They changed up the menu and gave the patio a facelift! I got the Cobb salad with salmon instead of chicken. Was a huge portion and very fresh. For dessert they have some s'more puffs that are my new addiction. The view is great and there's always a fun crowd.
(4)
Jaime G.
I always been a fan of this place. I love its laid back atmosphere. They have live music pretty regularly and there outdoor patio is just the right size not too little and not too big. This evening a guy named Jake played and he is AMAZING. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is I've been on a Malbec kick for a few years and there Malbec is mediocre at best. I wouldn't order it again and it was warm, really warm. I don't think I ever had red wine that warm before. But overall for a neighborhood spot this is one of my favorites.
(4)
Jameson M.
Been making this little joint my cocktail lounge, as I could spit on my place from the patio. .. when I first started coming here about seven months ago. Smash. Couldn't go wrong.... Lately. .. what the Fart noise happened?! Beer is always flat, got rid of the best one too and brought in several flavorless substitutes. Lamb too tough, fish overcooked... I don't get it. BUT! The sandwiches are pretty damn good. Breads are fresh, served a bit toasted. .. warm and a bit crunchy. Fresh meats and cheeses. Get the cheese and meats with a cocktail. Also. Go for the pastrami cheese burger. You'll pay the same at another bar for a comparable burger; but this one has pastrami.... so that's good.... ask for fries "crispy" otherwise they have a tendency to arrive much as a cat from a storm... "wet and disappointing"... what that's not how you feel when your cat shows up like that?! You know what. I don't need this crap... Where was i...Oh, yeah. MAHI MAHI tacos. Those were freakin good. Food. .. good-ish... they really can do it. .. i dunno, be specific on how you enjoy your grub cooked? Cocktails; reasonably priced and heavy handed. Get a good looking doll down there with you and have a nice night. FIX YOUR BEER!
(3)
Kim R.
An easy Sunday lunch that turned into a 2.5 hour debacle. This was our first visit and will sadly be our last. When we sat down, we were told that the kitchen was backed up because of a large party who just placed their order...but turns out never got food before closing their tabs! Suspect it was just an excuse for the horrible service we were about to get. We ordered the meat platter, BLT, and Italiana Salad. The appetizer came out minutes before the main course and was completely underwhelming. Salad greens were wilted and the bacon on the BLT was the only standout. Everything else was bland and mediocre. We waited an hour for our food and another hour for the bill. And while we waited we saw several parties sit down but change their minds before getting service and others were in the same boat as us - just waiting. Luckily the other servers stepped in to help our otherwise slammed server. I've never been so tempted to warn people walking in to turn around and cut their losses! Bottom line - Pier 54 boasts a great location by the lake but the food and service leave something to be desired.
(1)
julie h.
Love this place, its outdoors, everyone is extra friendly, service is a little slow but food is excellent.
(5)
Karen W.
Enjoy a picturesque view of the lake while dining in a casual atmosphere. Pier 54 offers sandwiches, burgers, flat bread, and salads. The first time we went here our burgers were more on the well done side rather than medium as requested, but were still tasty. I've also had the salmon BLT, which had a generous portion of tender salmon with crispy bacon and lettuce. While I've enjoyed the food here, service can be hit or miss depending on how busy it is. On our last visit they were severely understaffed and the poor waitress was the only one there to check up on a nearly full seating of tables. The plus of outside seating is that they are extremely dog friendly. The minus of eating outside (If you are sensitive to smoke) is the plethora of smokers that tend to frequent this restaurant. While the atmosphere is great, some of the chairs could use some cleaning or replacement. The ones at our table had cushions that were supposed to be a cream color, but had some dirty brown spots on them. Overall I'll definitely be coming here again to try more of their menu items, but probably at a less busy time.
(3)
John F.
The place used to be nice about 4-5 years ago. Seems like they cannot handle more business. The service is always slow and on the bad side. The view is nice and I believe they count on their local customers from the surrounding houses for business. Food is a hit or miss too. Sometimes they have really nice food. Sometimes the burgers are cold. And unfortunately, I encountered some rude behavior from the waiters too.
(1)
Evan B.
The real reason to come here is the location. Located far from major roads on a quaint little lake sits one of the best patios in town. The breakfast food we had was mediocre as the eggs were a bit over cooked and took time to arrive. If you do want a beer they have a good selection, and I cant think of a better place to sit and enjoy one.
(3)
MinhTho N.
Decided to check out this place because it is a cute and romantically lit with string lights bar by the lake. First off, the place was a bit hidden. However, sitting by the bar looking out to the lake, especially during sunset, is an awesome trade-off. Our server was very nice and attentive. She was also the bartender who made our awesome drinks: Manhattan and Moscow Mules. She even asked for a whiskey preference when it comes to Manhattan :) We ordered a grilled salmon with a side of rice and a affettato misto sandwich with fries. Sadly, the food couldn't compare to the great service and drinks. My sandwich was VERY dry. The ciabatta bread was a little bit stale. The supposed-to-be homemade pesto is too basil-y and tasted like it came from a store-bought jar. The lettuce was also not so fresh-looking. At this point, the only thing I was looking forward to trying is my side order of simply basic fries. It turned out to be so-so: plain and not crispy :( My friend's salmon was gamey and the rice was super bland, which was describe to be somewhat like a grainy mush... Overall, great atmosphere for a casual and fun date, awesome drinks, decent price. However, food needs a lot of improvement so maybe eat before then come by for drinks afterward!
(3)
Mark N.
The spot is really cool looking, a bar nestled up against the lake tucked into a corner of a larger building. I stopped by with a couple friends to have a quick drink. After quite a bit of a struggle to get someone to take our order and get some drinks, we enjoyed the time on the patio and the seats were a little old but still comfortable. Once we got our drinks, we never saw our server again. Once we finished our drinks and were ready to leave, I wandered around trying to find someone to pay our tab with for nearly 10 minutes before abandoning hope, guessing the total of our order, leaving $20 on the table and walking out. I couldn't believe it. I read some other reviews now for this place, and it seems like this is pretty commonplace type service here.
(1)
Laura C.
We were told that we had too many people and were asked to leave after we ordered food and bevs. Staff was less than friendly while several fully uniformed workers sat staring past their drinks while seated at the bar. This is not the place that it once was where my friends and my dog were welcomed.
(1)
Gabriel V.
Went here on a date because the location is awsome. The bartender knows how to make a solid Manhattan and even asked for my preference in liquor. The food on the other hand could use some improvements. I ordered the grilled salmon ( one of the more expensive items on the menu) and it was a bit dry and very ordinary. The rice it was served with was also very bland. I could have made that same quality of food on my own easily. This place is awsome for having a few drinks by the lake with a date but I would eat before I go.
(3)
Shima S.
A good place with a perfect environment to hang out. Prices are fair. The only negative point is that its not fancy at all.
(3)
Gina Z.
One of my favorite places when the weather is nice. Good food and service had always been friendly. The view is beautiful, not many waterfront places in AZ. Menu has changed but we have a party here every year of 8-12 people and everyone's able to find something. Good selection of beer and such. It's is an outdoor eatery, food may cool off fast.. sometimes they have live music so maybe hard to carry on a conversation, but it's a fun fun place with the right people!
(5)
Nora D.
I hesitate to even write a review because I don't want other people to know how FANTASTIC this place is. Wow. We had no idea what to expect when we came here (it was just close to where we heading after dinner) but oh my gosh, what a hidden gem. Except its apparently not that hidden because its a lively outside bar/restaurant. And the food is good and so cheap! Flatbreads, huge salads, delicious sandwiches (my husband got a chicken sandwich that he raved about). They had a deal that if you spent $25, you got a free bottle of wine. Seriously???? How awesome! And I almost forgot, its on a lake so you instantly feel transported to a beach vacation. Go try this price! I honestly cannot think of a negative thing to say.
(5)
L A.
I'm very torn on the stars for this review ... The view, atmosphere, upgraded comfortable patio furniture, music, ect are fantastic and definitely 5 stars. The food is around 3 stars and any drink other then beer is 2 stars at best.. Really hoping the food and drinks get a little better, we really want to support this local gem.
(4)
Royce S.
Not accommodating. Rude server. Place was empty. Still rude. Do not bring anyone here. For the love of god, do not come here. Please save your time.
(1)
Scott B.
Greatest lakeside spot for a casual drink
(5)
John S.
This is one of our favorite local hangouts that has never disappointed, and seems to be getting better with the changes they are making to the menu. They have added some great salads, excellent sandwiches, and a few cool appetizers to freshen things up. I will take pictures of the menu on my next visit, but it was late and I was enjoying wine with friends to get into trying to update yelp. On this visit I kept it simple, BBQ sliders with fries, bottle of house red, and these awesome smores puffs things that made my week. All three items were great, as was the service. The BBQ pulled pork was juicy, with a hint of heat, and the fries seem to be house made fresh cut, which is awesome for a small local establishment. This lakeside spot is great for a lazy day of drinking or nice bite to eat with family & friends. It doesn't hurt that the food is great, the staff is friendly and the drinks are cold while being within in riding distance via beach cruiser from my home.
(4)
may t.
I've been coming here for years and I love the outdoor ambiance. It's a very relaxing environment and the food is decent. It's very laid back. Come here if you want to kick back chill.... Not if you're uptight and impatient. The service can be slow but it's not a fast paced type of place. So if you wanna chill outdoors by the water with a couple drinks and appetizers, this place is a perfect gem.
(5)
Rachelle M.
Great little hidden restaurant in Tempe right on the lake! Food is good and the environment is very unique. They are dog friendly but be aware that there is no indoor seating, only outdoor. The upper patio is covered and has misters but I would be strategic as to when you visit to avoid the sweltering heat during the summer. Overall, I liked it and will be back with my dog!
(4)
N. G.
There is only outdoor seating. We had a party of 12 and they were NOT prepared at all. They knew we were coming. Our service was horrible very slow and the sever was never around. The food came out cold and not all at once. I was done eating before the hostess got her order. A couple people in our group had eaten here before and they said the food was bad then but they were giving it a second chance and yet again the food was another big disappointment. They had big cooling fans blowing on our table and when the band played the section we were sitting lost power so we had to finish in the dark and sweating our asses off cuz the blowers went out. If its winter & you want to have a drink by the "lake" then yeah I'd suggest this place, but don't waste your money if you want food.
(1)
Kelly L.
The good at Pier 54 has improved so much in the last 6 months! Their menu is full of interesting things, and it is all well prepared using great ingredients. In years past, we would come for the view & ambiance (lakeside!), and suffer through the food. But now the food is wonderful! And the tradition of great 1- & 2-man live entertainment lives on - great fun! We had a happy hour with 25-30 people in the 'downstairs' area by the dock. Despite the large group, the staff kept all of us happy with drinks & food.
(5)
Amanda F.
Really enjoyed! I had quick service, great food, and a wonderful atmosphere!! Will definitely be back for happy hour! It's truly a hidden gem! :)
(5)
Alyssa M.
Drinks Only! That would be my advice. We went here last night with a group of six and ordered multiple apps and dishes and the food was almost inedible. Don't get: pork tacos, fried cheese or calamari!! We tried fixing dishes with salt and even that didn't work too well. Also drinks were ok but all the tap beer served was somewhat warm. Basically go here for the music and ambience and maybe a mixed drink.
(2)
Mark P.
