Breakfast, coffeehouses
Bentley's House of Coffee & Tea — 1730 E. Speedway. Locally owned, this is a coffeehouse done right. Tucson casual. Smoking on patio. Open: 7 a.m. weekdays; 8 a.m. Sundays. 795-0338. ¢ C
The Cottage Bakery and Cafe — 800 N. Kolb Road. Breakfast burros and yummy sweets. Salads, soups and sandwiches for lunch. Tucson casual. Smoking on patio. Open: 7 a.m. weekdays; 8 a.m. Sundays. 722-1129. ¢-$ FH
Ground Floor — 7878 E. Wrightstown Road. Coffeehouse with top-notch coffee and pastries. Tucson casual. Smoking on patio. Open: 6 a.m. weekdays, 7 a.m. Sundays. 722-79002. ¢ FH
Javalina's Coffee & Friends — 9136 E. Valencia Road, Suite 160. This locally owned coffeehouse features a variety of coffees, teas and other drinks, with plenty of tables and cushy seating. National musicians perform regularly on the patio. Tucson casual. Open: 6 a.m. weekdays; 7 a.m. weekends. 663-5282. $ SE
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Raging Sage Coffee Roasters — 2458 N. Campbell Ave. The small cafe is an island of calm, with savory scones. Tucson casual. Smoking on patio. Open: 6:30 a.m. weekends; 7 a.m. Sundays. 320-5203. ¢ C
Bread and Butter Café — 4231 E. 22nd St. The pancakes here could start your day right. The simple, down-home comfort food is served for breakfast and lunch. No credit cards. Tucson casual. Open: 5 a.m. weekdays; 7 a.m. Sundays. 327-0004. $ C
Ghini's French Caffe — 1803 E. Prince Road. The omelets here are light and full of fresh ingredients. A sunny Sunday morning demands breakfast on the patio. Tucson casual. Smoking on patio. Open: 6 a.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; 8 a.m. Sundays. 326-9095. $-$$ C
Wags Family Restaurant — 4026 E. Grant Road. "Iowa style" diner serves up everything from griddle cakes to pork tenderloin sandwiches. Breakfast and lunch only. Tucson casual. Open: 6 a.m. Tuesdays-Sundays. 323-2345. $ C
Frank's — 3843 E. Pima St. The sign outside the door: "Elegant dining elsewhere." The food is worth giving it a try. We liked the Denver omelet. Tucson casual. Open: 6 a.m. weekdays; 7 a.m. Saturdays; 8 a.m. Sundays. 881-2710. $ C
Cafe Jasper — 6370 N. Campbell Ave., Suite 160. It serves only breakfast and lunch, but those meals are so filling that you'll skip dinner anyway. Tucson casual. Open: 6:30 a.m. daily. 577-0326. $$ FH
Special settings
Terra Cotta — 3500 E. Sunrise Drive. Unusual and creative Southwest cuisine. Reservations recommended. High casual. Smoking on patio. 577-8100. $$$ FH
Janos — 3770 E. Sunrise Drive, next to the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa. Owner/chef Janos Wilder is a James Beard Award-winner for his innovative combination of French and Southwestern cuisines. Dressy. 615-6100. $$$$ FH
Jonathan's Cork — 6320 E. Tanque Verde Road. Owner/chef Jonathan Landeen can work magic with a good broth and simple ingredients. Dinner only. High casual. Smoking on patio. 296-1631. $$-$$$ FH
Melting Pot — 7401 N. La Cholla Blvd. Fondue is back. Tucson casual to dressy. 575-6358. $$-$$$$ NW
Wildflower — 7037 N. Oracle Road. Hip restaurant features regional American dishes prepared in an open kitchen. Reservations recommended. High casual to dressy. 219-4230. $$-$$$$ NW
Acacia at St. Philip's Plaza — 4340 N. Campbell Ave., Suite 103. Chef/owner Albert Hall's restaurant is loaded with cachet, and there are some big temptations on the menu. High casual to dressy. Smoking on half section of patio. 232-0101. $$$-$$$$ FH
