Grab a bite

Italian

Gavi Italian Restaurant — 7865 E. Broadway. Excellent food in an intimate setting; very popular in its East Side neighborhood. Definitely worth the wait to get in. 290-8380. $$ E

Giacomo's Authentic Italian Dining — An intimate showcase for owner/chef Giacomo Aprea, who hits plenty of high notes. If you like anchovies, try the penne putanesca. 6878 E. Sunrise Drive. 529-7358. $$$ FH

La Taverna Di Gavi — 6960 E. Sunrise Drive. A combination of Italian, French cuisines, with several vegetarian choices. 615-1900. $$$ FH

Mama Louisa's La Cantina Restaurant — 2041 S. Craycroft Road. Mangia is the motto at this place for reasonably priced homemade Italian food. 790-4702. $$ C

Nonna Maria's — 2161 Rockcliff Blvd., Oracle. Obviously, pizza and pastas abound, but sandwiches, salads and calzones also make up the menu. 1-520-896-3522 . $$ NW

North Modern Italian Cuisine — 2995 E. Skyline Drive. Sam Fox's restaurant has a homey, sink-in-and-enjoy-yourself feel. 299-1600. $$ FH

Oregano's Pizza Bistro — 4900 E. Speedway. They pile on the food at this hip, chic little eatery. But you might have a long wait. 327-8955. $$ C

Piazza Gavi — 5415 N. Kolb Road. Pizza and a more upscale environment are the marked differences between this and the other Gavi restaurants. The Sicilian fare comes in big sizes. 577-1099. $$$ FH

Ristorante Italia — 6464 E. Tanque Verde Road. A Metro chain standout, the flavors are distinct and rich, and the portions generous. 733-1111. $$$ FH

Roma Caffé — 4140 W. Ina Road. Owner/ chef Gino Marinelli, a native of Naples, Italy, has run this place for 25 years. He's justifiably proud of his eatery's authentic pasta dishes. 744-2929. $$$ NW

Roma Imports — 627 S. Vine Ave., off 15th Street and South Kino Parkway. Good Italian food done right. You order at the counter, seat yourself and wait for your food to be served. 792-3173. $ C

Tavolino — 7090 N. Oracle Road. The small restaurant serves unfussy fare. Reservations recommended. 531-1913. $$$ NW

Trattoria Pina — 5541 N. Swan Road, at Sunrise Drive. Simply fantastico Italian fare. Dishes here don't need fancy dress to speak eloquently. 577-6992. $$$ FH

Verona Italian Restaurant — 120 S. Houghton Road. Simple, yet quietly elegant, with generous portions of Italian delights. 722-2722. $$ SE

Viro's Real Italian Bakery and Cafe — 8301 E. 22nd St. A sampling of the fresh baked goods, meats and cheeses will make you think you're in Tuscany. 885-4045. $ SE

Make mine meat

Billy Bryant's Bar-B-Q —3930 W. Ina Road. Billy Bryant's serves up grub that goes well with a red-and-white-checkered picnic blanket: smoked pork, beef and sausage with all the requisite sides. 323-7083. ¢-$ NW

Brushfire —2745 N. Campbell Ave, "Tucson-style" barbecue, meaning more seasonings and flavor, like balsamic vinegar and fresh garlic. It is a must try. 624-3223. $-$$ C

Bubb's Grubb — 16010 N. Oracle Road. Meat lovers will find what they're looking for. 825-6510. $-$$ NW

Cattletown Steakhouse and Saloon — 3141 E. Drexel Road. A country-style steakhouse with Texas-size tables. No checks. 295-1141. $$ S

Chad's Steak House and Saloon — 3001 N. Swan Road. Hand-cut beef selections range from ground sirloin to porterhouse at this Western-themed restaurant. 881-1802. $$ C

Daisy Mae's Steakhouse — 2735 W. Anklam Road, serves certified Angus steaks, cooked on an open flame fueled by bold mesquite whose fragrance seeps into the meat. The steaks are the stars here. 792-8888. $$ NW

Dickman's Meat and Deli — 6472 N. Oracle Road, 229-9777; and 8646 E. Broadway. Dickman's will remind you of a Midwestern deli, comfortably casual with a folksy down-home feel to it. 885-8020. $$ NW, E

El Corral — 2201 E. River Road. A cowboy-up kinda place, with colorized black-and-white prints of Silver Screen stars on the walls. They specialize in steaks with surprisingly low prices. 299-6092. $ FH

El Paso BBQ Co. — 5510 E. Broadway, 745-2000.; 7265 N. La Cholla Blvd., 352-3301. It's a solid choice for barbecue and other rib-sticking food. $ C, NW

