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Bourbon Bent Brings Southern Classics to Main Gate Square

Steak + Fries & Peachy Margarita (Photo courtesy of The Saddle)

Bourbon Bent Brings Southern Classics to Main Gate Square

Feb 6, 20242 min read

Bourbon Bent is University Boulevard’s newest restaurant and cocktail bar offering a menu inspired by Southern classics such as chicken and waffles, cobbler, and even some bourbon-infused dishes. 

Currently, Bourbon Bent is open every day of the week at 820 E. University Blvd. from noon – midnight on Monday – Wednesday, noon – 2 a.m. on Thursday – Saturday, and noon – 9 p.m. on Sunday (hours are subject to change).

What’s on the Menu?

The head chef at Bourbon Bent is Justin Stewart who formerly worked as head chef at the Wooden Nickel Tavern. Stewart is an experienced chef with a passion for local cuisine, and if you haven’t checked out our interview with Stewart, he enjoys a good steak. 

He loves it to the extent he would include a steak in his theoretical “last meal,”  so it is no surprise that one of Bourbon Bent’s best sellers is their Steak Sandy — a sliced steak sandwich with arugula, pickled cherry peppers, avocado, and mayo on a grilled ciabatta. 

Check out our March 2023 “Nine on the Line” article. 

a plate of food with broccoli
Bourbon Balls (Photo courtesy of Bourbon Bent)

Some of the other notable menu items at Bourbon Bent are the Peach Cobbler for dessert and the Bourbon Balls appetizer. The Bourbon Balls are a mix of beef and chicken meatballs served with peaches, bourbon barbecue sauce, crispy onion, and herbs.

Food & Drink Specials

After opening in early January of this year, Bourbon Bent has offered multiple weekly specials. Happy Hour deals are offered Monday – Friday 3 – 6 p.m. including $4 well drinks in addition to $4 drafts, $5 house wine, and $7 food specials. 

The Happy Hour menu items included in the happy hour food specials are the Chicken and Waffle Sliders, brisket Not-chos, Warm Pretzel, and Fried Pickle Spears. Ordinarily, dishes like the Not-chos, which include kettle-style potato chips instead of tortilla chips, are $16. 

a dish is filled with different types of food on a plate
Wings & Not-chos (Photo courtesy of Bourbon Bent)

Bourbon Bent also offers a collection of cocktails, hosting “Get Bent Thursdays,” meaning, on Thursdays from 8 p.m. until closing their mason jar cocktails are just $5, and Coors Light is sold for $3.

If you’re looking for a couple of crafty recommendations from behind the bar, two of their best-selling cocktails are the Porch Swing and Gulf Water

Bourbon Bent is located at 820 E. University Blvd. on Main Gate Square. For more information and the full menu, visit bourbonbentaz.com.

Article written by:

Kevin Thomas

Kevin Thomas

More about Kevin
Tucson Foodie is Tucson's premier food and dining publication, covering the best restaurants, events, and culinary experiences in Southern Arizona.

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Presented by @Visittucson 

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@Sonoranrestaurantweek runs from September 4 through 13, 2026, and it’s the perfect excuse to pair a day of Tucson sightseeing with a prix fixe meal. Since the Old Pueblo packs desert trails, historic missions, art districts, and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation into one metro area, visitors can easily build a full day around any interest and land near a Restaurant Week stop when it’s time to eat.

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