I Discovered a Speakeasy Inside a Neighborhood Restaurant in Arizona. No Password Required.

Have you ever been to a speakeasy in Arizona? I have been to a few but this one was unexpected as it's inside an Italian restaurant in Scottsdale that I love. And within this Italian restaurant lies a Scottsdale speakeasy my friend introduced me to.

Located in the McCormick Ranch neighborhood of Scottsdale within the Mercado shopping center at the corner of Hayden and Via de Ventura, you'll find Crust Simply Italian. I used to live across the street and have been to nearly every establishment within the Mercado. However, what I completely missed was The Goose, a speakeasy located inside Crust.

I met up with my friend on a Sunday. We took a walk on the greenbelt by Marguerite Lake that the Mercado shopping plaza is located by. Each year, Canadian geese call this small man-made lake home. As we walked, my friend started telling me about a speakeasy called "The Goose," a name inspired by the lake's geese, inside of Crust Simply Italian. My interest was piqued, so he asked if I wanted to check it out at 4 p.m. when it opened. Of course I did! So, we arrived at Crust just as speakeasy opened for business.

Now, there are indications of a speakeasy at the Italian restaurant, namely on a patio fence as you walk to Crust. The fence has a golden goose emblem and an arrow pointing to the restaurant where you can find it (although it's not obvious unless you're looking for it).

My friend had been to The Goose several times and befriended the bartender who came out to greet us. He led us past Crust's soda machines and through an unassuming door to the speakeasy. It was like entering another world as the bright lighting of Crust gave way to the more dark, moody lighting of The Goose.

As we sat at the bar, I looked around completely in awe of the beautiful space. The bar is long and the bottles of liquor behind the bar are backlit, giving an upscale feel to the place. The rest of the small space has tables with curved blue velvet couches against a wall that curves up towards the ceiling. The wall is covered in wallpaper with a goose pattern which keeps up with the theme.

As we poured over the menu featuring cocktails with names like Down Comforter, Flabbergoosted, and Take a Gander, we chatted with the bartender to get his recommendations. I opted for the OnlyFeathers, a craft cocktail made with Platinum Vodka, passionfruit, lemon juice, and a Prosecco float (the Prosecco float sold me as that's my drink of choice when I go out). I watched as the bartender took his time expertly crafting our drinks as though he was creating art.

I loved the presentation of my drink served in a martini glass with tiny clothespin attached to the rim with a pink feather. OnlyFeathers was a refreshingly creative cocktail and one I will certainly order the next time I visit The Goose.

At this speakeasy, you can order cocktails and shareable plates. We opted for the charcuterie board, complete with a variety of cured meats, cheeses, and pickled vegetables. Our bartender also suggested adding burrata to the board, so we did—I have a hard time saying "no" to burrata. This charcuterie board was everything, and that melt-in-your-mouth burrata was like icing on the cake.

If you're looking for a Scottsdale speakeasy, you must try The Goose. From the ambiance to the bartender's artistry to the food, it's a perfect place for an evening out with friends or a date. I can't wait to come here again!

Want to make speakeasy-style cocktails at home? Check out the "Speakeasy: The Employees Only Guide to Classic Cocktails Reimagined (A Cocktail Recipe Book)."