Firebirds — 2985 E. Skyline Drive, at La Encantada. Steaks here are aged, thick and juicy. 577-0747. $$$$ FH

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar — 6360 N. Campbell Ave. The noise level is high, but the satisfaction level is even higher. Reservations recommended. 529-5017. $$$$ FH

Li'l Abner's Steak House — 8500 N. Silverbell Road. This former stagecoach stop serves steak grilled over mesquite wood. No reservations. 744-2800. $$ NW

McClintock's Restaurant — 3755 W. Conrads Way. They call the cuisine organic American. We think it's more classic American grill featuring steaks, seafood, pastas and salads. You won't get past the gatehouse without a reservation. 579-2100. $$$$ NW

McMahon's Prime Steak House — 2959 N. Swan Road. Upscale restaurant with glassed-in wine room, features meats and seafood. 327-2333. $$$$ C

Oracle Inn Steakhouse — 305 E. American Ave., Oracle. The creative Southwestern hot steak is worth the 35-mile drive from Tucson to this family-owned steakhouse and gathering spot. But it's the inspired desserts including a stunning Grand Marnier frozen soufflé that will bring you back. 1-520-896-3333. $$-$$$ NW

Pinnacle Peak — 6541 E. Tanque Verde Road in Trail Dust Town. Ol' West hullabaloo can put you right in the mood for a thick, juicy steak cooked just the way you want it over a mesquite wood fire. 296-0911. $$ FH

Rod's K.C. Barbecue — 601 N. Fourth Ave. Friendly dining spot with a down-home ambience serves savory, lean and tender ribs. No alcohol. 623-0182. $ C

Sam Hughes' Place — 446 N. Campbell Ave. Championship dining — try to find a classier sports bar anywhere else. 747-5223. $$$ C

Sullivan's Steak House — 1785 E. River Road. It's worth the indulgence. 299-4275. $$$$ FH

Taste of Texas — 8310 N. Thornydale Road. Serves dinner daily in an old-town, family-style atmosphere. 572-5968. $$ NW

Mediterranean

Athens on Fourth — 500 N. Fourth Ave. It's all Greek to this restaurant. And pretty darn good, too. 624-6886. $$ C

Luxor Cafe — 3699 N. Campbell Ave, A Mediterranean-style restaurant. Delicious cucumber salad, vegetable sambosa, Za'atar Mana'ish (personal pita pizza) and shawerma beef wrap. 325-3771. $$ C

My Big Fat Greek — 95 W. River Road, Great food that operates on the philosophy: "As long as we're above ground, we should have a great time." Opa! 888-0428. $$ W

Opa! — 2990 N. Campbell Ave. The Greek cuisine here is at once hearty and elegant, authentically foreign and yet pleasingly familiar. 327-2841. $ C

Pizza

1702 — 1702 E. Speedway. In addition to soups, salads and a vast variety of beers, this UA-area eatery features six specialty pizzas, and each comes with five toppings. The portions are huge. 325- 1702. $ C

Arizona Pizza Company — 4955 N. Sabino Canyon Road, 299-7311; 5855 E. Broadway, 514-0909. Not your average pies, with selections such as chicken pesto and The Hawaiian. $$ FH, C

Bazil's to Go — 4777 E. Sunrise Drive. Flavorful Chicago-style pizza and pasta for take-out only. 577-1100 $$ FH

Bianchi's — 1110 N. Silverbell Road. West Siders' pizzeria of choice, with loads of toppings available. Drive-through and delivery. 882-8500. $ C

Brooklyn Pizza Company — 534 N. Fourth Ave. Best-selling pizza is the tried-and-true pepperoni, but the staff recommends the cheese pizza with tomato and basil sauce. 622-2902. $ C

Canal Street Pizzaria — 5655 E. River Road. Generous servings and a menu scattered with comments that read like script notes from "The Sopranos." 615-2262. $-$$ FH

Eclectic Pizza — 7065 E. Tanque Verde Road. Organic dough and choices like jalapeño cream sauce and red curry sauce give you a reason to visit. 886-0484. $$ FH

Enoteca Pizzeria and Wine Bar — 58 W. Congress St. Simple and savory pie with crispy crust topped with such items as goat cheese, caramelized onions and other gourmet delights. 623-0744. $$ C

Magpie's Gourmet Pizza — 8295 N. Cortaro Road, 572-4300; 605 N. Fourth Ave., 628-1661; 4654 E. Speedway, 795-5977; 105 S. Houghton Road, 751-9949; 7159 E. Tanque Verde Road, 546-6526. Locally owned chain makes even plain pepperoni a gooey delight. NW, C, E, FH $$

