the combination of spice and sweetness sounded intriguing--and it was absolutely delicious! One friend ordered the Divine Feminine and really enjoyed it, while another had the Strawberry Blonde mocktail and loved it as well. The service was amazing, as always, and the atmosphere was fantastic. I just need to come back during the day sometime so I can actually try and review the food!!

The overall - good food, excellent ambiance, top notch service. Our waitress was the best I've had maybe ever? She was super friendly, she was very attentive and she gave excellent recommendations for everything. The ambiance is super cool, grandpas cellar meets speak easy. It was fun to just hang out and look at everything. The food was very good but I didn't love everything. Onto the full review. The ambiance - it's just cool in here man. You need to take specifically the middle elevator down to the restaurant, specially themed for them. The inside reminded me of a more refined Undertow if you've ever been there. It's like the ultimate man cave with tons of fun compartments and portraits sprinkled everywhere. It felt otherworldly compared to what is upstairs. I loved the vibe, big points on that alone. The service - genuinely top tier. This is the best service I can remember recently. This gal was attentive at all the right moments. She was knowledgeable about everything and recommended me two different drinks that matched exactly what I was looking for. She was also just really nice, I imagine Rough Rider takes good care of their staff because she just seemed thrilled to be there. Top tier, very enjoyable experience. The food - it was good, but didn't nail everything. The drinks were unique and not over the top. Feels like lots of places are just laying on the sugar in their specialty cocktails these days - not Rough Rider. They felt extremely refined in the few different things we tried. My wife is pregnant so she had mocktail, it was excellent! I loved the different choices, you won't be disappointed if this is what you came for. A speakeasy with a great meal, of sorts? We started with the deep fried cauliflower and it was amazing. Pickled onion is so perfect in this dish and they don't use lard to fry their cauliflower so it just tasted crispy and delicious with no added "processing". I had the duck and wifey had the chicken. I did not love the greens nor the grits that came with the duck but I think that was a matter of personal preference. It tasted too floral for my liking. The duck on the other hand put some steaks I've had to shame. The crust on the skin was perfectly salted and just made the duck really assimilate across my palette (trying out the big words in this one, I'm a fancy guy now ). On the flip side, my wife's chicken was incredible to my taste. She didn't love the crispy skin but we both thought the sauce was unreal. Her sides were also great. I was only a little bummed that 2/3 of my plate were not too my liking. Again, I think these things were a matter of personal preference so not a lot of points off here. Overall - it is absolutely worth giving this place a shot. My wife and I really enjoyed it here, this is possibly my favorite place in town right now, it's going to be hard to top everything. Enjoy!

We had never been there before and were sat like naughty kids in the corner facing a wall (raw bar).. we made the best of it. Waitress was a little abrasive but on the ball. It was definitely poppin for a Friday night and the basement vibe is pretty cool. We didn't get to see the main part of the restaurant but it was nice. We ordered drinks (AMAZING)!! We shared oysters (both east coast options were phenomenal), then there was everything else... ordered a Caesar salad, roasted potatoes & artichokes, and the ragu... The salad lettuce was old and soggy.. The ragu was SO spicy and was not exactly expecting that.. and the potatoes and artichoke.. what to say about that.. the artichokes tasted like burnt Brussels sprouts which was odd and the potatoes were just okay.. surprisingly they're cooked in what seems like the same way and yet grossly different. We definitely will try this again cause so many people have raved to us about it. Maybe next time with friends while not staring at a wall and definitely with trying other options

Completed date night by reserving a late night seat at the bar for drinks and desserts. Skipped dessert because the charcuterie board was so filing and amazing. Best one I've had. Drinks were unique and perfectly crafted. The place was awesome. The hidden location had us circling at first but we had fun discovering it. The decor and atmosphere were top notch. The theme of Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders is felt all throughout. This is a rare speakeasy that actually feels like one. The wood affects and the amber lighting creates such a dim warmth. Definitely a new favorite and I've recommended this spot to every friend!

