With craft beer, street-style tacos and fresh floral arrangements, locals will flock to Park Central in Phoenix to try the newly opened beer garden: The Green Woodpecker.
Created by the iconic local duo behind Gadzooks Enchiladas & Soup, brothers Aaron and Jared Pool, The Green Woodpecker is an elevated indoor/outdoor beer garden in midtown Phoenix’s Park Central. Multiple members of the Pool family take part in running the beer spot, including the third Pool brother, Drew Pool of Wren House Brewing, who hand-selects each of the distinct 15 beers on the rotating menu; while the Pools’ mother, Linda Pool, offers an everchanging assortment of desserts from her bakery, Momma Linda’s Bake Shop.
“Growing up in Phoenix and living and working in Midtown for more than a decade, I know how important Park Central is to this neighborhood,” says Aaron, in a press release. “We’re honored to be able to help revitalize this important historic property, the first-ever shopping center built outside of Downtown Phoenix, and wanted to create something that caters to today’s diners and drinkers, while also recognizing Park Central’s amazing history.”
The Green Woodpecker features a chic biophilic design, with emerald tiles, soft mauve finishes and a variety of green plants lightly engulfing the space. A desert-inspired mural encompasses the interior’s walls, while muted yellow booths fill the dining room. The outside is brought in by a garage wall and an island-style bar that expands outdoors.
The mouthwatering menu is simple, yet to die for and will have guests returning repeatedly. It features three items, including a complimentary basket of house-made chips and salsa, al pastor tacos and a vegan option, the maitake mushroom tacos. You can view each of these items being prepared with the help of the open kitchen, with everything down to the tortillas being made from scratch. If you can leave room for dessert, opt for one of Momma Linda’s desserts, with options currently including a heaping slice of carrot or lemon cake. (Note: the dessert offerings constantly rotate, and these sweets may not always be available.)
The rotating tap list features 15 unique craft beers, including some locally-sourced sips from Wren House Brewing. The current lineup features a Scottish lager, the Harviestoun Schiehallion; an Austrian lager, the Stiegl Goldbraü; or our personal favorite, the sparkling Sangin Sangria cider from Cider Corps. In addition to the sips on tap is a curated wine and Champagne menu. A daily happy hour is also available from 3 to 6 p.m. with discounts on select libations.
Packs of beer can be purchased to go from an on-site shop, in addition to merch and fresh floral arrangements.
The Green Woodpecker is open Sunday through Thursday from noon to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from noon to midnight. Tacos are served starting at 4 p.m.
For more information, visit thegreenwoodpecker.com.
3110 N. Central Ave. Ste.185
Phoenix, AZ 85012