WOW! What a nightmare this place is! If I were you I would stay far away. I was there this last Thursday around 5PM. We were a party of 5. We were greeted pretty quickly, drink order taken, but then waited for drinks to arrive for at least 15 minutes.The bar was busy and taken care of , our waitress only had two other tables. Finally ordered. Food started to come out. Two of ordered fish and chips. Both came out without tarter, we had ordered extra. Waitress said they were out of tarter. We both said we didn't want fish W/O tarter. She took them back . I then ordered a burger. It came out almost raw, and smelled like rotten meat. Fries were ice cold. I sent that back and said I was done, I wanted nothing else. As my party was finished with their meals the waitress bring me another plate of fish and chips and says that they "mixed" up some tarter sauce. I kid you not , the tarter sauce was pink colored. I thought it was strange she didn't ask me before doing this, but the attempt to please was halted. Everything on this plate was cold as well. I think they took my other fries and fish I sent back and put them on a new plate with the "mixed" up tarter. Believe me out there, I am not that fussy , but this place really takes the cake!! RUN! To top everything off , no one ever came out to see what was going on, apologize, try and correct the problems the waitress was having...nothing. The waitress just said she wouldn't charging us for what was sent back!! Yikes! Like she what we were going to pay for any of it?? Pier 54...hope you read these reviews..you really need a serious makeover of staff and policy.
(1)
Steph L.
We had lunch there today. If you are looking for an easy going place w/a gorgeous view, you just found it! I was a little disappointed the menu wasn't as extensive as online, but maybe that's because we were having lunch early on a Sat. Either way, there was plenty to choose from. Hubs had a sandwich that was generous in portion and accompanied by tons of fries. I had the feta/spinach omelet, which was really good. It came w/hash browns. Our waiter was attentive. Super-reasonable prices since we both had alcoholic beverages and before tip, were barely at $30!!!
(4)
Karen W.
The group that posted today left some stuff out... I'm a regular at pier54 and I was enjoying a drink when 25 people show up. And the bartender told me that they showed up without calling ahead of time to let the restaurant know so they could of called for help with the 25 people. C'mon kids who shows up with 25 people without calling ahead to let the restaurant know. It was your own fault.
(5)
Karen R.
Ordered take-away for dinner. I arrived at the time they said it would be ready but had to wait another 20 minutes for it. Salmon looked like it was pre-packaged, thawed fish that comes in those vacuum seal bags and it was way overcooked. Also ordered bruschetta and it was on toasted white bread. The two meals and tip were not worth the experience. I would not try them again.
(2)
Adrixx C.
The first time we were here we ordered the salmon sandwich which was decent. I was very happy with the whole experience: music, drinks, food & a view. The second time I was totally disappointed! We ordered the chicken skewers which was a mistake, they were cold and dry! We ordered the smoked salmon flatbread and it tasted like a can! Music was not as good as the last time and you couldn't hear it because of the music next door. I still like the wine special, the view and the bartender's service was awesome!
(3)
Benjamin T.
I came here for Valentine's day and was seriously disappointed. Walking into the place, there was no host to greet or seat us. We had reservations and ended up walking around the empty tables looking for the one with our name on it. We finally chose a table and the food was pretty good, but my date asked for a steak knife to cut her lamb with, and our server said the place had no steak knives. Also our wine was served in tumbler glasses
(2)
Janelle L.
The only good thing about this place is the view. Absolutely beautiful lake views. That's where anything decent ends. I went there with friends for what we thought would be a relatively short lunch. It wasn't even that busy because it was overcast but it took the waitress over 10 minutes just to acknowledge us. We ordered our lunches and my friends ordered some drinks. It took the bartender 15 minutes just to get the drinks. We waited more than an hour for the food during which the waitress didn't even come over to provide updates that it was coming out or being worked on or see if we needed drink refills. We needed to leave so my friend actually had to go in the kitchen area to tell the waitress that we needed the food boxed so we could go. We get the boxed food over 15 minutes later & when I did get a chance to eat it, it wasn't even that great. Maybe this place is okay for drinks at sunset but that's about it.
(1)
Natalie S.
I'm in love with this place. Excellent food and great service. Plus the atmosphere is unique and and the view is beautiful.
(5)
Josh C.
A group of us went for happy hour and received terrible service. The bartender told us to "deal with it" and we promptly left. They were under-staffed which is bizarre for happy hour, especially at a waterfront restaurant. The Watershed next door is a much better option!
(1)
Sharlene B.
We took our 4 children for Sunday brunch ages 12, 10, 5 and 6. 6 people ate till everyone was full for under $45. We sat by the water. The kids loved watching the boats and ducks. Kids menu is an awesome value, with breakfast almost as big as an adult portion. Service was very good, and everyone was very friendly. The hashbrowns are THE BEST I have had at a resturaunt. The potatoes are thin and very well seasoned. The kids loved the pancakes with a scoop of icecream!! I loved the the veggies used were not canned or frozen in the omlets. The children left saying..,, " We should come here for breakfast everyday!!" A great family friendly place for breakfast!! Thanks to the staff working, we will be back soon.
(5)
Kalla G.
Literally the only good thing about this restaurant is the location. Aside from that, I honestly have absolutely nothing good to say. We waited 45+ minutes for food, & when the food FINALLY arrived, 3 of the 4 orders were wrong AND cold. It was so bad we complained, & waited an additional 25 minutes for one replacement order, & an hour later we're still waiting for the right eggs. When I told the MANAGER that we were still waiting on eggs, we were told that we had just put the order in, when in REALITY we had put it in over an hour & a half ago. After complaining, we were told we wouldn't have to pay for any food, which then changed to having to only pay for 2 of the four meals, & yet, when we received the check, we were billed for 3 of the 4 meals. We complained, AGAIN, & now only have to pay for drinks. But the damage has not been remedied, this was a TERRIBLE experience. I personally witnessed one table next to us walk out, & another on the verge of following in their lead. I want to preface this by saying that I only write reviews when they are either really good or really terrible, but that being said, I would highly encourage you to avoid this restaurant at all costs. In fact, I would rather go digging in a dumpster.
(1)
Marina H.
Food is phenomenal, wait staff is professional, personable and effective. Plus the view! Love love love this place!
(5)
Daniel P.
THIS IS LONG BUT WORTH IT. I've worked in the restaurant industry (Full Time) for the past 8 years now. Most bad reviews are hard for me to take seriously because usually the review is written by someone who hasn't worked in a restaurant. So I had to point that out before I begin so everyone reading this has a better sense of validating the truth to this review as it comes from the perspective of someone with an extensive back round in restaurants. So here is my family's experience we went through yesterday at Pier 54 on Easter Sunday. Let me also point out that my family has been regular customers there literally for 20 years! My Mom called in advance and made a 12:30pm reservation for 10 people at Pier 54 on Easter Sunday. Everyone places there order at 12:45 with the waitress. At around 1:50pm give or take a couple minutes, my dad asks waitress if our food is coming and she says,"yeah I know it's taking a while but one of the ovens is broken." It's been an hour still with no food, and she now tells us this about the oven? Is that real? At this point I look around the restaurant and I see some lady customer get up from her table, walks over to a waitress and screams at her saying she's walking out because her family too was still waiting for their food after over an hour. Within 15 minutes like a trickle effect I watch 3 more tables walk out haven't even gotten their food yet either. I now look over to see what the owner is doing. (Like I said my family is regulars so we know exactly who the owners are.) I am not even making this up I watched the owner get in her car and drive away as she can see plainly her restaurant and staff in disaster mode, and even worse an entire restaurant of upset customers walking out whose Easter was now ruined, and not even a sense of decency on her own to come over to every table and try to remedy the situation. I too work in a restaurant so waiting for food is understandable especially on a busy holiday, so we weren't even upset about the wait, but just the fact that not even a manager after all this time had even yet come over to apologize let alone the owner herself who left when her restaurant needed her most. Just before 2:15pm (an hour and a half after placing the order) 5 orders come out, but 5 of us still have no food. 20 minutes later the other 5 orders come out. So it's close to 2:45pm, (2 hours after the order was placed) and finally everyone has their food. Now the fact that most of the food was cold was one thing, but if any Chef that I've worked with would've seen the lack of quality of the food they served us on those plates, they would've shut down that kitchen themselves. Most of our table now leaves to find another place to eat. Im fed up and finally get up and ask the bartender who the manager was and he said he was. I explained to him what was going on, he apologized profusely and said our entire bill would be taken care of. Our waitress even comes back right after that apologizing, saying how terrible she feels that our Easter is ruined and and tells us we don't even have to wait for a bill because of what happened. So even though we had a bad experience at least the manager and server did something to try and fix it. The owner finally comes back in her car, which now the restaurant is cleared out. I walk up to her and have a great talk with her for 15 minutes about our experience, and about what went wrong, etc. She follows me back to the table where the rest of us were and she even apologizes in TEARS, saying how terrible she feels, and how sorry she is. My dad assures her everything is fine and that hed still always come back and bring others like he has been doing for 20 years. We finally are leaving and I kid you not, the owner comes back with a bill for an $80 drink tab, saying shed take care of our food but we had to pay the drinks because its against the law to take care of our drinks. Giving away free alcohol vs having to COMP drinks are 2 different things she just didnt want to pay for the bill even after her fault for ruining our Easter. That showed us right there the person she was. I brought over the bar manager who earlier told me our bill was taken care of and I ask him right in front of the owner's face, "did you tell us our entire bill would be taken care of," and he replied, "yes I did say that." The owner then says, "oh he doesn't know the rules, he was mistaken." She then tells us to pay the bill and that also we werent ever welcome back. At this point yes my dad did lose it and started cursing, which how can you blame after going through the worst restaurant experience ever in his life and then still being asked to pay $80 and being kicked out? THE BEST PART..As we were walking away I stepped to grab my keys on the table, the owner picks them up and throws them over the fence. Pier 54 in all my life I have never seen so many upset tables at once and for that you are by far the worst restaurant ive ever been to.
(1)
Colleen P.
Had horrible experience at the pier. Their grill broke we waited 2 hours for our food which was cold. Owners were very inflexible I even offered to split the bill they refused. Very bad experience. Supervisor offered to comp. us but owners refused to deal with us. Very poor management. As a person who is a professional in Tempe for 30 years I urge people to not use this restaurant. I have been going to this restaurant for over. 20 years and give them a lot of business which will cease. Very poor.
(1)
Mary V.
We've visited this restaurant monthly since 1990 and in that time it's had many owners. The recent new owners offer poor quality food and even worse, terrible live music. We have always endured through good food and bad, but the weekend music offerings have always been solid until this past year. We enjoy hearing quality musicians, not obnoxious sing-a-long drama wannabes with no sense of musicianship. Will be finding a new place to listen to music on Saturday nights. The view overlooking the lake IS fantastic, and the staff always polite and capable.
(2)
Woehale A.
This place has such a nice spot! The view of the lake and the atmosphere takes you away and makes you feel like you're in San Diego! I loved the salsa which is fresh and full of flavor and has a bit of a kick! I was pleasantly surprised to see the crab cakes looked and tasted made in house. .. mmm! The crab cakes were very good quality full of crab without the fillers and perfectly crispy on both sides. I also had a Tuna salad and was pleased as it was delicious and satisfying! It's an amazing casual bar environment to watch the sunset!
(5)
John H.
We went here for our 6 month anniversary and I have to say it could be a 3 star maybe higher depending on where you sit and who you get as a server. We sat downstairs to be close to the water and some of the tables and chairs had pigeon poop or similar on them (very appetizing). I got the lamb and my wife got the salmon. Here are some of the reasons they get a 2 star: 1) My wife and I don't drink soda, but the water was so nasty we had to order an apple juice and a diet soda just to have a drink. My wife's apple juice had floaty things in it and it made her really sick afterwords. 2) One of the waitresses accidentally set chips and salsa on our table (we thought it was something they give all their customers) and then our waitress saw her do it and came and grabbed the chips off our table and handed it to the table next to ours who ordered it. 3) A Lot of the customers seem like locals who go there all the time. We got treated as if we weren't customers and more like an inconvenience (not part of the "in" crowd). Our waitress visited our table only a few times very briefly and took forever in between trips. We waited over 15 minutes just to get the check. 4) The water where we were sitting had a bunch of filth and was turning my stomach. We ended up moving tables and that wasn't much better. The table was dirty and my wife got her brand new shirt dirty...there was an exposed socket right next to us and a bunch of local kids running around our table. (hindsight we should have sat up stairs - might have made it a 3 star). 5) The lamb had a bunch of fat on it. 6) The food was inconsistent, my wife had fries with her meal and she said they were the best fries she ever had so we ordered another side. The 2nd batch were gross and not even close to the first batch. Although the ambiance wasn't there, here are the reasons they didn't get a 1 star: 1) My wife's salmon was good 2) The lamb was good (minus the fat) 3) french fries if you get a good batch are delicious! 4) cool that is by water in AZ and that you can ride a boat to the restaurant
(2)
Bobbi Jo J.