Firstly, this place is amazing. Secondly, this place is amazing. We had dinner organized for 5 of us for NYE here and were absolutely blown away by the quality of the food that was served - phenomenal. Our waitress was fantastic - very accommodating, communicative, and knew her stuff. Also she was ALOT of fun. The pictures of the food speaks volumes - even though I am not the best foodie photographer.. however the flavors were divine. Everything was perfect - I cant speak more highly of the quality, and presentation of the dishes. All were excellent. The cocktails were good - the Old fashioned became the table favourite very quickly. I tried the gin cocktail (9mm & a Three piece Suit) which was nice but the Legend Old Fashioned was better all round. We will DEF be back for a happy hour or even just to go back there again because its just so awesome! Go do it..

I came here in NYE 2022 and made a reservation and my party was put on a bar stood by the seafood. We were incredibly disappointed and frustrated but I liked the vibes so I wanted to try it again. For NYE 2024 my boyfriend and I came and we made reservations over the phone in November. I wasn't given an option about seating and when we got there there wasn't a table and we got seated at the bar. We were super frustrated because we had been planning this and it was not what we wanted. Along with that my boyfriend got stuck in the elevator. The only thing that saved the day was the bartender Brandon. He was so kind and considerate and just made us feel seen through the frustration and I cannot thank him enough. I hope he gets to see this review. He was so kind to get us complimentary drinks and was so attentive throughout the night. The food was almost pretty amazing. We shared the roast chicken and the meat and cheese board and it was incredible. So thank you Brandon for saving NYE.

If Teddy Roosevelt had a favorite spot in Phoenix, it'd be Rough Rider. The drinks? Incredible. The Spanish Caravan is smoky and smooth, while the Nouveau Sangaree is dangerously good--like, "I'll take another" good. The food stole the show. The Roasted Duck Breast was so perfect--tender with crispy skin--that I ordered it twice. No regrets. The Brussels Sprouts (no bacon jam) were crispy, caramelized, and impossible to stop eating. And don't skip the Parker House Rolls--buttery, soft, and downright heavenly with honey butter. Rough Rider delivers on vibes, drinks, and food that'll have you planning your next visit before you leave. 5 stars, 2 ducks, and one very happy diner.

This place is so cool. Tucked in the basement. Things come alive once the elevator doors open. We didn't have a reservation and they seated us at the bar. Looked like they had plenty of open tables. Food was creative and on point. Cocktails were intricate and were a cornucopia of flavor. Make sure to visit this place when in the area.

Wow wow wow! Our friends took us here and it was an amazing experience! Love the basement speakeasy vibe-super classy ambiance also... the drinks were incredible and the food was delicious. We also had outstanding service with great menu recommendations. My favorite thing was my cactus cocktail and the fried cauliflower was out of this world. Highly recommend and we will absolutely return! I would say the only downer is they sat us at a table by the sushi bar. My friends who had visited before (and had a reservation) were very disappointed with our table location. That area lacks life compared to the other sections of the restaurant. They had no other place to put us, which was upsetting since they'd made a reservation days in advance. I think this space needs work. Plus it was freezing cold! I'm assuming next to a freezer?

What a joke we called and they said come on over when we got here We couldn't even wait and have a drink. We had to wait upstairs. This place thinks it's something it's not, the hostess is enjoyed telling us no, lol

If I could give this place 6 stars, I would! I read reviews prior to coming here and noticed so many people raved about the food. I was skeptical because could that many people really love the food THAT much? I kept my expectations in check so that I wouldn't be disappointed, but OH MY GOSH, everyone was right! The food is AMAZING!! My husband and I like EVERYTHING that we got. We got the: - Fried Cauliflower: my husband said this was a 10/10 - Baked Crab Dip: warm and comforting - Seasonal Fish: The fish was trout at the time and was very similar to salmon. I loved it! And the spinach Florentine sauce was so good. - Bone-In Pork Chop: My husband finished the whole plate. Super tender pork and the apple slaw was very refreshing. I've been recommending this place to everyone since we went. The food is incredible, the atmosphere is so cool (love that you specifically have to take the middle elevator down), and we had such a great time here. I can't wait to come back here again!

