First Dish: Rough Rider – PHOENIX magazine

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First Dish: Rough Rider – PHOENIX magazine
First Dish: Rough Rider – PHOENIX magazine

Rough Rider interior | Photo by Madison Rutherford This Theodore Roosevelt themed bar and restaurant blends in with the surroundings. For starters, a colorful portrait of the former president graces one side of the Ten-O-One building that houses Rough Rider, not to mention its location in the heart of the Roosevelt Row arts district, which is also home to the Roosevelt-inspired beer bar The . is Theodor. The area is full of tributes to Roosevelt, most of which are done in tasteful and not-too-obvious ways. What Rough Rider isn’t: a cheesy allusion to the 26th US President full of flashy teddy ephemera. The Roosevelt reference is actually pretty subtle, much like the room itself, which is in the Ten-O-One basement, accessed by a nondescript elevator. Sure, it’s named after the first U.S. volunteer cavalry led by Roosevelt during the Spanish-American War, and the decor and menu mimick that era, but a humble guest might not even understand the allusion to the president. Honorary Martini | Photo by Madison Rutherford For those who do, Rough Rider is a fun ode to the finer things of the late 19th century, home cooking with a modern twist. The raw bar section of the menu includes fish, prawns and oysters, which are flown in daily from hand-picked, high-quality suppliers. Starters include tempura cauliflower with crème fraiche and chili icing, baked brie, and a charcuterie board. As a main course we recommend prawns and grits, a comfort food classic twisted with Creole sauce, pickled corn and watercress or the forest mushrooms with mascarpone ravioli, crispy Brussels sprouts, pine nuts and a roasted vegetable demi. We’ll be back for the seared scallops with corn risotto. Forest mushrooms and prawns and groats | Photo by Madison Rutherford The extensive cocktail menu is divided into four sections: traditional tea punch with tea from the local shop Loose Leaf Market, cobbler cocktails with homemade jams, time-honored drops from the 19th century, an old fashioned with walnut and a massive pre-chilled and bottled martini). Since opening in June, Rough Rider has seen steady success with its speakeasy atmosphere and authentic drinks and dishes with savvy twists. Although its theme fits the area well, it also stands out clearly. 1001 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 602-675-0439, raurideraz.com

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