We found this and thought this would be cool to have dinner by a lake. It had great reviews. This is definitely not a place for kids. If you are looking for a place to take a 1st date this is place the prices are decent and a great view. It is a bar atmosphere. The food is okay. Service again okay. I gave 3 stars based on view.
(3)
Paul M.
Attempted yesterday evening. . This is a smokers paradise. There is no way for a non smoker to escape. . This appeared to be an all outdoor patio experience. The bar is the centerpiece with tables in the surrounding perimeter. Most people at the bar were smoking and one table. Called my friends that were on the way and changed plans. .
(2)
Paul R.
Cool marina style bar, however the food is seriously lacking. Can't stress this enough, a $10 burger should be something special. Go for a HH drink and grab In-N-Out on the way home.
(2)
Jodi G.
Love the new menu! With all the new options I have a hard time deciding what to order. Everything I have tried has exceeded my expectations! Will definitely be going back.
(5)
Ryan M.
Pier 54 was a cool spot. Food was very good (I got the Garden burger & side salad). Service was pretty weak though. And one star off for the lack of TV accessible seating, and because half of the customers were chain smoking cigarettes.
(3)
Ryan O.
Great little gem in the middle of Tempe. Makes you feel like you are at your favorite beach dive, if only for a moment. There is a new lake side restaurant next door as well, allowing you to beach (lake) bar hop to one more spot. The summers, I'm sure are brutal, but when it's acceptable to be outside, it's worth wasting away a few hours, dreaming about cheeseburgers in paradise.
(4)
Nora M.
Awful. Walk in confused. We seat ourselves. Sit awkwardly. Wait twenty minutes. Get up. Get the waitress to take our drink order. Wait. The owner asked if we needed anything and we said we need someone to take our order and she said she doesn't handle money and allowed us to wait. Then we complained and she lied and said she came over multiple times. Couldn't get out soon enough.
(1)
Katie G.
What a wonderful hidden gem! we went for lunch...i ended up not eating and enjoying a few drinks in this amazing arizona weather! Our waitress Kit was outstanding and so much fun! My guy did eat and loved it! I am looking forward to visiting this place more often and spending some daytime here! It was crazy windy, Kit gave me a hair tie..and my guy a blanket...what?? love it.
(5)
Samantha O.
i had no idea this place existed! cute little place on a great patio over looking a lake. you feel like you've left AZ. their food is mediocre and it's nothing fancy. literally, their calamari is basically just fish sticks if that gives you any idea. we ordered chips and queso (decent), chicken strips w fries (delicious), quesadilla (good) and few other items. But the casual setting with the great view makes it a super nice spot to come for lunch and hang out for a bit. they also had a great bar area so even if you don't want to eat, this is a great drinking spot i would totally go back!
(4)
Emiley B.
This place is really cool--kind of gives the "dinner on the dock" feel of SF, but it's inexpensive and casual. There is no indoor seating, so mind the weather before you head out there. It's kind of hidden so make sure you read the directions on where to go! Service is comparable to any other bar/sports bar kind of joint, and the laid back atmosphere is part of that.
(4)
Jason B.
This place could be a really great neighborhood spot. It has great potential but the food misses the mark completely. They serve the stuff that is left over in your pantry/fridge but don't want to make so you decide to go out instead. For example they use canned salmon on top of their "salmon salad". I mean how hard is grilling a piece of frozen salmon? Their "salmon tacos" are the same thing. Their menu is all over the map and needs to be cut down by 50%. Its just a bunch of random bar food. They should choose just a few things and do them well. Not 40 things microwaved poorly. Don't even get me started on their ice. It makes their drinks disgusting. I'm almost positive it is lake water. Our server was nice but a complete clusterfuk. It took 15 minutes to get dressing for a salad. Not more dressing, just dressing period because they just forgot to put it on. I will eat and drink almost anything anywhere but I have to draw the line somewhere.
(2)
Ramona A.
Cute little place along the lakes. Drinks are expensive and the food is small portions with even bigger price.
(3)
Serena L.
Very casual bar. Food isn't bad and the drinks come quickly. I used to live in the neighborhood, and although it was usually a crowd that consisted of regulars, everyone has always been really friendly there. Lots of parking, and because it is a bar inside a neighborhood it is quiet and relaxing. The main reason to go to the bar is for a view at sunset. The bar overlooks a neighborhood lake, and people can actually travel by boat to the bar and dock right there. Calm, peaceful and friendly. They usually have someone playing live music on weekend nights and that can get pretty loud, so if you are looking for quiet on a weekend look elsewhere.
(3)
Brett P.
I've been a loyal patron for years and there is a reason why: this place rocks. What a great escape and awesome outdoor bar. Friday and Saturday nights are always a blast with live music. Very chill vibe and the friendliest staff in town. My only complaint is the eyesore restaurant across the way.
(5)
Heather D.
Went to night had the spinach dip it was good but not really any spinach more like cheese dip. Also had the fish po' boy, good not great. Drinks were good. It's dog friendly which is always nice. Great ambiance. Nice for spring happy hour
(4)
Me M.
Go here only for the "ambiance" of being on a muddy lake. The food was overpriced for the shack of a place it is and was not too good - we had fish tacos and fish and chips. My warning should have been 0 customers on Sunday at noon. The kids menu is very limited with 4 items. If you go, bring a jacket and have drinks and greasy, but good, onion rings..
(2)
Crystal Z.
IMHO, Tempe's best kept secret. I visit Pier 54 as often as I can -- and while the food isn't amazing (it actually used to be MUCH better, with some delish pastas), it's good bar food (great salads)... but let's be real. It's all about the view. Tucked away so no one knows it's there, friendly, relaxed service (and yeah, I mean slow service, but it's part of the charm of it -- come here, hang out, talk, spend time with your loved ones and snack a bit). I love going there and will keep coming back!
(5)
Christopher H.
Nice little bar on the lake in "The Lakes" subdivision. The night we went they had live entertainment (2 acoustic guitar players/singers). It kind of gives you the feeling of being somewhere else - not in the middle of the desert. The drinks were good. The food was good but, in my opinion, a little over priced. My wife had the Mahi Mahi ceasar salad and I had the Mahi Mahi tacos with onion rings. I happen to like spicy foods so the tacos were good - However, If you do not like spicy hot, do not order these. The onion rings were good - they were fresh made and the breading was unique. All in all, a nice evening - good food (although a little over priced), good drinks, top notch entertainment, and great ambience!
(4)
The Rue D.
Peer Off The Pier My Dear By The Rue Satruday night stopped at Pier Fifty Four, This is a place I'd never been before, The second I pulled up I knew I had scored, Live acoustic music didn't bore, I'm going to come by here a lot more, Really was hoping to check out some slores, I guess this night it just wasn't in store, I wonder if it's because I'm poor, My friends wife calls me a male whore, Even though all the stories are just folk lore, After hiking Usery Mountain my legs were sore, This place sits on the lake shore, I like to mine for gold not ore, I cut some serious rug on the dance floor, Not as good looking as the God Thor, My kiss will rock you to your core, I'll steal your underwear from your drawer, After the 3rd orgasm you'll yell "FORE"! Back Door!!
(4)
L G.
We love the atmosphere of PIer 54. The pizza and quesadillas are pretty good. You are really going there for the atmosphere and a drink. Heads up DOG OWNERS: Recently they are NOT dog friendly any more. The pup's have to stay on the outside of the fence. But the waitresses are always so nice and bring a bowl of water for the dog. So still bring them, just know there not allowed on patio any longer.
(4)
Candace R.
I met up with a couple of friends here for dinner on a beautiful Saturday evening. The place was pretty poppin' so I was surprised that we were able to get a table near the water. There's a disclaimer on their menu that the service is "very relaxed", but I would say that we were ignored for about 20 minutes before anyone came and gave us the time of day. After that, the service was pretty standard. I ordered the southwestern chicken sandwich with fries and I enjoyed my meal, everyone else seemed pretty "meh" about everything. This would be a great place to enjoy a few drinks and the music and the view, but I probably wouldn't pick it out for dinner again.
(3)
Lauren P.
We bought some out of town relatives here to do something different. While the view of the lake are great, we felt the service, atmosphere and food needed some improvement. The chairs were breaking, our server wasn't very attentive (drinks were never refilled) and the food was just OK. The fries were over seasoned and the chicken was dry, but the fish in the fish and chips was good. This place seems like a better place to go for a drink on a nice evening opposed to a meal.
(2)
Christian D.
Location, check. Views, check. Service, check. Food...it can easily be improved. I felt like I was being served food that came from the frozen food aisle and microwaved. I understand it's supposed to be a casual neighborhood spot to mingle with your friends and enjoy the views but again the food needs improvement. Check it out for the unique views and have a beer or two.
(2)
Dan L.
How the hell did I end up in San Diego?? I was just on the 60! I was so pumped about Pier 54 that I could barely eat, even though the food was pretty darn good. Built along the edge of those zig-zaggy man-made lakes in the middle of Tempe, Pier 54 is tucked away from any traffic noise and the hustle and bustle of sprawling Phoenix life. It's set up as a bar / restaurant combination, with a bar in the middle and seating all around it. The bar has a couple of TV's mounted (old school non-flat screens!) so you can catch the Suns or the other teams that let Phoenicians down. The food was good; I wouldn't send an email back home about it but definitely didn't detract from the experience. I had the Shamu which was a battered cod sandwich. It was pretty good and although the bun would have left a little to wish for, they toasted it which immediately adds some points - sneaky. The fries were seasoned and came out hot. Add the fact that even though we showed up five minutes before their last call takes place at 9:30p, the staff was really friendly and helpful. They only had two beers on tap, but as previously mentioned one was the Kronenbourg 1664 which is one of my new favorites. All in all, two sandwiches and a couple beers set us back about $25 bucks. Not bad considering the area and view. I'll definitely be returning for both Happy Hour and dinner in the future.
(4)
Michelle K.
LOVE this place! It's a cute, quaint little place on the lake in Tempe. There food is great and service is laid back and polite. I love having cocktails here while listening to the music performers and looking at the beautiful sunsets on the lake!
(4)
Meghan z.
Take your date. Take your mom. Take your out of town guests when it's snowing and sleeting from back where they came from so they can be jealous of your wonderful life in sunny Arizona. This is a great place that most people don't know about. You go through The Lakes in Tempe (it's a little fancy suburb). The restaurant is right by the lake. You feel like you are somewhere tropical! The menu is nice and simple, but there isn't a bad thing on it! The beer selection is great and the mixed drinks can't be beat! My boyfriend and I go here all the time and take all of our Chicago family and friends when they come to visit. This is the perfect little spot :-)
(5)
Heath E.
Beat kept secret of Tempe!!
(5)
Jen K.
This is my favorite place to take out of town guests...and dates!! I have literally brougt so MANY different people here. It's all outside, atop a lake, hidden in a little quaint neighborhood. I call Pier 54 my "Hidden Treasure." The white lights they put on aty night....awesome. The musicians they have on the weekends....phenomenal. :) LOVE! Also dogs are welcome!
(4)
Page G.
What a charming little place. It took my honey and I back to our beach trips and how much fun chowing down next to water is! We started with some brews and the crab artichoke dip. Beer is always good, and they have a decent selection - they need more local stuff though. The dip was solid, as were the chips and other dipping bits. For dinner I had the bowtie pasta - needed a little bit more salt, but otherwise it was delicious! I didn't get the bread that I was supposed to though :( My honey had a burger, and said that it was pretty good. Overall, it's a lovely place with solid food. The view and atmosphere is casual and lovely, and the service was friendly. We'll definitely be going back!
