Grab a bite

Border crossings

Blanco Tacos + Tequila - 2905 E. Skyline Drive, in La Encantada. The menu, which covers everything from guacamole to cheese crisps to tacos and enchiladas, is Mexican with a contemporary twist. The dessert menu is short and sweet. 232-1007. $-$$ FH

Casa Don Carlos - 1103 W. Prince Road. The heat in many Mexican restaurants comes from the chiles. Here it comes from the flaming desserts - as in cherries jubilee and bananas flambé. 207-0008. $ NW

El Charro Café - 311 N. Court Ave., 622-1922; 6310 E. Broadway, at El Mercado, 745-1922; 7725 N. Oracle Road, 229-1922; 6910 E. Sunrise Drive, 514-1922; 15920 S. Rancho Sahuarita Blvd., 325-1922. Carne seca is the thing here at Tucson's oldest family-owned Mexican restaurant. $$ D, C, NW

El Taco - 2825 N. Country Club Road. This Mexican eatery serves enduring comfort food. 326-0580. $ C

Guillermo's Double L Restaurant - 1830 S. Fourth Ave. This longtime South Tucson favorite offers its traditional menu and one that's heavily weighted toward deftly prepared seafood and classic Mexican dishes. 792-1585. $-$$ S

La Indita - 622 N. Fourth Ave., The food here draws from Mexican, Tarascan Indian and Tohono O'odham cuisines. The beans are vegan; the vegetarian selections abundant. 792-0523. $ C

La Olla - 8553 N. Silverbell Road. A menu that takes its cue from Sonoran standards and elevates them to white-tablecloth dining. 579-0950. $$ NW

La Parrilla Suiza - 4250 W. Ina Road, 572-7200; 2729 N. Oracle Road, 624-4300; 5602 E. Speedway, 747-4838. Authentic flavors of Mexico City include the popular table grill. Daily specials also win over diners. $$ NW, C, E

Las Cazuelitas - 3535 E. Fort Lowell Road, 784-0405; 1365 W. Grant Road, 206-0405; 234 E. 22nd St., 792-0405. Seafood is its specialty - the signature dish is the shrimp enchiladas - but steaks and tacos also draw raves. $ W, C, S

Teresa's Mosaic Café - 2455 N. Silverbell Road, 624-4512; 7350 N. La Cholla Blvd., 297-8470. Specializes in Oaxacan creations such as lomo adobado (a succulent, spicy marinated pork loin) and pollo en molé, along with standard Mexican fare. $$ SW

Zivaz Mexican Bistro - 4590 E. Broadway. The bistro puts a twist on the usual staples, including a citrus marinated pollo en pibil. Fresh seafood, too. 325-1234. $$ C

Breakfast, coffee

A Great Location - 20 N. Sarnoff Drive. Busy, small east-side eatery serves a good breakfast. 733-1388. $ E

Brawley's Restaurant - 6367 E. Broadway. This neighborhood mainstay dishes up an affordable breakfast (lunch, too) with a friendly dose of banter. 722-5571. ¢ E

Crying Onion - 3684 W. Orange Grove Road. They boast they have the largest pancakes in Tucson, and they may be right. Breakfast and lunch only. 531-1330. $ NW

Jethro's Café - 8585 E. Broadway. If ever a restaurant looked and felt like its name, it's Jethro's. Be sure to try the blueberry pancakes. You won't leave hungry. 886-1091. $ NW

Le Buzz - 9121 E. Tanque Verde Road, at Catalina Highway. A coffeehouse that's quite popular with the cycling set morphs at night into a bistro. The smallish, thoughtful menu rotates four or five entrees from steaks to seafood and meal-sized salads. 749-3903. $-$$ E

Son's Bakery Café - 5683 E. Speedway. The small bakery and cafe serves up homespun breakfast and lunch. Its fat, sky-high bread used for sandwiches is legendary. 885-0806. $ C

Sunny Daze Cafe - 4980 S. Campbell Ave. It's still hugely popular for its hotcakes and country ham and eggs at breakfast, but its dinner menu of meatloaf, seafood, pasta and Mexican food is drawing raves. Lunchtime also gets inventive with a variety of tacos and pulled pork sandwiches among its offerings. 295-0300. $$ S

The Cereal Boxx, a Cereal Cafe - 943 E. University Blvd. This University of Arizona-area cafe is a kick with more than 30 cereals, 40 toppings and six kinds of milk. Free Wi-Fi. 622-2699 ¢ C

The Egg Connection - 3114 E. Fort Lowell Road. Lots of choices, including home fries and grits, that are good, cheap and fast. Breakfast and lunch only. 881-1009. $ C

Burgers and more

Bob Dobbs Bar and Grill - 2501 E. Sixth St. The burgers are BIG; and the homemade chips, a down-home treat, are legendary. 325-3767. $ C

Buddy's Grill - 4821 E. Grant Road, 795-2226; 7385 S. Houghton Road, 881-2226. The burgers have a loyal following, but it's much more than that. Seafood including an oyster bar and late-night specials put this eatery in a category all its own. $$$ C

