City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Address: 3770 E. Sunrise Dr.
47. Jonathan’S Cork
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (520) 296-1631
Address: 6320 E. Tanque Verde Rd.
Description: A Tucson original, chef Jonathan Landeen has been serving up award-winning Southwestern fare since 1994. You’ll find a full bar, an extensive wine list, a patio, and 5 cozy dining rooms with beehive fireplaces and terrific Southwestern decor at Jonathan’s. Specialties include ostrich served charbroiled, blackened, or sautéed with a selection of sauces; selected game meats; and grilled Baja shrimp marinated in a variety of herbs and spices. Steak and prime rib are house specialties. Don’t skip the famous mud pie for dessert. Jonathan’s is open daily for dinner; reservations are recommended.
48. Lodge On The Desert
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (520) 320-2000
Address: 306 N. Alvernon Way
Description: The chef here, Ryan Clark, a graduate of the CIA, was selected by the American Culinary Foundation as one of the top junior chefs in the nation. He may look like a kid, but he’s won major accolades and culinary contests around town for his consistently innovative and delicious food. Housed in the Lodge on the Desert Hotel, the intimate restaurant features New American cuisine. The menu changes seasonally. Try the sweet pepper rellenos, local peppers stuffed with shrimp and cheese, deep fried, and sauced with a chipotle coulis. They’re a great twist on the standard fare. Sangria from the tap will douse the flames.The interior is charming, decorated in pseudo Mexican hacienda style with tin chandeliers and wood-beamed ceilings. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
49. Metropolitan Grill
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (520) 531-1212
Address: 7892 N. Oracle Rd.
Description: This contemporary grill is owned by Metro Restaurants, a local group. It’s beautifully decorated with an open feel—you’ll enjoy the comfortable atmosphere as much as the food. Appetizers, entrees, pizzas, and house specialties are wood-fired or spit-roasted. The bar features nightly specials. Cigars are sold and can be smoked in the bar area only.Metropolitan Grill is in a shopping plaza at the corner of Oracle and Magee Roads. Open for lunch and dinner daily. Reservations are recommended for dinner.
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Address: 5931 N. Oracle Rd.
51. Cee Dee Jamaican Kitchen
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (520) 795-3400
Address: 1070 N. Swan Rd.
Description: “Don’t you worry ’bout a thing, ’cause every little thing’s gonna be all right,” to quote a famous Jamaican who surely must have been singing about the food at Cee Dee. This tiny space with lots of Jamaican accents (think flags, posters) packs them in with homemade curries, fricassees, and stews. You can sit at the teeny bar, squeeze into a booth, or take out some of Tucson’s finest Jamaican fare. Moist jerk chicken is bathed in herbs and spices, and curried goat is thick and rich. A slice of rum cake or a scoop of potato pudding will keep you full till the next day. Homemade drinks like sorrel punch along with Jamaican bottled and canned drinks (try the Irish Moss peanut punch) round out the menu. Open Tues through Sun for lunch and dinner.
52. Lani’S Luau
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (520) 886-5828
Address: 2532 S. Harrison Rd.
Description: Lani’s was the first to bring Hawaiian cuisine to the Old Pueblo. Serving up traditional plate lunches—heaps of food piled on a plate—Lani’s has lots to choose from. Try the pork luau, pork steamed in a taro leaf, or for a taste of everything, go for the laulau plate filled with the most traditional Hawaiian flavors: tender, smoky marinated kalua-style pork, lomi lomi salmon, and poke (a raw fish salad) all served with rice or poi (a mash made from the taro plant). Dessert? Shaved ice, of course, or malasadas, Hawaii’s own doughnuts. Closed Sun and Mon.
53. Zemam’S
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (520) 323-9928
Address: 2731 E. Broadway
Description: Do you like eating with your fingers? If so, you’ll love Zemam’s, a tiny little Ethiopian cafe where instead of napkins, all the dishes come with a spongy bread (called injera) used to sop up luscious sauces. Try the doro wat (spicy chicken), spinach wat (spinach and cottage cheese), and any number of thick meat and vegetable stews. Extremely casual; bring your own bottle. Open Tues through Sun for lunch and dinner.