(4)
Hannah K.
Waterfront dining in the East Valley that doesn't cost you an arm and a leg....who would have thought? Now the food is average bar style foods, wings, burgers, popcorn chicken...not fine dining by any means, but plentiful and comforting. They do have some seafood dishes...but after our first experience I tend to avoid the seafood. I had ordered the artichoke & crab dip and salmon salad, which I happily ate, and my husband shared, and we both had significant GI distress that night. However, I think this must be the rare event, and to be fair, we tend to have delicate GI systems. The service tends to be inconsistent, more often slow than not, but always friendly and polite. The bar area seems comfortable and reminds me of Cheers...there are always a few people sitting there enjoying their beers and watching the TVs. I keep expecting to see Norm and Cliff sitting there. But it's all about the view and atmosphere at this place. It's cozy, even though it's outdoors, with a very pretty and relaxing water view as the occasional boat is trolling around, and stylish homes line the shores. Living in the neighborhood makes it very easy to visit this place. I don't think I would ever drive here for the food, but if I were desperately missing a lake or oceanview, this might be a reasonable substitute. Oh yeah, apparently although they used to allow dogs on the patio, they're no longer allowed to. We end up tying our pooch near the door so that she gets to meet and greet people as they walk through.
(3)
Susana S.
A great local date night spot on the water, at the Lakes in Tempe. This bar is mainly patio style, some area's are covered by sails while others are open air. Great beer on tap including Kronenborg 1664! My second favorite beer! Food is okay, try the pecan and brie quesadilla and the daily soup! Service is normally quite good and they also feature great local musicians on the weekends, like Walt Richardson. If you live on the lake, you can even dock your boat here! How cool is that? There are new tables right down on the waters edge for that romantic date! Give this place a try, you'll love it!
(4)
Kyle G.
If you're looking for casual drinks on the patio, this is the right spot. Great view of the water, which is really unique in the valley. The bartenders were very friendly, but as the menu states pretty clearly, don't expect fast service. There were two bartenders servicing the entire place so it seems like they plan on being understaffed. The menu is pretty big, and they've given many of their dishes fun "nautical" names. However, it's pretty standard fare, so don't expect anything very unique from your food. I will definately be returning for drinks after I've eaten.
(3)
J Seth A.
The bar is shaped like a "G" and my friends call this place "The G spot." They took me along last night. I loved the outdoor setting overlooking the water. The place was jam packed when we got there, a guy was playing an acoustic guitar and playing songs I like. I liked the selection of beer on tap, the bartender made me a shot with whiskey and pineapple juice. (Sounds kinda gross but it was good.) I didn't eat, but my friends got a smores fondue. Service was great considering how busy they were. I enjoyed the place so much we stayed until closing time.
(4)
Valerie G.
Love finding places to dine in Arizona with my pup. She doesn't get any people food and has not become a begger yet, therefore she's a good dinner companion. Every time I come here there are other pooches and they all sniff each other out, it's great. Any place that allows furry friends on the patio gets my respect. So when I've been working a long day and don't want to leave Clover at home while I chill out, this is where I'll head. The food is not mind blowing but it's good. I've had the salmon salad a few times, it's different and pretty good. In the winter they have a fire going, so it's lovely to sit next to it with a nice view of the water in front. It makes me feel like I'm not in Arizona, eating in a strip mall like is often the case. I hosted a birthday dinner here for a friend and the owner was so great and helpful. She had me send people's food preferences ahead of time and things were ready to rock when we showed up. They had hot chocolate going to warm people up, had to have some baileys in mine, it was a great night. We were served so quickly and they did a great job remembering everyone's orders. Great little hidden gem in Tempe, I want it to stay hidden though!
(4)
Emily M.
I love, love, love this place! It is beautiful- all outdoor seating on a lake in a residential neighborhood. Decent menu and AMAZING nachos- did I mention they have amazing NACHOS?!! Excellent service and friendly people all around. Anyway, if you are in the Tempe area, you must stop by for a cocktail and some grub- on the weekend nights they also have live music- WOOT!
(4)
Michael H.
Pier 54 feels like its situtated somewhere in Florida. Great outdoor seating with that nautical feel. Stopped by on a Sunday for breakfast. Word of warning - don't come here if you're in a hurry or hungry. That being said, the servers could not be friendlier. Try the omlette, but the ordering process re: ingredients, is a bit convoluted.
(3)
Misti P.
Whenever I think of a patio I want to be at on a beautiful AZ day, the first place that comes to mind is Pier 54. If you are looking for a place to take your time, have some drinks, enjoy a 'man made' lake, with a local feel, then this is your place. As a bonus, their food is really good! More to choose from than just 'bar food' and everything has a unique twist to it. I hope to see some local ingredients and all natural/anti-biotic free type proteins in the future. A couple times we received some pretty poor service, which is saying a lot since every time we go there with a 'no rush, take our time' mindset. But mostly it is just fantastic all around!
(4)
Celia H.
Good neighborhood spot. Very casual and dog friendly. Cocktails are strong, and food is as good as I'd expect in any bar daring enough to have seafood on the menu. It is outdoor seating only - great for cool Zona nights, and the lakeside view is sweet. Lots of free parking is a bonus. I would recommend they have more support staff. The waitress was too busy so the service suffered and she was a wreck.
My mom was in town, and wanted to see where a relative got married a few months back, so I showed her The Waterfront. Next door, she noticed a restaurant, Pier 54. She mentioned she'd like to try that out for lunch before she left. So we did. Service: Bad. We arrived around 11:40, 40 minutes after they opened. We walked onto the patio/deck, and didn't see a server at all, so we just sat ourselves. After a good 15 minutes, a waiter walked out and took our drink order. Another 10 minutes, drinks arrived, and we decided to place our order then. We didn't receive our food for another 20 minutes or so. We didn't mind TOO much, since it was a nice day and we had a nice view of the man-made lake. Food: I ordered the Fish & Chips and both were pretty good. Sadly, the fries were probably the best item we tasted. My Fiance had the regular burger & fries, and her burger was over-cooked and very dry and lacked flavor. My fish, was battered to perfection, although, the middle of the fish (most dense area), was cooked, but the consistency was different from the fish on the outer edges. Kinda mushy and not as appetizing. I enjoyed the ends and outer edges of the fillet of fish the most. My mom had the 1/2 sandwich & soup- roast beef panini & clam chowder. I took a bite of the panini, nothing special. Not gross, but not GREAT. its just ok. The clam chowder had a great flavor, but was awfully runny and thin and not as thick as most chowders. There wasn't many items: potatoes, clams, etc in there either. I was mostly a thin chowder broth. In the end, I don't think we'll be back. Great location and nice atmosphere (minus the annoying bird that kept squawking all day long), but it was nice to enjoy the weather, the view and the ducks in the lake). I dont know why the service was soo slow, on a sunday, with only 3-4 tables. (more arrived as we left, but we were still shocked by the slow speed of the waiter). He was friendly, so I give him that, but we were really looking forward to this place, and it let us down quite a bit. If you dont' mind slow service and can use a very laid-back atmosphere, then you'd like it. The food was passable, but nothing to drool over.
(2)
Brittany C.
First off, let me start by saying I love the fact that this place is on the lake and that it is dog friendly. That being said, we went here on St. Patrick's day and it was a little busy but not too bad, we got our seats right away and our waiter brought our drinks and menus out promptly. They had cheap drinks (I'm pregnant so I didn't get to enjoy them, but my friends absolutely loved them), and we were really enjoying ourselves. After waiting about 20 minutes, we finally got our order in. The waiter seemed out of it, almost like he had had one too many Irish car bombs himself, because every time I spoke to him it took him way too long to respond. People that came long after we did got their food way before we even got our appetizers. When we got our entrees the burgers tasted charred and disgusting, it was a weird spicy taste that ruined the whole thing. The cheesecake was pretty good for desert and we loved the ambiance, but after the food..I will not go out of my way to go here again.
(3)
B H.
Beautiful view, terrible food. Go for drinks and avoid the food at all costs. I have eaten here several times and every time it gets worse! This time, I ordered pizza and I took a bite and it was frozen! If I wanted red barons pizza, I would have stayed home. Asked for pepperonis, charged .50c and there was one pepperoni on it. Waste! These owners and food staff should retire.
(2)
Sheila L.
everytime i go here i crack up laughing and meet the funniest people at the bar...they serve Heffveisen on tap-fabulous and the bartenders and waitresses are super nice. I am pissed OFF however that they no longer can have dogs there. TOTAL BUMMER! Oh and the veggie burgers rock! and so do the yummy french fries-steak fries. its a good place- go visit and the view is nice, right on the lake and all lit up.
(5)
Victoria H.
Location is great! The food could be better though.
(4)
K. M.
Would be a great hang out if 1) it weren't mid-summer since all seating is outdoors and 2) if they cleaned up around their patio. My garage is less messy. Had the fish and it was undercooked.... Beware.
(1)
Holly S.
This place is great! I used to live around the corner and would always crave their strawberry salad and french fries. Another winner for me is the grilled veggie sandwich. I also could never resist bringing friends there to have the s'mores kit. It's pretty nice being near water in Arizona while munching on some gooey marshmallow goodness. I live in San Francisco now and really miss this place. Definitely on my list of places to hit for good food on my next Tempe visit!
(5)
Jonathan U.
This is a great place to be. We used to live right down the street and came here at night and always had a good time. Best place to sit and look out at the lake. The food is pretty decent and great drink prices. Never had a bad experience. Get the smore fondue dessert if they have it.
(5)
Joseph C.
I visited Pier 54 about 3 weeks ago after a spring training game with some friends. The first thing I liked about this place is that it is an outdoor setting only. The combination of great Arizona weather and the fact it sits waterside makes for a really laid back and comfortable setting. The live music only further enhances one's experience.The wait staff is attentive and quick to serve. Sit back grab a beer and enjoy the view, cause the food takes some time getting to the table, but that is not necessarily a bad thing in my opinion. I had the Southwest Style burger, which was good, but not quite what I expected totally. Though I'm not a big beer drinker and nowhere close to being a connoisseur, this is the place where I was first introduced to Kronenbourg beer. The crab cakes as an appetizer are worth a try. A great local hangout.
(4)
Edie M.
the only complaint i have is that they close too early! other than thatt, the food is amazing and the service is great. a warning: be prepared for an amazing but strong drink if you give the bartender free reign:)
(4)
Candice S.
Don't be put off by the looks of this small, outdoor restaurant. The food is excellent! A few tables surround a large open bar, all with a view of the smallish man-made lake that sits inside an upscale housing development. As we ate, we watched a beautiful sunset over the lake, and also saw a few homeowners guide their boats up to the restaurant's small dock. Everything was delicious, from the hot crab and artichoke dip through the entrees to the dessert. I like to try something new, so I ordered salmon tacos with mango salsa and chipotle mayo, My husband is more traditional, so he had the Torpedo -- a man-sized prime rib sandwich with plenty of tender meat. I was tempted by the brie quesdadilla with candied walnuts, and my husband wants to go back for the Southwest pizza. And for dessert? Get this -- they bring a hibachi to your table so that you can roast marshmallows, dip them in a pot of melted chocolate, then roll them in graham cracker crumbs! Unfortunately, we didn't have time for that luxurious experience as we were on our way to an event, so we got the New York cheesecake with berries to go. Around the bar, the crowd was young, with some middle-aged people, and a couple of seniors. But they all were having fun, which made the mood of this small place happy and lively. The place is owned by a husband/wife catering team, so the menu may change with the seasons.
(4)
Philippos S.
I live in the area and Pier 54 is very popular with the Lakes residents. Nice little place right on the water with typical bar food. Dog and people friendly.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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Ashley O.
