The Duce

Many mixed signals at this place. This could be a duffer or a must-​go depending on what you want:
2 stars — process. You have to go up to one window to order your food. You have to go to a different place to get your drinks. You spend more time away from your table than hanging out with your friends. The bar drinks are delish but they take forever and you are standing at the bar the whole time waiting for them to be painstakingly crafted.
5 stars — vibe. Super chill, laid back, a little hipster. Certainly come-​as-​you-​are. Chill picnic tables, both high and low tops with hangout-​type yard games. Loved it.
2 stars — service. People seemed irritated often, especially those who you have to collect your food from when they shout your nickname over the loudspeaker (and yes, a nickname is required. They ask guys to come up with a porn star name; girls, just any nickname will do).
3.5 stars — food. I had the egg sliders. Delish. I also ordered, as an extra, their pickled slaw. Not great. It is not mixed together (the cabbage is separate from the slaw topping), but they serve it in a container way too small to allow me to mix it up myself (this might be a new pet peeve of mine… food served in bowls and plates that are clearly too small).
So you need to decide what you’re looking for. If it’s a chill atmosphere with yummy drinks (that you get yourself and take a bit of time), then this is your place.

Really cool place if you’re ready to hang out and party. Went there on a Saturday night, they had a fun dance floor going with a DJ playing some 80s & 90s throwbacks. In addition, they have 3 – 4 ping pong tables, boxing ring, corn hole and a retro clothing shop for entertainment. You definitely need to check this place out if you’re in Phoenix for the weekend. Super fun and did I mention they have Old Style!!! Heeeeeck yea

Amazing place. Awesome environment and cool place with some antique and unique things to shop. I liked the hang out place on the back which is open and also the space inside has some room for indoor activity.
Great drinks and good food !! One of my favs in Phoenix,

This place was super cool!!!
The minute you pull up you know your in for a good time. I had two awesome alcoholic beverages (forgive me because i dropped the ball and forgot the names of them) one was a minty drink the other strawberry. There is a food truck outside so we ordered mac and cheese muffins. The young lady working asked me for my unique nickname so hello Curly Sue was the name i gave :)
We came on a good day they were hosting an art show called Pancake and Booze. overall a very fun place to go to! I will be back!

Had a great lunch! The mac & cheese muffins were awesome. We also had a basket of various sliders, yummy!

This was the ultimate COOL place! Wifey and I walked into this joint and, after looking at each other, both of us said «wow, cool!» The first thing you see is the ping pong tables! Then you see the boxing ring… yes, boxing ring! And it is a restaurant/bar…kind of… it is also a gym, kind of… but…overall…just cool.
We were on our last few hours in Phoenix… and this was a great choice of place to hang out until our flight…
Ok…so…we were there to eat…
First, you go outside to the trailer and counter order your food. We decided to go for three appetizers… the Mac and Cheese Balls, Pickle Slaw in a Jar and Chicken Pot Pie Jar. So, how were they? Very good!
High expectations for the Mac and Cheese Balls… I was not a fan, but wifey thought they were very good. So, I guess that rounds out to be a balance! Probably just personal preference!
The Pickle Slaw was interestingly good! Fresh cabbage, cinnamon pickles, golden raisins and pineapple. Kind of a crazy mix of things… but…really good… after that first bite of introduction!
The Pot Pie? OUTSTANDING! Wifey and I both really liked this one! We almost licked the jar clean… just get it!
We also just relaxed for over an hour and half, it was that comfortable!
While in Phoenix, we ate at several great restaurants… this was, obviously, one of these… and…we both ranked them… out of the 8 restaurants we ate at, this one ranked…
Wifey — #1 for atmosphere and #1 for food
Me — #1 for atmosphere and #4 (but the top 4 are separated by very, very, very little!)

At first I didn’t find any appeal in dinning at a place like this. Best way to put it, the duce is more like a place for single people who drink, eat, and dance. It’s good for parties and what not. It’s gets really busy and packed at night! They have a complimentary valet. Overall, despite the unusual experience, it wasn’t bad. I didn’t eat anything, but the drinks are good. Food can be a little pricy. Drinks are average priced. I’ll probably be back one day…

This review could be really long because this place has so much going on. I will make it short and to the point.
1) Food was delicious. My only complaint was that is was luke warm when served.
–Mac and cheese balls, brisket sand, breakfast sand-​all really good. The kugel was almost as good as mine, and I am critical. Dad had chicken pot pie and liked it a lot. Some items served in mason jars-​really cute touch.
Service was really slow. Staff was friendly.
2) There is so much going on. Music playing, table tennis, boxing area. It was a lot to take in, but would be a ton of fun to go again now that I know what to expect.
3) It does get loud, but my 75 year old dad enjoyed himself.