54. Acacia
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (520) 232-0101
Address: 3001 E. Skyline Dr.
Insider Pick:
Description: Acacia offers upscale dining with a fabulous view of Tucson. High above town in the foothills, Chef Albert Hall goes out of his way to procure the very freshest, pesticide-free, organic ingredients, especially the salmon—sourced all the way from Scotland. This commitment to freshness is reflected in the seasonal menu, which features well-executed classics with fresh, clean flavors. Signature dishes include house-made gnocchi with roasted red peppers, sweet peas, and Gorgonzola cream, a cioppino packed with shellfish in a rich, spicy broth, and that famous salmon, bronzed with a pecan mustard glaze. Open daily; a full brunch is offered Sat and Sun starting at 10 a.m.
55. Anthony’S In The Catalinas
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (520) 299-1771
Address: 6440 N. Campbell Ave.
Description: A longtime Tucson favorite, Anthony’s is continental dining at its best. Nestled at the base of the magnificent Santa Catalina Mountains, it offers you terrific city and mountain views. Anthony’s award-winning wine list is considered one of the finest in the world, with over 1,700 selections. Start with a steaming bowl of rich French onion soup topped with melted gruyère, next a classic roast duckling. Beef lovers will swoon over the incredible chateaubriand served with a red wine sauce and a heavenly béarnaise sauce. Leave room for the ethereal soufflés. Open for dinner daily.
56. The Arizona Inn
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (520) 325-1541
Address: 2200 E. Elm St.
Description: Casual elegance is the way to describe the ambience in the dining room at this historic inn in central Tucson. The signature breakfast is eggs Benedict and for lunch the classic chilled vichyssoise, but you can also find an eclectic mix of entrees at lunch and dinner. The weekly tasting menu offers signature dishes.The views of the beautiful grounds are legendary. The Arizona Inn dining room is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily and offers brunch on Sat and Sun.
57. Gold
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (520) 297-1151
Address: 245 E. Ina Rd.
Description: The award-winning Gold Room at Westward Look Resort has a stunning view of the Tucson valley whether you dine in or eat on the lovely outdoor terrace. Winner of Mobil Travel Guide’s Four-Star Award, AAA’s Four-Diamond Award, and Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence, the signature cuisine is a fusion of Southwestern, pan-Asian, and European culinary styles, accented with herbs and produce from the on-site chef’s garden. You’ll find a variety of dishes on the seasonal menu and an excellent wine list. Well-prepared food coupled with incredible views and impeccable service make this a good choice for any occasion. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Address: 400 N. Toole Ave.
59. Ghini’S French Caffe
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (520) 326-9095
Address: 1803 E. Prince Rd.
Description: Ghini’s offers a taste of France at a petite price. This small cafe is open for breakfast and lunch only. Ghini’s has omelets, sandwiches, salads, and desserts from the adjacent bakery.The omelets are made with 3 eggs and stuffed with such goodies as potatoes, onions, cheeses, bacon, garlic, and herbs Provençal. Salads are fresh; both the salade nicoise and wilted spinach salad stand out among several flavorful choices. Chef Ghini’s favorite is the eggs Provençal (she confesses to eating them every day). Sides include homemade pâté maison, scalloped potatoes, and French onion soup. And if you’re in the mood for just a sweet treat and a latte, Ghini’s is happy to accommodate you. The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch Tues through Sun.
60. Le Rendez-Vous
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (520) 323-7373
Address: 3844 E. Fort Lowell Rd.
Description: Winning accolades from food critics, dining at Le Rendez-vous is not just a meal but a total “experience.” From the impeccable service to the extensive wine list to the fabulous menu offerings, this midtown restaurant brings France to the heart of the Sonoran Desert.Start with the escargots and then leisurely wend your way through Les Potages, Les Salades, Les Poissons, and Les Viandes to Les Desserts. All are served in a romantic, intimate atmosphere.The front door to the restaurant is not directly on Fort Lowell Road. You can park in the attached lot. Le Rendez-vous serves lunch and dinner Tues through Fri and dinner only on weekends.