photo:Kelly Lewis
At Red Garter Bar & Grill, family comes first. But you don’t have to be blood to be family—Tara Walden, manager, considers her regulars as part of her clan too.
“My husband and I run the business for my father-in-law, who has owned it for over 40 years now,” said Walden, behind the bar at Red Garter, 3143 E. Speedway Blvd. “It sounds cheesy to say, but I feel like we’re all one big happy family here. And that’s not just staff, that’s our regulars too.”
Looking around the Red Garter on a slow Tuesday night, it seems most everyone is all smiles, and that’s saying a lot for a neighborhood bar of this size. In addition to an outdoor patio, Red Garter also has a full-service indoor restaurant, a section that houses eight pool tables and several dartboards, and a long wrap-around bar that’s stocked with a wide selection of alcohol. You won’t find aperitif-style cocktails here—just affordable, stiff drinks that keep their customers coming back.
“I’ve been coming in here for a little over a year and everyone working here is so awesome,” said Dilisha Patel, a frequent visitor. “Anytime anyone asks me where I want to hang out, it’s always here. If I don’t come here for a week, I go a little crazy.”
Part of Red Garter’s appeal may stem from the fact that they are active in the community. The bar makes it a point to give back through frequent fundraisers and community events, recently playing host to a 9/11 fundraiser that raised money for families affected by the tragedies. On October 29 from 12-4 p.m., they will throw a benefit for Casa de Los Niños in which Red Garter gift cards and a custom Jeep JK bumper will be raffled.
“We like to be involved in any fundraiser or raising money for the community,” Walden said. “It’s a big thing for us.”
Walden, a mother of two, keeps pretty busy when she’s not working. On her days off, she volunteers at her children’s schools in Vail, coaches her 10-year-old daughter’s volleyball team, the Panthers, and tries to get outdoors whenever she can.
“Camping, quad riding, hiking; I love to be outdoors,” Walden said. “But I’m definitely a people person. The wide variety of characters is what makes the world go ‘round—and we get ‘em all.”
On Trends in Mixology: They seem to change monthly, or seasonally. Mojitos were a big trend there for a little bit. Our big drink here is the Stoli Around the World.
Favorite Ingredients: I just like a mixture of different alcohols with juices because you can create a pretty tasty concoction.
Stiff Fruit Punch
' oz. Vodka
' oz. Peach Schnapps
' oz. Southern Comfort
' oz. Amaretto
Mix together with a splash of cranberry, orange juice and grenadine. Pour over ice and garnish with cherries.
Find out more about Red Garter Bar & Grill at RedGarterTucson.com.