Great place — love how cute the venue is! Got the mac & cheese muffins & sliders (comes with 3 of them) for 2 people which is more than enough. Sliders were delicious however mac & cheese muffins were good but not as amazing as described in these reviews. They were fried so they turned out a bit oily…
Cute place however… I did spot a few cockroaches scurrying around on the ground :(I was in the outdoor seating area… but still was not a pleasant sight.

I’ve been wanting to go here for awhile and thought the pics looked really amazing. I didn’t understand why no one had ever suggested going here. Now I know why.
It kills me that the atmosphere is listed as «hipster» and multiple reviewers described it as such. This is one of the least hipster places I’ve ever been. I would describe the atmosphere as «trailer park chic». Although the chic part is a little bit of a stretch.
This place doesn’t work for me, but I give them credit for trying hard. It has a universal studios /​cracker barrel type vibe to it, with lots of shabby chic elements mixed in, but it’s too much — there is random stuff and signs/​writing everywhere… and feels very overwhelming and is sensory overload.
We came in the afternoon and had a few drinks and lunch. They were blaring oldies and the average customer was 65, and that includes kids skewing the average. Clearly there is nothing wrong with being in your sixties/​seventies or children, but it’s not exactly hipster.
Valet at 12 in the afternoon in an empty parking lot when it would have been easier to park ourselves just 5 ft away… that always adds to the annoyance.
I had the chicken sausage and pickle slaw and I did not care for them. Sausage was dry and slaw tasted like it had 2 cups of sugar in it. What’s good: my boyfriend had the sliders and they were awesome and they have an extensive list of creative cocktails and both the old fashioned and margarita were excellent. Service was good — everyone was very nice.
I would describe it as a family friendly spot with an interesting/​novel atmosphere. Food is southern/​home cooking/​heavy.
Boxing ring in The middle and cornhole (aka bags) which is cool, but I couldn’t stand to hear the music for more than 30 mins to stick around. I was disappointed because of the area and pictures gave me hope, but NOT my scene. I’m giving it 3 stars because it may be great for some people but not for me.

WOW! I want a place like this in Chicago. What a cool space. What friendly staff. What incredible food!
We stopped by here for a few light bites and a couple of drinks during our first day in Phoenix and were completely blown away by everything about The Duce. I only wish we had more time to hang out longer and sample more of the goodies they had to offer.
Not to mention the fact that it was super cool to see a couple casually stroll in with their canine companion. My wife and I were missing our four-​legged friends something fierce and we would’ve loved to enjoy their company in this chill atmosphere.
Next time I’m in the area, this is a MUST visit. No complaints.
Oh, and be sure to order the mac & cheese muffin bite things. They’re so good, they should actually rename them «AMAZEBALLS.» (I hate myself for saying that). ((But it’s true.))

Quite a place, the first time my friend tooked me there with our group of friends was great, at first sight is kind of weird because the place is just a huge warehouse in teh middle of nowhere and it was even weirder ‘cuz as we stepped inside there was like a flashmob or a class of swing with a big cordinated group of people, decorations were kind of retro (My friend told me the place was kind of hipster, i didn’t believe him, he was totally right), food is as weird as is good; kind of expensive but it totally worth it.
Walking by the place the retro/​hipster athmosphere really makes the experience unique, the warehouse (Inside) is divided in 3 sections: Food court, dancefloor (With bar) and the big game area were you can find tables to eat your meal, a store with tons of cool stuff (Clothes, shoes, souvenirs, etc), ping-​pong tables, and a freaking boxing ring (Really cool) and even more retro decorations (old transistor radios, 80’s cafetería style), definitely a most if you’re in Phoenix you’ll love it.

This place is hipster haven. I kinda love it.
The décor is perfect for instagram photos. The tiny shops are like a pinterest board filled with etsy items. There are hula hoops, bag games, old person shuffleboard, a boxing ring, adorable picnic tables… I mean, wtf is this even.
Drinks take a while to be made, because the bartenders actually put effort into each cocktail you request. Muddling galore here. It’s lovely. I got a giant mason jar of a raspberry mule and it was in-​fucking-​credible. Highest of recommendations. Be warned, you’ll be spending a good amount of your hard earned blogger cash because this place ain’t cheap. twenty something bucks for my drink, but it was damn tasty. Also, I was already halfway to drunk, so I couldn’t be bothered to care.
Grab your fixie, don your favorite fedora, and good luck pretending not to be impressed.

Location: Not my favorite at all! I hate walking down here from downtown.
Food: Pretty tasty! I have enjoyed all that I have ordered.
Drinks: Super pricey but super delicious! I had one of the strawberry lemonades, and a friend got the basil something drink. They put quite a bit of produce in the drinks.
Service: The bartender was rather friendly and interesting to chat with. Of course, the friend I was with talks to everyone, but still, it was fun!
The concept of the Duce is a bit confusing to me. The boxing ring, rope and weights seem out of place. Also, the clothing /​goods here are rather overpriced.
Parking: is a pain! Meters are now not as free for as long as they were before August of 2014, and there’s a teeny tiny lot near the Duce. Walking is OK if you’re with someone — but still rather sketch.