Made a last minute reservation here and we loved it! My drink was super yummy (don't harsh my mallow) others drinks were good too! Friends ordered the roasted chicken and pasta and that was delicious! Highly recommend checking it and enjoying some cocktails for a date night or with some friends!

This underground restaurant provides relief from the sun with its dark but inviting aesthetic. The pictures on the walls and the menu itself create an environment that sends you back in time to Teddy Roosevelt's rough rider roots. In early October, the restaurant did a great job decorating for Halloween! There are little bats on the lights throughout the space and fake cobwebs. The aesthetic is very festive and also works well with the restaurant's subterranean character. The bar at Rough Rider is so cool with old barrels on the wall and a classic look that makes you think of Roosevelt's presidency. The cocktails are slightly pricey around $17-20ish but they pack a punch. Each cocktail I've had is well worth the price. I particularly like the "True American" with Old Forester, Fernet, and orange juice! I'm a sucker for Fernet so this drink didn't disappoint and offered a neat spin on my go-to mixing alcohol. You won't be disappointed if you stop in just for a drink before going somewhere else for dinner but you should stay for a bite if you can! I've been several times and the menu has just gotten better and better. They offer great fish and oysters if you are looking for something from the sea. Rough Rider also has great meat options. I really enjoyed the ribeye. It was so rich and paired so well with my cocktail. Rough Rider is conveniently situated on the corner of Central and Roosevelt. It is very easy to walk to from most of downtown Phoenix and the streetcar stop just across the road. Driving isn't too hard for downtown with a large parking garage next door.

This place is great. It's like a sophisticated bar. You can definitely dress up or down depending on your mood and or occasion. I recommend making a reservation especially on the weekends as it can get pretty crowded. They have two bar areas with seating and then their main dining room. I've sat at all of them and you can't go wrong. The service is great especially at the bar. The bartenders are pretty cool and knowledgeable. The food is great. I haven't had anything that I didn't like here and the servers always make some great recommendations. Definitely a place to check out for a fun night out!

This is one of our favorite restaurants. Located in the basement of a large office building in the Roosevelt Row district, You wouldn't even know it's there. One of the elevators goes down and opens up into the restaurant. I really love the decor of this place. It's definitely in a basement with the concrete walls and floors, and pipes and ductwork above. But they've furnished it in leather chairs with bookshelves and a fireplace and a gorgeous wood bar. There's a lot of Teddy Roosevelt memorabilia everywhere - - photos, paintings, and even a hunting hat and binoculars hanging on the wall. There is a dining room attached to the raw bar, and on the other side of the wall is the main dining room and bar. There is a private little room with sofas and coffee tables off to the side where they seat overflow. We had a couple of cocktails - - a bourbon-based drink called the Summer of George, and a fruit jam cocktail called Don't Harsh My Mallow. I'm not a huge fan of bourbon, but after tasting that drink, I would definitely order it. My fruit jam cocktail was an 11 out of 10! I loved it! We ordered the pork chop with apple slaw and the roasted chicken with celery puree and charred leaks. Both were amazing, just like the last time we had them. We were too full for dessert, but vow to have dessert next time. The service here is so good. Our server was helpful and friendly and right on top of things. Between the amazing food, great atmosphere, delicious cocktails, and fantastic service, there is nothing not to love here!

This is the perfect spot for a date night!! You take the elevator down in the ten-o-one building and you will be instantly impressed. The servers are extremely friendly and give great suggestions! We both enjoyed our cocktails and the crab dip is out of this world! Seriously if you get one thing only it has to be that! I will continue to come back this place is great :)

This was a very spur of the moment visit. We didn't initially plan to come but we were in the area and I have had this saved on my lists for a while now so we decided to check it out. It was a Sunday night around 6 PM and we were able to sit directly at the bar without a wait. The bartenders were extremely friendly, helpful, knowledgeable. The ambience was phenomenal, the lighting is very nice, the decor is time accurate. We definitely plan to come back and try their food selection. All we came for this time was drinks. The drink menu was extensive and creative. The bartenders were very helpful answering questions about any drinks. Pricing was very fair and drinks were very strong.

