Arriving next week - Need help finding "smoking" patios at Restaurants (Tucson: casino, law)

[ZonyPony]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

As you can probably imagine, your sarcasm is not welcome on this thread.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by ZonyPony

Not a good topic for me - consider yourself warned!

[ZonyPony]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

Not a good topic for me - consider yourself warned!

Its cool.

[Marcy1210]

Colorado's smoke free completely in restaurants, bars and casinos. There are designated smoking places outside of restaurants 15+ feet away from the main restaurant entrances and are not covered spaces, just a couple of folding chairs outside the kitchen. Smoking is just not tolerated in Colorado. I think it's like California or other states that are pretty much completely smoke free. There's also a movement afoot to ban smoking in cars in which there are children. Second hand smoke issues.

It's funny--not ha ha funny--but somewhat interesting funny--the Senior PGA Championship was held at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs last weekend, and several of the pro golfers smoked their way through the course (Fuzzy Zoeller who's daughter is an MD). For them, it was okay, but if it was just an everyday player, smoking is absolutely prohibited. Go figure.

[MarymovingtoRioRico]

Thanks Sierra and everyone!

Westward Look must have changed their policy on smoking on the patio although they claim it is the Tucson smoking ordinance.

We stayed there last August and we smoked on the patio while eating. So I don't know what has changed with the ordinance since then? Anyone know? Or perhaps they are just using that as an excuse. The woman I'm talking to keeps calling it "the new smoking ordinance"

She said:

"As for dining in the Gold Room, we have a couple of options. The "smoking section" is on the middle terrace and is covered by an umbrella. You can absolutely sit on the covered patio, and when you feel like smoking, walk a few steps away and enjoy. I know that this is frustrating, but this is all due to the smoking ordinance that was passed about a year ago. The ordinance states that there is a required amount of space between a smoking area and an entrance to an establishment, about 20 feet as well as other mumbo-jumbo in regards to serving food and drink."

But she did say The Gold Room - we do have a smoking area outside, however it is off the main patio and on the middle terrace, but you can still sit, eat, drink and be merry

So - we can still smoke and eat, drink etc....but it is not misted and it is not a nicely set table with cloths etc.. like the main porch from what I can gather. Still - Sierra - I can highly recommend the food and the view there!! Amazing food on the Gold Room menu

Anyway - I looked up all the places Sierra listed. Hacienda del Sol sounds the best but I don't know if we can get the full menu rather than the bar menu out there. Armitage was the fastest to respond to my emails. Menu seems decent.

Let me add to the list with the research I've done for Tucson smoking patios

McMahon's has a climate controlled patio for smoking cigars and cigarettes and you can eat from the main menu which looks pretty good. Anyone ever eat there? Wondering if it is as good as it looks. The patio is actually called "Smoke cigar patio and bar @ McMahons. Cool.

I'm also waiting to hear from Lodge on the Desert although they are doing construction there recently. Waiting on Terra Cotta as well. What's better Terra Cotta or On the Border? We're eating at McClintocks with family (they don't smoke so we do have to leave the table) and they have a climate controlled patio as well but I doubt we can smoke there.

Anyway - I'll report any new news. I'm making a folder of all the smoking restaurants in Tucson area which I'll share with you if I find more. If you think of any more - or if anyone thinks of any I'm still working on this.

[MarymovingtoRioRico]

Also Sierra - what is the patio like at the Hotel Congress? No photos on the site.
I couldn't see anything on Jonathan's Cork either... Attractive? Comfy? View?

One more - I was able to smoke outside Firebirds Grill a few years ago but I think it is a tiny patio. I had an amazing lunch there. Anyone know if you can smoke there?

PS when I look at the Tucson smoking ordinance - it seems that the law is different for front patios vs back patios

Back Patios:

"Outdoor patios are one of the seven exemptions of the Law. Outdoor patios that are not 20 feet from the patio door may be designated as smoking patios so long as tobacco smoke does not enter into non-smoking areas."


Front Patios:

What if my outdoor patio is located in the front of my establishment and less than 20 feet from the entrance into my establishment?

