Tucson Area Restaurants
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Categories |
Star Ratings |
Price Range* |
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Uniquely Tucson |
The very best in the region |
Inexpensive (less than $35) |
Romantic |
Distinguished; many outstanding features |
Moderate (between $35 and $65) |
Family Fun |
Excellent; some wonderful qualities |
Expensive (between $65 and $100) |
Good Value |
A good place |
Very expensive (more than $100) |
* Based on dinner for two,
with dessert, tax, and tip (no alcohol).
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| Bluepoint Kitchen and Bar |
| 2905 E. Skyline Drive; 520/577-6000 |
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| This urban kitchen & bar showcases one of Tucson's finest selections of fresh seafood, prime steaks and more in intimate surrounds with a clubby feel. An interesting drink list includes premium cocktails and an award-winning wine list with many choices by the glass. Bluepoint is an ideal destination for lunch, dinner or late night dinning. Daily 11:00 a.m. - midnight. |
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| Bistro Zin |
| 1865 E. River Road; 520/299-7799 |
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| The award-winning restaurant features French inspired bistro fare with a modern American twist. The excellent food, impeccable service and hip atmosphere have made Bistro Zin one of the most popular places to wine and dine in Tucson. Bistro Zin's wine list offers more than 60 wines by the glass as well as the popular tasting - "fights"- three wines from different vintners that are related in style. The speciality martini menu is not to be missed. Serving lunch Mon-Sat: 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. & dinner daily 5:00 pm-11:30 p.m. Reservations are suggested. |
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| Cafe Poca Cosa
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| 88 E. Broadway Blvd. (Clarion Santa Rita Hotel); 520/622-6400 |
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Mexican food can be much more sophisticated
and complex than Arizona's Sonoran-style restaurants suggest,
and chef-owner, Suzana Davila, proves that every day by
featuring alta cocina Mexicana, the high cuisine of Mexico
that seldom makes it past the US border. Nobody gets bored,
visually or gastronomically, at this wildly exotic cafe,
where red and purple walls are hung with Mexican folk
art and the chalkboard menu changes twice a day, every
day. Moles (26 of them) are Davila's specialty but she's
equally famous for her pork with plums in chipotle sauce,
and tamale pie with habanero cream and mangos. Lucky for
you, the Tia Maria-spiked chocolate mousse makes the list
every blessed day. |
Cafe Terra Cotta 
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| 3500 E. Sunrise Drive; 520/577-8100 |
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Donna Nordin and Don Luria
created this comfortable venue for Southwestern Cuisine
in 1984, and although the restaurant has moved to fancier
bi-level digs in the Santa Catalina foothills, the ambience
still says "come-as-you-are" (barring nudity
and exceptionally bad taste). And locals do, bringing
out-of-town guests to soak up the casual atmosphere created
by Southwest art, copper accents and cactus. Two roomy
patios encourage lolling over colorful margaritas (try
the prickly pear) or Luria's extensive selection of Zinfandels
(his grape fave). Nordin's garlic custard appetizer, served
with warm salsa vinaigrette and herbed hazelnuts, made
the cover of Bon Appetit. But there are plenty of other
picture-worthy selections here, including wood-fired pizzas,
spicy pork tenderloin adobado, goat cheese-stuffed prawns
with tomato coulis and a lusty vegetarian platter that
hardly brings virtue to mind. $$-$$$$; Lunch and dinner
every day; no checks; full bar; reservations recommended.
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| El Charro Mexican Cafe
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| 311 N Court Ave; 520/622-1922 |
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Although many locals swing
by the newer Broadway location for a Mexican food fix
and weekend dancing, it's the original downtown site that
draws tourists and historical romantics. Built of lava
rock, this old house—listed on the National Historic
Register—is cluttered with vintage calendars and
relics of Tucson's territorial past. Whether you opt for
dark coziness inside or the sunny, fountain-furnished
patio, a festive margarita should be your first order
of business. The restaurant not only offers an extensive
list of premium tequilas but has also written the book
(literally) on margarita making. Make a meal of hearty
Sonoran standbys such as green corn tamales, sour cream
enchiladas and carne seca, a beef specialty dried on the
restaurant's roof. Then drop by the gift shop for Southwestern
tchotchkes and El Charro cookbooks that explain how to
duplicate all this deliciousness at home. $; Lunch and
dinner every day; no checks; full bar; reservations recommended
(must be made one day in advance).