They changed up the menu and gave the patio a facelift! I got the Cobb salad with salmon instead of chicken. Was a huge portion and very fresh. For dessert they have some s'more puffs that are my new addiction. The view is great and there's always a fun crowd.
(4)Jaime G.
I always been a fan of this place. I love its laid back atmosphere. They have live music pretty regularly and there outdoor patio is just the right size not too little and not too big. This evening a guy named Jake played and he is AMAZING. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is I've been on a Malbec kick for a few years and there Malbec is mediocre at best. I wouldn't order it again and it was warm, really warm. I don't think I ever had red wine that warm before. But overall for a neighborhood spot this is one of my favorites.
(4)Jameson M.
Been making this little joint my cocktail lounge, as I could spit on my place from the patio. .. when I first started coming here about seven months ago. Smash. Couldn't go wrong.... Lately. .. what the Fart noise happened?! Beer is always flat, got rid of the best one too and brought in several flavorless substitutes. Lamb too tough, fish overcooked... I don't get it. BUT! The sandwiches are pretty damn good. Breads are fresh, served a bit toasted. .. warm and a bit crunchy. Fresh meats and cheeses. Get the cheese and meats with a cocktail. Also. Go for the pastrami cheese burger. You'll pay the same at another bar for a comparable burger; but this one has pastrami.... so that's good.... ask for fries "crispy" otherwise they have a tendency to arrive much as a cat from a storm... "wet and disappointing"... what that's not how you feel when your cat shows up like that?! You know what. I don't need this crap... Where was i...Oh, yeah. MAHI MAHI tacos. Those were freakin good. Food. .. good-ish... they really can do it. .. i dunno, be specific on how you enjoy your grub cooked? Cocktails; reasonably priced and heavy handed. Get a good looking doll down there with you and have a nice night. FIX YOUR BEER!
(3)Kim R.
An easy Sunday lunch that turned into a 2.5 hour debacle. This was our first visit and will sadly be our last. When we sat down, we were told that the kitchen was backed up because of a large party who just placed their order...but turns out never got food before closing their tabs! Suspect it was just an excuse for the horrible service we were about to get. We ordered the meat platter, BLT, and Italiana Salad. The appetizer came out minutes before the main course and was completely underwhelming. Salad greens were wilted and the bacon on the BLT was the only standout. Everything else was bland and mediocre. We waited an hour for our food and another hour for the bill. And while we waited we saw several parties sit down but change their minds before getting service and others were in the same boat as us - just waiting. Luckily the other servers stepped in to help our otherwise slammed server. I've never been so tempted to warn people walking in to turn around and cut their losses! Bottom line - Pier 54 boasts a great location by the lake but the food and service leave something to be desired.
(1)julie h.
Love this place, its outdoors, everyone is extra friendly, service is a little slow but food is excellent.
(5)Karen W.
Enjoy a picturesque view of the lake while dining in a casual atmosphere. Pier 54 offers sandwiches, burgers, flat bread, and salads. The first time we went here our burgers were more on the well done side rather than medium as requested, but were still tasty. I've also had the salmon BLT, which had a generous portion of tender salmon with crispy bacon and lettuce. While I've enjoyed the food here, service can be hit or miss depending on how busy it is. On our last visit they were severely understaffed and the poor waitress was the only one there to check up on a nearly full seating of tables. The plus of outside seating is that they are extremely dog friendly. The minus of eating outside (If you are sensitive to smoke) is the plethora of smokers that tend to frequent this restaurant. While the atmosphere is great, some of the chairs could use some cleaning or replacement. The ones at our table had cushions that were supposed to be a cream color, but had some dirty brown spots on them. Overall I'll definitely be coming here again to try more of their menu items, but probably at a less busy time.
(3)John F.
The place used to be nice about 4-5 years ago. Seems like they cannot handle more business. The service is always slow and on the bad side. The view is nice and I believe they count on their local customers from the surrounding houses for business. Food is a hit or miss too. Sometimes they have really nice food. Sometimes the burgers are cold. And unfortunately, I encountered some rude behavior from the waiters too.
(1)Evan B.
The real reason to come here is the location. Located far from major roads on a quaint little lake sits one of the best patios in town. The breakfast food we had was mediocre as the eggs were a bit over cooked and took time to arrive. If you do want a beer they have a good selection, and I cant think of a better place to sit and enjoy one.
(3)MinhTho N.
Decided to check out this place because it is a cute and romantically lit with string lights bar by the lake. First off, the place was a bit hidden. However, sitting by the bar looking out to the lake, especially during sunset, is an awesome trade-off. Our server was very nice and attentive. She was also the bartender who made our awesome drinks: Manhattan and Moscow Mules. She even asked for a whiskey preference when it comes to Manhattan :) We ordered a grilled salmon with a side of rice and a affettato misto sandwich with fries. Sadly, the food couldn't compare to the great service and drinks. My sandwich was VERY dry. The ciabatta bread was a little bit stale. The supposed-to-be homemade pesto is too basil-y and tasted like it came from a store-bought jar. The lettuce was also not so fresh-looking. At this point, the only thing I was looking forward to trying is my side order of simply basic fries. It turned out to be so-so: plain and not crispy :( My friend's salmon was gamey and the rice was super bland, which was describe to be somewhat like a grainy mush... Overall, great atmosphere for a casual and fun date, awesome drinks, decent price. However, food needs a lot of improvement so maybe eat before then come by for drinks afterward!
(3)Mark N.
The spot is really cool looking, a bar nestled up against the lake tucked into a corner of a larger building. I stopped by with a couple friends to have a quick drink. After quite a bit of a struggle to get someone to take our order and get some drinks, we enjoyed the time on the patio and the seats were a little old but still comfortable. Once we got our drinks, we never saw our server again. Once we finished our drinks and were ready to leave, I wandered around trying to find someone to pay our tab with for nearly 10 minutes before abandoning hope, guessing the total of our order, leaving $20 on the table and walking out. I couldn't believe it. I read some other reviews now for this place, and it seems like this is pretty commonplace type service here.
(1)Laura C.
We were told that we had too many people and were asked to leave after we ordered food and bevs. Staff was less than friendly while several fully uniformed workers sat staring past their drinks while seated at the bar. This is not the place that it once was where my friends and my dog were welcomed.
(1)Gabriel V.
Went here on a date because the location is awsome. The bartender knows how to make a solid Manhattan and even asked for my preference in liquor. The food on the other hand could use some improvements. I ordered the grilled salmon ( one of the more expensive items on the menu) and it was a bit dry and very ordinary. The rice it was served with was also very bland. I could have made that same quality of food on my own easily. This place is awsome for having a few drinks by the lake with a date but I would eat before I go.
(3)Shima S.
A good place with a perfect environment to hang out. Prices are fair. The only negative point is that its not fancy at all.
(3)Gina Z.
One of my favorite places when the weather is nice. Good food and service had always been friendly. The view is beautiful, not many waterfront places in AZ. Menu has changed but we have a party here every year of 8-12 people and everyone's able to find something. Good selection of beer and such. It's is an outdoor eatery, food may cool off fast.. sometimes they have live music so maybe hard to carry on a conversation, but it's a fun fun place with the right people!
(5)Nora D.
I hesitate to even write a review because I don't want other people to know how FANTASTIC this place is. Wow. We had no idea what to expect when we came here (it was just close to where we heading after dinner) but oh my gosh, what a hidden gem. Except its apparently not that hidden because its a lively outside bar/restaurant. And the food is good and so cheap! Flatbreads, huge salads, delicious sandwiches (my husband got a chicken sandwich that he raved about). They had a deal that if you spent $25, you got a free bottle of wine. Seriously???? How awesome! And I almost forgot, its on a lake so you instantly feel transported to a beach vacation. Go try this price! I honestly cannot think of a negative thing to say.
(5)L A.
I'm very torn on the stars for this review ... The view, atmosphere, upgraded comfortable patio furniture, music, ect are fantastic and definitely 5 stars. The food is around 3 stars and any drink other then beer is 2 stars at best.. Really hoping the food and drinks get a little better, we really want to support this local gem.
(4)Royce S.
Not accommodating. Rude server. Place was empty. Still rude. Do not bring anyone here. For the love of god, do not come here. Please save your time.
(1)Scott B.
Greatest lakeside spot for a casual drink
(5)John S.
This is one of our favorite local hangouts that has never disappointed, and seems to be getting better with the changes they are making to the menu. They have added some great salads, excellent sandwiches, and a few cool appetizers to freshen things up. I will take pictures of the menu on my next visit, but it was late and I was enjoying wine with friends to get into trying to update yelp. On this visit I kept it simple, BBQ sliders with fries, bottle of house red, and these awesome smores puffs things that made my week. All three items were great, as was the service. The BBQ pulled pork was juicy, with a hint of heat, and the fries seem to be house made fresh cut, which is awesome for a small local establishment. This lakeside spot is great for a lazy day of drinking or nice bite to eat with family & friends. It doesn't hurt that the food is great, the staff is friendly and the drinks are cold while being within in riding distance via beach cruiser from my home.
(4)may t.
I've been coming here for years and I love the outdoor ambiance. It's a very relaxing environment and the food is decent. It's very laid back. Come here if you want to kick back chill.... Not if you're uptight and impatient. The service can be slow but it's not a fast paced type of place. So if you wanna chill outdoors by the water with a couple drinks and appetizers, this place is a perfect gem.
(5)Rachelle M.
Great little hidden restaurant in Tempe right on the lake! Food is good and the environment is very unique. They are dog friendly but be aware that there is no indoor seating, only outdoor. The upper patio is covered and has misters but I would be strategic as to when you visit to avoid the sweltering heat during the summer. Overall, I liked it and will be back with my dog!
(4)N. G.
There is only outdoor seating. We had a party of 12 and they were NOT prepared at all. They knew we were coming. Our service was horrible very slow and the sever was never around. The food came out cold and not all at once. I was done eating before the hostess got her order. A couple people in our group had eaten here before and they said the food was bad then but they were giving it a second chance and yet again the food was another big disappointment. They had big cooling fans blowing on our table and when the band played the section we were sitting lost power so we had to finish in the dark and sweating our asses off cuz the blowers went out. If its winter & you want to have a drink by the "lake" then yeah I'd suggest this place, but don't waste your money if you want food.
(1)Kelly L.
The good at Pier 54 has improved so much in the last 6 months! Their menu is full of interesting things, and it is all well prepared using great ingredients. In years past, we would come for the view & ambiance (lakeside!), and suffer through the food. But now the food is wonderful! And the tradition of great 1- & 2-man live entertainment lives on - great fun! We had a happy hour with 25-30 people in the 'downstairs' area by the dock. Despite the large group, the staff kept all of us happy with drinks & food.
(5)Amanda F.
Really enjoyed! I had quick service, great food, and a wonderful atmosphere!! Will definitely be back for happy hour! It's truly a hidden gem! :)
(5)Alyssa M.
Drinks Only! That would be my advice. We went here last night with a group of six and ordered multiple apps and dishes and the food was almost inedible. Don't get: pork tacos, fried cheese or calamari!! We tried fixing dishes with salt and even that didn't work too well. Also drinks were ok but all the tap beer served was somewhat warm. Basically go here for the music and ambience and maybe a mixed drink.
(2)Mark P.