Smoking on this patio may still be allowed as long as the outdoor patio has a solid (non-permeable) wall or mechanical devices (i.e. blower, air curtain, etc…) that allow an individual to avoid breathing tobacco smoke when using the entrance and does not permit tobacco smoke to enter the establishment through entrances, open windows, permeable components of ventilation systems, or other means.

So the truth is - if the place says they can't have smoking unless it is 20 feet from the building they are not being totally honest. It is a choice they've made.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by MarymovingtoRioRico

Thanks Sierra and everyone!

You're welcome.

Westward Look must have changed their policy on smoking on the patio although they claim it is the Tucson smoking ordinance.

That's what they all claim. Not true. In these tight financial days in particular they're pretty bold. Hope they all go out of business! I empathize with the establishments hurt by this BS as well, but have no mercy for those who are bigger Catholics than the Pope!

So - we can still smoke and eat, drink etc....but it is not misted and it is not a nicely set table with cloths etc.. like the main porch from what I can gather. Still - Sierra - I can highly recommend the food and the view there!! Amazing food on the Gold Room menu

As I said on the other thread, you basically end up paying for ambience you don't get to enjoy.

Anyway - I looked up all the places Sierra listed. Hacienda del Sol sounds the best but I don't know if we can get the full menu rather than the bar menu out there.

I might be wrong, but I think it was the bar menu only...

McMahon's has a climate controlled patio for smoking cigars and cigarettes and you can eat from the main menu which looks pretty good. Anyone ever eat there? Wondering if it is as good as it looks. The patio is actually called "Smoke cigar patio and bar @ McMahons. Cool.

Been there. It's pretty expensive and not worth it to me. There's a smoking wine bar across the street at Plaza Palomino, but I don't recall them offering any food there.

I'm also waiting to hear from Lodge on the Desert although they are doing construction there recently. Waiting on Terra Cotta as well. What's better Terra Cotta or On the Border? We're eating at McClintocks with family (they don't smoke so we do have to leave the table) and they have a climate controlled patio as well but I doubt we can smoke there.

Not familiar with Terra Cotta.

Anyway - I'll report any new news. I'm making a folder of all the smoking restaurants in Tucson area which I'll share with you if I find more. If you think of any more - or if anyone thinks of any I'm still working on this.

Thank you for contributing, too. I'm sure there are other places I don't know about and I don't have much of a clue about the NW side. Many times the patios are not necessarily visible and you wouldn't know unless you specifically ask.

[MarymovingtoRioRico]

Terra Cotta used to be Cafe Terra Cotta They have a cute little patio and a picture is on the site. Terra Cotta Restaurant : Southwestern Cafe Changes Name; Food Still Classic

However I just want to make sure the review was correct where I read smoking is allowed on the patio only. So we'll see.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by MarymovingtoRioRico

Terra Cotta used to be Cafe Terra Cotta They have a cute little patio and a picture is on the site. Terra Cotta Restaurant : Southwestern Cafe Changes Name; Food Still Classic

However I just want to make sure the review was correct where I read smoking is allowed on the patio only. So we'll see.

Don't know it. I'm a picky and unadventurous eater, too, so eating out most of the time is not worth it to me. I like going to restaurants mostly for the ambience in the hope of finding at least something to eat , but since there's no ambience for us smokers in this country I just don't go out much... and when I do I stick to the few places I enjoy.

If you plan to go down to Nogales, see my post: http://www.city-data.com/forum/2516338-post29.html If nothing else, at least you can breathe freely there... for the time being that is... Other parts of Mexico close to the border are already plenty Americanized and sterile.

[MarymovingtoRioRico]

Sierra - I'm actually a picky adventurous eater ;-) I've eaten everything from fried baby snakes (delicious and crunchy) to emu and Osetra Caviar is my favorite food - oh - and so is Fois Gras.

I have been to Nogales but not to eat yet. My best friend lives in Tubac and I know the golf course has a pretty big patio but I'll bet we can't smoke there. We'll see. I'm so depressed about this.

I finally found out the info I was looking for. An article I read said something about May and I assume that was May 2008? I'm still confused because there was a law about no smoking in restaurants the last time I came. Or was that an Arizona law and this one that deals with the 20 feet an actual new law for Tucson?