Now Open: Dust Cutter "Modern Saloon" in Downtown Phoenix

Dust Cutter had a great interior decorator, but the kitchen crew needs some work. Dust Cutter

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When a new spot opens in town, we can't wait to check it out — and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that have just opened, sampling a few items, and satisfying curiosities (yours and ours).


Restaurant: Dust Cutter
Location: Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel, 100 North First Street
Open: Grand opening was two weeks ago
Eats: Tex-Mex and desert-inspired bar snacks, sandwiches, and casual entrees
Price: $15-$25/person

We can pretty much all agree that downtown Phoenix is in need of more dining options. So, when the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel announced the official opening of Dust Cutter, which stays open until midnight (hooray!), we knew it was worth checking out sooner rather than later.

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Dust Cutter

The renovated space features a chic, rustic dining area complete with a minimalist fireplace visible to passersby on East Adams Street. In the fall and winter, it appears that the walls can be retracted to give the space a sidewalk cafe vibe that will be an especially nice addition to the downtown area.

Just past the hotel's reception desks, the well-designed space sits like a diorama off to one side of the cavernous vestibule, and on the night we visited, there was live lounge music.

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A sampling of dishes at Dust Cutter.

Felicia Campbell

The menu features a collection of localized bar snacks with a Southwestern theme along with creative-sounding cocktails, as well as salads and a few entrees.

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Dust Cutter

The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to midnight daily. There is a happy hour in the works, as well as a 6 p.m. complimentary "discovery cocktail" of the bartender's choice. Check out the full menu and get more information on the hotel website.