Breakfast, coffeehouses
Bentley's House of Coffee & Tea — 1730 E. Speedway. Locally owned, this is a coffeehouse done right. Tucson casual. Open: 7 a.m. Mondays-Saturdays; 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. Open: 7 a.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; 8 a.m. Sundays. 722-1129. ¢-$ FH
Javalina's Coffee & Friends — 9136 E. Valencia Road, No. 160. This locally owned coffeehouse features a variety of coffees, teas and other drinks with plenty of tables and cushy seating. Nationally known musicians perform regularly on the patio. Tucson casual. Open: 5 a.m. Mondays-Fridays; 6 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 663-5282. $ SE
Raging Sage Coffee Roasters — 2458 N. Campbell Ave. The small cafe is an island of calm with savory scones. Tucson casual. Open: 6:30 a.m. Mondays-Saturdays; 7 a.m. Sundays. 320-5203. ¢ C
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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. Mondays-Saturdays; 7 a.m. Sundays. 327-0004. $ C
Ghini's French Caffe — 1803 E. Prince Road. The omelets are light and full of fresh ingredients. A sunny Sunday morning demands breakfast on the patio. Tucson casual. Open: 6:30 a.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; 8 a.m. Sundays. 326-9095. $-$$ C
Wags Family Restaurant — 4026 E. Grant Road. "Iowa style" diner serves up everything from griddle cakes to pork tenderloin sandwiches. Breakfast and lunch only. Tucson casual. Open: 6:30 a.m. Tuesdays-Sundays. 323-2345. $ C
Frank's and Franciso's — 3842 E. Pima St. The sign outside the door says "Elegant dining elsewhere." The food is worth a try. When dusk falls, Frank's switches genres to a Mexican place called Francisco's. Tucson casual. Open: 6 a.m. weekdays; 7 a.m. Saturdays; 8 a.m. Sundays. 881-2710. $ C
American and grills
Blue Willow — 2616 N. Campbell Ave. They know how to treat kids here. Adults, too. Plenty of vegetarian choices. Tucson casual. 327-7577. $ C
Cup Café — 311 E. Congress St. Hip hangout in the lobby of the Hotel Congress is a journey through a menu of foods from India, Thailand, Mexico, Japan, the Mediterranean and down-home America. Tucson casual. 798-1618. $$ D
Elle, a Wine Country Restaurant — 3048 E. Broadway. The menu includes thoughtful salads and gnocchi so light that you have to tie it down. Tucson casual to high casual. 327-0500. $$-$$$ C
French Quarter — 3146 E. Grant Road. We love the beignets. And we'll take the traditional gumbo and jambalaya, too. Tucson casual. 318-4767. $-$$ C
Grumpy's Grill —2960 W. Ina Road, at Shannon Road. It serves hamburgers, pastas, steaks and sandwiches. Tucson casual. 297-5452. $-$$ NW
Santillo's Bar & Grill— 8195 N. Oracle Road, Oro Valley. This is possibly the only place in the area where you can get an authentic beef on weck. The menu also includes Italian dishes, sandwiches, hot dogs, and fried bologna and eggs. Tucson casual. 297-3454. $-$$ NW
Raz Modern Riviera Cuisine — 1929 E. Grant Road. A sleek, upscale, intimate restaurant with a small, tempting selection. High casual. 327-2223. $$$-$$$$ C
PJ Subs — 4500 E. Speedway. PJ seems pretty par for a sub shop: hot subs, cold subs, roast beef, turkey, tuna and Philly cheese steak (or, at PJ, it's "Steak Philly.") With lots of ways to customize your sandwich. Tucson casual. 798-1200. ¢ C
Cuvée World Bistro — 3352 E. Speedway. The restaurant takes road trips during the summer, dishing up cuisine from different countries. Casual. 881-7577. $ C
Sabra Mediterranean Restaurant — 4210 E. Speedway. In terms of food, kosher or not, the mealssatisfied on our journey into this unique Mediterranean cuisine. Casual. 795-6060. $$ C
Border crossings
Crossroads — 2602 S. Fourth Ave. From camarones to carne, this South Tucson landmark serves authentic Mexican fare. Reservations on weekends. Tucson casual. 624-0395. $ S
El Güero Canelo — 5201 E. 12th Ave. 295-9005; 2480 N. Oracle Road. 882-8977. The food translates well up north. Sonoran hot dogs wrapped in crispy bacon, tacos, tortas and caramelos with complimentary peppers, sliced radishes and cucumbers, shredded cheese and canned mushrooms. Tucson casual. $ S, C
El Minuto — 354 S. Main Ave., 882-4145. It offers no-frills, by-the-book Mexican food in a pleasant setting. Tucson casual. $ C
El Sur — 5602 E. 22nd St. If you want to eat a lot of tasty Mexican food for an affordable price (and who doesn't?), this popular but unpretentious place is for you. Tucson casual. 748-1032. $ C
BK Carne Asada & Hotdogs — 5118 S. 12th Ave., 295-0105; 2680 N. First Ave., 207-2245. Roadside taqueria offers tacos, quesadillas and Sonoran-style hot dogs, along with fixings such as frijoles, pickled onions and salsa fresca. Closed Mondays. Tucson casual. $ S, C
Guadalajara Grill — 1730 E. Prince Road. Salsa is made table-side here — and just to your liking. You'll understand what bliss is. Tucson casual. 323-1022. $$ C
Lili's Cocina — 2205 S. Fourth Ave. The Sonoran-style dishes are not too spicy, not too bland. The menu includes homemade tortillas, a machaca burro that can be ordered with eggs, red chile combination plate, chicken enchiladas and menudo. Tucson casual. 622-6351. $ SS
Las Chabelas Mariscos — 4207 S. Sixth Ave. The menu is divided into tacos, salads, entrees and appetizers, all with seafood at their center. The seafood is flown in fresh weekly from Guaymas, Sonora, and Los Angeles. Tucson casual. 889-0923. $$ SS
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. The ever-changing menu at this big-city-style restaurant dishes up delightful Mexican cuisine. Tucson casual. 622-6400. $$-$$$ D
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
El Cubanito — 1150 E. Sixth St. Bright, small storefront spot serves Cuban specialties. No alcohol. Tucson casual. 623-8020. $ C
Fronimo's Greek Cafe — 3242 E. Speedway. Greek natives should find plenty of traditional dishes on the cafe's extended menu to satisfy their palates. Newbies have a chance to sample all of the distinct tastes and flavors that the European country has to offer. Tucson casual. 327-8321. $$ C
Opa Greek Cuisine & Fun — 2990 N. Campbell Ave. Authentic Greek cuisine in a fast, casual setting. 327-2841. ¢ $ C
Kababeque Indian Grill — 845 E. University Blvd., Suite 185. When you want your food fast and Indian, this offshoot of the Delhi Palace is the place to go. Tucson casual. 388-4500. ¢-$ C
Where is it?
C–Central E–East
D–Downtown FH–Foothills
GV–Green Valley NW–Northwest
S–South SW–Southwest
SE–Southeast
What does it cost?
Price-range estimates are for dinner for two. Drinks, tax and tip are not included.
¢ – About $10 $ – $10-$20
$$ – $20-$30 $$$ – $30-$40
$$$$ – above $40
WHAT TO WEAR
Dressy: Fancy. Dress to impress.
High casual: Polish up. Polo shirt and khakis are OK.
Tucson casual: Just about anything goes. Shirt and shoes, of course.
The fine print
A rotating list based on staff reviews. Don't see your favorite place? Let us know at caliente@azstarnet.com. Restaurants are smoke-free unless otherwise indicated.
