Culinary Dropout

You almost feel wrong eating pretzel balls and caramel corn amid Culinary Dropout’s fetching decor of magnificent green chandeliers, plush banquettes and dramatic lounge chairs. Try the honey-drizzled fried chicken or the doughy apple monkey bread. Order a round of $1.95 paper-bag beer or try one of their top-notch specialty drinks, like the Velvet Death with absinthe. Other locations: Tempe (480-240-1601) and Phoenix (602-680-4040).