WOW! What a nightmare this place is! If I were you I would stay far away. I was there this last Thursday around 5PM. We were a party of 5. We were greeted pretty quickly, drink order taken, but then waited for drinks to arrive for at least 15 minutes.The bar was busy and taken care of , our waitress only had two other tables. Finally ordered. Food started to come out. Two of ordered fish and chips. Both came out without tarter, we had ordered extra. Waitress said they were out of tarter. We both said we didn't want fish W/O tarter. She took them back . I then ordered a burger. It came out almost raw, and smelled like rotten meat. Fries were ice cold. I sent that back and said I was done, I wanted nothing else. As my party was finished with their meals the waitress bring me another plate of fish and chips and says that they "mixed" up some tarter sauce. I kid you not , the tarter sauce was pink colored. I thought it was strange she didn't ask me before doing this, but the attempt to please was halted. Everything on this plate was cold as well. I think they took my other fries and fish I sent back and put them on a new plate with the "mixed" up tarter. Believe me out there, I am not that fussy , but this place really takes the cake!! RUN! To top everything off , no one ever came out to see what was going on, apologize, try and correct the problems the waitress was having...nothing. The waitress just said she wouldn't charging us for what was sent back!! Yikes! Like she what we were going to pay for any of it?? Pier 54...hope you read these reviews..you really need a serious makeover of staff and policy.
(1)Steph L.
We had lunch there today. If you are looking for an easy going place w/a gorgeous view, you just found it! I was a little disappointed the menu wasn't as extensive as online, but maybe that's because we were having lunch early on a Sat. Either way, there was plenty to choose from. Hubs had a sandwich that was generous in portion and accompanied by tons of fries. I had the feta/spinach omelet, which was really good. It came w/hash browns. Our waiter was attentive. Super-reasonable prices since we both had alcoholic beverages and before tip, were barely at $30!!!
(4)Karen W.
The group that posted today left some stuff out... I'm a regular at pier54 and I was enjoying a drink when 25 people show up. And the bartender told me that they showed up without calling ahead of time to let the restaurant know so they could of called for help with the 25 people. C'mon kids who shows up with 25 people without calling ahead to let the restaurant know. It was your own fault.
(5)Karen R.
Ordered take-away for dinner. I arrived at the time they said it would be ready but had to wait another 20 minutes for it. Salmon looked like it was pre-packaged, thawed fish that comes in those vacuum seal bags and it was way overcooked. Also ordered bruschetta and it was on toasted white bread. The two meals and tip were not worth the experience. I would not try them again.
(2)Adrixx C.
The first time we were here we ordered the salmon sandwich which was decent. I was very happy with the whole experience: music, drinks, food & a view. The second time I was totally disappointed! We ordered the chicken skewers which was a mistake, they were cold and dry! We ordered the smoked salmon flatbread and it tasted like a can! Music was not as good as the last time and you couldn't hear it because of the music next door. I still like the wine special, the view and the bartender's service was awesome!
(3)Benjamin T.
I came here for Valentine's day and was seriously disappointed. Walking into the place, there was no host to greet or seat us. We had reservations and ended up walking around the empty tables looking for the one with our name on it. We finally chose a table and the food was pretty good, but my date asked for a steak knife to cut her lamb with, and our server said the place had no steak knives. Also our wine was served in tumbler glasses
(2)Janelle L.
The only good thing about this place is the view. Absolutely beautiful lake views. That's where anything decent ends. I went there with friends for what we thought would be a relatively short lunch. It wasn't even that busy because it was overcast but it took the waitress over 10 minutes just to acknowledge us. We ordered our lunches and my friends ordered some drinks. It took the bartender 15 minutes just to get the drinks. We waited more than an hour for the food during which the waitress didn't even come over to provide updates that it was coming out or being worked on or see if we needed drink refills. We needed to leave so my friend actually had to go in the kitchen area to tell the waitress that we needed the food boxed so we could go. We get the boxed food over 15 minutes later & when I did get a chance to eat it, it wasn't even that great. Maybe this place is okay for drinks at sunset but that's about it.
(1)Natalie S.
I'm in love with this place. Excellent food and great service. Plus the atmosphere is unique and and the view is beautiful.
(5)Josh C.
A group of us went for happy hour and received terrible service. The bartender told us to "deal with it" and we promptly left. They were under-staffed which is bizarre for happy hour, especially at a waterfront restaurant. The Watershed next door is a much better option!
(1)Sharlene B.
We took our 4 children for Sunday brunch ages 12, 10, 5 and 6. 6 people ate till everyone was full for under $45. We sat by the water. The kids loved watching the boats and ducks. Kids menu is an awesome value, with breakfast almost as big as an adult portion. Service was very good, and everyone was very friendly. The hashbrowns are THE BEST I have had at a resturaunt. The potatoes are thin and very well seasoned. The kids loved the pancakes with a scoop of icecream!! I loved the the veggies used were not canned or frozen in the omlets. The children left saying..,, " We should come here for breakfast everyday!!" A great family friendly place for breakfast!! Thanks to the staff working, we will be back soon.
(5)Kalla G.
Literally the only good thing about this restaurant is the location. Aside from that, I honestly have absolutely nothing good to say. We waited 45+ minutes for food, & when the food FINALLY arrived, 3 of the 4 orders were wrong AND cold. It was so bad we complained, & waited an additional 25 minutes for one replacement order, & an hour later we're still waiting for the right eggs. When I told the MANAGER that we were still waiting on eggs, we were told that we had just put the order in, when in REALITY we had put it in over an hour & a half ago. After complaining, we were told we wouldn't have to pay for any food, which then changed to having to only pay for 2 of the four meals, & yet, when we received the check, we were billed for 3 of the 4 meals. We complained, AGAIN, & now only have to pay for drinks. But the damage has not been remedied, this was a TERRIBLE experience. I personally witnessed one table next to us walk out, & another on the verge of following in their lead. I want to preface this by saying that I only write reviews when they are either really good or really terrible, but that being said, I would highly encourage you to avoid this restaurant at all costs. In fact, I would rather go digging in a dumpster.
(1)Marina H.
Food is phenomenal, wait staff is professional, personable and effective. Plus the view! Love love love this place!
(5)Daniel P.
THIS IS LONG BUT WORTH IT. I've worked in the restaurant industry (Full Time) for the past 8 years now. Most bad reviews are hard for me to take seriously because usually the review is written by someone who hasn't worked in a restaurant. So I had to point that out before I begin so everyone reading this has a better sense of validating the truth to this review as it comes from the perspective of someone with an extensive back round in restaurants. So here is my family's experience we went through yesterday at Pier 54 on Easter Sunday. Let me also point out that my family has been regular customers there literally for 20 years! My Mom called in advance and made a 12:30pm reservation for 10 people at Pier 54 on Easter Sunday. Everyone places there order at 12:45 with the waitress. At around 1:50pm give or take a couple minutes, my dad asks waitress if our food is coming and she says,"yeah I know it's taking a while but one of the ovens is broken." It's been an hour still with no food, and she now tells us this about the oven? Is that real? At this point I look around the restaurant and I see some lady customer get up from her table, walks over to a waitress and screams at her saying she's walking out because her family too was still waiting for their food after over an hour. Within 15 minutes like a trickle effect I watch 3 more tables walk out haven't even gotten their food yet either. I now look over to see what the owner is doing. (Like I said my family is regulars so we know exactly who the owners are.) I am not even making this up I watched the owner get in her car and drive away as she can see plainly her restaurant and staff in disaster mode, and even worse an entire restaurant of upset customers walking out whose Easter was now ruined, and not even a sense of decency on her own to come over to every table and try to remedy the situation. I too work in a restaurant so waiting for food is understandable especially on a busy holiday, so we weren't even upset about the wait, but just the fact that not even a manager after all this time had even yet come over to apologize let alone the owner herself who left when her restaurant needed her most. Just before 2:15pm (an hour and a half after placing the order) 5 orders come out, but 5 of us still have no food. 20 minutes later the other 5 orders come out. So it's close to 2:45pm, (2 hours after the order was placed) and finally everyone has their food. Now the fact that most of the food was cold was one thing, but if any Chef that I've worked with would've seen the lack of quality of the food they served us on those plates, they would've shut down that kitchen themselves. Most of our table now leaves to find another place to eat. Im fed up and finally get up and ask the bartender who the manager was and he said he was. I explained to him what was going on, he apologized profusely and said our entire bill would be taken care of. Our waitress even comes back right after that apologizing, saying how terrible she feels that our Easter is ruined and and tells us we don't even have to wait for a bill because of what happened. So even though we had a bad experience at least the manager and server did something to try and fix it. The owner finally comes back in her car, which now the restaurant is cleared out. I walk up to her and have a great talk with her for 15 minutes about our experience, and about what went wrong, etc. She follows me back to the table where the rest of us were and she even apologizes in TEARS, saying how terrible she feels, and how sorry she is. My dad assures her everything is fine and that hed still always come back and bring others like he has been doing for 20 years. We finally are leaving and I kid you not, the owner comes back with a bill for an $80 drink tab, saying shed take care of our food but we had to pay the drinks because its against the law to take care of our drinks. Giving away free alcohol vs having to COMP drinks are 2 different things she just didnt want to pay for the bill even after her fault for ruining our Easter. That showed us right there the person she was. I brought over the bar manager who earlier told me our bill was taken care of and I ask him right in front of the owner's face, "did you tell us our entire bill would be taken care of," and he replied, "yes I did say that." The owner then says, "oh he doesn't know the rules, he was mistaken." She then tells us to pay the bill and that also we werent ever welcome back. At this point yes my dad did lose it and started cursing, which how can you blame after going through the worst restaurant experience ever in his life and then still being asked to pay $80 and being kicked out? THE BEST PART..As we were walking away I stepped to grab my keys on the table, the owner picks them up and throws them over the fence. Pier 54 in all my life I have never seen so many upset tables at once and for that you are by far the worst restaurant ive ever been to.
(1)Colleen P.
Had horrible experience at the pier. Their grill broke we waited 2 hours for our food which was cold. Owners were very inflexible I even offered to split the bill they refused. Very bad experience. Supervisor offered to comp. us but owners refused to deal with us. Very poor management. As a person who is a professional in Tempe for 30 years I urge people to not use this restaurant. I have been going to this restaurant for over. 20 years and give them a lot of business which will cease. Very poor.
(1)Mary V.
We've visited this restaurant monthly since 1990 and in that time it's had many owners. The recent new owners offer poor quality food and even worse, terrible live music. We have always endured through good food and bad, but the weekend music offerings have always been solid until this past year. We enjoy hearing quality musicians, not obnoxious sing-a-long drama wannabes with no sense of musicianship. Will be finding a new place to listen to music on Saturday nights. The view overlooking the lake IS fantastic, and the staff always polite and capable.
(2)Woehale A.
This place has such a nice spot! The view of the lake and the atmosphere takes you away and makes you feel like you're in San Diego! I loved the salsa which is fresh and full of flavor and has a bit of a kick! I was pleasantly surprised to see the crab cakes looked and tasted made in house. .. mmm! The crab cakes were very good quality full of crab without the fillers and perfectly crispy on both sides. I also had a Tuna salad and was pleased as it was delicious and satisfying! It's an amazing casual bar environment to watch the sunset!
(5)John H.
We went here for our 6 month anniversary and I have to say it could be a 3 star maybe higher depending on where you sit and who you get as a server. We sat downstairs to be close to the water and some of the tables and chairs had pigeon poop or similar on them (very appetizing). I got the lamb and my wife got the salmon. Here are some of the reasons they get a 2 star: 1) My wife and I don't drink soda, but the water was so nasty we had to order an apple juice and a diet soda just to have a drink. My wife's apple juice had floaty things in it and it made her really sick afterwords. 2) One of the waitresses accidentally set chips and salsa on our table (we thought it was something they give all their customers) and then our waitress saw her do it and came and grabbed the chips off our table and handed it to the table next to ours who ordered it. 3) A Lot of the customers seem like locals who go there all the time. We got treated as if we weren't customers and more like an inconvenience (not part of the "in" crowd). Our waitress visited our table only a few times very briefly and took forever in between trips. We waited over 15 minutes just to get the check. 4) The water where we were sitting had a bunch of filth and was turning my stomach. We ended up moving tables and that wasn't much better. The table was dirty and my wife got her brand new shirt dirty...there was an exposed socket right next to us and a bunch of local kids running around our table. (hindsight we should have sat up stairs - might have made it a 3 star). 5) The lamb had a bunch of fat on it. 6) The food was inconsistent, my wife had fries with her meal and she said they were the best fries she ever had so we ordered another side. The 2nd batch were gross and not even close to the first batch. Although the ambiance wasn't there, here are the reasons they didn't get a 1 star: 1) My wife's salmon was good 2) The lamb was good (minus the fat) 3) french fries if you get a good batch are delicious! 4) cool that is by water in AZ and that you can ride a boat to the restaurant
(2)Bobbi Jo J.
