Aftermath Kitchen & Bar — Restaurant in Phoenix

I waited too long to write this review because I wanted the culinary high of the experience to wear off a little. Aftermath had a special event for Easter, they opened early for brunch, which was very special. (A treat!) After months of not being to get down and enjoy the food, we made a special occasion of it. What was the fuss about? Well, an owner and team that truly understands the flavors and complexity customers are looking for and sometimes find (sometimes not) in Phoenix Arizona. The food was world-class. I can't give the food enough credit with my words. I want to go back, like 100 times. Every single bite was filled with flavor. The choices were creative, and the menu was digestible and not overwhelming. I love going to a place that focuses on doing everything exactly right instead of reading through 20 pages of stuff only to order pot stickers because I can't decide.

We tried several things, including the shrimp and grits (wow, best I've ever had, and I've eaten them in their home in the south). This was a suggestion of our server. This may have been special for the brunch menu, but I'm not sure.

We ordered a mac and cheese for the table. Wow! Would have hated to miss this. We worked on it for 2 days at home on the leftovers, so it's fantastic.

We got the BLT dip sandwich. I loved it! If I come and get something else in the future, I will definitely get this sandwich for takeaway to have for lunch the next day. I loved it that so much.

We also ordered the fried chicken and waffles. I'm usually not a fan, but the seasoning on the chicken was unique and fabulous. It's really hard to get good fried chicken around town, this was perfect. It was also served with a maple butter we absolutely loved it.

All three of us had bites of each other's. I'm so glad I was able to have a bite of everything. Otherwise, I may have missed the attention to detail on every single dish.

Logistics I can see that parking may become a little challenging over here. There is parking in front and back. Build in a little extra time if you are coming during a busy time so you don't get frustrated. The restaurant was very clean and is intimate, not huge. I believe there are 4 or 5 outside tables with misters which were open to the restaurant when we dined. We loved this. We could see everything and had fresh air. Maybe next time we come, we will request a booth with our reservation so we can people watch inside.

Conclusion I just can't get over the flavors. Everything was intense and memorable. I just love a restaurant that obviously cares so much about creating a great experience. Incredible food and staff. There was nothing ordinary about this culinary experience. Aftermath-you are...

Craving a burger and curious after seeing Phoenix New Times crown Aftermath as having the best in town, I made my way back to a spot I hadn’t visited in years. The vibe has noticeably shifted. What once felt like a chic, date-night destination now leans more toward a polished, upscale family restaurant. Not necessarily a bad thing—just different.

The main hiccup of the evening was the service. It appeared they were short-staffed, with just two servers managing the entire restaurant. While they did their best, it meant long waits to place our order and slower overall pacing.

We started with the Born and Bred Wings, beef fat fries, and of course, the Aftermath Burger—splitting everything between two people. The fries were excellent: golden, crisp, and perfectly salted. Though the portion was modest, the flavor made up for it. The wings surprised me; I expected something breadier from the name, but they leaned saucy instead, with a solid punch of flavor and a lighter, more refined texture.

The burger lived up to the hype in many ways. It's a smash burger, juicy and well-balanced, with all the right textures. Still, I wouldn’t call it the best in Phoenix. For my money, 5th Street Burger & Fries edges it out with a bit more flavor and indulgence, and I’ve heard Bad Jimmy’s makes a compelling case too.

We closed the meal with the chocolate torte and salted caramel ice cream—a rich and satisfying finish. The torte is dense and intense, closer to a slab of ganache than cake or brownie, which paired beautifully with the creamy, slightly salty ice cream.

All in all, Aftermath still has its strengths: a cozy space, strong flavors, and a burger well worth trying. It may not wear the crown, but it certainly...

This was a new and pleasant surprise up in the Biltmore area. Every course was an outstanding example of detail put into every plate. Let's not ignore the 90's under-theme going on here, best way I can describe it..great lighting and a solid soundtrack of nostalgia.

We started with the special, Mussels steamed in a tasty brown broth with a smokey bacon and I want to say miso mix. The one thing you begin to realize are the flavors that they pack into every dish, this special begins that experience. Decided on the short rib and was blown away, everything from the tender meat to the side of lentil mix, everything was paired perfectly. Also tried the After'Mac', they had me at Velveeta! IYKYK.This puts it on the comfort list for sure and the jack and muenster make it creamy and another mind blower on its own. There is of course desert, which made the cut as well with the Pretzel Bread Pudding, again a winner.

So with great food comes great service as well. They really outdid themselves. We had Mark assist us and it was a welcome experience for someone who knows what good service actually looks like.

Cocktails were great, attached with reasonable price as well. Started with a nice Old Fashioned, not too sweet and then followed it up with Baller Sour which again, was well balanced and paired with the food great throughout the night.

This is was definitely a great experience to stumble into. Don't waste your time with all the basics in the area. Spend some money on something you will actually impress you...