Good Restaurants?

[tumamoc]

Regarding the west side, Starr Pass vicinity, I haven't been in a while, but Daisy Mae's Steakhouse on West Anklam Road is worth checking out if you want some tasty mesquite-grilled food. For Mexican, there's Mosaic Cafe (slightly upscale Mexican food) near Grant and Silverbell or Tania's (down-to-earth Mexican food) on Grande. Downtown, there's El Minuto. If you go into South Tucson, there are loads of decent Mexican restaurants--Michas and Crossroads come to mind. It's hard to go wrong around 6th Ave, south of 22nd Street, unless you end up with Mexican fast food.

[jksn75]

I also love Vivace for Italian. Their Pizzeria is good too. If you want something a little bit closer to your location, check out Cafe Poca Cosa downtown. Unique and very tasty. It isn't a typical Mexican restaurant and is worth a trip. The menu changes twice a day. Ask for the chef's plate and they will surprise you with 3 smaller portions/items from the menu. I think they are closed Sun and Mon. When my family comes to town, they always request to go back for the "surprise me plate."

[coatimundi]

San Carlos on Silverbell near Speedway. They're consistently good with some of the best salsa in town. BYOB also, although that may have changed. Bianchi's right there is also very good for some cheap Italian. It's the sort of place you take your son's little league team after a game so they can be noisy and eat pizza and you can have a much-needed beer. Not talking from experience, just from what I see everytime I'm over there.

A little further down, St. Mary's Mexican is great for a hole in the wall place, but you'll have to find it first (there's no sign). Fantastic tortillas and you can fill up easily for $6. There's also a decent Eegee's right there on St. Mary's and Grande. Eegee's is a very Tucson thing. At least go and get the namesake drink.

Oh, and another very Tucson experience is Pat's Drive-In on Grande between Speedway and St. Mary's. Chili dog and fries is, I think, the must-order meal. Obviously not a place to go if you've got cholesterol issues though.

If you go a little more toward Downtown, there's the new Mercado on Congress west of I-10. The taqueria there is very good, and there's a La Estrella bakery location. La Estrella has the best empenadas I've had anywhere.

The problem with Starr Pass is the lack of area dining. They kind of rope you in to eating at the resort, which I've been told is not bad (there's a barbecue place).
Hope that's not too late an entry.

[RickTucsonHomes]

Originally Posted by coatimundi

Oh, and another very Tucson experience is Pat's Drive-In on Grande between Speedway and St. Mary's. Chili dog and fries is, I think, the must-order meal. Obviously not a place to go if you've got cholesterol issues though.

Pat's Chili Dog & Fries, a true Tucson classic.

[Sher0403]

Vivace is excellent...definately worth the drive.

[Salpointe59]

My lunch group went to Lukes on Speedway, I was shocked to fine GREAT Chicago style sammichs.

[coatimundi]

Luke's is great! The Italian beef and Chicago dogs are as good as you're going to get in Tucson. There are also locations on Grant near Rosemont and Fort Lowell near Stone.

[Subie2]

Luke's rocks my socks. Just amazing. There's one on Grant/Columbus.