Special settings
The Gold Room at the Westward Look Resort — 245 E. Ina Road. The menu offers classic and nouvelle choices, along with eye-catching city views. 917-2930. $$$$ NW
Flying V Bar & Grill — 7000 N. Resort Drive, at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. The patio looks out on the pristine 18th hole of the golf course. Pricey but worth it. 299-2020. $$$ FH
Lodge on the Desert — 306 N. Alvernon Way. A relaxed, elegant hidden gem in a small Midtown resort that opened in 1930. The menu includes familiar standbys like pan-roasted chicken, along with rattlesnake, buffalo, Kobe-style beef and even a habanero brownie. 325-3434 $$$ C
Ventana Room — 7000 N. Resort Drive, in Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. The definition of "fine dining" — near-faultless food; stunning wine list; warm, hospitable service. 299-2020. $$$$ FH
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The Grill at Hacienda del Sol Resort — 5601 N. Hacienda del Sol Road. Top service and fine cuisine. Sunday brunch. 529-3500. $$$$ FH
Catalina Steakhouse — 3645 W. Starr Pass Blvd., at JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa. Many Tucson steakhouses boast the famed and popular porterhouse cut of beef, but only one that we know of offers pork's porterhouse cousin. 670-0444. $$$ C
Anthony's in the Catalinas — 6440 N. Campbell Ave. Anthony's offers Continental dining, an award-winning wine list, a great view and attentive service. 299-1771. $$$$ FH
Arizona Inn — 2200 E. Elm St. This Tucson landmark offers understated elegance and upscale, satisfying food. 325-1541. $$$$ C
Desert Garden Bistro — The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa, 3800 E. Sunrise Drive. The menu changes weekly, but one thing is certain: There's bound to be something for every appetite. 742-6000. $$$ FH
Canela — 3252 Highway 82, Sonoita. The restaurant serves French-accented Southwest cuisine — food that glories in locally grown, often organic ingredients. 1-520-455-5873. $ SE
American and grills
Metropolitan Grill — 7892 N. Oracle Road. Stylish restaurant/bar with an exhibition kitchen serves a variety of dishes. 531-1212. $$ NW
Benner's Grill — 8235 N. Silverbell Road in Continental Ranch. The menu is delightfully all over the map, from traditional bar foods like burgers and fried appetizers to modestly upscale fare, including filet mignon. 572-8459. $$ NW
Chili's Grill & Bar — 5975 W. Arizona Pavilions Drive, 572-9065; 5150 E. Broadway, 747-3330; 4911 N. Stone Ave., 887-7971; 1640 W. Valencia Road, 573-1809. A sit-down, do-everything franchise restaurant. $$ NW, C, SW
Coyote Pause Cafe — 2740 S. Kinney Road. A breakfast and lunch place with plenty of omelets, frittatas and scrambles. Lunchtime visit is a wide selection of burgers and sandwiches. 883-7297. $ C
Sport's on Congress – 254 E. Congress St. Sports bar and grill with burgers, hot and cold sandwiches, cheap appetizers as well as high-end entrees. Happy-hour deals run from 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays. 622-1116. $$ C
Elbow Room — 1145 W. Prince Road. This old favorite has deep-fried, no-frills food at remarkably low prices. 690-1011. ¢ C
Kingfisher, An American Grill — 2564 E. Grant Road. While some favorites remain on the menu (those baby back pork ribs have been there for ages, and we're grateful), the choices change regularly, and they are often exciting and satisfying. 323-7739. $$-$$$ C
Agave Restaurant — In the Desert Diamond Casino, 1100 W. Pima Mine Road, at Interstate 19. Close, but still far away from the clang-clang-clanging of slot machines, Agave serves up soups, burgers and dinners. 393-2720. $$ SW
