esophagus
Gloria resides in the side storage area.
It’s the alcove just to the left as you enter, hidden under a black curtain. It’s a small hideaway now used for private parties. Its walls are adorned with images of faces of bygone people and images of medical curiosities that staff often use as break rooms. awaiting repair. In beautiful darkness, this is such a bright promise.
Pinball and video games at Surly Wench
Gloria greets you with a puff of perfume, letting you know she’s there because you can’t see Gloria. I probably prefer this room over the rest of the bar because of its ambiance. Gloria isn’t mean, but she’s fine.
“Oh yeah. This place is totally haunted.”
Surly Wench co-owner and manager, Steph Johnsonwith her partner Jasmine Pierceis also the manager and co-owner, and can attest to at least two cheeky apparitions occupying separate areas of the beloved tavern. A spirit among spirits.
Co-Owners, Steph Johnson and Jasmine Pierce
Enough food and drink to bring the dead back to life
Although Surly Wench is more than just a bar. It’s the venue. A place free of judgment and prejudice. A hideout for weird kids who embraced weirdos and grew up to be cool kids. dance hall. And above all, it’s a pub with seriously good grub.
“You know most people don’t think we’re serving food,” Johnson said.
Well, yes. In fact, Surly Wench has been serving food since his 2004 inception. When Johnson and Pierce took over nearly seven years ago, they wanted to keep serving food, if not better food.With the help of kitchen manager and chef Tori Haynesthey have built a menu that goes well beyond the fried foods you might expect from a saloon wielding a giant painting of a dangerous pirate woman slanted from a wall of booze.
Pirate mural above the bar
“Actually, we’re not a pirate bar,” Pierce said. “I mean, we are, but we’re way beyond that.”
Drinking at Wench is a must, but eating there should be at the top of your list. Or be relegated to dusty plot carts where loyal followers line up daily. But what about his dark bar on 4th Avenue where you can hear Misfits and Madonna at the same time?
sonoran dog
Surly Wench’s Sonoran Dog is great. An all-beef dog topped with shredded cheese, bacon, caramelized onions, pinto beans, tomato and mustard and finished with homemade jalapeno mayonnaise. It was delicious and completely messy, and I had to apologize for putting some in Ms. Pac-Man on the tabletop.
Fortunately, Surly Wench is the kind of joint that serves honest cocktails. One of my favorites of his is the Prickly Heat, a chili-infused tequila hellfire, prickly pear syrup, tagine-rimmed glass.
Variety of cocktails, including Prickly Heat
After consumption, you may wake up feeling a little grumpy the next morning, but the best way to cure that ailment is to go back and order Hangover Tots.
Now, those in the know know that I’m totally hooked. These lovely ladies have perfectly cooked tots topped with Swiss cheese, homemade poblano sauce and complimented it all with a fried egg. I don’t know.
hangover tots
Say with me: erotic nachos. yes. very good.
That’s what Elote Nachos is all about. Very generous. A pile of tortilla chips is nearly engulfed in elote spiced corn, cotija cheese and fresh cilantro. The Surly Wench is a popular hangout for those attending the roller derby, and some are employed there. It’s worth the effort, even if shoving a tissue down your bloody nose gets in the way of eating it.
erotic nachos
Then go where the bar food god (or devil) looks down (or up) to make sure things are going in the right direction for meat: burgers.
Sitting between a couple who look like Magenta and Frank N. Furter, while the other two look like Brad and Janet, you’ll be happy to know that Royale Burgers aren’t just burgers. It’s a history lesson.
Frank N. Furter’s paintings from The Rocky Horror Show
Based on a family recipe for generations of golumpki meatballs, this burger represents the ghosts of many meals from the past. This burger could have been enjoyed by Dillinger himself. Annie Oakley. David Bowie. Either way, it’s a gorgeous meatball-inspired burger that will haunt you forever if you don’t order it soon.
Royale Burger and Fried Chicken Sandwich
I want to enjoy ghosts
“And then there’s the cowboy who hangs out by the bathroom,” Johnson said.
After closing, multiple images of a man leaning against the wall near the restroom were seen as the door was locked and the lights dimmed. The building itself is over 100 years old of his, with countless concepts at the time. As such, it seems fitting for people like Gloria and Cowboys to hang out and enjoy the daily merry din of Surly his wench.
While in the basement, the pub staff can occasionally hear heavy footsteps on the stairs. This is the sound of her cowboy boots hitting a worn, creaking tree. Shot glasses splattered off shelves, lights on stage went down for no reason, and in one incident the alarm went off at 4am.
surly wench stage
Johnson and Pierce were fast asleep when their alarm company called about someone about to break in. in the bar. It was a warning. end trigger Stage Door — A door that can only be accessed by being inside the Surly Wench.
Was Gloria going outside for her predawn walk? Maybe the cowboy thought it was time to piss off the dogs before the sun came up. In any event, these events encouraged professional and amateur Ghost his hunters alike to stalk, question the shadows, and observe possible movements by the commodity table through a glowing green infrared screen. I’m here.
Tucson has been voted one of the most haunted cities in America. In fact, it’s the most haunted city according to recent reports. It’s no surprise that many paranormal events regularly occur from where a fully functioning coffin sits beneath the stage.
Oh yeah, Surly Wench has a coffin.
Good times are rolling in the wench
“Everyone who works here is involved in everything we do here,” Pierce says.
One of the best aspects of Surly Wench is that it’s a place where you can listen to great music and have a show, dance, dance, dance, if not rowdy. On the first Friday of every month, there’s a raunchy burlesque her review hosted by Johnson as her Stephka Von Snatch in front of a horde of servers, patrons and close friends. Last Saturday you’ll hear Nu-Her wave, goth, and industrial music from a variety of DJs, including occasional Surly Wench employees. The 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each week are reserved for her popular 80’s dance her party and we encourage you to dress up as her favorite one hit wonder of the decade . Kajagoogoo anyone?
When it comes to burlesque, Surly Wench has almost consistently won numerous awards for its glamorous Tease Orama since its inception in 2006.
Co-Owners, Steph Johnson and Jasmine Pierce
Well, Surly Wench may not be for everyone, but it’s a place for everyone. Black walls, skateboards adorned with slightly profane imagery, bar staff and owners covered in tattoos, bands onstage blasting psychobilly music, showgirls, drag queens (and kings!) back and forth Mixed in, many people are thrown out. after going on stage. However, the Surly Wench is an alternative for alternatives. A must-have haven for those of us who like to bump at night.
“Some people think we’re a gay bar,” Johnson said. “We feel it’s a safer place, as are we. If you’re cool, you’re welcome. If not, this may not be the bar for you.
Is it a pirate bar? A little. LGBTQ bar? of course. Punk rock bar? yes. A bar with great video games and pinball machines, strong drinks, good food, and a great staff led by a generous, fun-loving owner?
I mean, where else could a Gloria or a cowboy call home? A place without skeletons on the walls and black metal on Juke is just a sin.
Surly Wench’s Patio
Bar hours are Wednesday-Friday 4pm-2am (kitchen 5pm-1am), Saturday-Sunday 2pm-2am (kitchen 5pm-1am). until the time).
The Surly Wench Pub is located at 424 N. Fourth Ave. For more information, visit surlywenchpub.com and follow Surly Wench on Facebook and Instagram.
