Happy National Pretzel Day!

04/26/2026

Happy National Pretzel Day! Here's a short and sweet bonus post for you.

Greetings from The Salted Knot in Mesa, Arizona.

Kenny and Sarah Love wanted to wish you happy tastings and tidings on this special day celebrating our favorite salted snack. Although this blog started off as a joke and Simpsons' reference, it has evolved into a full-time hobby which we thoroughly enjoy.

Today we visited one of the most spectacular (if not the only) local pretzel bakery in the area, The Salted Knot. Their selection of breaded baked treats is nothing short of exemplarily. The menu ranges from sweet to savory pleasing every taste and desire imaginable. Patrons can choose from the classic "Butter and Salted Knot" or if they're feeling a bit more adventurous, maybe the "Garlic Parmesan Knot" or "Jalapeño Cheddar Knot". And if it is something sweet you're craving, the "Sweet Knot" covered with cinnamon sugar does not disappoint.

On this most auspicious of occasions, National Pretzel Day, Sarah Love and Kenny received a free "Butter and Salted Knot" pretzel with their purchase of the "Pretzel Dog" and "Pepperoni Pizza Knot". They were all equally mouthwatering!

Unfortunately, this will be our last visit to this much esteemed pretzel bakery as they are closing their doors permanently on May 31st, 2026. The amazing couple that run this establishment are moving in a new direction to explore other creative facets. Their pretzel shop will be dearly missed. If you have a chance to visit before they say goodbye we do highly recommend stopping by for a final delicious treat.

Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

The Salted Knot -- Mesa, AZ

The Salted Knot - Mesa, AZ

We have a very special person joining us today on our adventures.  A long time friend of Kenny's is in town for this post. Dan, who helped us write a previous post, shall join us once again as a guest reviewer!

March 8th, 2025 was a busy day for us. We started off visiting Grandma's Farm for some fresh citrus. Talking with the owner is always enjoyable as she has delightful stories and insights to share. Her fresh citrus is tickling our taste buds as we speak. Delicious!

From there we went to an immersive, interactive art exhibit called Bubble Planet. The attraction is suitable for all ages and located inside Arizona Mills mall. Ten bubbled themed environments awaited exploration. One of our favorites was Bubble Ocean. A pink sea of beach ball sized balloons surrounded us, sailing high above our heads while Dan juggled to his heart's content. Some other rooms to note were the Giant Bubble, Bubble Bath Pit and Infinity Room. The exhibition is open until the end of April so if you need something fun to do for an hour or two we do suggest it!

Following this wonderful experience we set off to Mesa to visit the actual brick and mortar location for the Salted Knot. I
t was obvious that we needed to visit and conduct a follow up review after we tasted their pretzel at Phoestivus with it's 4.0 rating.

Located on Main Street by the cross street Center, the physical location is perfect. There are a few tables immediately outside the front door of the bakery with a small adjacent patio. As the Friday before it had rained, it was a cooler, crisp spring afternoon, so we choose a table in the warmth of the sun.


Once we entered the eatery we immediately took note of the ambience, the decorum was decked out with tributes to classic rock music artists. The whole place had a chill bohemian vibe, down to the extremely cleanly and well kept bathroom. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, including the staff. We proceeded to the counter, which was directly next to a beautifully decorated display of pretzel based foodstuffs. Sarah Love, Dan, and Kenny discussed what tasty treats they wanted to try and which dipping sauces would best complement them.



After ordering, we took our number 17 sign, and returned to the patio eagerly awaiting the delectable dishes. In the interim, we basked in the sunshine and held lively conversation until our lunch arrived.

3/8/2025

On to the review...
Our order included three specialty pretzels: a cheese pizza pretzel, a pepperoni pizza pretzel, and a garlic parmesan pretzel. In addition, we picked up a pretzel dog and pretzel brat. The accoutrements chosen were marinara sauce, maple mustard, stoneground mustard, and beer cheese. The pretzels were all uniformly baked light beige and appeared similar in size and shape. Our first bites revealed a perfectly balanced texture, soft and moist.

Gooey, melted cheese covered the pizza pretzels; one which was covered in little, round pepperonis. To perfect the meal be sure to use equal proportions of cheese, pretzel and marinara sauce. The garlic parmesan tasted similar to a breadstick.  Not bad, just not what we expected with a pretzel. The brat and hot dog were equally tasty. The rope of pretzel twisted around the dogs give the consumer the ultimate experience of pretzel satisfaction.

Sarah Love, Dan and Kenny definitely DO recommend visiting this place.  The Salted Knot not only provides a welcoming environment but an excellent snack or meal that satisfies anybody's preferences.

Specialty Pretzels*: 5.0/5.0

*Disclaimer: Due to the nature of this pretzel we do not want to confuse our rating with that of a traditional restaurant pretzel.

Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

The Salted Knot at Phoestivus Festival -- Phoenix, AZ

The Salted Knot Pretzel Booth - Phoestivus Festival - Phoenix, AZ

On a Wednesday night, a little over two years ago today, Kenny and Sarah Love parked in their usual spot on Culver Street by the park. We actually met on our second date at this location to spend time together on Roosevelt Row. But we digress. That evening we were headed to the Phoestivus Festival located on 5th Street between Roosevelt & Fillmore in Downtown Phoenix.

Phoestivus is a jolly and gay time to be had. There are boat loads of vendors selling all sorts of goods and wares.  Think Farmer's Market at Christmas time. Jewelry, soap, wood working, candles, vintage goods, and... pretzels? Why, yes! Kenny and I happened to stumble upon a local pretzel bakery called the Salted Knot. Their home store is located in Mesa, however we were super excited to try out their snack at the festival.

Unfortunately, we didn't think to take a picture of the morsel but who could blame us as we feasted on the deliciousness of the doughy goodness the Salted Knot had to offer? (In all reality, we were probably eating standing up and it just did not occur to us.) Sorry, there is no snapshot for this one, here's a stand-in potato.

12/14/22

A buttery smell wafted at us as the pretzel were delivered through the window. The baked treat's color was that of a light golden brown. It was topped with a moderate to heavy amount of salt; surprisingly, it was not too salty as it was sea salt.

There was a little crunch to the outside that gave way to a delicious fluffy inside. The dough had a slightly sweet taste making for a very well balanced pretzel.

An absence of accoutrements accompanied this one.

4.0/5.0

Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love