Let's talk Tucson's best restaurants! (Oro Valley, Marana: home, buy, live)

[coatimundi]

Originally Posted by azdr0710

had a successful dinner the other night at The Hub, downtown on Congress

Love that ice cream and they have a good beer selection and a decent happy hour (no food specials).
Your description of Playground kinda confirms what I thought it would end up being. At least they finally filled that space...

[recycled]

Beyond Bread has good sandwiches and fresh made soups and a great assortment of fresh baked bread. They have a couple of places on N Campbell and one on the east side of Tucson. I visit Tucson 4 times a year and usually make a stop at this place for lunch on every visit.

[coatimundi]

Beyond Bread opened a third location at Ina & Oracle a little over a year ago.

[breakingbad]

My past favorite places in Tucson:
Shish Kebab House of Tucson
shishkebabhousetucson.com/
Mi nidito... how to order the chimi right say...carne seca chimichanga enchilada style with a side of sour cream also flauta, coccido soup, salsa, beans
L&L - which is right across the street from Mi nidito have the best topopo salads and cheese chrisps. love the carne seca chimi w. enchilada sauce and a sid of sour cream, flautas are great
Caruso's Italian Restaurant
Lil' Abner Steakhouse - best chicken ever!
PF Changs
North and the surrounding restaurants.

[iflyjetzzz]

Italian: Vivace Vivace by Daniel Scordato | Fine Italian Dining in Tucson or Michaelangelo Michelangelo Ristorante Italiano
I'm leaning toward Michaelangelo; last time we ate at Vivace, both my wife's and my meals were unremarkable.

Sauce http://www.foxrc.com/sauce/index.html (broken link) has 3 Tucson locations and they're good for casual Italian lunch.

Puerto Rican/Caribbean: El Coqui El Coqui Creative Caribean Restaurant
They got a new chef there last fall and he makes the BEST sauces I've ever had. My wife got the chicken breast with guava sauce and I got a special - ribeye with a red wine reduction sauce. Both were fantastic.
They just moved to a new location very close to the Park Place Mall. They didn't have their liquor license yet due to changing locations but we were told they'll have it in the next week or so.

[SluggoF16]

Originally Posted by iflyjetzzz

Italian: Vivace Vivace by Daniel Scordato | Fine Italian Dining in Tucson or Michaelangelo Michelangelo Ristorante Italiano
I'm leaning toward Michaelangelo; last time we ate at Vivace, both my wife's and my meals were unremarkable.

Agreed. When Vivace was at Grant and Swan their menu was imaginative and their food was excellent. In September while visiting Tucson my wife and I went to Vivace in their new location. Unremarkable sums it up well, although I could also use terms such as "mediocre" and "uninspired". The service was pensive as well.

My personal favorite for Italian comfort food was Fiorito's, but they're no more. Other fave was Trattoria Pina, Swan and Sunrise.

I once had an out-of-towner (Florida Panhandle) ask "Hey, is there any good Mexican around here?" Where does one start?...

[2farsouth]

I, also am looking for a really stellar Italian restaurant, preferably on the East side, but anywhere will work.

I recently had lunch at Poco and Moms, sort of a little hole in the wall (not in a bad way) and the New Mexico style Hatch Chile based enchiladas were very good and priced right. I will definitely be going back for rellenos and probably a breakfast soon. Very friendly service and fast.

[RickTucsonHomes]

Originally Posted by 2farsouth

I, also am looking for a really stellar Italian restaurant, preferably on the East side, but anywhere will work.

I recently had lunch at Poco and Moms, sort of a little hole in the wall (not in a bad way) and the New Mexico style Hatch Chile based enchiladas were very good and priced right. I will definitely be going back for rellenos and probably a breakfast soon. Very friendly service and fast.

I will have to check out Poco and Moms! I love a good chile relleno and after all my years in Tucson still haven't found one I would drive a ways for. There's a place in Phoenix I make sure I hit when I am up there, but nothing in Tucson yet. Plenty of good ones, but not great.

[2farsouth]

[quote=RickTucsonHomes;23371305]I will have to check out Poco and Moms! I love a good chile relleno


I haven't tried a relleno yet, but after my green chile sourcream sauce enchilada, I will give their rellenos a shot. Post back, if you get there before me. I love looking at their online menu, by the way. Their breakfasts look very interesting!

[Prodigal Native]

Originally Posted by SluggoF16

Agreed. When Vivace was at Grant and Swan their menu was imaginative and their food was excellent. In September while visiting Tucson my wife and I went to Vivace in their new location. Unremarkable sums it up well, although I could also use terms such as "mediocre" and "uninspired". The service was pensive as well.

I went to Vivace 3 years ago and to be honest, I felt ripped off. The food was OK I suppose, but the service was cold and unremarkable. I've never been interested in going back.