Cuvée World Bistro — 3352 E. Speedway. An eclectic menu with a hip ambience and some of the tastiest food around. Tucson casual to high casual. 881-7577. $$-$$$ C
The Dish — 3200 E. Speedway. This small, intimate restaurant is a date-night kind of place, so the kids might want to stay home. Dressy. 326-1714. $$$-$$$$ C
Red Sky Café — 2900 N. Swan Road, Suite 100. Steve Schultz dishes up oversize servings that expertly combine French, California and Southwest cuisines. High casual. Reservations recommended. 326-5454. $$-$$$ C
Pastiche Modern Eatery — 3025 N. Campbell Ave. Chic bistro serves a range of good stuff, from elegant dishes to comfort food. Tucson casual. 325-3333. $$-$$$$ C
American and grills
Metro Grill Park Place — 5870 E. Broadway, Suite 520, at Park Place mall. The menu is solid, and the fare is fresh, well-prepared and well-priced. Tucson casual. 571-7111. $$ C
Elle, A Wine Country Restaurant — 3048 E. Broadway. The menu includes thoughtful salads and gnocchi that you have to tie down it's so light. Tucson casual to high casual. 327-0500. $$-$$$ C
French Quarter — 3146 E. Grant Road. We'll put up with the smoky bar for just one of the beignets. And we'll take the traditional gumbo and jambalaya, too. Tucson casual. Nonsmoking until 9 p.m. 318-4767. $-$$ C
Raz Modern Riviera Cuisine — 1929 E. Grant Road. A sleek, upscale, intimate restaurant with a small, tempting selection. High casual. Smoking on patio. 327-2223. $$$-$$$$ C
Lovin' Spoonfuls — 2990 N. Campbell Ave. This vegan restaurant (no meat, no dairy) really blossoms with the dinner entrees, where vegan meat, pasta and vegetables rule. Tucson casual. 325-7766. $ C
Café Ramey — 1661 N. Swan Road. The servings are hefty here, and the ingredients are bursting with freshness. If the lamb shank is offered as a special, order it. Tucson casual. 319-2600. $$-$$$ C
Claim Jumper — 3761 E. Broadway. Huge portions of American-style favorites. And don't forget the amazing desserts. Tucson casual. 795-2900. $$ C
Dakota Café — 6541 E. Tanque Verde Road, in Trail Dust Town. The fish is swimmingly fresh and perfectly prepared, but it's the sour-cream chocolate cake that has captured our hearts. High casual. 298-7188. $$-$$$ FH
Central Bistro — 400 N. Toole Ave., in the Historic Train Depot. The food transcends, and every table has a view to the trains rushing by. Tucson casual. 623-1955. $$-$$$ D
Border crossings
Crossroads — 2602 S. Fourth Ave. From camarones to carne, this South Tucson landmark serves authentic Mexican fare. Reservations on weekends. Tucson casual. Smoking section. 624-0395. $ S
El Cubanito — 1150 E. Sixth St. Bright, small storefront spot serves Cuban specialties. No alcohol. Tucson casual. 623-8020. $ C
BK Carne Asada & Hotdogs — 5118 S. 12th Ave. Roadside taqueria offers tacos, quesadillas and Sonoran-style hot dogs and fixings such as frijoles, pickled onions and salsa fresca. Closed Mondays. Tucson casual. Smoking. 295-0105. $ S
Guadalajara Grill — 1730 E. Prince Road. Salsa is made tableside here — and just to your liking. You'll understand what bliss is. Tucson casual. Smoking outside. 323-1022. $$ C
Maya Quetzal — 429 N. Fourth Ave. Central American specialties, with proceeds benefiting Guatemalan refugees. Reservations suggested for large groups. Tucson casual. 622-8207. $ C
Mi Nidito — 1813 S. Fourth Ave. Then-President Bill Clinton gobbled down a big lunch here in 1999. No wonder: It's authentic and good at "my little nest." Expect to wait. Tucson casual. 622-5081. $ S