One of our absolute favorites. We often bring family here when they come into town for the experience. The vibe of the place is so fun. It's set in the late 19th and the decor is right on point. The last time we went we got to sit at the bar which definitely gave a different view of the place too, we loved it. The service was great from the host to our waitress. We got great drink recommendations and our sober family member requested a mocktail that the bartender curated perfectly! The staff was attentive and we never felt forgotten. Food and drinks came out quickly. We didn't have much hopes for the food being anything too amazing since it's a cocktail bar but boy were we wrong. The charcuterie board was what's expected of one for the most part but the potatoes and artichokes were so delicious! The chicken was probably one of the best chicken dishes I've had since moving out here. The meat was juicy, tender and you didn't even need a knife to cut it. The s'mores cake was delicious and not too sweet. And we loved that they had a vegan dessert option for our guest with a dairy allergy. We will definitely continue to come back.

Fun place! A bit hard to find as it's in the basement of a build that you have to enter through an alley. Once you get down there you are transported into another world. The decor is awesome. The bar looks really cool. They have a solid cocktail program with sophisticated ingredients. Some are reasonable and some are a bit spendy but nice. Their take on a smoked old fashioned is legit. However, venture off of the usual cocktails and try some of the others as they are very complex and tasty. For appetizers, we had the potatoes and artichokes. They were quite tasty and the more you ate and things mixed together the better it was. We split a caesar salad. It's pretty large. I didn't love it. It didn't have much of a dressing component but it was alright. Then we split a ribeye. It's 16 ounces so there is plenty to split.

First date night of the New Year and couldn't have thought of a better place. Pop was very attentive and treated us with care! Between their amazing cobbler cocktails to their baked crab dip, we always have amazing food. My favorite was the cabbage newberg but you can't go wrong with the pork chop or even share a duck leg confit! Great experience! Can't wait to go back!

Finally made plans and secured reservations to do a double date on a Saturday night and it was a swinging pendulum with the food & drinks... The ambiance, vibe, and staff are definitely top-notch here. If you don't know you gotta enter via the elevator going downstairs to access the restaurant. We were quickly seated and glazed over the menu trying to find the ideal cocktail to keep the night moving. Is it pricey, yes, so like any place you expect the best with food, drinks, and service. The mishaps for our night overshadowed the goodness. The best dish we had was the crab dip and cauliflower everything about the flavors & the sear on the food was just perfect. For dinner, I went with the ribeye steak cooked medium. The sear was great however, the piece of meat I had was extremely fatty so as I was cutting through it seemed like every piece had unwanted fat on it. Fat is key, but this was a bit too much as it was overpowering the steak. The Meatballs that were shared were good but didn't really stand out to be as stellar as they were sold. The one item everyone talks about is the Bone in Pork Chop so my buddy got that and I managed to have a few bites. Most importantly with the pork chop, gotta eat it immediately when it comes out as it got super tough towards the end. This place definitely met expectations from the Vibe & experience. Not all the food was stellar and missed the mark as far as expectations. Similar thing happened with my cocktail, as we ended up sending two cocktails back that night. One was extremely tart and nonalcoholic while the other was very strong and sat like cough syrup. I do appreciate our server Taylor as she was engaging, fun, and knew how to help us make pics from food to drinks. Looking forward to returning to try more food & drinks & hoping for less issues.

This place is really cool. Reservations recommended (maybe required?). It really gives speakeasy vibes, especially since it's underground and you take an elevator to get there! Staff were all very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. I think Andrew took care of us and he was great! We only ordered drinks, but food looked and smelled incredible! We tried three different drinks. The Don't Harsh My Mallow was my favorite!! The Port to Port was great, the bourbon and port were balanced perfectly. Infinite Playlist (happy hour menu) was so refreshing and delicious.

The food is amazing. We have the seasonal fish, pork chop, and crab dip. Service was just ok, the person taking plates had to track down our waitress to go get our check. Cocktail could not be adjusted for allergy which seemed odd since it was a simple exclusion of a cinnamon sugar rim.

