Gentle Ben's

Been wanting to try this place out since I moved to AZ over 20 years ago! Finally got there, and I loved it. Good food, great service, glad I finally made it!

Decent burger, good beer selection with a bunch of local options from their related brewery, weird vibes. The inside of the place doesn't look like what you would expect, almost a little brighter and fancier looking than the place actually is. Apparently staffed mostly by University students who did a pretty great job. The cookie brownie dessert was especially good

Solid sports bar! Ton of seatings, pretty good beer, super convenient location if you’re staying anywhere near campus. Staff members were very attentive (if anything, maybe too much, but I wasn’t bothered — they were really nice)

Didn’t have food just beer flights and michilada . Flights were good and service love atmosphere nothing special about the Michilada . Only place that decided not to have a happy hour between dates we were visiting because of graduation so was a bummer decided to just have a drink and move on .

The Western Burger is a thing of beauty. The staff are friendly and attentive. No surprise because this restaurant is owned and operated by the same people that own two other nearby restaurants... Agave and Bacio Italiano.

If you're into the University of Arizona vibe, this is a must-visit! They offer great drinks, food, and top-notch customer service. The staff was incredibly attentive and really took care of us.

Good place to eat. The events that have upstairs are even better.

Excellent burger, for $20 I was not disappointed, ever ordered extra patty. Medium was medium, not overcooked burned or anything like what you see in plenty places. Simple dish done well, served with coleslaw, makes me want to come again.

Stopped here on a whim. The space is enjoyable. We started sitting at the bar and kind of felt like an outsider but the bartender eventually warmed up to us, I guess. There's a great selection of beers, including local craft brews. I could never shake off feeling like an outsider though, the bartender wasn't super engaged. We didn't want to eat at the bar so we left and came back a little while later and ate in the dining room. I believe our server was Sam and he was excellent; very friendly and pleasant. The space seems like it would work well for large and small parties, in fact, there was a mix of both while we were there. The patio looks to be good sized, with fans and misters out there during the hotter months. The dining room was a much better experience than the bar; the dining room added a star to this review.

Gentle Ben's, while a brewpub, feels more like a fancy bar. It's the closest place I've been to that reminds me of Denver. The food is just slightly overpriced compared to other locations around Tucson, but overall, it's very delicious. I got the cheeseburger, which, while slightly overcooked, was still tasty and juicy. I also tried the beer-battered fries, which were great (you all really love your beer-battered fries here in Tucson--I'm not complaining). I wrote a review earlier about Barrio Brewing and how their beer was good but the food was mid. Well, Gentle Ben's is the place if you want good beer (Barrio Brewing) and good food. Keep in mind that this location is near the college, so it might get rowdy at times with the college kids. But overall, the staff is super friendly and helpful. Best place I've been to in Tucson so far.

The food was better than I expected and the server (Sam) was attentive and helpful recommending menu items. The bartender was not so good. She didn't seem to give a crap about the bar patrons but was have plenty of conversation with the other staff. The bar was very loud but the dining room was actually very family friendly and conversation level of noise

Stop by here tonight as it was close to the hotel and what an amazing experience. Outdoor patio with misters with football say less. Then had the tacos and we were a bit extra but well worth it! Carne asada with avocado and all the toppings were delicious. Plus highly recommend the beans! Such a great place next time we're down here we won't shy away!

We returned on a busy March Madness Saturday night. Sitting at the bar to watch the game and eat dinner, we received great attention, service and food. The Tortilla Soup and Lizzie Salad went well with Barrio Red. Enjoy!

First time customer - admittedly did not eat here today. Dropped in for a couple pints and was pleasantly surprised. I have long AND wrongly believed there was an understanding between UofA and local University Blvd establishments to keep beers below 5% due to a younger patronaging population. Bottom line, solid beer selection. Glasses were clean, ice cold and the service at the bar was enthusiastic and friendly - made us feel welcomed. The food landing on surrounding tables looked good and we will definitely return for a dining opportunity. If you are looking to wet your whistle, like to people watch over an ice-cold IPA (plenty of other choices), this is a stop worth considering.

Post-game dinner, this hit the spot. Though it was crowded, we only had a short wait before we were seated. Our server answered all of our questions and got us set up with beverages. Bar service to our table was swift for the size of the crowd they were serving. There were three of us in our party. Two ordered wings. They tried the BBQ, tequila-cilantro and the spicy habanero. All three were delicious. I got the Brussel Sprouts. They came with honey-chipotle dressing, bacon, parmesan, garlic, kale chips. I usually move on when I see the word "kale," but something made me try this. It was a good choice. The roasted sprouts with all the fixings and the crunchy kale made a perfect dish for me on this night. I can honestly say, I enjoyed the kale. Overall, excellent dish. This is a good spot if you are near U of A and in need of a bite and a beverage.

