Two questions regarding Tucson restaurants..... (Mesa, Catalina: condo, hotels, shopping center)

[Marv101]

Are there any restaurants in your fine city that require their patrons to dress up?

I only had a chance to visit one restaurant (Chad's Steakhouse, which was wonderful) during my first visit last October, but was looking for a dressier place that also has good food (steak and/or seafood).

Any recommendations would be welcome.

Thanks!

Also, can anyone recommend a restaurant with great French Toast? Crackers Cafe in Mesa has sensational French toast, and I was wondering if any Tucson establishment has equally wonderful FT?

Thanks again!

[Bummer]

Interesting question, Marv . . .

What is your connotation of "to dress up"?

After relocating here a few years ago it didn't take me long to learn that "Tucson Dress Up" usually means no Flip-Flops or Bare Feet and possibly no T-Shirts.

! ! ! ! ! !

[Jukesgrrl]

People in Tucson -- especially men -- don't get dressed up to go to church, let alone to dinner. I'm not condoning it, it's just a fact.

I'm a fan of the restaurant NoRTH at La Encantada. It has an urban-loft ambiance and the patrons are generally dressed better than one usually sees in Tucson. It's billed as "a fresh new approach to modern Italian cuisine." Both fish and beef dishes are on the menu, often grilled in a wood oven. You can see the menu online.
FOX Restaurant Concepts - NoRTH: Modern Italian Cuisine (http://www.foxrc.com/north.html - broken link)

[Marcy1210]

Some of the more upscale hotels with restaurants, like the Westin La Paloma, will be dressier than most other places. Some Country Clubs that have restaurants will require more formal dress as well.

The Westin La Paloma -- The Southwest's Premiere Destination Resort

[coatimundi]

To the best of my knowledge, there is no restaurant in Tucson that actually has a dress code since the demise of the Tack Room. There are those that are more upscale and stuffy, but you likely would not be refused entry if you showed up in casual attire. It's just not the nature of Tucson to be like that.
That being said, there are the stuffy types of places where the uncomfortably dressed can go to eat often mediocre food for obscene amounts of money, without being upset by too many individuals in non-fancy pants. Jano's (but not J-Bar) at the Westin is one, the Gold Room at the Westward Look is another, Anthony's in the Catalinas, The Grill at Hacienda del Sol, McClintock's in Saguaro Ranch and, I haven't been up there (I don't think they'd let me in), but I'm sure at least one of the restaurants at the Ritz Carlton resort is like this.

[RickTucsonHomes]

Originally Posted by coatimundi

, I haven't been up there (I don't think they'd let me in), but I'm sure at least one of the restaurants at the Ritz Carlton resort is like this.

That would be Cayton's at The Ritz, and I bet they would let you in too!

[azdr0710]

to add to coati's good list, I can think of Sullivan's steakhouse, McMahon's steakhouse (locally owned), the Arizona Inn (dressy at dinner (but not a tie and jacket kind of place) and also locally owned), and the several restaurants at La Encantada shopping center like the aforementioned North.....

even the Tack Room did not require a tie for men in it's last years, but did require something nice

[jeffbkane]

Originally Posted by coatimundi

To the best of my knowledge, there is no restaurant in Tucson that actually has a dress code since the demise of the Tack Room.

Although this thread is a bit old, I couldn't help but to point out that The Tack Room actually never had a dress code as such. Perhaps it was due to the restaurant's roots as the main dining room of a dude ranch, or because it was just too warm during much of the year to even think about wearing a jacket and tie, but when people called to make reservations, when they asked what to wear the response provided was as follows:

"While many gentlemen do wear jackets and ties, they are not required. Ladies generally wear cocktail attire or pantsuits. We only ask that no jeans, shorts or t-shirts be worn."

(Yes, its a bit dated, but that was how it was 20 years ago. Even though jeans were on "no" list, that rarely caused a second glance as the guests were seated for dinner).

Today you will generally find that only restaurants in large hotels or resorts require a jacket and tie. Those resorts don't have the same history, and they are housed in very large air-conditioned buildings. So a jacket may actually come in handy.

Jeffrey Kane
Third-generation operator of The Tack Room

[gomexico]

Originally Posted by coatimundi

To the best of my knowledge, there is no restaurant in Tucson that actually has a dress code since the demise of the Tack Room.

Jeffrey, how I loved and enjoyed the Tack Room. Thanks for the memories.

[Jukesgrrl]

Originally Posted by Jukesgrrl

People in Tucson -- especially men -- don't get dressed up to go to church, let alone to dinner. I'm not condoning it, it's just a fact.

I'm a fan of the restaurant NoRTH at La Encantada. It has an urban-loft ambiance and the patrons are generally dressed better than one usually sees in Tucson. It's billed as "a fresh new approach to modern Italian cuisine." Both fish and beef dishes are on the menu, often grilled in a wood oven. You can see the menu online.
FOX Restaurant Concepts - NoRTH: Modern Italian Cuisine (Fox Restaurant Concepts « NORTH ITALIAN FARMHOUSE - broken link)

I withdraw my suggestion about NoRTH at La Encantada. The management has changed the decor and the menu and it now isn't much different than a dozen other casual Italian places in Tucson. It used to be my birthday restaurant. I don't even go there anymore.