Rocker Alice Cooper's own Cooperstown is a one-of-a-kind joint in downtown Phoenix that's a perfect place to grab a variety of burgers, sandwiches, appetizers, or salads. It's a great place to chill and hang out with a group of friends.
Servers wear typical Cooper face paint, while a multitude of rock band and Hollywood actor photos adorn the walls. The place is huge, with scores of indoor and outdoor seats. An outdoor stage plays host to live music some Friday and Saturday nights. Lots of other fun events like free poker night and Halo 2 tournaments are listed on the restaurant's website.
We had a nice lunch there that started with the "Crowd Pleaser" Spinach Artichoke Dip ($7), served warm with multi-colored tortilla chips. Just enough for the four of us. I had "Thunder Dan's" Turkey Burger ($12) because I'm such a fan of portobello mushroom burgers, and this included both the meat patty and lots of grilled portobellos! It was very tasty, but if I were making it myself, I would marinate either the mushrooms or the turkey. It needed an extra kick. My brother, who usually eats like a horse, was satisfied by the heap of food that came on his plate by ordering the appetizer "Home Run" Wings and Ribs ($11), which came with plenty of both. According to my brother and his wife, a fun thing to order is the "Big Unit" Hot Dog, which is a nearly 2-foot beef dog. When ordered, the servers ring a loud bell and announce "Big Unit!" for all to hear.
One Saturday, my brother was having lunch and counted as one, two, three, FOUR Arizona Diamondback baseball players walked into the restaurant. Brave as he is, he got each of their autographs on a menu and has it framed. He also met the realtor at Cooperstown who sold him his first (beautiful) home!
If I lived in the area, I can imagine that I'd probably frequent this place. It's a lot of fun and serves good food. With so many choices and nothing typical, I wanted to try more than I did. The next time I visit my brother's family in Phoenix, I'll be sure to go back - and who knows? - maybe my boyfriend's band Gazelle can score a gig there! Even better!