Excellent, first of all make reservations, it's simple and effective. Customer Service is "Spot On" Checked in had our table and the rest of the evening was fantastic. Olivia took very good care of us, she was knowledgeable, helpful and very friendly. Cocktails were fantastic, food was great, ambiance was marvelous and Service was "Top Notch" Speakeasy fell, coming from Western ND, Teddy Roosevelt and Roughrider means a lot. Cocktails: Cactus Club and Full Moon were excellent and well balanced. Food: Shrimp Cocktail-Nice Cocktail Sauce reminded me a little of St Elmo's, Indianapolis, IN. Pricey but good. Pork Chop with the Slaw was nice, Potatoes and Brussel Sprouts side was excellent. Smores Cake was a great finish to a marvelous evening. Parking Garage to the East is a challenge once you want to leave, restaurant chomps first hour. We love this restaurant!

Appetizer: Mussels 5/5 Entree: Pork Chop 5/5 Dessert: Smores Cake & pavlova 5/5 Service was phenomenal and attentive. Ambiance was sexy and dim lit Tyler the bartender provided exceptional service, suggestions and conversation! His req did not miss!

Of course we had some trouble finding the entrance. I like what they did to the place. Ambience is 5/5. We didn't have a reservation so we sat at the bar. Oysters were fresh and delicious. Wife got a steak and I got the fish. Both were phenomenal. Food 5/5 Bartenders made us feel welcome and very hard working. Service 5/5 At these prices I expect 5/5 for everything and that's what we got. I highly recommend you give RR a shot.

Wow! I love this place - and it lives up to its instagrammable fame! The lighting is amazing and dim and the menu so beautifully curated to match that Bully of a president Theodore Roosevelt! bsolutely come here before 5pm for their happy hour as there is a mega house salad for $10 that is sure to satiate - They are a land locked state but actually have fresh seafood flown in - Alaskan King Crab is on the menu and at market price its still good to share! There are amazing seafood tower options both large and small. Ryan was a phenomenal host to the city for me giving me a ton of insite on where to go and on certain days during my stay here in Phoenix - thank you so much, sir Ill def be back to try as many cocktails are on the menu! Great work everyone Teddy Roosevelt would be proud!

We ordered east coast oysters to start and they were delicious. The Caesar was just average. I wouldn't order it again. My husband had the pork chop and it was delicious. The one bite he shared. The baked crab was pretty good. I had 4 jumbo shrimp and those were delicious. Waitress Heather was pretty friendly. The drinks were good. My hubs was a bit disappointed they didn't have Oban. Loved the vibe. I wolfing recommend sitting by the raw bar. I don't think you fully get the vibe.

This is fine dining for Phoenix area. It's a Roosevelt themed bar and restaurant. Despite being heavily decorated for the theme, the decor was still elegant and classy. The joint is located in the basement of a building and my only complaint is that you have to go upstairs to use the bathroom. For me this took me out of the element each time I had to use the ladies. We came here for my fiancé's bachelor party. They knew ahead of time and while the host mentioned it, it would have been nice if they did anything special to help us celebrate. We had several dishes that were delicious. The steak was huge, juicy, and cooked perfectly. The pasta was some of the best pasta I have ever had. The noodles were also cooked to perfection (not crunchy or soggy) and the flavors were well balanced. Our friends also enjoyed the oysters, potatoes (crispy!), and the chicken dish. The restaurant was loud so just be aware. I would definitely come back for an elegant girls night or a romantic date night.

Great service and food! The team made my birthday an incredible experience! Will be back soon

Went for a birthday. 4 top! Couldn't "stand" even though there was only one standing in an empty bar. Hospitality goes a long way and they just didn't meet the expectations. Thanks but no thanks. Came out from California to get dismissed at 8:30pm and it was NOT BUSY! Had room for 3 at bar but not 4!?!? We were willing to stand. Accommodate the room! Won't ever come back or recommend since there's nothing to recommend!

Cool place and definitely different. It is def worth a try especially for the first time. I think it could be a little Cozier for a speak easy but overall it's super fun and the staff are amazing. Very good oysters as well surprisingly!