We found this and thought this would be cool to have dinner by a lake. It had great reviews. This is definitely not a place for kids. If you are looking for a place to take a 1st date this is place the prices are decent and a great view. It is a bar atmosphere. The food is okay. Service again okay. I gave 3 stars based on view.
(3)Paul M.
Attempted yesterday evening. . This is a smokers paradise. There is no way for a non smoker to escape. . This appeared to be an all outdoor patio experience. The bar is the centerpiece with tables in the surrounding perimeter. Most people at the bar were smoking and one table. Called my friends that were on the way and changed plans. .
(2)Paul R.
Cool marina style bar, however the food is seriously lacking. Can't stress this enough, a $10 burger should be something special. Go for a HH drink and grab In-N-Out on the way home.
(2)Jodi G.
Love the new menu! With all the new options I have a hard time deciding what to order. Everything I have tried has exceeded my expectations! Will definitely be going back.
(5)Ryan M.
Pier 54 was a cool spot. Food was very good (I got the Garden burger & side salad). Service was pretty weak though. And one star off for the lack of TV accessible seating, and because half of the customers were chain smoking cigarettes.
(3)Ryan O.
Great little gem in the middle of Tempe. Makes you feel like you are at your favorite beach dive, if only for a moment. There is a new lake side restaurant next door as well, allowing you to beach (lake) bar hop to one more spot. The summers, I'm sure are brutal, but when it's acceptable to be outside, it's worth wasting away a few hours, dreaming about cheeseburgers in paradise.
(4)Nora M.
Awful. Walk in confused. We seat ourselves. Sit awkwardly. Wait twenty minutes. Get up. Get the waitress to take our drink order. Wait. The owner asked if we needed anything and we said we need someone to take our order and she said she doesn't handle money and allowed us to wait. Then we complained and she lied and said she came over multiple times. Couldn't get out soon enough.
(1)Katie G.
What a wonderful hidden gem! we went for lunch...i ended up not eating and enjoying a few drinks in this amazing arizona weather! Our waitress Kit was outstanding and so much fun! My guy did eat and loved it! I am looking forward to visiting this place more often and spending some daytime here! It was crazy windy, Kit gave me a hair tie..and my guy a blanket...what?? love it.
(5)Samantha O.
i had no idea this place existed! cute little place on a great patio over looking a lake. you feel like you've left AZ. their food is mediocre and it's nothing fancy. literally, their calamari is basically just fish sticks if that gives you any idea. we ordered chips and queso (decent), chicken strips w fries (delicious), quesadilla (good) and few other items. But the casual setting with the great view makes it a super nice spot to come for lunch and hang out for a bit. they also had a great bar area so even if you don't want to eat, this is a great drinking spot i would totally go back!
(4)Emiley B.
This place is really cool--kind of gives the "dinner on the dock" feel of SF, but it's inexpensive and casual. There is no indoor seating, so mind the weather before you head out there. It's kind of hidden so make sure you read the directions on where to go! Service is comparable to any other bar/sports bar kind of joint, and the laid back atmosphere is part of that.
(4)Jason B.
This place could be a really great neighborhood spot. It has great potential but the food misses the mark completely. They serve the stuff that is left over in your pantry/fridge but don't want to make so you decide to go out instead. For example they use canned salmon on top of their "salmon salad". I mean how hard is grilling a piece of frozen salmon? Their "salmon tacos" are the same thing. Their menu is all over the map and needs to be cut down by 50%. Its just a bunch of random bar food. They should choose just a few things and do them well. Not 40 things microwaved poorly. Don't even get me started on their ice. It makes their drinks disgusting. I'm almost positive it is lake water. Our server was nice but a complete clusterfuk. It took 15 minutes to get dressing for a salad. Not more dressing, just dressing period because they just forgot to put it on. I will eat and drink almost anything anywhere but I have to draw the line somewhere.
(2)Ramona A.
Cute little place along the lakes. Drinks are expensive and the food is small portions with even bigger price.
(3)Serena L.
Very casual bar. Food isn't bad and the drinks come quickly. I used to live in the neighborhood, and although it was usually a crowd that consisted of regulars, everyone has always been really friendly there. Lots of parking, and because it is a bar inside a neighborhood it is quiet and relaxing. The main reason to go to the bar is for a view at sunset. The bar overlooks a neighborhood lake, and people can actually travel by boat to the bar and dock right there. Calm, peaceful and friendly. They usually have someone playing live music on weekend nights and that can get pretty loud, so if you are looking for quiet on a weekend look elsewhere.
(3)Brett P.
I've been a loyal patron for years and there is a reason why: this place rocks. What a great escape and awesome outdoor bar. Friday and Saturday nights are always a blast with live music. Very chill vibe and the friendliest staff in town. My only complaint is the eyesore restaurant across the way.
(5)Heather D.
Went to night had the spinach dip it was good but not really any spinach more like cheese dip. Also had the fish po' boy, good not great. Drinks were good. It's dog friendly which is always nice. Great ambiance. Nice for spring happy hour
(4)Me M.
Go here only for the "ambiance" of being on a muddy lake. The food was overpriced for the shack of a place it is and was not too good - we had fish tacos and fish and chips. My warning should have been 0 customers on Sunday at noon. The kids menu is very limited with 4 items. If you go, bring a jacket and have drinks and greasy, but good, onion rings..
(2)Crystal Z.
IMHO, Tempe's best kept secret. I visit Pier 54 as often as I can -- and while the food isn't amazing (it actually used to be MUCH better, with some delish pastas), it's good bar food (great salads)... but let's be real. It's all about the view. Tucked away so no one knows it's there, friendly, relaxed service (and yeah, I mean slow service, but it's part of the charm of it -- come here, hang out, talk, spend time with your loved ones and snack a bit). I love going there and will keep coming back!
(5)Christopher H.
Nice little bar on the lake in "The Lakes" subdivision. The night we went they had live entertainment (2 acoustic guitar players/singers). It kind of gives you the feeling of being somewhere else - not in the middle of the desert. The drinks were good. The food was good but, in my opinion, a little over priced. My wife had the Mahi Mahi ceasar salad and I had the Mahi Mahi tacos with onion rings. I happen to like spicy foods so the tacos were good - However, If you do not like spicy hot, do not order these. The onion rings were good - they were fresh made and the breading was unique. All in all, a nice evening - good food (although a little over priced), good drinks, top notch entertainment, and great ambience!
(4)The Rue D.
Peer Off The Pier My Dear By The Rue Satruday night stopped at Pier Fifty Four, This is a place I'd never been before, The second I pulled up I knew I had scored, Live acoustic music didn't bore, I'm going to come by here a lot more, Really was hoping to check out some slores, I guess this night it just wasn't in store, I wonder if it's because I'm poor, My friends wife calls me a male whore, Even though all the stories are just folk lore, After hiking Usery Mountain my legs were sore, This place sits on the lake shore, I like to mine for gold not ore, I cut some serious rug on the dance floor, Not as good looking as the God Thor, My kiss will rock you to your core, I'll steal your underwear from your drawer, After the 3rd orgasm you'll yell "FORE"! Back Door!!
(4)L G.
We love the atmosphere of PIer 54. The pizza and quesadillas are pretty good. You are really going there for the atmosphere and a drink. Heads up DOG OWNERS: Recently they are NOT dog friendly any more. The pup's have to stay on the outside of the fence. But the waitresses are always so nice and bring a bowl of water for the dog. So still bring them, just know there not allowed on patio any longer.
(4)Candace R.
I met up with a couple of friends here for dinner on a beautiful Saturday evening. The place was pretty poppin' so I was surprised that we were able to get a table near the water. There's a disclaimer on their menu that the service is "very relaxed", but I would say that we were ignored for about 20 minutes before anyone came and gave us the time of day. After that, the service was pretty standard. I ordered the southwestern chicken sandwich with fries and I enjoyed my meal, everyone else seemed pretty "meh" about everything. This would be a great place to enjoy a few drinks and the music and the view, but I probably wouldn't pick it out for dinner again.
(3)Lauren P.
We bought some out of town relatives here to do something different. While the view of the lake are great, we felt the service, atmosphere and food needed some improvement. The chairs were breaking, our server wasn't very attentive (drinks were never refilled) and the food was just OK. The fries were over seasoned and the chicken was dry, but the fish in the fish and chips was good. This place seems like a better place to go for a drink on a nice evening opposed to a meal.
(2)Christian D.
Location, check. Views, check. Service, check. Food...it can easily be improved. I felt like I was being served food that came from the frozen food aisle and microwaved. I understand it's supposed to be a casual neighborhood spot to mingle with your friends and enjoy the views but again the food needs improvement. Check it out for the unique views and have a beer or two.
(2)Dan L.
How the hell did I end up in San Diego?? I was just on the 60! I was so pumped about Pier 54 that I could barely eat, even though the food was pretty darn good. Built along the edge of those zig-zaggy man-made lakes in the middle of Tempe, Pier 54 is tucked away from any traffic noise and the hustle and bustle of sprawling Phoenix life. It's set up as a bar / restaurant combination, with a bar in the middle and seating all around it. The bar has a couple of TV's mounted (old school non-flat screens!) so you can catch the Suns or the other teams that let Phoenicians down. The food was good; I wouldn't send an email back home about it but definitely didn't detract from the experience. I had the Shamu which was a battered cod sandwich. It was pretty good and although the bun would have left a little to wish for, they toasted it which immediately adds some points - sneaky. The fries were seasoned and came out hot. Add the fact that even though we showed up five minutes before their last call takes place at 9:30p, the staff was really friendly and helpful. They only had two beers on tap, but as previously mentioned one was the Kronenbourg 1664 which is one of my new favorites. All in all, two sandwiches and a couple beers set us back about $25 bucks. Not bad considering the area and view. I'll definitely be returning for both Happy Hour and dinner in the future.
(4)Michelle K.
LOVE this place! It's a cute, quaint little place on the lake in Tempe. There food is great and service is laid back and polite. I love having cocktails here while listening to the music performers and looking at the beautiful sunsets on the lake!
(4)Meghan z.
Take your date. Take your mom. Take your out of town guests when it's snowing and sleeting from back where they came from so they can be jealous of your wonderful life in sunny Arizona. This is a great place that most people don't know about. You go through The Lakes in Tempe (it's a little fancy suburb). The restaurant is right by the lake. You feel like you are somewhere tropical! The menu is nice and simple, but there isn't a bad thing on it! The beer selection is great and the mixed drinks can't be beat! My boyfriend and I go here all the time and take all of our Chicago family and friends when they come to visit. This is the perfect little spot :-)
(5)Heath E.
Beat kept secret of Tempe!!
(5)Jen K.
This is my favorite place to take out of town guests...and dates!! I have literally brougt so MANY different people here. It's all outside, atop a lake, hidden in a little quaint neighborhood. I call Pier 54 my "Hidden Treasure." The white lights they put on aty night....awesome. The musicians they have on the weekends....phenomenal. :) LOVE! Also dogs are welcome!
(4)Page G.
What a charming little place. It took my honey and I back to our beach trips and how much fun chowing down next to water is! We started with some brews and the crab artichoke dip. Beer is always good, and they have a decent selection - they need more local stuff though. The dip was solid, as were the chips and other dipping bits. For dinner I had the bowtie pasta - needed a little bit more salt, but otherwise it was delicious! I didn't get the bread that I was supposed to though :( My honey had a burger, and said that it was pretty good. Overall, it's a lovely place with solid food. The view and atmosphere is casual and lovely, and the service was friendly. We'll definitely be going back!