Old Pueblo Grille — Two locations: 60 N. Alvernon Way, 326-6000; 7401 N. La Cholla Blvd., 297-1999. Part of the Metro Restaurants chain, both locations serve Southwest-style cuisine. $$ C, NW
Make mine meat
Bubb's Grubb — 16010 N. Oracle Road. Meat lovers will find what they're looking for. 825-6510. $-$$ NW
Chad's Steak House and Saloon — 3001 N. Swan Road. Hand-cut beef selections range from ground sirloin to porterhouse at this Western-themed restaurant. 881-1802. $$ C
Last Territory Steakhouse and Music Hall — 10000 N. Oracle Road, Oro Valley. Juicy steaks in a casual OId West setting. 544-1738. $$ NW
Li'l Abner's Steak House — 8500 N. Silverbell Road. This former stagecoach stop serves steak grilled over mesquite wood. No reservations. 744-2800. $$ NW
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
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. $$ NW, E
Burgers and more
Buddy's Grill — 4821 E. Grant Road. Hamburgers so good, Star readers voted them Tucson's best. 795-2226. $$$ C
Zinburger — 1865 E. River Road. The former Bistro Zin is now a loud, hip eatery that serves up some mean hamburgers, fries and shakes. 299-7799. $$ FH
Bob Dobbs Bar & Grill — 2501 E. Sixth St. The burgers are BIG; and the homemade chips, a down-home treat. 325-3767. $ C
Charlie's Tavern and Grill — 3412 N. Dodge Blvd. Stuffed steak, filets, burgers, sandwiches and deep dish pizza. All you can eat Fish Fry Friday. 795-8646. $ C
Cody's Beef 'n' Beans — 2708 E. Fort Lowell Road. The burgers are thick, dripping with juices and charbroiled the way you request. 322-9475. $-$$ C
The Greens — 1310 S. Alvernon Way. You can choose from a variety of burgers. Besides beef, there are buffalo, elk, venison, ostrich, wild boar, antelope, lamb and turkey. 326-2310. ¢ S
Trident Grill — 2033 E. Speedway. Hamburgers, 24 beers on tap, friendly folks, cozy booths and a long bar make this a fine hangout. 795-5755. $$ C
Pizza
Brooklyn Pizza Company — 534 N. Fourth Ave. Best-selling pizza is the tried-and-true pepperoni, but the staff recommends the cheese pizza with tomato and basil sauce. 622-2902. $ C
Bianchi's — 1110 N. Silverbell Road. West Siders' pizzeria of choice, with loads of toppings available. Drive-through and delivery. 882-8500. $ C
1702 — 1702 E. Speedway. In addition to soups, salads and a vast variety of beers, this UA-area eatery features six specialty pizzas and each comes with five toppings. The portions are huge. 325- 1702. $ C
Zachary's Pizza — 1028 E. Sixth St. Delicious, inventive pizzas that won't disappoint. Parking is scarce, but the toppings are plentiful. 623-6323. $ C
Zona 78 — 78 W. River Road. The grown-up pizzas have thin crusts and inventive toppings, and the tomato sauce is used judiciously. 888-7878. $$ NW
Bazil's to Go — 4777 E. Sunrise Drive. Flavorful Chicago-style pizza and pasta for take-out only. 577-1100 $$ FH
Rocco's Little Chicago Pizzeria — 2707 E. Broadway. Mounds of cheese on the pies and one of the best thin crusts around. The restaurant also serves up distinctive hot wings. 321-1770. $$ C
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 $$
Eclectic Pizza — 7065 E. Tanque Verde Road. Organic dough and choices like jalapeño cream sauce and red curry sauce give you a reason to visit. 886-0484. $$ FH
New York Pizza — 8771 E. Broadway. Inch-thick crusts and to-die-for garlic bread. 885-0116. $$ E
Arizona Pizza Company — 4955 N. Sabino Canyon Road, 299-7311; 5855 E. Broadway, 514-0909. Not your average pies, with selections such as chicken pesto and The Hawaiian. $$ FH, C
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
We'd like to hear what you think about the restaurant scene. Found a new place that rocks? An old favorite that's been revamped? A trend that demands attention? Let us know at caliente@azstarnet.com.