I can’t say enough about our experience at the Duce. We searched for weeks for a good venue for our party of 650 people. We were coming in for a convention. We stumbled upon the Duce. It was absolutely perfect.
First, the pricing we paid to rent the whole place out was very reasonable. There were bar stations set up everywhere. You literally never had to wait for a drink. If one bar was crowded, there were 6 or 7 other ones set up around the place.
This place is huge. Some people wanted to sit and have conversation by the food truck. Some wanted to dance. Some wanted to box and play games on the other side. There was something for everyone. The hula hoop contest was a big hit.
The DJ did a pretty good job or playing a good mix between stuff the older crowd wanted and dance music later on as the older crowd left.
The only minor «complaint» I have is if you know 600+ people are showing up at the same time for a party, maybe some other way of taking orders and getting food to patrons should be worked out. The food line was long, and some people waited well over an hour to eat. And it was hard to hear the names as they were called out over the music. Bigger bathrooms would also be great.
Other than that, everything was perfect. We’ve thrown many parties after conventions, and this was by far the biggest hit amongst our group. I just wish you guys had one of these in Nashville for our next party!
Bravo.

This place does a really good job at offering Phoenix something it doesn’t have. It brings dancing, hoola hooping, boxing, ping pong-​ing?, corn holing, and drinking all into one spot.
There are probably a couple of places like that, but not many. With the music they play, and the different scene they offer, this place is one of its own. I am happy to come here and smiling when I leave.
The prices are a bit much, you can drop plenty of money if you are buying at a whim. The drinks and cocktails are ok, I didn’t really click with any but the experience I had was unique.

This is yet another urban indoor/​outdoor market place that is becoming very popular in the Valley. Think of the food court at the mall. Independent counters to order services/​food from. Then think of a circus. Then think of the arcade Then think of a bar. Ok, got all those things in mind? cool, you’ve got the picture.
Things I like:
1. My sliders were great. The Mac and Cheese muffings were just OK for me.
2. The craziness of it all. its like walking through the mall food court. You might see any kind of activiy on display (i.e. Mall fashion show, Mall concert, Mall boxing ring.)
3. Those drinks: they are winners!
4. do they have concerts here? Geez Louise! I’d love to attend one there.
Things I’d like to see changed:
1. Nothing.
I loved this place. so unique and so cool.

The Duce is one of my favorite spots in downtown Phoenix. Unfortunately, the drinks are somewhat overpriced in my opinion, and they still don’t have A/​C. So the drinks are just ok, I’ve yet to try any of their food, and the service in my experience has always been very average.
Now that I’ve got all that out of the way, The Duce is still a cool place to hang out. It’s a truly unique atmosphere. They’ve got plenty of games (including ping-​pong tables and cornhole!), they’ve got hula hoops, they’ve got punching bags, and even a boxing ring (although this is out-​of-​bounds for the general public most of the time).
The on-​site retail store is trendy though (again) high-​priced. It’s fun to look at, but I would never shop there. If nothing else, it does add to the general ambiance of the establishment.
NOTE: be sure to check their calendar for a list of weekly events. They’ve been doing a lot of really fun events lately, not the least of which is the every-​Tuesday South Central Swing Night which consistently draws a large and interesting crowd of regulars.

First time at The Duce. Small parking lot but not an issue at 11 AM on a Sunday.
I ordered a cheeseburger from the menu and she said they only serve sliders. Okay. I ordered the famous Mac N Cheese Muffins and she said they only have Bacon Mac N Cheese (for a slight upcharge). Okay. I added an Iced Tea and it came to $ 20.25 plus tip. That’s a lot for sliders and ‘fries’.
My lunch was ready in 8 mins. You have to find a table in the open-​air place but then leave your drink to go back outside to get your food. Okay.
The sliders were a good size. They were juicy, with plenty of caramelized onions. They were very greasy tho. You can make juicy burgers without being greasy. I think they had the grill too low, so they pooled in fat.
The Bacon Mac N Cheese bites were okay but not spectacular. Again, extremely greasy. No topping crunch and no ‘brown’ spots on the bottom. They were either cooked too low or were old.
Probably won’t return considering the price and quality.

Dinner and dancing, both are top notch. The pie crust is perfect, I had the chicken potpie. Trust me, anything will taste great in that little pie crust lined mason jar. My wife had the sliders wrapped in lettuce, between the grilled onions and seasoned beef there is a ton of flavor in those little guys.
On Tuesdays they East Cost Swing and Charleston. When we were there the crowed was a great mix of 40 – 60 people of all types and skill levels. It was a super cool sweaty celebration with more smiling and laughing then a comedy club.
Until you are inside this place is sketchy; the downtown location, parking and the building itself give off a vibe after dark somewhere between urban decay and warehouse district. The payoff is inside and well worth the adventure. See you there!