Consolidated "Tucson Restaurants" thread
 

Any recommendations for good restaurants appreciated! Diverse tastes, so anything is good; local flavour would also be nice!

have a friend in Tucson that sadly I have never visited http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdi...orum/frown.gif, he always comes up to Phoenix or the Grand Canyon when I am in the state.

He recommends the following:

The Dish, Feast!, Café Poca Cosa, El Charro, Vivace, Mi Nidito.

El Charro claims to have invented the chimichanga.

Lunch (as w/most places in the world) is ½ the price of dinners. Café Poca Cosa would be a good example of where to head for lunch.

Stay away from Casa Molina, overated. The seafood in Tuscon leaves much to be desired as one can imagine. So stick w/what would make sense: SW cuisine, Mexican, Beef.

For a to-do, check out the Sonora Desert Museum’s Summer Saturday Nights. Supposed to be neat.

Tucson dining suggestions
 

Looking for some, please advise if you have any.

Well, seeing as Tucson is the best place in the U.S. to find Mexican food, I have a few suggestions: El Charros, El Minuto, Macayos, Papagayos, Casa Molina...

Anything in particular you're looking for?

thanks for the Mex suggestions. as for anything in particular, many times there are dishes or items used that are a specialty of the local area/region. In this age of TGI Fridays and sameness, I really enjoy partakeing of something uniquely local

Hmm, other local places I can think of off the top of my head are: Cafe Terra Cotta and Janos.

I'll second Cafe Terra Cotta. Wildflower is pretty good too. But probably the best little restaurant in Tucson is The Dish Bistro, which has only a handful of tables and is tucked behind the RumRunner Wine and Cheese Shop downtown. You need reservations because there are so few tables.

Cafe Terra Cotta
 

We ate at Terra Cotta last night. It's a decent place. Make sure you call ahead for reservations...

Two more recommendations from our trip this weekend: Blue Willow for breakfast and Pastiche for dinner. Both are on Campbell.

Cafe Poca Cosa downtown is an excellent place to eat, and for a traditional Sonoran hot dog, I'd suggest El Guero Canelo on 12th.

what is a Sonoran hot dog?

I never did thank you for this suggestion, it was terrific. Staff was so friendly and food was delicious.^^

Of course I read about this after we were there but Gourmet magazine listed the restaurant Pico de Gallo as a great breakfast spot taqueria where fillings for homemade tortillas range from barbacoa to skate. Located at 2618 S 6th Ave in South Tucson, phone 520.623.8775

The Hilton forum has a thread recommending one of the (very authentic) Mexican restaurants in Tucson, especially the guacamole prepared at your table.

Guadalajara Grill, on Prince at Campbell

Other recommendations:

Cafe Poca Cosa is fantastic and unique

Janos also has unique food, but I think it suffers from the "one ingredient too many" syndrome. J Bar has slightly lower prices.

Brunch at Tohono Chul park

Beyond Bread for great sandwiches

Blue Willow is fun but the service is uniformly terrible

Terra Cotta (they dropped the "Cafe") is good but not spectacular

Everyone is raving about Blanco at La Encatada

Casa Feliz (multiple locations) has great chicken

The Sonoran hot dog, found in Tucson, Metro Phoenix, and in neighboring Sonora, Mexico, is a hot dog grilled over an open flame or on a griddle, wrapped in Mesquite-smoked bacon, topped with freshly-chopped tomatoes, onions, shredded yellow or cotijo cheese, tomatillo salsa or red chile sauce, pinto beans, mayonnaise, ketchup and/or mustard, and served on a bolillo roll. Often served with a fresh-roasted chile.

Top end:
Janos (and J-bar)
Anthony's in the Foothills (always named by Wine Spectator)- I ate here four times in the five months I lived in Tucson!
Hacendia Del Sol

Very nice but more affordable:
North (in La Encatada shopping center; also about four other restauraunts in the cul-de-sac but North is the best one)
Bistro Zin (I heard this may have closed)
Wildflower as described below- this and North/Bistro Zin have same ownership
Fleming's steakhouse (a chain, admittedly, but still good)

Cheaper but good:
Definitely second Casa Molina
Another Mexican place named Micah's I think, it's downtown and listed in fodor's I believe

Yes, unfortunately it is closed. It was the best meal we had in Tucson on our last visit.

The only way to eat these is from a little cart on the side of the road. The one right next to the airport has vanished. Such a shame because I'd stop there on the way home from the airport.

Bistro Zin is morphing into a gourmet hamburger place (same owners), and should be open soon. The liquor license application is posted and they're hiring.

I really miss Zin, but I'm hoping the new place is as good.

I also love Acacia.

BEST Tucson Restaurants
 

For breakfast: THE GOOD EGG. You can substitute healthy options for your meal. . .like egg whites or egg beaters in your omelette, have whole wheat instead of buttermilk pancakes, fresh fruit instead of potatoes. . .etc.

For Mexican: Casa Molino or Rosa's. . .for a more upscale, fusion/southwestern restaurant, try Cafe Poca Cosa. Bad thing is, Cafe Poca Cosa is only open during lunch hours since it's in the downtown business district. Their menus change daily! So you can never get tired of the same old same old. . though if you're like me and order the same thing every day. . .then it might also be a bad thing :[

For Italian, it's gotta be GAVIS. Their calamari is to die for!!!

For more GREAT TUCSON restaurants, this website has some great ones as recommendations!

http://gabwith.us/10-locals-favorite...uscon-arizona/

as you know we are dining there in about a month, looking forward to it!

