Thirsty Lion Pub & Grill, a self-described “upscale casual gastro-style pub,” opens Tuesday in the former Maria Maria space at Tempe Marketplace. It’ll be the Arizona debut of the concept, whose two other locations are in Portland, Ore.
The 400-seat restaurant’s contemporary Mexican decor has been replaced with wood-paneled walls and 16 60-inch plasma TVs. The outdoor bar and fire pit remain.
The menu focuses on burgers, sandwiches and brick-oven pizzas, but also detours into Scotch eggs, sushi rolls and Kung Pao chicken. The bar has 52 beers on tap.
Yes, I question if anyone who claims they are a gastropub really knows what it is.
I know what it is not. It’s not a restaurant with a really big beer list.
Great Concept, if it were a true Gastro Pub – But California Rolls? Really? Too varied of a menu in too big of a place is going to result in failure, and quickly.