Honestly Gentle Ben's surprised me. Great pregame and post game spot! We got a resy for 15 online a few days before the ASU UofA game and got in with no issues. The food was also good give. How busy they were! Potato skins were fire. Guac was mostly one big avo chunk lol but it was still good. If you wanna get ROWDY-- order a round of Ben's bombs!!! TOO FUN!!!

I attended a rave at last weekend Gentle Ben's Mexican Brewery, which had somewhat recently converted their upper deck area to a pretty cool EDM club. The music was crunk (not what I expected), but the crowd was enthusiastic and the vibe was cool. Our table was cheap compared to Phoenix, and the service was better (because it is a lot smaller). It is an 18+ club, so it was interesting how they separated the "kids" from the "adults" to prevent cross contamination by alcohol. Nice place, and I will be back...

I've gone twice now. Once when it was cooler but more packed and today when it was near 100 and misters were on. It was not busy today at all. The service was good and the waitress was just the right level of attentiveness. The location is excellent near the university and easily walkable from the campus. The food, however, has just been ok. This time I ordered the Sonoran chicken tacos on flour tortillas. It came with a side of beans and rice. Overall, I found the taste to be a little boring and the chicken was very dry and adding the salsa didn't help it much. The beans felt the same way. Just thick and not much flavor. The location has indoor and outdoor seating and can handle large groups. Parking can be an issue as the area is busy with other stores and restaurants as it's really only street parking.

Stayed at the Marriott next door - needed a place with chill vibes, good food & drinks. Gentle Ben's delivered... a very friendly staff and well oiled operation. Nachos were huge & delicious. Reasonable prices. Good WiFi, enough to connect the kids iPads and chill out for a while. Patio was the perfect place to post up for a bit. Highly recommended.

A staple of being a college student at the U of A. People go here for the environment and the convenience, not necessarily the food or the service. Right on University, this restaurant/bar is a fun place to be for any game. Their menu offers all the classics you'd expect from a sports bar - burgers, wings, etc. in addition to a "south of the border." I've eaten here many times and the food has always been decent. The burgers are the best thing I've had from here, but there have been multiple times I've tried to order a burger and they were out. Staff is always nice, but it can take a while for food to come out.

I used to go to Gentle Bens all of the time in my 20's. Since moving away from Tucson I do find myself stopping in from time to time while visiting friends and family. The place has always been a great solid place for a good beer and misters on the patio. I love to sit on the patio on a hot day and people watch. So much fun. Last time we went we tried their wings. We got the tequila cilantro wing flavor and I highly highly recommend it. The cilantro really comes through on the sauce and then they sprinkle a little on the wings as well. if you like cilantro you gotta try these wings. They were crispy and saucy and absolutely delicious. I am going to have to get these again next time I am in Tucson.

A great venue for fast food and drinks before a game at the UofA. Their Lizzy salad, wings, and tacos are pretty good. Beware, it Can be extremely crowded on Saturdays due to their rooftop parties.

Popped into Gentle Ben's as my friend and I were just walking through the campus and didn't know what to expect. Turns out we made a good decision to eat and drink here. It was a massive bar/restaurant and on our particular visit, the weather was nice so we sat outside on the patio. The nachos and burgers were amazing and left us so full. Definitely bring your appetite to this place. Our waitress was very nice and even gave us recommendations of others places to check out while in town. Very good experience and recommended stopping in here for good food and vibes.

Trendy bar in the heart of UA country. I was looking for a more traditional pub to grab a couple of pints. Gentle Ben's isn't that but it looks like a nice hot weather hangout. - Inside bar is OK, not really a place I'd want to spend much time. - Draft beer list is mostly Barrio, heavy on the hazy. - Pints are $8, a bit more than other places charge.

Most friendly staff and best food. I highly recommend this place. Shoutout to Alana. I'll definitely come back

Went on 3/29 at 9pm to watch some of the NCAA men's basketball games and for dinner. We were seated by the UO on the first floor. The burger I got was good, felt ruined by the rude service. I wish we had the other server who did come to check up on us. When our table ordered water, the server seemed to only treat us worse after. I understand what it is like to work in college and am not much older than the server, but truly made me not want to go back. I've loved Gentle Ben's previously, but will rethink where I want to eat and enjoy sports the next time I'm on university Ave.

