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Carlsbad Tavern

3313 N Hayden Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251-6626 (South Scottsdale)
480-970-8164
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Ranked #102 of 799 restaurants in Scottsdale
Price range: $1 - $20
Cuisines: Southwestern, Mexican
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Restaurant details
Good for: Families with children, Bar scene, Large groups, Local cuisine, Outdoor seating
Dining options: Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Reservations, Late Night
Neighborhood: South Scottsdale
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114 reviews from our community

79% Recommend
    46
    45
    12
    9
    2
Rating summary
    Food
    Service
    Value
    Atmosphere
Date Rating
Goodyear, Arizona
Senior Contributor
33 reviews 33 reviews
24 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 21, 2013 NEW

I enjoy this place in Scottsdale has outdoor seating by a waterfall which is fun and if its too hot you can sit in comfortable booths inside darker atmosphere like a bat cave!!The food is very good and reasonable prices. I had Chile Rellanos and was delicious very good size portions! The chips and salsa very good and great Margaritas!

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See 9 more reviews by debaden_12 for Scottsdale
Chandler, Arizona
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 21, 2013 NEW

I met a friend here since it was a location in the middle, I was coming from Chandler, they were coming from N. Scottsdale. I had the green chili burro with black beans and a margarita. It was the best lunch I've had in a long time, I really want to go back there but it's a bit of a... More

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Seattle, WA
Senior Contributor
46 reviews 46 reviews
28 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
20 helpful votes 20 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 11, 2013

Went here with the family on our last trip to Scottsdale. It's got a nice, broad menu. Fish and chips, burgers, Mexican-ish... My food was, frankly, kind of mediocre, but everyone else I think really liked theirs and what I tasted was quite good. Atmosphere-wise, we sat outside and it's a little like a mini-Disney, which some other reviewers mentioned.... More

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See 3 more reviews by Lulu_Hutch for Scottsdale
CarlsbadTavern, Owner at Carlsbad Tavern, responded to this review
May 13, 2013

Thank you for choosing to dine with us during your last visit to Scottsdale. We appreciate you visiting our New Mexican restaurant and we're glad to hear you had a good experience. We look forward to serving you again next time you are in town. Andrew Capriola Owner More

Annandale, Virginia
Top Contributor
54 reviews 54 reviews
40 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 21 cities Reviews in 21 cities
32 helpful votes 32 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 6, 2013

Visited here just last week, and very much enjoyed it.. the decor is tacky.. yes.. but it's supposed to be that way and is just perfect. The inside bar appears dark, but we ate out on the upper deck, which was nice because there was essentially no one near us, and we could see the whole lower deck and all... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
See 2 more reviews by Stef4115 for Scottsdale
CarlsbadTavern, Owner at Carlsbad Tavern, responded to this review
May 9, 2013

Thank you very much for choosing to dine at Carlsbad Tavern. We appreciate that you also took the time to share about your experience with other Trip Advisor users. We're glad to hear you enjoyed your food, drinks and service, as well as our patio seating. We look forward to your return visit! Andrew Capriola Owner More

Mesa, Arizona
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 28, 2013

Granted, I have never been to New Mexico. Although I have eaten with New Mexicans, and here, in the gaudy foam--caverns and artificial waterwalls. It's dim and dank, maybe you can smell a little mold but it's probably just guano. Great food, but it gives you a spicy exit later.

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CarlsbadTavern, Owner at Carlsbad Tavern, responded to this review
May 9, 2013

Thank you for choosing to dine with us at Carlsbad Tavern. We appreciate your business and are glad to hear you enjoy the ambiance and food. We look forward to serving you again soon! Andrew Capriola Owner More

Los Angeles
Contributor
13 reviews 13 reviews
7 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
12 helpful votes 12 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 27, 2013

Geez, can't some of you people take a joke? Carlsbad Tavern is adorable. Outdoor area is cozy & kitschy - we love it. The "river" - come on! It's funny! Food is good. Everything is spicy, so careful what you order. Really, the only reasons to go are the margaritas & the flan. SO GOOD! We like it for a... More

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CarlsbadTavern, Owner at Carlsbad Tavern, responded to this review
May 9, 2013

Thank you for coming in to Carlsbad Tavern. We appreciate your business and your time in sharing this review with other Trip Advisor users. As a family-run business intent on quality and excellent dining experiences, our customers' feedback is very important to us. We appreciate your kind words and we look forward to serving you again soon. Andrew Capriola Owner More

Victoria British Columbia Canada
Senior Contributor
45 reviews 45 reviews
31 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 18 cities Reviews in 18 cities
29 helpful votes 29 helpful votes
2 of 5 stars Reviewed April 25, 2013

Despite poor reviews, I decided to try this place for happy hour because it was close to where I was staying. The service was fine, we were seated on the outdoor patio right away and the wine was a deal. We ordered the nachos to share and they were terrible! A large serving with a lot chicken (strange!) and no... More

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See 3 more reviews by OceanBoulevard for Scottsdale
CarlsbadTavern, Owner at Carlsbad Tavern, responded to this review
May 9, 2013

Thank you for choosing to visit Carlsbad Tavern. We apologize your experience did not live up to your expectations. We encourage all of our guests to let us know whenever they are unhappy with any aspect of their meal or their visit. We relish the opportunity to address any issues on the spot. Once again, we are sorry and we... More

Hudson, Wisconsin
Senior Contributor
39 reviews 39 reviews
25 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed April 23, 2013

By the name of this restaurant, you'd never know it specialized in "south of the border" cuisine. It has a great outdoor patio. With the water features, you can't hear the traffic going by, and with the decorations and heaters, it's comfortable to dine all year. The food itself is okay. For spicy food, I'd rate it pretty tame--especially the... More

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CarlsbadTavern, Owner at Carlsbad Tavern, responded to this review
May 9, 2013

Thank you for choosing to dine at our family-run New Mexican restaurant. We appreciate your visit and we also appreciate you sharing your feedback. We listen carefully to all the input from our customers and act upon it. We look forward to serving you again soon -- for drinks or dinner. Andrew Capriola Owner More

Springville, Utah
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
8 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 21, 2013

We had lunch there today. They were a bit busy but still managed to take care of us in a timely manner. I had the blue corn enchiladas, normally they would be served with one chicken and one shrimp enchilada but since I don't eat shrimp they served me two chicken enchiladas. They were superb, there is something cool about... More

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CarlsbadTavern, Owner at Carlsbad Tavern, responded to this review
April 22, 2013

Thank you so very much for choosing to dine with us. We are glad to hear you enjoyed the enchiladas, the menu and service. We also want to thank you for taking the time to review the restaurant and share your recommendation with fellow Trip Advisor users. We look forward to serving you again soon! Andrew Capriola Owner Carlsbad Tavern More

Arizona
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 16, 2013

I have dined at this restaurant on several occasions. And, to be completely honest - every visit has been a excellent one. The food is consistantly good as is the service. The menu is vast and there is always something for any palate. If you're looking for a great dining experience - you can't go wrong at this place!

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CarlsbadTavern, Owner at Carlsbad Tavern, responded to this review
April 22, 2013

Thank you for your continued patronage over the years. As a local, family-run business, we truly appreciate our repeat customers. We're so pleased to hear you have consistently enjoyed our restaurant. We look forward to continuing to serve you in the future. Andrew Capriola Owner Carlsbad Tavern More

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