The year-old Santillo's Bar & Grill, which specialized in authentic buffalo wings and beef on weck, has vacated 8195 N. Oracle Road, in Oro Valley.
Sometime in early summer, Chopstix Asian Diner will open an upscale restaurant called Chopstix III in the space.
It will follow the mid- to late-May opening of Chopstix II, the casual-dining offshoot of the four-year-old Chopstix on South Palo Verde Road. Chopstix II will occupy a spot in the strip mall on North Courtney Page Way, off North Cortaro Road and Arizona Pavilion in Continental Ranch.
It will be next to Tucson's first Native New Yorker restaurant, expected to open next week. The 6,100-square-foot restaurant is part of a Phoenix-based chain of nearly 25 restaurants that was started in 1980 by Judy and Floyd Anderson, natives of Buffalo, N.Y.
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Native New Yorker will fill Santillo's niche for serving authentic buffalo wings and beef on weck. The menu features 13 styles of wings, including "nonrefundable" suicide wings, pizza, hoagies, pastas, steaks and, yes, beef on weck.
Native New Yorker's hours will be from 11 a.m. to midnight Sundays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
— Cathalena E. Burch
● The wait's almost over for the Northwest Side's first Indian restaurant to open for business.
Saffron Indian Bistro, the upscale cousin of University of Arizona area eatery Kababeque, is expected to swing open its doors next Thursday. Indian entrees will average $9.95.
Saffron will occupy a corner space in the booming retail plaza at 7607 N. Oracle Road in Oro Valley. It's in the same plaza that is home to Sprout's farmers market.
Hours: 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. daily.
— Cathalena E. Burch
Chile and Argentina are the featured regions at Friday's casual wine tasting at Vintabla, 2890 E. Skyline Drive.
Ten wines will be poured and finger foods will be available from 5 to 7 p.m. Hungrier patrons also can nosh on Vintabla's fantastic half-price happy hour menu.
Tasted wines will be available at a discount that night. No reservations are necessary.
If you enjoy the wine, a class on Chile and Argentina wine will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. next Thursday. Master Sommelier Laura Williamson will conduct the class, which costs $25 per person.
All attendees dining that evening will receive 10 percent off their check — including retail purchases. Class is limited to 20, so call 577-6210 to reserve a spot.
— Valerie Vinyard
McMahon's Prime Steakhouse, 2959 N. Swan Road, is holding a "Big Red Wines" tasting from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Tastes of more than 40 red wines, all rated 90 or better by Wine Spectator, will be poured. Cheese and fruit also will be served, and bottles will be available for sale at a discount.
This event is limited to 100 guests. Tickets are $40 per person in advance; $50 at the door.
Call 327-7463. For more information, go to www. metrorestaurants.com and click on McMahon's.
— Valerie Vinyard