Sooo I came in a little hangry and without a reservation on a Friday (I just didn't think about it since we were there between 3 and 4) and the hostess was amazing, she got us in but also let us know there would be a time limit because there were reservations coming in, so super amazing she did that. Service was perfection even though I had a minor fit (hangry) about the things I wanted to order having tomatoes, not really a big deal I just was having a day and there were other things I wanted but because of a new medication I couldn't so it was a whole thing for me. My friend ordered the Rib eye though and i had a couple bites of that IT WAS AMAZING he couldn't stop talking about it all night lol His cocktails he said were great and I had one of the non alcoholic cocktails the lavender honey (yay Twisted Bees!!) one and it was truly amazing, I thoroughly enjoyed it as much as I do alcoholic cocktails. Major props to the staff for ignoring my personal issues and being very attentive and helpful. I left much happier then when I came in, it turned my whole night around.

During a business trip, we visited Rough Rider for drinks and a bite to eat. The establishment perfectly captures the speakeasy essence, offering a sense of intrigue without being overly difficult to locate. And, the decor and vibe inside is fantastic. Classic speakeasy. The cocktail menu is remarkable. Their Signature Smoke is an outstanding rendition of an old fashioned, one of the best I've sampled. While priced at $35, it reflects the experience and quality you expect at such a venue. There are also many options at more standard prices for fancy cocktails. For food, we tried the baked crab dip and the carpaccio. The carpaccio was exceptional, while the baked crab dip was overpowered by lemon, diminishing its overall flavor. The staff were exceptionally warm and friendly, contributing significantly to a fun and enjoyable evening. Rough Rider is a true gem in downtown Phoenix and comes highly recommended for a unique and enjoyable experience.

It's first Friday and the area was picking up. We decided to stop in for food and drinks. We were told it's an hour wait for seats at a table and bar. Less than 10 minutes, they sat us at the bar. It was a good start but it didn't last. Not all the bartenders were busy so there were no reasons for the lack of service. My partner wanted to leave. I wanted to give them a chance. We finally ordered carpaccio and drinks and asked for the check. The carpaccio wasn't the best. It was bland. The sauerkraut, dressing and crumbs didn't help, so we pushed it aside. As for the drinks, they weren't anything unique. No one behind the bar ask how we were doing, so we left.

The drinks were amazing! The service was quick and responsive. We got the roasted chicken; best chicken I've ever had. The s'mores cake desert was amazing as well. 10/10 experience. It was fun trying to figure out how to get in too

I love the ambiance and decor of this restaurant. Once you go through the elevator, it's like being transported away to another time. Their cocktails are out of this world amazing. The chicken dish here is soo good. I still day dream about it. It's so juicy. Recently, got the duck which was also delicious. I have not had a single bad dish here! Service has always been super friendly and on top of it. Love this spot! You're definitely one of my top favorites in the neighborhood!

Rough Rider is a hidden speakeasy and one of my all-time favorite date night spots! As soon as you walk in the door it screams 'authentic' speakeasy with its traditional prohibition style and Teddy Roosevelt theme! The drinks are the highlight however their food is always delicious too! Service is always top-notch and totally keeps us coming back!

We came for the -$1 off oysters and happy hour! I wasn't a big fan of the sauce the mussels came with i thought it was pretty bland but the oysters were fantastic! They have an Apple vinaigrette that was super tasty and fresh. The potatoes and artichoke were very filling and the cocktails were great! Service was also excellent and the ambiance was nice for a date night. There was no restroom in the restaurant which i thought was strange but other than that it was a great happy hour experience.

We absolutely LOVED Rough Rider! Hubs and I went on a spur-of-the-moment Saturday date night over the summer. To our pleasant surprise, we were able to score a reservation. The only one they had available was at the raw bar which we happily accepted! Rough Rider is located in the Ten-O-One building on Roosevelt and Central. There's a sign near the elevators instructing you to take the middle elevator down to the restaurant. Once you exit the elevators, you're transported to the Victorian era. We were greeted by the hostess right away and were taken to our table shortly after. My husband and I rarely go on "official" date nights, so we decided to splurge a little. We ordered the following: Cocktails Tuna crudo Small seafood tower Smores cake Holy smokes! Everything was excellent -- from the cocktails and tuna crudo app to the seafood tower and dessert. The small seafood tower came with six oysters, six shrimp, chilled salmon dip, and a half pound Alaskan King Crab legs and knuckles. It was perfect for us to share as our "main entree," but it would also be a good starter for up to four guests. The seafood was very fresh and tasty. But the smores cake... Graham cracker blondie, chocolate, and the most perfect marshmallow whip. It's what dreams are made of! It's been five months and I still think about it. Service was great. The space was lively. We will definitely be back. Would love to dine in the main dining room by the bar next time!