Good, old fashioned, bar food. Nothing fancy, just ice cold beer, wings, nachos, burgers in a LOUD, pregame setting with lots of college students and it's a fine spot for what and where it is.

Great spot to get a bite or a drink, conveniently located near many other bars and restaurants and a streetcar stop. Service was great, we were seated right away and our waitress checked on us frequently. Food and drinks came out fairly quickly as well. I ordered the avocado tacos which were delicious as well!

You'll really should allow half stars because I would've left 3.5. Pretty empty and slow on a Friday night and somehow our service was sub par. The music was cool but loud (it's a bar, I know) but it wasn't overbearing. We were still able to converse. I wasn't really hungry but I ordered the bear down, it was just a warm brownie with two scoops of vanilla ice cream. It was good, moist. I also ordered the strawberry margarita which is on the rocks, they don't even have blenders! Our server was a lil spacy and responsive but in her own time. My friend asked twice for silverware and napkins which should be on the table imo. Good for drunk, late night eats.

I've eaten here a couple times and every time I return, I go in hoping that maybe the last time was just a fluke because people talk about it with so much love but I think that's just because it's got a decent bar that probably a lot of locals and college kids have made some memories at. Fair. But I have to say.... the food is just bad. Overpriced and really generic flavors and careless preparation. I once ordered nachos and the cheese was shredded from a bag and below the top layer, jt was completely unmelted. That's a $15 dish! Offensive! This time I got a Ben's House salad that sounds delicious in its description but it's a bunch of completely raw vegetables chopped up and thrown on a plate. There's not even an included dressing. You have to pick your own? That's dumb? Also the black olives were completely missing. Not to mention every time I've ever been here, the waitresses have rushed me and my party out the door. Save your money. Go literally anywhere else (preferably not on University) or just stick to a basic a cheeseburger and beer.

My husband and I were in Tucson to watch the OSU vs UA football game. We wanted to have a few drinks and watch the other Saturday PAC 12 games before our 7:30pm game began. My husband ordered Hazy IPA and I ordered a single vodka soda with two likes (Titos). Both went down smoothly. We each had two drinks and sat a a large table with other OSU fans and started talking with them while watching tv. The vibe was electric and fun, lots of seating and tv's, and the staff was extremely service oriented, helpful and happy!! We were seated at the outside deck are but there was plenty of interior seating as well.

Pretty good breakfast burritos and beer selection. Nice outdoor seating, and good service. The food was a little slow to come out, but the server kept us up to speed.

We ordered burgers which were very good. However, the service is a 1! No one greeted us, we sat ourselves and we didn't get waited on. We had to go inside to the bar to get menus. The bartender said she'd bring them to us. She told us our waitress was away. Get a manager here and provide good service!

BEST PLACE EVER!!! It's so fun! Best nights on college here! Such good music, drinks and food!!! When my parents come it's a staple. The spinach dip is bomb!!! And I love the cucumber drink!!! The service is also amazing. It's college kids who are grinding for a tip so you know they'll look out for you!

I love Ben's so fun and great service. I have been coming here for the last 4 years and have loved it every time!

Gentle Ben's is so welcoming and the workers are so friendly! Fetty is performing and he is one of the best! Great Service!

so fun. Love it here! the food and drinks are amazing I come here all the time the workers are so nice

I love this place, the employees treat us with love and kindness. We were seated in a booth and the hostess was very nice and had quick service!

I absolutely love the vibe of this bar, but it really wouldn't be what it is without the people and the service they provide. I can always count on Lily to take great care of me and anyone I bring in. The rest of the crew and management team are amazing too. The food and craft cocktails are incredible, you really can't go wrong with Ben's!

Super popular place with the college crowd and the families. Just wanted to add a picture of the wonderful Artichoke Dip in a bread bowl that we had as an appetizer. Fun place to try when in Tucson.

I've been there maybe 100 times the past several years. Depending on what you order, the food is anywhere from good to very good. The service is a notch above, ranging from very good to excellent. We always treat the servers w/respect, engage them in conversation, & joke around a lot. Main reason we go is the service (and the patio). People who complain about the service may need to look at their own attitude. We've NEVER had bad service so if you have, then maybe it's a reflection of you own bad attitude. They are servers, not servants.

