Trident Grill

Neighborhood watering hole with menu of seafood, burgers & pub grub near the University of Arizona.

About Trident Grill

Trident Grill is a Tucson neighborhood sports bar and grill with seafood, burgers, sandwiches, and pub fare. Its locations serve as casual gathering places for food, drinks, and sports, including the original restaurant near the University of Arizona, an east-side location, and a northwest location. The business also operates Trident Pizza Pub near the University of Arizona, extending the restaurant group's offerings with a pizza-focused concept.

The story began in August 2001, when Nelson Miller, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL, opened the original Trident Grill. The name comes from the special warfare insignia worn by Navy SEALs. Miller was still on active duty when he opened the restaurant and was later called to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan. While serving, he remained involved in the new business. His connection to Tucson began during special training operations in the area, when he developed an appreciation for the Arizona desert and the culture of the Southwest.

Originally from Maryland, Miller wanted Trident Grill to bring East Coast flavors and culture to Tucson. The menu was built around his belief that a bar or sports grill could offer more than standard bar food. East Coast-inspired selections include Old Bay-dusted peel and eat shrimp, bacon-wrapped scallops, lump blue crab cakes, and a clam chowder made from his grandmother's recipe. The menu also includes oversized sandwiches and grass-fed burgers, giving the restaurant a range of options beyond seafood.

Sports remain central to the Trident Grill experience. The restaurants feature HD flat-screen televisions and major sports packages, and guests can ask the staff to tune in a favorite sporting event. The restaurants also offer beer on tap and a full bar. Happy hour is offered on weekdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. At Trident II, Sunday service includes brunch, and the location serves breakfast on Sundays. The group's pizza pub provides a separate menu and a University-area setting for those seeking pizza within the Trident family of restaurants.

The business has expanded across Tucson over time. The Original Trident is located near the University of Arizona, while Trident II serves the east side and Trident IV is on the northwest side. Trident Grill II opened in March 2016, Trident Pizza Pub opened in December 2018, and Trident Grill IV opened in June 2019. The company identifies four Tucson locations across its grill and pizza pub concepts. Nelson Miller is listed as an owner alongside Danny Gallego and Jason Machamer.

Community involvement is part of Trident Grill's stated mission. The restaurant supports military charities, local high schools, animal shelters, and intramural sports. That commitment reflects Miller's military background and the importance he placed on Tucson's military community when developing the original concept. Trident Grill describes its approach as grassroots support for the local community that frequents its restaurants.

Visitors can choose among the Tucson locations based on the part of town they are in and whether they are looking for the grill menu or the pizza pub menu. The restaurants offer dine-in service, sports viewing, beer and full-bar options, and happy hour, while food delivery is also available through third-party services. The University-area Trident II location offers Sunday brunch, and the Trident Pizza Pub is near the University of Arizona.