Rosa's Mexican Food — 1750 E. Fort Lowell Road. It can be a madhouse here — but it's worth putting up with for the lard-free beans and tasty carne asada. Tucson casual. 325-0362. $ C
Café Poca Cosa — 110 E. Pennington St. Even at a new location, the ever-changing menu at this Big City-style restaurant dishes up delightful, Mexican cuisine. Tucson casual. 622-6400. $$-$$$ D
El Charro Café — 311 N. Court Ave., 622-1922; 6310 E. Broadway, at El Mercado, 745-1922; 100 W. Orange Grove Road, 615-1922; 4699 E. Speedway, 325-1922. Carne seca is the thing here at Tucson's oldest family-owned Mexican restaurant. Tucson casual. Smoking on patio. $$ D, C, NW
Zivaz Mexican Bistro — 4590 E. Broadway. Mexican bistro puts a twist on the usual staples, like enchiladas with pumpkin seed sauce. Fresh seafood, too. Tucson casual. 325-1234. $-$$ C
International
Athens on Fourth — 500 N. Fourth Ave. It's all Greek to this restaurant. And pretty darn good, too. Tucson casual. 624-6886. $$-$$$ C
Kababeque Indian Grill — 845 E. University Blvd., Suite 185. When you want your food fast and Indian, this offshoot of the Delhi Palace is the place to go. Tucson casual. 388-4500. ¢-$ C
Sher-E Punjab — 853 E. Grant Road. Indian restaurant is infused with the aromas of saffron rice dishes and sauces made with curry, ginger, garlic and cumin. Tucson casual. 624-9393. $-$$ C
Zemam's — 2731 E. Broadway. Exotic spot serves Ethiopian cuisine to eat the Ethiopian way (no forks, folks). No alcohol; BYOB. Tucson casual. 323-9928. $$ C
Veggie-friendly
Blue Willow — 2616 N. Campbell Ave. The restaurant has a stunning fruit crepe for breakfast, and a roasted eggplant sandwich that appeals to even nonvegetarians. And don't forget the tofu scramble. Tucson casual. 327-7577. $-$$ C
Casbah Teahouse — 628 N. Fourth Ave. Vegetarians are made happy here. Try the cheese steak, warm, chewy chunks of seitan (that's a texture-rich food made from wheat gluten), grilled onions and peppers mixed with gooey soy or dairy cheese and served on a roll. Tucson casual. 740-0393.$ C
The Cup Café, at Hotel Congress — 311 E. Congress. Lots of vegetarian choices here. Check out the herbed mushroom. It's a giant portobello 'shroom filled to overflowing with goat cheese dotted with pine nuts. It sits on a bed of fresh spinach and has a generous helping of white bean purée bursting with garlic. Tucson casual. 622-8848. $-$$ D
Delectables Restaurant — 533 N. Fourth Ave. There are plenty of vegetarian choices here, such as vegan puttanesca spaghetti. But we are partial to the vegetarian spinach manicotti, thin crepes stuffed with fresh spinach and lots of ricotta, Romano and mozzarella. And marinara sauce, of course. Tucson casual. 884-9289. $$ C
Feast Tasteful Takeout — 4122 E. Speedway. Feast has an ever-changing menu, but there always seems to be something for the veggie lover. Check online to see the latest: www.eatatfeast.com. Tucson casual. 326-9363. $- $$ C
Gandhi Cuisine of India — 150 W. Fort Lowell Road. Check out the navarattan, a mixture of vegetables and paneer in a sublime curry sauce. Heck, try most any veggie meal and be happy. Tucson casual. 292-1738. $$ C
The Garland Bistro — 119 E. Speedway. This has long been a veggie hangout — we mean the food, not the people. From vegetarian curry to a wide variety of salads. Vegan options are available. Tucson casual. 882-3999. $-$$ C
Gentle Ben's Brewing Co. — 865 E. University Blvd. A variety of options. The Peggy-O is pretty amazing vegetarian fare — a grilled veggie burger topped with guacamole, Jack cheese and a creamy horseradish. Tucson casual. 624-4177. $-$$ C
