By Alison Bailin Batz
The Corieri family – founders of Bottled Blonde, Casa Amigos, Chauncy Social, Hi-Fi Kitchen + Cocktails, RnR Gastro Pub, Sandbar Mexican Grill, and The Bevvy – has been shaping the Valley’s entertainment scene for more than 30 years.
And with their latest project, the family is hoping to get tails wagging and mouths watering. Now open, Backyard at Desert Ridge is an 8,000-square-foot dog-friendly, indoor-outdoor entertainment mecca with ample yard games, flatscreen televisions, and menus for both pups and their parents to enjoy. A feast for the eyes as much as for the tastebuds, the mostly open-air space is awash in vibrant hues mixed with wood, metal and grass accents. There are bold art installations, notably massive murals of dogs in one direction and a large-scale painting of a typical sunny day in Phoenix in another, as well as greenery thanks to several plants.
Sports fans need not struggle to catch any game as there are 45 flat screens inside and out as well as four 18-by-10-foot LED projection screens, which can also be used for weekend DJ and live music sets. Guests who would rather play games than watch them can indulge in bags, Phoenix Suns-themed Pop-a-Shot, giant Jenga, Connect Four, and more to enjoy.
Executive chef Chris Kight, a veteran of both Enchantment Resort and Caesars Entertainment, is the architect of the menu. At lunch, starters and sandwich dominate the options, with early standouts including fried pickles, sticky ribs with gochujang barbecue sauce, a double-fried chicken sandwich, a Southwestern-inspired hot dog, and a hand-cut turkey wrap with bacon and Caesar dressing. There is also a selection of flatbreads from which to choose. For dinner, expect a good mix of light and hearty dishes, notably grilled shrimp with salsa verde and lime, homestyle meatloaf, roasted beets with toasted almonds, barbeque-grilled salmon with andouille sausage, and a family-style turkey pot pie. Of course, there are dog treats upon request, too.
The drink menu is a love letter to beer as there are 20 options on tap and another 20 by the bottle, including local favorites from Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co., The Shop Beer Co., Huss Brewing Co., Sonoran Brewing Co., Four Peaks Brewing Company, and more. There are several wines by the glass and bottle, and more than a dozen signature cocktails as well. The Desert Breeze Margarita, which boasts cactus as one of its ingredients, and High Tea, featuring notes of grapefruit, jasmine and pear, are especially lovely as the temperature rises. There is even a menu of shots, including options that taste like Cinnamon Toast Crunch and peanut butter and jelly. Four-legged friends may sip and savor as well thanks to a full pup-tails menu, too.
Backyard is open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Happy hour is offered from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and brunch is served weekend days.
Backyard at Desert Ridge, 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix; 480.585.5900; www.backyarddesertridge.com.