About Bonfire Craft Kitchen & Tap House
Bonfire Craft Kitchen & Tap House sits on West Bell Road in Surprise, in Arizona's West Valley. It is owned by David Lindsley, who left an architecture career after the 2008 downturn and opened the first Bonfire here in 2019; a second location later followed in Tempe.
The kitchen is scratch-made American with a Southwest streak. The signature is the Gila Monster Burger, a flame-broiled half-pound patty topped with BBQ pulled pork, peppered bacon, pepper jack cheese and banana peppers; the Monsoon Pizza, with a golden 'sunshine' sauce, is the other house favourite.
Prices are gastropub-level rather than fine dining: half-pound burgers, including the Gila Monster, run about $18.50 with a side, and most diners spend roughly $30 to $40 a head with a drink. The draw is a rotating craft tap list alongside the food.
The room is a full sports bar — televisions, booths and a long bar — which makes it a West Valley default for birthdays, team dinners and game days rather than a quiet date-night spot. The original Surprise location has anchored the brand since it opened in 2019.
Why It's Right for a Birthday or Team Night
Bonfire suits a birthday or a team night because it is built for a crowd: a big scratch-kitchen sports bar with a long tap list, sports on the screens, and a menu broad enough to please a mixed group. Shareable plates and the signature Gila Monster Burger give a table something to rally around, and the price keeps a group dinner reasonable.
Who It's Not For
Bonfire is not for a quiet, romantic dinner or a formal fine-dining night — it is a lively sports bar with televisions and a tap list, loudest on game days. It is not for vegetarians wanting a dedicated menu, and not for diners after a calm solo meal at peak times, when the bar fills with the after-work and game-day crowd.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Bonfire Craft Kitchen in Surprise?
Bonfire Craft Kitchen & Tap House is owned by David Lindsley, who moved from an architecture career into restaurants after the 2008 downturn and opened the first Bonfire in Surprise in 2019. He later added a second location in Tempe. The Surprise restaurant on West Bell Road is the original flagship.
What is Bonfire Craft Kitchen's signature dish?
The signature is the Gila Monster Burger — a flame-broiled half-pound patty topped with BBQ pulled pork, peppered bacon, pepper jack cheese and banana peppers. The Monsoon Pizza, built on a golden 'sunshine' sauce with chicken, bacon and jalapeño, is the other house favourite on a scratch-made American menu.
How much does Bonfire Craft Kitchen cost?
Bonfire is priced at gastropub rather than fine-dining level. Half-pound burgers, including the Gila Monster Burger, run about $18.50 with a side, and most diners spend roughly $30 to $40 per person once a drink is added. A rotating craft tap list sits alongside the food.
When did Bonfire Craft Kitchen open?
The original Bonfire Craft Kitchen & Tap House opened in Surprise, Arizona in 2019, founded by owner David Lindsley as his first restaurant. A second Bonfire later opened in Tempe. The Surprise location on West Bell Road remains the flagship and the longest-running of the two.
Is Bonfire Craft Kitchen good for groups or a quiet dinner?
Bonfire is built for groups, not quiet dinners. It is a full sports bar with televisions, booths and a long tap list, which makes it a West Valley default for birthdays, team dinners and game days. For a calm, romantic meal, a smaller restaurant away from the bar scene is a better fit.
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