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| Gavi Italian Restuarant
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| 7865 E Broadway Blvd; Suite #165, 520/290-8380;
7401 N. La Cholla Blvd; 520/219-9200; 6960 E Sunrise Dr;
520/615-1900 |
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| All three of these friendly
Italian restaurants are consistently crowded for three
obvious reasons: the food is well prepared, reasonably
priced and gigantically portioned. Pasta stars here, with
at least a dozen different selections of spaghetti alone,
but the menu also features legendary calamari, creamy
mussels and shrimp Serenata, and combo plates of eggplant,
veal or chicken Parmesan. Kids will love the green and white
soccer-themed decor (featuring uniforms from around the
world) almost as much as the s'ghetti, but they may be
less than thrilled over the inevitable wait. Call ahead
to put your name on the waiting list before driving to
the restaurant; it'll cut tick-tock testiness in half.
$$: Lunch and dinner every day; no checks; full bar (no
blended drinks); reservations for parties of six or more. |
| India Oven
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| 2727 N. Campbell Avenue; 520/ 326-8635 |
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| Features a wonderful array
of Indian food, including vegetarian and non-vegetarian.
Great samosas, excellent lunch buffet. Offers a full bar
with Indian beer and wine. Voted best of Tucson in '95,
'96, '97 and runner-up in '98. $ |
Janos 
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| 3770 E. Sunrise Drive (The Westin La Paloma);
520/615-6100 |
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| Although Tucson's dining
scene gets more sophisticated by the minute, Janos Wilder
is still the city's brightest culinary star. His eponymously-named restaurant, once a downtown fixture, is now ensconced
in high-ceilinged, Spanish Colonial splendor at the Westin
La Paloma Resort, which provides a more refined setting
for Wilder's French-inspired Southwest cuisine. The seasonal
menu features indigenous ingredients in elaborate presentations,
and is so dazzling that decision-making can be difficult.
Will it be lamb with pomegranate sauce, shrimp mojo de
ajo with chiltepin salsa, or chicken with habanero-pepito
pesto and cornbread pudding? Make life simple and go for
the 6-course tasting menu, paired with wines culled from
an award-winning list that favors boutique wineries. When
you're feeling carefree (and a little less flush), head
for J Bar, Wilder's Latin grill adjacent to Janos. The
Mexican-influenced menu here gives you Janos distinction
at half the price (plus excellent views from the patio).
$$$-$$$$; Dinner Mon-Sat; no checks; full bar; reservations
recommended. |
| Kingfisher
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| 2564 E Grant Road; 520/323-7739 |
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| Seafood in the desert
is not an oxymoron at Kingfisher, a funky neon-lit roadhouse
that specializes in regional American cooking and bi-coastal
seafood in particular. No place in town offers a better
selection of fresh oysters, while the shrimp cakes, dappled
with lemon-horseradish aioli and sriracha (Vietnamese
hot sauce) are a menu staple. Hearty partiers can drop
by after 10 pm (when the rest of Tucson has gone to bed)
for Kingfisher's substantial late-night menu, offered
until midnight every night. By the way, meat-and-potatoes
types can make do very nicely with baby back ribs basted
in prickly pear sauce, or Kingfisher's hamburgers, deemed
the best for miles around. $$-$$$; Lunch Mon-Fri, dinner
and late-night menu every day; no checks; full bar; reservations
recommended. |
| La Fuente Restaurant & Lounge
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| 1749 N. Oracle Road.;520/623-8659 |
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| La Fuente is one of Arizona's
finest Mexican restaurants. This family-owned restaurant
has been a tradition since 1960. Decorative plants and
artifacts from Mexico recall the atmosphere of Mexico
City and Acapulco. Combines beautiful surroundings with
fine cuisine, music, hospitality and warmth. $-$$ |
| Maya Quetzal
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| 429 N. 4th Ave.; 520/622-8207 |
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| Chile relleno filled with
cheese, spinach, and walnuts, boneless breast of chicken
simmered in a flavorful cilantro sauce, traditional black
beans and rice. Guatemalan owner/chef Sandra Salazar believes
creative cooking, generous portions, and an informal atmosphere
combine to offer a real experience of her country. Patio
dining. No smoking. $ open daily for lunch 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
and dinner from 5-8:30 p.m. |
| North |
| 2995 E. Skyline Drive in the La Encantada Center; 520/299-1600 |