(4)Hannah K.
Waterfront dining in the East Valley that doesn't cost you an arm and a leg....who would have thought? Now the food is average bar style foods, wings, burgers, popcorn chicken...not fine dining by any means, but plentiful and comforting. They do have some seafood dishes...but after our first experience I tend to avoid the seafood. I had ordered the artichoke & crab dip and salmon salad, which I happily ate, and my husband shared, and we both had significant GI distress that night. However, I think this must be the rare event, and to be fair, we tend to have delicate GI systems. The service tends to be inconsistent, more often slow than not, but always friendly and polite. The bar area seems comfortable and reminds me of Cheers...there are always a few people sitting there enjoying their beers and watching the TVs. I keep expecting to see Norm and Cliff sitting there. But it's all about the view and atmosphere at this place. It's cozy, even though it's outdoors, with a very pretty and relaxing water view as the occasional boat is trolling around, and stylish homes line the shores. Living in the neighborhood makes it very easy to visit this place. I don't think I would ever drive here for the food, but if I were desperately missing a lake or oceanview, this might be a reasonable substitute. Oh yeah, apparently although they used to allow dogs on the patio, they're no longer allowed to. We end up tying our pooch near the door so that she gets to meet and greet people as they walk through.
(3)Susana S.
A great local date night spot on the water, at the Lakes in Tempe. This bar is mainly patio style, some area's are covered by sails while others are open air. Great beer on tap including Kronenborg 1664! My second favorite beer! Food is okay, try the pecan and brie quesadilla and the daily soup! Service is normally quite good and they also feature great local musicians on the weekends, like Walt Richardson. If you live on the lake, you can even dock your boat here! How cool is that? There are new tables right down on the waters edge for that romantic date! Give this place a try, you'll love it!
(4)Kyle G.
If you're looking for casual drinks on the patio, this is the right spot. Great view of the water, which is really unique in the valley. The bartenders were very friendly, but as the menu states pretty clearly, don't expect fast service. There were two bartenders servicing the entire place so it seems like they plan on being understaffed. The menu is pretty big, and they've given many of their dishes fun "nautical" names. However, it's pretty standard fare, so don't expect anything very unique from your food. I will definately be returning for drinks after I've eaten.
(3)J Seth A.
The bar is shaped like a "G" and my friends call this place "The G spot." They took me along last night. I loved the outdoor setting overlooking the water. The place was jam packed when we got there, a guy was playing an acoustic guitar and playing songs I like. I liked the selection of beer on tap, the bartender made me a shot with whiskey and pineapple juice. (Sounds kinda gross but it was good.) I didn't eat, but my friends got a smores fondue. Service was great considering how busy they were. I enjoyed the place so much we stayed until closing time.
(4)Valerie G.
Love finding places to dine in Arizona with my pup. She doesn't get any people food and has not become a begger yet, therefore she's a good dinner companion. Every time I come here there are other pooches and they all sniff each other out, it's great. Any place that allows furry friends on the patio gets my respect. So when I've been working a long day and don't want to leave Clover at home while I chill out, this is where I'll head. The food is not mind blowing but it's good. I've had the salmon salad a few times, it's different and pretty good. In the winter they have a fire going, so it's lovely to sit next to it with a nice view of the water in front. It makes me feel like I'm not in Arizona, eating in a strip mall like is often the case. I hosted a birthday dinner here for a friend and the owner was so great and helpful. She had me send people's food preferences ahead of time and things were ready to rock when we showed up. They had hot chocolate going to warm people up, had to have some baileys in mine, it was a great night. We were served so quickly and they did a great job remembering everyone's orders. Great little hidden gem in Tempe, I want it to stay hidden though!
(4)Emily M.
I love, love, love this place! It is beautiful- all outdoor seating on a lake in a residential neighborhood. Decent menu and AMAZING nachos- did I mention they have amazing NACHOS?!! Excellent service and friendly people all around. Anyway, if you are in the Tempe area, you must stop by for a cocktail and some grub- on the weekend nights they also have live music- WOOT!
(4)Michael H.
Pier 54 feels like its situtated somewhere in Florida. Great outdoor seating with that nautical feel. Stopped by on a Sunday for breakfast. Word of warning - don't come here if you're in a hurry or hungry. That being said, the servers could not be friendlier. Try the omlette, but the ordering process re: ingredients, is a bit convoluted.
(3)Misti P.
Whenever I think of a patio I want to be at on a beautiful AZ day, the first place that comes to mind is Pier 54. If you are looking for a place to take your time, have some drinks, enjoy a 'man made' lake, with a local feel, then this is your place. As a bonus, their food is really good! More to choose from than just 'bar food' and everything has a unique twist to it. I hope to see some local ingredients and all natural/anti-biotic free type proteins in the future. A couple times we received some pretty poor service, which is saying a lot since every time we go there with a 'no rush, take our time' mindset. But mostly it is just fantastic all around!
(4)Celia H.
Good neighborhood spot. Very casual and dog friendly. Cocktails are strong, and food is as good as I'd expect in any bar daring enough to have seafood on the menu. It is outdoor seating only - great for cool Zona nights, and the lakeside view is sweet. Lots of free parking is a bonus. I would recommend they have more support staff. The waitress was too busy so the service suffered and she was a wreck.
(3)Marianne H.
Pros: -Dog friendly restaurant -Strong drinks Cons: -Slow service -Mediocre food (at best)
(2)Scott J.
My mom was in town, and wanted to see where a relative got married a few months back, so I showed her The Waterfront. Next door, she noticed a restaurant, Pier 54. She mentioned she'd like to try that out for lunch before she left. So we did. Service: Bad. We arrived around 11:40, 40 minutes after they opened. We walked onto the patio/deck, and didn't see a server at all, so we just sat ourselves. After a good 15 minutes, a waiter walked out and took our drink order. Another 10 minutes, drinks arrived, and we decided to place our order then. We didn't receive our food for another 20 minutes or so. We didn't mind TOO much, since it was a nice day and we had a nice view of the man-made lake. Food: I ordered the Fish & Chips and both were pretty good. Sadly, the fries were probably the best item we tasted. My Fiance had the regular burger & fries, and her burger was over-cooked and very dry and lacked flavor. My fish, was battered to perfection, although, the middle of the fish (most dense area), was cooked, but the consistency was different from the fish on the outer edges. Kinda mushy and not as appetizing. I enjoyed the ends and outer edges of the fillet of fish the most. My mom had the 1/2 sandwich & soup- roast beef panini & clam chowder. I took a bite of the panini, nothing special. Not gross, but not GREAT. its just ok. The clam chowder had a great flavor, but was awfully runny and thin and not as thick as most chowders. There wasn't many items: potatoes, clams, etc in there either. I was mostly a thin chowder broth. In the end, I don't think we'll be back. Great location and nice atmosphere (minus the annoying bird that kept squawking all day long), but it was nice to enjoy the weather, the view and the ducks in the lake). I dont know why the service was soo slow, on a sunday, with only 3-4 tables. (more arrived as we left, but we were still shocked by the slow speed of the waiter). He was friendly, so I give him that, but we were really looking forward to this place, and it let us down quite a bit. If you dont' mind slow service and can use a very laid-back atmosphere, then you'd like it. The food was passable, but nothing to drool over.
(2)Brittany C.
First off, let me start by saying I love the fact that this place is on the lake and that it is dog friendly. That being said, we went here on St. Patrick's day and it was a little busy but not too bad, we got our seats right away and our waiter brought our drinks and menus out promptly. They had cheap drinks (I'm pregnant so I didn't get to enjoy them, but my friends absolutely loved them), and we were really enjoying ourselves. After waiting about 20 minutes, we finally got our order in. The waiter seemed out of it, almost like he had had one too many Irish car bombs himself, because every time I spoke to him it took him way too long to respond. People that came long after we did got their food way before we even got our appetizers. When we got our entrees the burgers tasted charred and disgusting, it was a weird spicy taste that ruined the whole thing. The cheesecake was pretty good for desert and we loved the ambiance, but after the food..I will not go out of my way to go here again.
(3)B H.
Beautiful view, terrible food. Go for drinks and avoid the food at all costs. I have eaten here several times and every time it gets worse! This time, I ordered pizza and I took a bite and it was frozen! If I wanted red barons pizza, I would have stayed home. Asked for pepperonis, charged .50c and there was one pepperoni on it. Waste! These owners and food staff should retire.
(2)Sheila L.
everytime i go here i crack up laughing and meet the funniest people at the bar...they serve Heffveisen on tap-fabulous and the bartenders and waitresses are super nice. I am pissed OFF however that they no longer can have dogs there. TOTAL BUMMER! Oh and the veggie burgers rock! and so do the yummy french fries-steak fries. its a good place- go visit and the view is nice, right on the lake and all lit up.
(5)Victoria H.
Location is great! The food could be better though.
(4)K. M.
Would be a great hang out if 1) it weren't mid-summer since all seating is outdoors and 2) if they cleaned up around their patio. My garage is less messy. Had the fish and it was undercooked.... Beware.
(1)Holly S.
This place is great! I used to live around the corner and would always crave their strawberry salad and french fries. Another winner for me is the grilled veggie sandwich. I also could never resist bringing friends there to have the s'mores kit. It's pretty nice being near water in Arizona while munching on some gooey marshmallow goodness. I live in San Francisco now and really miss this place. Definitely on my list of places to hit for good food on my next Tempe visit!
(5)Jonathan U.
This is a great place to be. We used to live right down the street and came here at night and always had a good time. Best place to sit and look out at the lake. The food is pretty decent and great drink prices. Never had a bad experience. Get the smore fondue dessert if they have it.
(5)Joseph C.
I visited Pier 54 about 3 weeks ago after a spring training game with some friends. The first thing I liked about this place is that it is an outdoor setting only. The combination of great Arizona weather and the fact it sits waterside makes for a really laid back and comfortable setting. The live music only further enhances one's experience.The wait staff is attentive and quick to serve. Sit back grab a beer and enjoy the view, cause the food takes some time getting to the table, but that is not necessarily a bad thing in my opinion. I had the Southwest Style burger, which was good, but not quite what I expected totally. Though I'm not a big beer drinker and nowhere close to being a connoisseur, this is the place where I was first introduced to Kronenbourg beer. The crab cakes as an appetizer are worth a try. A great local hangout.
(4)Edie M.
the only complaint i have is that they close too early! other than thatt, the food is amazing and the service is great. a warning: be prepared for an amazing but strong drink if you give the bartender free reign:)
(4)Candice S.
Don't be put off by the looks of this small, outdoor restaurant. The food is excellent! A few tables surround a large open bar, all with a view of the smallish man-made lake that sits inside an upscale housing development. As we ate, we watched a beautiful sunset over the lake, and also saw a few homeowners guide their boats up to the restaurant's small dock. Everything was delicious, from the hot crab and artichoke dip through the entrees to the dessert. I like to try something new, so I ordered salmon tacos with mango salsa and chipotle mayo, My husband is more traditional, so he had the Torpedo -- a man-sized prime rib sandwich with plenty of tender meat. I was tempted by the brie quesdadilla with candied walnuts, and my husband wants to go back for the Southwest pizza. And for dessert? Get this -- they bring a hibachi to your table so that you can roast marshmallows, dip them in a pot of melted chocolate, then roll them in graham cracker crumbs! Unfortunately, we didn't have time for that luxurious experience as we were on our way to an event, so we got the New York cheesecake with berries to go. Around the bar, the crowd was young, with some middle-aged people, and a couple of seniors. But they all were having fun, which made the mood of this small place happy and lively. The place is owned by a husband/wife catering team, so the menu may change with the seasons.
(4)Philippos S.
I live in the area and Pier 54 is very popular with the Lakes residents. Nice little place right on the water with typical bar food. Dog and people friendly.
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