Filthy Animal — Restaurant in Tempe

#annandwaynesdatenightadventures on IG and FB

Comment from Wayne:

Filthy Animal. No, it's not an insult, and it's more than a clothing line, t-shirt theme, or a band, it was this week's date night destination, and what a great time we had there.

Filthy Animal, @thisisfilthyanimal , located in downtown Tempe, is a sister to Wren and Wolf, with similar décor, menu, and price point. Hidden within Wren and Wolf is a speakeasy, Trophy Room. Hidden within Filthy Animal is a speakeasy, Drop Dead Gorgeous (or DDG as the cool kids call it). Unlike Trophy Room, cameras are allowed inside DDG.

The food is really, really good, but customer service is out of this world. The entire staff, from Justin, our server, to all of our bus staff were extremely attentive, friendly, and despite having a restaurant full of people to attend to, made it seem like they had all the time in the world for you. Within DDG, Michael was tending bar while Will tended bar in the restaurant. Oftentimes, Will and Michael swap bartending positions. Both were friendly, as was the barback, Ryan. Clearly, Nate, the hospitality coach, who also introduced himself to us, has done an amazing job, and it seems everyone that works there wants to work there.

Go check out the restaurant and request to be seated in Justin's section. If you go into DDG, sit at the bar and learn a bit about mixology from Ryan, Will, or Michael, and tell them Ann and Wayne from #annandwaynesdatenightadventures said hi!

Comment from Ann:

Wow this one hit all the right notes. Beautiful interior, outstanding customer service, delicious food and prices in line with fine dining experiences. Some of the best Branzino I’ve ever had. Great place to celebrate a...

The completeness of this spot leaves me speechless…I am from out of town and was able to meet my friend here for tapas and drinks, and this night goes in the memory bank.

It starts with the ambiance, such a cool and well crafted vibe.

Then we move to the drink and food selection- there will be an experience in every sip or bite. We ordered the: shrimp skewers, tuna ceviche, croquettes, and dumplings. There was flavour, zest, deliciousness…and the cocktails were fun to try.

Lastly, the SERVICE 12/10!! Kenny was our original waiter and he treated us like queens… having him as our server set the tone for the whole evening. Loved his diligence in ensuring we got the best experience and selection when choosing our tapas. He checked on us throughout the night and even informed us of the speakeasy, which we ventured to as the night continued.

Nate introduced himself and is the Hospitality Coach - his hard work and dedication to the staff, and their training is evident throughout the whole restaurant and experience there. There was even an instance during him chatting with us that a Customer spilled her drink and some got on him. Right away he handled it with such patience and grace, and got her a new drink… and then came back to the table to make sure we were doing OK. You can tell he puts his heart and soul into his work & craft.

Lastly, we were able to meet Victor the GM… he is just such a cool and suave guy, we appreciated his attention and time in ensuring that we were enjoying ourselves as well as the opportunity to brag on Kenny and Nate.

If you can’t tell, I’m absolutely over the moon with the night that we had and will be talking about this across state lines. This is a must stop if you’re...

If you’re looking for a night out that’s equal parts vibe, flavor, and fun—Filthy Animal in Tempe is IT. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by the amazing Arlene (bar manager), who set the tone for the entire experience. She immediately offered to take us to the speakeasy, Drop Dead Gorgeous, while we waited for seats at the bar—and wow, what a move.

Stepping into Drop Dead Gorgeous felt like being transported to another era: velvet everything, a fog machine, disco ball glimmering, and guests dressed like they were ready for the Gatsby party. And then there was Mike. Arlene promised we’d love him, and she wasn’t lying—Mike is the ultimate host. Fun, engaging, razor-sharp with his cocktail knowledge and banter—he made the whole speakeasy experience unforgettable.

I had the Mega Viral (tequila, pisco, melon liqueur, yuzu, lemon, orange bitters, cream, egg white, topped with matcha powder) and it was everything—light, refreshing, beautifully balanced, and watching Mike craft it was like cocktail theatre.

Before heading to the restaurant bar, Mike and Arlene announced us as “fun guests coming through” as we passed through the kitchen—iconic energy. At the main bar, Will took great care of us. We tried the Summertime with Friends cocktail (another tequila-based delight), and it was equally bright and refreshing.

Food-wise, we went with the dumplings, milk bread, and the standout ahi ceviche with pineapple and plantain chips (had a kick and was hands down my favorite). I need to come back to explore more of the menu, but the vibes, the team, and the drinks were so top-tier that I’d go back just for Arlene, Mike, and the ambiance.

Pro tip: Go when Mike is working—10/10...