New York Pizza — 8771 E. Broadway. Inch-thick crusts and to-die-for garlic bread. 885-0116. $$ E

Pizazz Pizza Bistro — 1763 E. Prince Road. The pizza here is shockingly good, and the tableside fresh pesto will blow your mind. 325-9040. $$. C

Pizzeria Vivace — 4280 N. Campbell Ave., in St. Philip's Plaza. The brainchild of Vivace owner Daniel Scordato, this is a sit-down-and-savor-the-pie restaurant that pays close attention, from the thin, yeasty crust to the meat, shrimp or veggie toppings. Take-out orders not accepted. 529-2700. $$ FH

Rocco's Little Chicago Pizzeria — 2707 E. Broadway. Mounds of cheese on the pies and one of the best thin crusts around. The restaurant also serves up distinctive hot wings. 321-1770. $$ C

Rosati's Authentic Chicago Pizza — 8814 E. Tanque Verde Road. Northeast Side pizza parlor bakes an exceptional pie, with several crust options, including double-dough pizza. 760-4777. $ FH

Vero Amore — 3305 N. Swan Road. Think Wolfgang Puck rather than Shakey's. Toppings include fresh basil and prosciutto, or smoked salmon partnered with mascarpone cheese and arugula. 325-4122. $$ FH

Zachary's Pizza — 1028 E. Sixth St.. Delicious, inventive pizzas that won't disappoint. Parking is scarce, but the toppings are plentiful. 623-6323. $ C

Zona 78 — 78 W. River Road, 888-7878; 7301 E. Tanque Verde Road. 296-7878. The grown-up pizzas have thin crusts, inventive toppings, and the tomato sauce is used judiciously. $$ NW, FH

Sandwiches

Austin's — 6129 E. Broadway. To-scream-for ice cream, with extra-thick shakes. Now serving breakfast. 514-5132. $ E

Baggin's — 5375 E. Pima St., 795-7135; 33 N. Stone Ave., 792-1344; 1800 E. Fort Lowell Road, 327-1611. 5056 E. Broadway, 327-8718. 7233 E. Speedway, 290-9383; 11015 N. Oracle Road, 547-2839; 2741 E. Speedway, 327-4342; 6342 N. Oracle Road, 575-8878; 3191 E. Valencia Road, 917-5070. Their sandwiches are worth the often-long wait at lunchtime. You even get a chocolate chip cookie for your troubles. $ E, C, NW, W, S, D

Beyond Bread — 3026 N. Campbell Ave., 322-9965; 6260 E. Speedway, 747-7477. Combination sandwiches are generous; fresh-baked breads — with different daily choices — are stellar. $ C

Bison Witches Bar & Deli — 326 N. Fourth Ave. Big sandwiches and yummy soup (served in bread bowls). Take-out might be easier because of the lack of dining space. 740-1541. $ C

Bumsted's — 500 N. Fourth Ave. The vast menu is divided into "affairs" — "A Hot Affair" for hot sandwiches, "A Sweet Affair" for desserts, etc. But don't let the novelty names fool you — Bumsted's is all about good food. 622-1413. $$ C

Daggwood Cafe — 736 E. Fort Lowell Road. Huge sandwiches in a variety of choices, including — yes, sir — liverwurst. 903-9663. $ C

Frankie's — 2574 N. Campbell Ave. Brings the distinct flavor of the Philadelphia Cheesesteak to the streets of Midtown Tucson. 795-2665. $ C

Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich — 2485 N. Swan Road; 749 N. Park Ave. Sandwiches come on seven-grain bread, wrapped in a tortilla or on French bread. Bread is baked in-house. Meat and veggies are sliced fresh. 326-5112 (Swan); 206-9999 (Park). $ C

Mona's Danish — 4777 E. Sunrise Drive. Menu features hot and cold sandwiches, breakfast items and salads. 579-1959. $ FH

Sausage Deli — 2334 N. First Ave. Lots of sandwich choices, and for only $1.99 you can add a side salad, chips and a drink. 623-8182. $ C

Shlomo & Vito's New York Delicatessen — 2870 E. Skyline Drive. The extra-large portions are created with quality products. The food we sampled was without fault. Besides a build-your-own sandwich ($11), the menu includes about 20 other sandwiches. 529-3354. $$ FH

Where is it?

C–Central E–East

D–Downtown FH–Foothills

GV–Green Valley NW–Northwest

S–South SW–Southwest

SE–Southeast

What does it cost?

The estimated price of a dinner for two. Drinks, tax and tip are not included.

¢ – About $10 $ – $10-$20

$$ – $20-$30 $$$ – $30-$40

$$$$ – above $40

Add your two cents

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