Arizona Dining

Eureka! an experience for gastronomes and whiskey lovers

Erin Thorburn July 17, 2024

Photo courtesy of Eureka! Restaurant Group

If a European distillery and a modern bistro had a baby, it would be Eureka!, one of the newer occupants of Tempe’s blossoming Novus Place, tucked within the Novus Innovation Corridor. This modern scratch kitchen offers a hearty menu, a comprehensive beverage program (including The Whiskey Club which we’ll get to shortly), and a trendy, rustic-chic atmosphere.

Eureka!’s Musts:

Order the Truffle Cheese Fries
Check out the whiskey lockers
Dazzle tastebuds with the The New York Strip with Bone Marrow Butter

A view of Eureka’s whiskey lockers. (Photo courtesy of Eureka! Restaurant Group)

Whiskey a go-go — and get a locker

Going back to the previously mentioned “distillery vibes,” one unique aspect of Eureka! is the eatery’s beverage program which includes The Whiskey Club. Inventoried with 100% American whiskey, paid members of this club receive a monthly discovery box featuring top small-batch whiskey. But that’s not all. Eureka! houses whiskey lockers (see photo) in which members may store their Whiskey Club bourbon.

For those seeking a story about the curation of The Whiskey Club and its prized bourbon reserves, Zeke, Eureka!’s bar manager is extremely educated on all things whiskey, as well as the restaurant’s bar program, which is also almost exclusively stocked with American brands.

Whiskey pairings come with complementary bar ingredients, bar accessories, tasting notes and cocktail recipes.

From The Whiskey Club to a full and creative beverage program, Eureka! has covered all manner of spirits for visitors near and far. (Photo courtesy of Eureka! Restaurant Group)

Good eats and treats

As for Eureka!’s menu, there is much for foodies to fawn over. The New York Strip with Bone Marrow Butter is a crowd favorite with a burst of flavor and decadence that’s simply hard to resist. All beef menu items are Santa Carota beef (from grass-raised, carrot-finished cattle out of California) highlighting a unique, slightly sweet flavor profile.

In addition to enjoying a juicy, fully-loaded burger with American Swiss, grilled red onion, butter lettuce, house pickles, tomato and special sauce, we delighted in the Seared Salmon atop beurre blanc, potato purée and green beans — and recommend trying both.

Our magnificent server, Aubrey — who can match whatever mood pleases your palette with corresponding menu options — mentioned that the Napa Chicken Sandwich served with a grilled chicken breast, roasted Roma tomato, pesto aioli, Havarti, bacon and arugula and the Beer Dog complete with beer bratwurst, goat cheese, caramelized whiskey onions, apple cider-braised cabbage, porter mustard and Parmesan cheese are menu must tries.

Shareables for sure

The Shareables menu is tailor-made to appetizer enthusiasts, beginning with the Truffle Cheese Fries. Served with truffle salt, Parmesan, chives and a decadent white truffle cheese sauce — this dish is almost enough to be a meal (almost!).

Then there’s the Mac N’ Cheese Balls complete with beer cheese sauce, Fresno chiles, chives Parmesan and ranch — yum.

It’s also rumored the Grilled Broccolini with pesto cashews and caramelized shallots is a crowd pleaser.

No matter what diners select from the full list of apps, they cannot go wrong.

Zert Zerts

If patrons still have room left after shareables and entrees, they’ll have a hard time deciding between the Bourbon Barrel Cake with candied pecans, bourbon caramel and vanilla bean ice cream; the Chocolate Cake accompanied with WhistlePig Bourbon maple whipped cream, Buffalo Trace chocolate sauce and lava salt; and the Carrot Cake topped with WhistlePig Bourbon maple whipped cream.