Recently came in with my boyfriend for a light dinner to celebrate a new career path for myself. We sat at the bar, had a couple of drinks. There is parking next door in the garage that they will validate for you which is a plus in downtown! Once you get inside the building you have to take the elevator down to the basement to get to the speakeasy! Once you get down to the basement what you thought this experience was going to be just skyrocketed! I started with Roses by the elevator for my first drink, it was very refreshing. Not too sweet and definitely a very pretty drink! For appetizers we shared the Oysters and got an array of different Oysters. I was expecting them to be a little more salty/fishy taste kinda mild taste on the Oysters. Keep in mind there is no restroom in the speakeasy you have to go back upstairs to the main lobby in the elevator to use the restroom. It was a little bit spooky in the lobby. As a female I felt a little uneasy, especially with the homeless problem in that area. For our main plates I ordered The Bone-in Pork Chop. My boyfriend ordered The Ribeye. It took a while for the food to come out so we ordered some more drinks. I myself am more of a tequila drinker and there weren't many options for tequila, you also aren't able to swap alcohols in drinks as they are pre-batched. I got the Maestro De Maize which was my favorite drink of the night! It was spicy, sweet corn flavor which was super different never had one like it!. The sweet corn kernels on top was like the cherry on top! Once our food came out I was a bit disappointed as my food was cold but was already starving so decided to just suck it up. For how close the kitchen is to the bar the food should not be arriving cold.. My boyfriend ordered his steak medium well and his steak was super pink.. We aren't ones to send our food back but undercooked meat is unacceptable. The bartender sent the food back and said they would fire up a new steak. However less than 5 minutes later they brought out a new plate. It was cooked better but very fatty. The Fontina Aligot were tasty but again cold. I was hoping the food would be at a higher expectation with how amazing they are with their bar but unfourtnetly it was quit disappointing. I was tempted to trying the S'mores cake however with how disappointing dinner was we decided to end our experience early. There was only 1 bartender who was actually helpful and wanted to recommend us what to try. We asked a couple other bartenders and they acted too good to give us knowledge. I probably wouldn't come back unless it was for a male friend as it seems more of that type of speakeasy.

My wife and I ate here recently and really enjoyed it! The Oysters were delicious and I would highly recommend the chicken for the entree. It's like a speakeasy restaurant. A lot of fun

My husband and I were driving through the city and came across this prohibition style restaurant. You take an elevator down to the basement and make your way to an underground restaurant and bar. We made a reservation and we arrived 10 minutes before and were sat before the 10 minutes was up. The hostess with the curly hair was not very jolly but our waitress Hillary was. We were served water and our drinks right away. We ordered the small seafood tower which was $125 and the hirasama dish. For drinks I went for a glass of bubbly (comped because they did not have the one I ordered) and the "sweet nothings" cocktail which lived up to its name. My husband ordered a local IPA which he enjoyed. On the reservation we did request we were sat somewhere peaceful, and we were sat next to the main kitchen door. The "IN" "OUT" "CORNER" got a bit annoying. There was also a large amount of fruit flies down there. The shrimp was amazing, and the hirasama dish was delightfully tasty. The sweet nothings cocktail is literally just sweet nothings and it's very light. There was a very calming feel to the place even though it was packed we didn't feel rushed at all! Great music and the aesthetics were very ideal for a sexy date. The location is strange and there was a lot of homeless activity there before and after we left the restaurant. Overall great vibe, tasty fresh food that came out quickly. Hillary was great and bumbly and you could tell she enjoyed her job.