Cody's Beef 'n' Beans - 2708 E. Fort Lowell Road. The burgers are thick, dripping with juices and charbroiled the way you request. Steaks also are charbroiled. 322-9475. $-$$ C

Monkey Burger - 5350 E. Broadway, 514-9797; 47 N. Sixth Ave, 624-4416. Chef Matthew Stricker takes the ordinary hamburger and turns it into a piece of gourmet art. Be sure to order the sliced fried pickles. $ E D

Trident Grill - 2033 E. Speedway. Great burgers with friendly folks, cozy booths and a long bar serving up 24 beers on tap all make this a fine hangout. 795-5755. $-$$ C

Zinburger - 1865 E. River Road. This loud, hip eatery serves gourmet hamburgers, inventive fries and sinful shakes. 299-7799. $$ FH

Indian

Gandhi Cuisine of India - 150 W. Fort Lowell Road. Check out the navarattan, a mixture of vegetables and paneer in a sublime curry sauce. Try most any veggie meal and be happy. 292-1738. $$ C

India Oven - 2727 N. Campbell Ave. Indian restaurants are a vegetarian's friend, and that's especially true here. We love the saag paneer, a creamy dish made with the fresh cheese, paneer, spinach, garlic (lots of it) and a touch of red chile. 326-8635. $$ C

Saffron Indian Bistro - 7607 N. Oracle Road, Oro Valley. This upscale eatery serves nicely crafted plates of tandoori grilled meats, fragrant vegetable stews and crispy naan. 742-9100. $$

International

Amber Restaurant and Gallery - 7000 E. Tanque Verde Road. European food with a Polish influence includes pierogies, stuffed cabbage rolls, kielbasa, lamb shank, Hungarian goulash and veal schnitzel. 296-9759. $$-$$$ E

Zemam's - 2731 E. Broadway. This is where you go to eat Ethiopian food the way they do in Ethiopia: no forks. They also don't serve alcohol, although you can bring your own. 323-9928. $-$$ C

Italian

Bazil's - 4777 E. Sunrise Drive. Northern Italian fine-dining with an emphasis on hearty portions of specialties like veal and pasta. You can also get takeout at the adjacent Bazil's To Go. Reservations are recommended. 577-3322. $$$ FH

Caffé Milano - 46 W. Congress St. You will get better, more authentic Italian food at this downtown eatery than you will at many restaurants in Italy. A lively, efficient trattoria at breakfast and lunch on weekdays, it is an enchanting bistro at dinner on Thursday-Saturday evenings. 628-1601. $-$$ D

Caffé Torino - 10325 N. La Cañada Drive, Oro Valley. Northern Italian fare served with style. 219-2994. $$ NW

Dolce Vita - 7895 E. Broadway. It's tempting to fill up on the crusty bread dipped in rosemary-garlic olive oil, but save room for anything topped by the marinara sauce. 298-3700. $$$ E

Enoteca Pizzeria and Wine Bar - 58 W. Congress St. Fare ranges from inventive and traditional Italian dishes to brick-oven pizza topped with such items as arugula and prosciutto. Wines are from Italy, the United States and vineyards around the world. 623-0744. $$ D

Giacomo's Authentic Italian Dining - 6878 E. Sunrise Drive. An intimate showcase for owner and chef Giacomo Aprea, who hits plenty of high notes. If you like anchovies, try the penne putanesca. 529-7358. $$$ 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; 1-520-896-3522. Obviously, pizza and pastas abound, but sandwiches, salads and calzones also make up the menu. $$ NW

North Modern Italian Cuisine - 2995 E. Skyline Drive. The Sam Fox restaurant has a chic yet comfortable feel and an amazing view. Start with an order of zucca chips. 299-1600. $$ FH

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

Piazza Gavi - 5415 N. Kolb Road. Pizza and an upscale environment. The Sicilian fare comes in big sizes. 577-1099. $$$ FH

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

Trattoria Pina - 5541 N. Swan Road. 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

BBQ

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 BBQ Co. -2745 N. Campbell Ave, "Tucson-style" barbecue, meaning more seasonings and flavor, such as 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

Buck and Lil's B.B.Q. - 5121 E. Grant Road. This quirky little restaurant with a down-home feel slow-cooks its meat and cowboy beans. 325-5185. $ C

Catalina BBQ Co. and Sports Bar - 3645 W. Starr Pass Blvd. Most of the barbeque specialities are Kansas City-style, known for its sweet and tangy sauces. St. Louis, North Carolina and Texas styles represented at reasonable prices. 670-0444. $-$$ W

Famous Dave's Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que - 4565 N. Oracle Road. This chain has become a hot spot for barbecue and ribs, serving up hefty portions of Southern-style backyard cooking. 888-1512. $ NW

The Hog Pit Smokehouse Bar and Grill - 6910 E. Tanque Verde Road. Meaty ribs slowly smoked over pecan will fill you up and leave you satisfied. Still, it was the tender, juicy chicken that really impressed us. 722-4302. E $$

Break the code

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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