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

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by MarymovingtoRioRico

Thanks a million and you are so quick! Sounds like Terra Cotta is the right place for Mexican for me. You should check it out. Nice atmosphere. Hope the food is good. Armitage was described to me by the very helpful woman there as an upscale patio - good. I don't mind paying for atmosphere. Food has mixed reviews but mostly good.

You're welcome. I don't mind paying for atmosphere at all. As I said that's what I like when going out. What I do mind is paying for the atmosphere inside I don't get to use.

I'm pretty good at getting places to break the rules.

Another lil' rascal, huh?! We smokers are cool peeps!

If you ever come to DC or Northern VA (where you will have to go to smoke and eat because DC and Maryland are out) I'll give you lots of help!! Actually you can still smoke outside in DC thank god.

Thanks.

As a moderator of a photography forum, Sierra - I also contribute tons and tons of advice to others and appreciate your help on this forum and know what it takes to be there and help people out. I made sure I thanked you by rating your answer positively.

Oh, I like helping people with specific questions. What I don't like here is those asking the same general questions for the umpteenth time without bothering to check even the threads on first page. In these cases I'm cruel and unforgiving, aka silent!

[bellringer]

I worked at McMahon's and I have eaten there many times. Yes, it's pricey, but well worth it. They use quality ingredients and it shows. I love the filet. It melts in your mouth. The Beef Wellington is the best I've ever had. And wait until you see their selection of wines. The ambience is wonderful. Lots of big booths(and tables), blown glass lighting, and the employees are exceptional. You will be taken care of!

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by bellringer

I worked at McMahon's and I have eaten there many times. Yes, it's pricey, but well worth it. They use quality ingredients and it shows. I love the filet. It melts in your mouth. The Beef Wellington is the best I've ever had. And wait until you see their selection of wines. The ambience is wonderful. Lots of big booths(and tables), blown glass lighting, and the employees are exceptional. You will be taken care of!

I said it's not worth it to me because I can't enjoy the ambience. Unless something's changed, the patio wasn't anything to write home about.

[MarymovingtoRioRico]

What was "wrong" about the patio? Curious. I saw a photo and it looked pretty cool...but as a photographer I know photos can be deceiving.

And Bellringer - thanks for the info... Love booths but unfortunately we'll be sitting outside if we go there.

PS - I guess I was misinformed about Terra Cotta. No smoking on patio - just got an email.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by MarymovingtoRioRico

What was "wrong" about the patio? Curious. I saw a photo and it looked pretty cool...but as a photographer I know photos can be deceiving.

Oh, nothing... Could be even better now. It's been a long time since I was there. I just can't justify such prices for a plain table outside and no ambiance, but that's me. OK, you get a candle...

[MarymovingtoRioRico]

haha... thanks Sierra

FYI - I got a nice note back from Hacienda Del Sol. They are renovating the dining room and it is closed until Sept. 5 - However, the patio is opened for both dinning and bar menu.

Guess where I'll be!

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by MarymovingtoRioRico

haha... thanks Sierra

FYI - I got a nice note back from Hacienda Del Sol. They are renovating the dining room and it is closed until Sept. 5 - However, the patio is opened for both dinning and bar menu.

Guess where I'll be!

It's really nice there. I was there once just before Christmas. It was a pretty snippy evening, but they had the heaters and the fireplace on and was very cozy. Didn't even need my coat. Eeh, let's enjoy our little escapes for as long as it lasts...

[mdtoaz]

Originally Posted by MarymovingtoRioRico

Thank you all. I'm not giving up - I'm doing research ;-)

Sierra - Any chance you can describe the patios at On the Border, Jonathan's Cork and The Cup Cafe?

I'm not sure if you can smoke on the Cup Cafe's patio. It's not too big. It's at the front of the restaurant and has about 8 tables or so. I think they're all 4-seaters. I've eaten out there several times and have sat on the patio, but there aren't ashtrays and nobody else was smoking. I may just have been my assumption, but I don't think they allow smoking.

[MarymovingtoRioRico]

Ok - report time.

First - thanks to everyone for the amazing help.

Second - Hacienda Del Sol: Took my reservation by email and we had two or three emails about the smoking, menu etc... In addition I also made a reservation for Friday.
After going there to physically check it out and confirm that we could, indeed smoke. We found out the email request and confirmed reservation for 7:45 was linvalid because they don't take reservations after 6:30. A very nice manager came to my rescue and made an exception. BUT when we arrive: The hostess says... "oh I'm sorry, there is no smoking but you are welcome to go out front and smoke". NO... I explained the various emails and the exception to the reservation and the fact that I specifically asked to be called if there was any problem with smoking on the patio and no one called us. Another manager appeared and was actually going to allow us to smoke in front of the fireplace - but when we saw we were surrounded very close by non-smokers?... We left. We knew we'd get verbal and non-verbal complaints from our table neighbors so we aborted.

Bascially, we were very well taken care of by Westward look. They have a lower/middle patio with tables with umbrellas. They removed the umbrella the first night (we had them keep it later because it blocked the floodlights on the top of the building), and set it with a tablecloth, candles etc... Very nice. They would have turned on the misters near us (above us where they often do events) but we really didn't need it. No views of Tucson and we were lucky it was not busy because those tables are really open to whomever wants to use them. It is not "officially" restaurant space. They were awesome. We had great food and great service. The ambiance was not as nice as the patio itself but it was pretty good... and we could smoke.

Another find was McClintocks. At the end of Thornydale, off of Tangerine (north) is an amazing peice of Real Estate. You go through a tunnel and have to be escorted up to the restaruant. The lots there start in the millions just for the property. It is owned by Peter something from Gerber. I saw this 2 years ago before anything was built. Got the tour... It has developed 'some'... but not much... The drive up is awesome and the restaurant is an experience. They still have some food problems to work out (inconsistancy) and it is pricey but I'd say it is worth it and I'd go back again but be very careful to tell them 'no salt'!!! I mean really - I sent back a pasta dish with duck and it was brought back and still salty! The lemon gnocci was too lemony. pucker...!
For the price they could do better and I'm sure they will. But -- YOU CAN SMOKE on the patio!!! If it is busy - they'll set you up way over on the other side near the fireplace and I recommend going "later" ... 8pm or so. They are very accommidating. The view and the porch is very romantic. You do, however, have to read your menu with a flashlight which they bring to the table for you to use. What can I say? It was unique and they sure did treat us well!!!

Other than that...after my experience with Hacienda del Sol I didn't venture far from Westward Look. Armatage has been great with emails and even asked when we came back from AZ if we went there and enjoyed ourselves... But the menu just didn't excite me. I'll try next time and maybe for lunch.

Oh - Rio Rico - Esplendor resort - unlimited smoking on the terrace!! Ask for the tables to the extreme left of the dining room for a better view (not parking lot :0)

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by MarymovingtoRioRico

Ok - report time.

Thanks for reporting. Sounds like you had a good time. Sooo, so much for Hacienda del Sol, huh... I've been there only once and it was fine, but that was before the latest insanity of May '07, I think...

Are you moving to Rio Rico?