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| North features Modern Italian Cuisine & impeccable hospitality in a chic urban loft setting. The fabulous bar & dining room, intimate private dining room and sofa seating on the patio are matched only by the breathtaking views of the city of Tucson. The excellent menu features specialties from the wood fired oven including Fire Roasted Steak "Delmonico," Frilled artichokes, fabulous thin crust pizza, seasoned fresh fish, pastas & more. Offering award-winning food with a wine list to match. North is open daily for lunch and dinner beginning at 11:00 a.m. |
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| Soleil |
| 3001 E. Skyline Drive, Suite 133, 520/299-3345 |
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| Soleil offers casual-chic dinning in an art-filled foothills setting with spectacular city & mountain views. Enjoy award-winning cuisine by Chef Michael Powell, which features seasonal specialties. Notable entrees include Caramelized Maine Diver Sea Scallops with Asian Vegetable Roll & Mandarin Orange Sauce, Filet Mignon with Fricassee of Sweet Corn & Shitake Mushrooms, Pan Roasted Sea Bass with Fines Herbs Potato Cake & Fresh Morels, Honey Glazed Duck Breast with Lingonberry Sauce. Champagne by the glass at Tucson's only Champagne Bar, well-priced wine, patio dining & private party accomodations available. Serving lunch and dinner. |
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| Grill Hacienda del Sol
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| 5601 N. Hacienda del Sol Road (Hacienda
del Sol Resort); 520/529-3500 |
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| Housed in an historic
resort that was once a finishing school for girls, the
wood-beamed rusticity of The Grill exudes old Arizona
charm. What impresses locals more than the Spanish Colonial
architecture or punctuation points of cactus, however,
is the breadth of the award-winning wine list and the
great bar, known for its eminently slurpable martinis.
Live jazz on the weekends, and classical or Flamenco guitarists
on Wednesday nights, keep this place jumping all week long.
The four-course champagne Sunday brunch ($29.95) is justifiably
popular, while the weekday New American menu, which changes
seasonally, features everything from excellent cioppino
to mint/zinfandel glazed rack of lamb and dry-aged New
York strip with ancho chile chutney. Another plus? The
Grill just may the best place in town to catch a glorious
Arizona sunset. $$$; Dinner every day, brunch Sun; no
checks; full bar; reservations recommended. |
| Ventana Room
|
| 7000 N Resort Drive (Loews Ventana Canyon
Resort); 520/299-2020 |
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| When romance is the objective
and money is no object, make reservations for a window-side
table at this quietly elegant resort restaurant nestled
in the foothills, overlooking Tucson's city lights. Gracious
service and fine wines are hallmarks of this plush, but
contemporary room, decorated in muted jewel tones and
softened by the music of a classical guitarist. Chef
de Cuisine Jeffrey Russell does a little wowing of his
own, offering signature New American dishes, such as grilled
Dover sole in herbed truffle beurre blanc and mixed grill
of game (elk, venison and organic partridge, for example)
served with spinach spaetzle and Cabernet game jus. For
a livelier evening, make reservations at the chef's table,
where you can chat with the chef, appreciate the bustle
of a working kitchen and watch your dinner being prepared.
$$$$; Dinner Mon-Sat; no checks; full bar; reservations
highly recommended. |
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| Vivace Restaurant |
| 4301 N. Campbell Avenue; 520/795-7221 |
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| Daniel Scordato, the proprietor of this contemporary Italian cuisine trattori, offers a casual and unique setting in Tucson. Established as one of Tucson's premier eateries, fare includes the light seafood entrees, as well as innovative pastas. |
| Wildflower Grill
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| 7037 N. Oracle Road; 520/219-4230 |
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Looking for a quiet, romantic
dinner? Better bypass this lively New American bistro,
where fresh flowers, a trompe l'oeil ceiling of fluffy
clouds and eye-popping pictures of Gerbera daisies belie
the decidedly urban flavor of Tucson's favorite hangout.
Here's where the young and restless (as well as the middle-aged
and moneyed) gather for a wine list with depth and 30
wines by the glass. Raves go to the ethereal warm Maine
lobster salad drizzled with white truffle vinaigrette,
and to the earthier center-cut pork chop served in port
wine reduction with caramelized apples, mashed potatoes
and wilted spinach. Save room for the fabulous dessert
list and consider ordering creme brulee or cheesecake,
both of which are subject to startling flavor infusions,
such as Earl Grey or cappuccino respectively. Wildflower's
new sister restaurant, the white-hot Bistro Zin (1865
E. River Road; 520/299-7799), draws a hip crowd with its supper
club/wine bar atmosphere and French-inspired American
bistro food. $$$; Lunch Mon-Sat, dinner every day; local
checks only; full bar; reservations recommended.
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