Restaurant Opening: Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill

Prepare your taste buds for a new adventure! Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill will open TODAY, Monday, Dec. 23 at Desert Ridge Marketplace, just in time for one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

Focused on made-from-scratch cuisine with a wide variety of options, Thirsty Lion will be located on the southwest side of The District. Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill will be the 10th restaurant to join Desert Ridge Marketplace since the shopping center completed a $22 million transformation in 2017.

“Thirsty Lion’s eclectic cuisine, large selection of beverages and focus on bringing people together to create lasting memories strengthens Desert Ridge Marketplace’s position as the culinary destination in the North Valley,” said Jenny Cushing, vice president of leasing at Vestar, Desert Ridge Marketplace’s parent company.

The 6,500 square-foot restaurant includes a spacious dining room, plus a large outdoor bar with a fire pit and ample seating offering guests another comfortable and unique gathering place. Thirsty Lion serves a signature menu of worldly cuisines, with an emphasis on local ingredients and bold flavors. The “seasonal fresh sheets” focus on featuring unique, in-season ingredients, including fresh seafood, quality meats and local vegetables and fruits. The bar will feature a large selection of craft beers on tap, many of which are local to the Valley, and dozens of flatscreen TVs for prime sports viewing. The gastropub also features unique craft cocktails that utilize combinations of fresh fruit purees, juices and premium liquors, as well as at least 20 different wines by the glass. A brunch menu including both decadently delicious and lighter fare items will be available starting Jan. 11.

“We are thrilled to expand the Thirsty Lion brand in Arizona with our new location in Desert Ridge Marketplace,” said John Plew, Owner of Thirsty Lion. “Desert Ridge is a thriving area with strong businesses, services and community around it. We look forward to connecting with residents and sharing our elevated flavors and creative cocktail program with the neighborhood.”

In February 2017, Desert Ridge Marketplace set out to bring new, elevated entertainment experiences to the North Valley—part of its mission to grow with the surrounding community. Desert Ridge Marketplace offers unique experiences and events throughout the year such as Movies After Dark (Every second and fourth Thursday of the month) and the Desert Ridge FIT FUN series, including Puppy Yoga, Yoga + Beer, Kid and Family Yoga and more (Multiple ongoing dates).