76. Gavi
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (520) 577-1099
Address: 5415 N. Kolb Rd.
Description: Softly lit interior, fireplace, 2 outdoor patios, pizza oven, espresso bar, and comfy couches—you can stay here all day. The menu features contemporary Italian cuisine with giant bowls of steaming pasta, lasagna, platters of meat and fish, baskets of bread, pizzas, humongous salads, and enormous desserts.Gavi has developed a reputation for Italian dinners that offer something more than the usual fare; the servings are large and come piping hot. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Closed Sun.
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Address: 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd.
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Address: 2890 E. Skyline Dr.
79. Vivace Restaurant
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (520) 795-7221
Address: 4310 N. Campbell Ave.
Description: While it is an Italian restaurant, with osso buco, polenta, and pastas on the menu, it may better be classified as New Italian for its innovative preparations. For lunch Vivace has pastas, sandwiches, salads, and various house specialties. Vivace’s dinner menu offers several selections. Start with artichokes and escargot baked in Gorgonzola cheese and garlic butter for an appetizer, and then try artichoke–goat cheese cannelloni. Vivace has a full bar with an extensive choice of wines by the bottle or the glass. You can dine outside on the lovely patio. Vivace is open for lunch and dinner Mon through Sat. We suggest reservations.
80. Cafe Poca Cosa
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (520) 622-6400
Address: 110 E. Pennington St.
Description: Chef/owner Suzana Davila has transformed the ground floor of this rather bleak downtown garage space at E. Pennington and N. 6th Avenue into a sleek, comfortable restaurant. Davila creates interesting dishes inspired by different regions of her native Mexico. The menu, listed on a tiny chalkboard, changes daily, but you can always choose the Plato Poca Cosa, which showcases the specials. Closed Sun and Mon.
81. Casa Vicente
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (520) 884-5253
Address: 375 S. Stone Ave.
Description: In the mood for some flamenco music? A steaming platter of paella? Head to Casa Vicente, where the kitchen is hopping and the music is lively. Start with tapas, those tiny finger-licking-good appetizers Spain is known for. You’ll find a great selection here, over 26 hot and cold choices, from a traditional Spanish frittata to menudo cooked with garbanzos. If you want paella, you need to call at least two hours in advance and bring four hungry friends. Try the Paella Negra, black rice flavored with squid ink and brimming with seafood. Ask about the specials of the day, and don’t forget to order a large pitcher of sangria.There’s live music every night. Flamenco performances are on Fri and Sat. Open for dinner Tues through Sun, lunch Tues through Sat. Summer hours vary.
82. Don Pedro’S Peruvian Bistro
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (520) 209-1740
Address: 3386 6th Ave. #120
Description: This out-of-the-way spot in South Tucson is drawing raves from people who have actually lived and eaten in Peru. “Delicious” and “authentic,” they enthuse! Start with the national drink of Peru, the classic Pisco Sour, a sweet/sour concoction that comes to you frothy and delightfully cold. Those in the know pick the Peruvian specialties: antichucos (kebabs), papas rellenos (deep-fried potatoes stuffed with ground meat, raisins, and spices), chaufa (fried rice), lomo saltado (stir-fried vegetables and meat), and cebiche (marinated raw fish). Open daily.
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Address: 311 N. Court Ave.
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Address: 354 S. Main Ave.
85. El Molcajete Mexican Food
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (520) 623-8886
Address: 663 S. Plumer Ave.
Description: A true Insiders’ spot, this mom-and-pop Mexican restaurant is a hidden treasure. Open only for breakfast and lunch, it’s a favorite with locals. They, and you, come for the terrific homemade soups, fresh guacamole, the best green corn tamales in town, and the homey, friendly atmosphere. Don’t come here if you’re looking for fancy food; this is homemade Mexican comfort food. Open 7 days a week until 3 p.m.
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Address: 231 E. 26th St.
87. John Jacob’S El Parador
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (520) 881-2744
Address: 2744 E. Broadway Blvd.
Description: You might wonder if a Mexican restaurant with a non-Mexican owner could survive the competition in Tucson. But that’s exactly what the Jacob family has done, and done well, since 1946.The food is unique. Try the ceviche or taquitos appetizer, then choose from fajitas, tamales, chiles rellenos, and a carne seca chimichanga with pico de gallo.Lush plants and a skylight give the feeling of eating in a tropical paradise. Several private dining rooms can be used for meetings or special functions, and El Parador also provides catering services.The restaurant is open daily for lunch or dinner, and on Sunday a brunch is served. Stop in the Cantina, El Parador’s bar, at happy hour on weekday afternoons. Friday and Saturday nights feature a nightclub with live music.
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Address: 5900 N. Oracle Rd.
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Address: 1813 S. 4th Ave.
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Restaurants
Address: 1750 E. Fort Lowell Rd.