Food was great had the potato skins a western burger with tortilla soup , service was amazing from being seated to our server Katlin she made suggestions and was absolutely attentive the soup was just warm and she took the extra mile and heated it up quickly . We sat in the outside patio great ambiance and got to see a little bit of the NCAA tournament. If you're in the area a must try.

Best bar on campus. Food is great too- try a bens bomb and the brunch! I love the steak tacos

After 3 hours on the thumping top deck, we needed some food to soak up the alcohol. We ordered an insane assortment of apps which did the trick! The potato skins were great... nothing unique but very tasty. The chicken tenders were great, the nachos were huge and very good, and the "beer sponges" (pretzels) were dry and mediocre (the beer cheese was awful- burnt tasting). For what it was, it did the trick filling up our bellies so we could make it to the UoA basketball game!

Although I haven't been to Gentle Ben's during the day for food service. Nightlife/bar service is always amazing here. Quick and efficient!

7 of us ROMEOS had lunch here yesterday & this place is huuuuge! Sabrina, our server, was polite, helpful AND easy on the eyes. For $9 I had the beer sampler which had 4 different styles of brew in 5oz glasses. I chose a rojo, hefeweizen, stout, and a porter - good stuff! Their food potions were more than ample and the grilled portabella mushroom w/ roasted peppers, caramelized onions, and a pesto sauce was delicious Only drawback was expensive parking.

Favorite place to go in Tucson! 5/5 best college bar, great staff, great service, great music!

Met friends here. Sat on the patio. It was a great spot to people watch. The food was really good. We all had the carne asada tacos and they were delicious and filling.

Found a roach going to the bathroom was not the best considering I spend 80 in drinks

Gentle Ben's is one of my favorite food spots in Tucson. Their wings are AMAZING (try every flavor, you won't be disappointed) as well as every other food item I've had. It's perfect for a fun, casual date night. My boyfriend and I always sit on the patio and enjoy the night life when we go. To top it all off, we have never had bad service. The girls who usually help us are attentive and super friendly. I highly recommend!

I ate lunch here yesterday with a friend. I had the plate of two (fairly large) shrimp tacos ($15.50), which came with rice and beans. The tacos were good, the rice and beans OK. Service was OK though it took some time to get our bill. All in all, a decent meal, but nothing to write home about.

There are options when on University and normally Gentle Ben's is a safe bet- not last night! In summary our 11 top experienced extremely slow service on drinks (40 min for a drink). Add to that a slow & inaccurate kitchen (food was not correct and COLD), and a staff that played the blame game. In fairness the bill was adjusted fairly by the GM Eric. The insane part to our group --everything was going poorly- then it all started getting fixed- the they never came back to serve more drinks or food. I had to stand up and walk around to find someone to provide a bill. Getting the bill consisted of them verbally giving me a total- no visibility to what I was paying for. At this point I just gave them my visa because we had Ubers waiting. The receipt they provided was missing proof of tip- and I had to ask for another receipt to make sure the server did receive her gratuity. The whole experience felt like it was a soft opening for a restaurant with no experience.

Gentle Ben's (GB) has a lot of history in Tucson and I may be missing a lot of it. GB's beer is OK, but the food and location are good. The service is OK even in the before Covid times. The restaurant can handle large parties which is good.

Great place and atmosphere. Awesome food and awesome waiter Avery was the best! Will be back.

Great atmosphere to watch sports. Large outdoor patio to enjoy Tucson's weather. Food was solid!

Great Service and knowledgeable staff at the bar Food was cooked okay but the bun for my burger disintegrated before I was halfway through it

Food - Ordered the buffalo chicken sandwich. The 2 chicken strips on the sandwich lacked any type of flavor. Chicken strips fell off the sandwich each time I picked it up. Fries were edible, and honestly tasted better than the sandwich. If you order chicken tenders (one of the cheapest items on the menu at $15), they will be very thin and have little to no flavor. Service - Our waitress checked up on us once (never refilled our water over the course of the entire meal) and somebody at my table asked for a side of buffalo sauce. After 15 minutes with no update, we had to go looking for somebody to get the sauce, which ended up tasting more like spicy marinara/spicy ketchup than buffalo sauce. Ambiance - We sat outside, where the building is kitted with mist sprayers which were effective in keeping us cool enough for our meal, but they have a bad problem with flies and other bugs that were flying around. I was dealing with flies over the course of my entire meal. Conclusion - Do not come here for tasty food. Do not come here for an affordable meal. Gentle Ben's is nothing to write home about. I hope they can make their food, atmosphere, and service enjoyable.