This was a very fun and unexpected experience: everything from navigating to the restaurant to the cocktail menu to the decor to the mixology show (sat at the bar). The service was great, the food was great, the noise level was intolerable on a Saturday night. Some ceiling acoustic dampening would be very much appreciated. We got the "Anywhere With You" cocktail, roasted chicken (mmm... crispy skin), and bone-in pork chop (if you don't like fatty bits, this isn't for you!). One might say that those two entrees are difficult to get right but it was amazing -- flavor, texture, doneness, juiciness. I've recommended this place to friends. If it weren't for the noise level, I would emphatically declare that "I'll definitely be back!"

Everything about our Rough Rider experience was great. Drinks food and service were all top-notch. A really fun place for a special night out. Just head down the alley on the east side of the building,enter the door, find the elevators and take the middle one to the basement. You will not be disappointed!

My friends and I were exploring the bar scene in Downtown Phoenix and decided to check this spot out. There is a parking garage next to this regular looking office building, and they do validate up to 2 hours. Once you are in the building, you find the bank of elevators and take the middle elevator down to this awesome restaurant/bar. It has speakeasy vibes that I absolutely love. Reservations are recommended, but we were able to grab a seat during happy hour in this lounge area that to me seemed like the best seats in the house. On their website they say it's like traveling back in time to the 19th century and I totally agree. The name of the place sounded like a biker bar or something, but in reality, this place is really paying homage to good ole Teddy Roosevelt. There's alot of references like this in the general area. Our servers were excellent. They were attentive and never let our cocktails or waters get low without asking if we needed more. We came at the tail end of happy hour which included quite a few of their drink going for 10 bucks. That is a great deal for expertly made cocktails. I started with the Forbidden Fruit which was a vodka based drink with guava, lemon and honey. This drink was not only delicious, but it was refreshing as well. Between my friends and I, we tried a variety of things. Some were slightly too sweet, but overall, we enjoyed everything. I would totally come back if in the area. From what I saw and smelled, it looks like their food is just as good as their drinks and I definitely want to try it.

Loved the speakeasy style and I loved the food and drinks. Lots of great choices and very knowledgeable servers made for a great night. I made a reservation late so I was seated at the raw bar.. I would want to sit somewhere else next time but again it's about the food and drink and rough rider has this down pat. The seafood tower alone is worth returning for. Go back in time for the evening!

Last weekend the hubs and I went to see Swan Lake and had decided to try a new restaurant afterwards. We had researched Rough Rider and - that was the place for us. It is in the basement of the 10-01 building on the corner of Central and Roosevelt. What a great choice! This speakeasy restaurant was quite a surprise! The menu was awesome and our server, Heather was very attentive and super helpful. We started with a Victorian era cocktail with tequila, honey, jalapeño and something I'm sure that I'm forgetting! It was so good and very refreshing. We opted for smoked salmon dip and mussels to start. The mussels came with chunky toasted bread perfect for dipping. So good. The salmon dip was delicious and since even the appetizers are generous, we had to slow it down after that. We shared the delicious duck breast on mashed potatoes and greens and a real Cesar salad made with anchovies. As much as we would have liked to try a dessert- that will be our goal the next time! Thank you Rough Rider and our super server Heather! We can't wait to return!

Cocktails are spectacular here!! Both the Violet Hours and my husband's martini were fireworks!!! Rarely do I go to a restaurant and find myself drooling over 2 different drinks at the same time!! Both our apps, the charcuterie board and brussel sprouts were exquisite!!! Talk about flavor pop for the brussel sprouts!! I've never tasted brussel sprouts prepared with cream, but WOW!!! Gimme, gimme, gimme!!! By the time the main course arrived, I was stuffed and couldn't enjoy the bone-in pork chop. It was my least favorite dish out of everything I had that night. It was too fatty and not as lean as I usually prefer my meat. The restaurant had a very underground, cool, speak- easy vibe. Our server was awesome! Even with how high inflation is right now, he scored me a complimentary panna cotta for my bday dessert!!! And boy was it heavenly!! Looking forward to coming back and enjoying those crazy good cocktails and apps!! Oh, and make sure u take the MIDDLE elevator down to the basement after entering Teddy's Preserve!! Cheers!