Taqueria Pico de Gallo, BREAKFAST SPOT, S TUCSON
2618 South 6th Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85713-3689
(520) 623-8775

El Guero Canelo, SONORAN HOT DOGS - HILARIOUSLY GOOD, S TUCSON
5201 South 12th Avenue, Tucson, AZ‎
(520) 807-9620‎

Mi Nidito, LUNCH or EARLY DINNER
1813 South 4th Avenue, Tucson, AZ‎
(520) 622-5081‎

Tea Room at Tohono Chul Park, $$ MEAL FOR THE POST-GARDEN TOUR
7366 North Paseo Del Norte, Tucson, AZ‎
(520) 797-1222‎
Closes at 2:30PM

El Indio Mexican Food Restaurant, OK, S TUCSON
3355 South 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85713-6103
(520) 620-0504‎

Neo of Melaka, MALAYSIAN RESTAURANT, OK
6133 East Broadway Boulevard
Tucson, AZ 85711-4005
(520) 747-7811

Saigon Pho, DURIAN BOBA SMOOTHIES
943 E University Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85719
(520) 396-3624

On the north side of town is Inca's Peruvian Cuisine www.incascuisine.com we didn't think much of this place as well pulled up, it knocked our socks off, well worth while to try for a cuisine that isn't found in many places in the US, here is the Yelp review www.yelp.com/biz/incas-peruvian-cuisine-tucson & Tucson Weekly's http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/i...on?oid=1909786

Willie - and others

Never forget about the Buffet in TUS. The hotdogs are fantastic. And make sure you are there for happy minute. One more free of whatever you are drinking. Outside of that, Saga is a great place. Mexican and sushi in the same place. On E Speedway near Casa video [which btw is the best video rental store that I have ever seen - with free popcorn as you browse]. What else - Brooklyn Pizza on 4th is always good. Go when there is a full moon for a 1/2 price discount on an eat in pie. Lastly, just about any parking lot truck selling Mexican food is going to be good - so are the tamales sold out of shopping carts in the parking lots. There is also a great Afghani place but I can't remember where off the top of my head. Maybe google it or I'll come back and post again when I can remember

PM me if you need more info - I used to live in TUS and ate my way around the city.

Cheers

PS I'll be out in TUS at the beginning of Mar as part of a MR - anyone else?

good solo-dining restaurant in Tucson (AZ)?
 

Hi! My wife is staying in Tucson on Thursday night before meeting friends on Friday for a weekend spa trip.
What's your favorite $30-ish restaurant for solo dining in Tucson? Open to all cuisines, but preferably a place that you love :-)

Thank you!
Michael

I quite like Cafe Poca Cosa downtown. They have a rotating menu of unique Mexican cuisine (or cocina), and a very comfortable atmosphere. Does fit the $30-40 range.

Kingfisher on Grant near Tucson

Good Family Restaurants in Tucson
 

We're a family of 7 - 2 grandparents, 2 parents, 3 teenagers - spending about 5 days in Tucson and looking for some good but not too expensive restaurants in Tucson. Our preference would be in the northern section of town, since we are saying at the Westin La Paloma. Something a notch or two above Denny's would be perfect All suggestions welcome - thanks.

Don't you dare leave Tucson without getting a Sonoran Hot Dog at El Guero Canelo :D ^ Closest location to your hotel is on Oracle just north of Grant.

For a more typical family sit-down I would do El Charro Cafe in downtown Tucson. It can get crowded so try it on a Monday-Thursday if possible.

Pizzeria Bianco on Congress is a good alternative if you want to switch up from all the good Mexican food options.

My mom stays at that Westin semi frequently for conventions and I've visited several times. Good choice ^

Somehow family voted against the Mexican choices :td:, but we did come up with one winner - an Italian place close to the Westin called Vivace. Lots of really interesting dishes, including two terrific appetizers - a Spinach and cheese souffle and a grilled asparagus and prosciutto dish and several main dishes, the best of which was an excellent veal marsala and a homemade seafood lasagna. Several deserts were great as well - superb bread pudding, creme brulee, and warm chocolate molten layer cake. I mention these items by name to indicate that this is not your "typical" Italian restaurant, but really something quite special.

Voted against Mexican in favor of Italian in Tucson Arizona? Wow...

I know - two people just don't like Mexican food and were unwilling to "experiment". But you really should try Vivace. Bonus - big picture window with beautiful view of the mountains.

The unadventureous nature of far too many Americans in concern to dining never ceases to amaze me.

I know this post was from '08 but I ate at Zinburger east river road location in March. Was good, not great. A little on the pricy side.

Another place that was good was Brother Johns Beer, barbecue and Bourbon. (Located in the old Cat House). Good barbecue and great selection of beer.

I refuse to give business to anything that replaced the cat house! :D

I had the exact same opinion about the Grant/Wilmot location. I'd go back, but they don't really stand out. Main reason we went is because they have a dog friendly patio and we had a friendly dog with us.

Zinburger is a chain, there's one here in Gilbert where I live.

I echo the same sentiment. Expensive. Food is good, but not mindblowing, especially for the money. I don't really care for the Gilbert location, the ambiance is very sterile. Since the building is built to be opened up when the weather is nice, you sort of feel like you're eating dinner in someone's garage.

If you want to eat in a real garage then go to the El Guero Canelo at 51st and McDowell. It used to be a Discount Tire and hasn't really changed that much. Also much much cheaper than Zinburger :D

How is the chow at the EGC in Phoenix? Is it the same quality as down in Tucson?

Yeah, exactly the same great food. Bigger than the one on Oracle. Parking lot is a tight squeeze.