The team at Playground Bar & Lounge is excited to share its new menu of shareable dishes, innovative drinks, and all-around flavorful recipes.
With a new executive chef in the kitchen, there’s a new direction with this menu and it’s to “highlight the playful and social aspects of enjoying a night out with friends by providing vibrant, fun drinks and a variety of plates that can be shared.”
“Above all, we really want this menu to be a celebration of what Playground is all about — having fun with friends,” said David Bishow, executive chef at Playground. “Whether you stop in early for lunch or Happy Hour, eat dinner before the party starts, or share a plate with friends while dancing that night away, our kitchen and bar are ready to provide the party fuel at Playground.”
The menu is available now, as a matter of fact, and the kitchen is open until 10 p.m. Happy Hour is currently available from 4 – 7 p.m. on Wednesday – Friday and includes $2 off all drinks, $2 off dips, and $4 off all other food.
Now, let’s take a scroll through some pretty photos.
New Food Highlights
Wing-aholic ($14)
Choose from Guajillo hot, cheesy chili lime, or Whiskey Del Bac and served with fries (available in Cauliflower Bites)
Loaded Fries ($13)
Waffle fries, poblano cheese sauce, pico, pickled onion, seared black beans, fresco, manchego, guacamole, chipotle crema (add chicken or birria for a total of $17)
Pesto Caprese Flatbread ($13)
Basil pesto, heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, balsamic reduction, greens (add chicken for $13 or beef for $17)
Fig and Goat Cheese Flatbread ($15)
Caramelized onions, roasted figs, goat cheese, greens
Simple Greens ($14)
Radish, orange, red onion, grilled goat cheese, toasted pepitas, fig, white balsamic vinaigrette
Fried Chicken Sliders ($16)
Beer cheese, greens, pickles, pub mustard, bacon
Jalapeño Popper Burger ($18)
Two chorizo smash burgers, bacon-wrapped cheddar stuffed jalapenos, American cheese, cheese sauce, lettuce, shaved onion
More Dishes on the New Menu
- Guacamole and Chips ($7)
- Beer Cheese and Chips ($8)
- Pretzel Bite and Beer Cheese ($11) – Pretzel bites tossed in butter and salt, beer cheese, pub mustard
- Jumbo Prawn Cocktail ($16) – Citrus marinated and grilled jumbo prawns, kiwi cilantro sauce, radish, charred limes, smoked basil salt
- Corn and Poblano Fried Chorizo Meatballs ($15) – Corn and poblano batter chorizo meatballs, black bean salsa avocado crema, tequila spiced tomato spice
- Chicken and Waffle Fries ($14) – Fried chicken, waffle fries, sriracha honey, greens
- Backyard Burger ($17) – 1/2 pound brisket burger, lettuce, tomato, onion, American cheese, house sauce. Add bacon ($18)
- Bully Burger ($18) – half-pound brisket burger, peppered bacon jam, sharp cheddar, pub mustard, crispy onions
- Black Bean Burger ($16) – Black bean patty, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, onion
- Bahn Mi-nis ($16) – Crispy pork belly sliders, pineapple gochujang, cider slaw, jalapeño, cilantro, chili lime cucumbers, pickled onion
- Quesabirria ($16) – Braised beef birria, manchego quesadilla
New Cocktail Highlight
Espress Yourself ($13)
Waffle cone-infused Titos, Espresso Liquor, Frangelico, and Amaretto Cream
More Cocktails on the New Menu
- Guavesito ($12) -Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, Guava, Grapefruit, Lime
- Play Nice ($11) – Bacardi, Coconut, Orange Juice, Pineapple, Lime
- Mang On Fire ($13) – Don Julio, Mango, Watermelon, and Some Heat!
- Berry Fresh ($13) – Whistle Pig, Berries, Lemon, Mint
- Red Passion Sangria ($10) – Berries and Booze!
- I’ll Be Bac ($14) – Del Bac Dorado, House Bitters, Demarrara, Amarena
- Wrecking Ball ($14, or to share $30) – D’usse Cognac, Malibu, Black Razz, and Fresh Juice
To keep up with the latest news and information about Playground Bar & Lounge, visit playgroundtucson.com. Playground Bar & Lounge is a part of Tucson-based Loveblock Partners. Other Loveblock businesses include AC Hotel by Marriott Tucson Downtown, Good Oak Bar, HUB Ice Cream, HUB Restaurant & Ice Creamery, Little Love Burger, and more.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
