If you’ve been searching for a place where you can feel like a celebrity, grab a quick drink and enjoy high-quality food on a student budget, then look no further than LimeLight Dipping Bar & Grill.
What was once a dull unnoticeable building on Scottsdale Road is now a unique stop in Old Town. LimeLight Dipping Bar & Grill replaced My Big Fat Greek Restaurant a few weeks ago with a green hue visible from afar that begs the question – what is that place?
The answer is … a totally new concept. “Dipping bar” isn’t exactly a well-known phrase in the food vernacular. It isn’t actually a dipping bar but a list of sauces on the menu for dipping menu items such as their dipping sticks, burgers, house-made fries and pizza. LimeLight has 15 signature sauces in three main categories: sweet, savory and spicy.
The interior of LimeLight offers a minimalistic and modern environment making dining and socializing versatile. Walking in, customers are greeted by sleek lighting lined with green hues specifically placed creating a very sophisticated atmosphere. The walls are a shade of grey, which may seem dull in daylight but by moonlight is elegant.
Located in the front of the restaurant is the bar, which paves the way to the dining area, where tables are centered around booth-like couches adorned with pillows and dimly lit candles. There is also a long community table, which insists for mingling and creating new relationships. Dividing the restaurant is a half-wall separating the more traditional tables from the lounge.
Upon arriving, you'll notice that there is also seating outside on a small patio. As it continues to cool down the patio is likely to become full on Friday and Saturday nights. Those who can't tear themselves away from that Saturday night football game can still get their fix from the six HDTVs located in the lounge.
The music becomes one of the central components to the restaurant, providing the customers with ear candy while they decide on both their food and their date. The mix of post rock and experimental indie is sure to fit anyone's style – being loud enough to create a "club"-like atmosphere and still allowing for an open conversation.
The servers are friendly and make an effort to help every guest understand what exactly a dipping bar is. The staff works together to make every guest feel special, they don’t give you the feeling that only your specific server can refill your water glass or grab you some more sweet ‘n’ sour.
The ambiance is perfectly genuine for a group of friends grabbing a drink before they go out or a couple who want to grab a high quality martini.
Executive Chef and co-owner Lefty Karropoulos calls LimeLight’s food “modern American cuisine with a side of culture and a fine twist.” The menu is pretty large with a dish for everyone; it is divided into appetizers, dipping sticks, salads, burgers, sandwiches, pizza, sides and dessert. Karropoulos’ Greek background is still prevalent in the menu, with some Greek-inspired dishes as well as Italian, Mexican and French influences.
LimeLight does their best to source only organic ingredients and everything is made in house. Another niche that it has filled is to become a spot for healthy food in Scottsdale.
“It’s as close to guilt-free as you can get,” says Ryan Mitchell, the co-owner and operating manager of LimeLight.
The appetizers range from $6 to $11, the lobster cake with sun-dried tomato beurre blanc is a great and yummy value at $7. Main entrees are between $7 and $16. A few of their more signature items are burgers with fresh pretzel buns and six different dipping sticks that can be added to a salad for $4 or eaten individually for around $10. The deserts are $7 with rotating flavors of cheesecake and crème brulee as well as a phenomenal cannoli made with orange zest.
Economically speaking LimeLight is right on the mark for a quality dining experience on a college budget. “It’s good quality food for a price everyone can afford,” Karropoulos says.
Students love discounts and LimeLight has caught on. They are offering a 15 percent discount to students who show their SunCard when dining.
LimeLight also features an extensive happy hour, offered Sunday through Thursday from 4-7 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 3-6 p.m. and 9-11 p.m. Mitchell and Karropoulos call the 9-11 p.m. specials their “pre-funk” hour, meaning they want it to be the place people go for a couple of cheap drinks before arriving at their final Old Town party spot.
Their happy hour boasts $2 honey brown, $3 microbrews, $3 house wines and $5 appetizers. All of their drinks are made with fresh squeezed agave instead of sugar and fresh squeezed juices. In addition to the happy hour specials, there are different specials every day of the week.
To fit into the club atmosphere, LimeLight will hold parties on Friday night with a live DJ called "Social Rehab." Karropoulos’ idea behind this is to give people the opportunity to meet others and “socially rehabilitate yourself.”
“We really believe in the front of house experience, we want everyone to be in the limelight,” says Karropoulos.
SPM recommends... Lobster cake with sundried tomato beurre blanc Maytag Queso Burger with fries and bacon aioli Award Winning NY Cheesecake of the day: Red Velvet
If you go... LimeLight Dipping Bar & Grill 4218 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale Open Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-12 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-3 a.m. 480-949-8900, www.limelightscottsdale.com
Contact the reporter at cavohs@asu.edu
