text: YARDWORK Culinary Dropout is Too Cool For SchoolnnSam Fox is crazy Crazy like awell fox With Fox Concepts restaurants dotting the culinary landscape you cannot go far without finding one of his kitchens cooking Zinburger NoRTH Italian Farmhouse Sauce True Food Kitchen Olive Ivy Arrogant Butcher Modern Steak Wildflower and Blanco Tacos Tequila They are sprouting up like portobello mushroomsnnHis latest gastropub Culinary Dropout not only has a location in chichi Scottsdale natch but one in viva Las Vegas inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino The latest Dropout is part of a burgeoning campus called The YardnnAfter pouring million dollars into the gigantic square foot facility another Dropout debuted Culinary Dropout has a pleasing tasty if largely unadventurous menu Think comfort food with a little twist With an uncomfortable price tag An attractive antipasti menu featuring meats veggies and cheeses kick off the event with prices from for bread olive oil and yikes for Iberian Ham a Spanish delicacynnShared plates include brats or black mussels and their fabulous Soft Pretzels Cheese Fondue for Seven different sandwiches can be yours Turkey Pastrami is served on a pretzel roll with Swiss cheese and coleslaw for a pricey Nice But not necessarily a bargain A French Dip with shaved prime rib fontina and au jus is a walletbusting nnSix different salads are featured the Winter Salad with sweet potato apples farro pomegranate black kale walnuts and goat cheese is something you will find yourself cravingnnThe entruees prove to be a hard choice prices range from for Meatloaf served with familiar friends mash potatoes gravy and green beans The highly touted Fried Chicken gives you a rather puny breast leg and thigh for Ours was served room temperature along with the mashed potatoes and a biscuit If it was hot it would have been heavenlybut still expensive I wish I knew the secret to the breading howevernnCast your line for the delish Rainbow Trout deboned beautifully filleted prepared with plenty of butter and daintily topped with French green beans a few caramelized shallots and toasted almonds A nicely sized fish but it looked a little lonely on an even bigger platter A spoonful of Rice Pilaf or a polenta would helped justify the whopping they reel out of your walletnnTry out a few nibbles available at Happy Hour for a fraction of the price on MondayFriday pm A tempting Brunch Menu is available Saturdays Sundays am pmnnThe Yard will also house Little Cleos Seafood Legend which opened March nnOne draw for The Yard will be the neverending patio stretching as far as the eye can see McDonalds has a PlayHouse with a Jump Jump and slides for ADHD brats Dropout has the same thingexcept for hipsters Ping pong tables cornhole bocce and tetherball will keep you occupied while you wait And wait And wait for a table On busy nights you can expect a hour wait At least Parking is a challenge but valet is freennThe Yard is still worth a looksee But watch out look at your wallet See it disappear