The Spot: The District All American Burger Bar 7333 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale 480-664-0356 districtbaraz.com
The Hours: Happy hour is normally 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, but during March Madness it is all day Monday through Friday
Perfect for: Cheap eats and watching the game outside, while not technically being outside
Interior: We swear that The District All American Burger Bar is like one of those buildings from Harry Potter that just magically appears between two other buildings. A few months ago, we didn't think there was anything between Maya Day + Nightclub, which is also owned by Triyar Entertainment Group, and Hi Fi Kitchen & Cocktails in the Scottsdale Entertainment District, but there it is: An airy, open rock 'n roll-themed restaurant and bar, looking out over Maya's pool on one side and Bottled Blonde on the other.
See also: Sumo Maya Mexican-Asian Kitchen: Happy Hour Report Card
No matter where you sit in The District, there is at least one TV in view and a friendly bartender/waiter nearby. We're not sure if this was intentional, but between the two bars inside the restaurant, it seemed like one was reserved for the female bartenders while the other held all of the male ones, who were undeniably "all American" with light hair, broad shoulders, and charming smiles.
During a Thursday afternoon visit, the crowd consisted of mainly baseball fans, decked out in their team's colors, quietly sitting around the bar and filling the more private tables with their eyes glued to the dozens of screens. But we imagine shortly after happy hour ends and the sun fully sets, the vibe of the restaurant changes just a bit.
The Food: The District keeps their menu relatively simple with just burgers (named after classic rock hits), and sides. During happy hour, all of the burgers are $5 and the sides $3, a pretty smoking deal when some of the burgers at $12 normally.
We went with the "My Kind of Town" burger, which featured gruyere, sautéed portabella, tomato confit, arugula, red onion, and bacon marmalade. The burger was overcooked, but it was still pretty good. The brioche bun was soft but able to standup to the hearty beef patty and toppings, and the bacon spread offered a satisfying saltiness with just a touch of sweetness.
For a side, we tried the onion rings, which came with ranch and a slightly spicy chipotle aioli for dipping. The rings' batter wasn't overly greasy, and the onions were cooked through. For us, though, the chipotle sauce was the best part.
Neither the burger nor onion rings especially stood out compared to other places in town, but at happy hour prices, we can't say we were disappointed either.
The Drinks: While The District does serve craft cocktails, none of them were on the happy hour menu. Instead, well drinks are offered at $5 and beers $3.
Our whiskey well drink was a little heavy on the booze, but we aren't saying that's a bad thing. The beer selection includes a variety of local brews but only a few beer options on tap, including Dow Equis and Heineken.
Conclusion: The District's happy hour was pretty medicore when it came to the quality of the food and drinks. The deals, though, were by far the best part, something surprising both for a place that caters mostly to the night crowd and a place in Old Town Scottsdale.
Are there better burgers in town? Sure, but if you're in the area and want something super cheap and filling, we'd recommend The District. Maybe with a few of those specialty cocktails in the mix and at least one or two local beers on tap, we'd be singing their praises a little louder.
Don't Miss: The chipotle dipping sauce Skip This: The beers on tap
Grade: C
