1. Alejandro's Cafe
31 N. Scott Ave., 623-3277.
• Serves: Breakfast and lunch weekdays.
• Vibe: People line up in the no-frills dining room to order substantial Mexican dishes at lunchtime. The $3 breakfast burro (selection changes daily) with coffee keeps 'em coming, too.
• Don't miss: A delightful combination of carne asada tacos with rice and beans costs only $5.50 on Wednesdays.
2. Arizona Bagel and Deli
177 N. Church Ave., 623-3300.
• Serves: Breakfast and lunch daily.
• Vibe: Soups, wraps, bagels, muffins, scones and coffee offered in a busy cafe setting.
• Don't miss: The Bagel Burger ($5.92), which comes with cheese, lettuce and tomato.
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3. Ascolese Italian Ristorante
222 S. Church Ave., 623-0313.
• Serves: Lunch and dinner weekdays; dinner on weekends.
• Vibe: Joe Ascolese of Jersey Joe's fame opened this Italian eatery in the former Samaniego House in 2006.
• Don't miss: The rigatoni with sausage and vodka sauce at lunch for ($5.95), which includes a soda. On Mondays and Tuesdays, a lunchtime recession-busting special costs $3.99 and includes most of the lunch entrees and a drink.
4. Baggin's
33 N. Stone Ave., 792-1344.
• Serves: Lunch weekdays.
• Vibe: This local chain is the ultimate place to brown-bag it, with a range of gourmet sandwiches and salads that come with a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie.
• Don't miss: With its layers of cream cheese, bacon, avocado and turkey, the Unforgettable sandwich ($6.29) is unforgettable, indeed.
5. Barrio Food and Drink
135 S. Sixth Ave., 629-0191.
• Serves: Lunch and dinner weekdays; dinner weekends.
• Vibe: Popular with arts patrons both before and after shows, this trendy eatery is known for its late-night dining, delicious drinks and Southwestern dishes.
• Don't miss: The baby-back pork ribs ($23) are bathed in a chipotle Arizona mesquite honey barbecue glaze and come with mashed potatoes and vegetables.
6. Bruegger's Bagels
1 W. Congress St., 206-0002.
• Bagels, bagel sandwiches, juices, sodas, coffee, soups, cookies.
• Serves: Breakfast and lunch.
• Vibe: A vast variety of fresh bagels prepared just the way you want them — and quickly.
• Don't miss: The cinnamon sugar bagel with butter for $1.89.
7. Burger City
47 N. Sixth Ave., 903-0919.
• Serves: Lunch and dinner.
• Vibe: This restaurant gives its proceeds to Artfare next door and features hand-pressed sirloin burgers with a variety of quirky toppings — peanut butter, anyone? — and hand-cut fries. Vegetarian options also are available. Burger City is closed for a summer break until Sept. 1 (but will open for today's celebration).
8. Café 54
54 E. Pennington St., 622-1907.
• Serves: Lunch weekdays.
• Vibe: Café 54, which opened in July 2004, is a training program for adults recovering from mental illness.
Its ever-changing menu offers American bistro fare and house-made desserts. Six to seven entrees and two to three salads are featured.
• Don't miss: The goat cheese tart on greens ($7.50) is a healthy and tasty staple.
9. Café a la C'art
Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave., 628-8533.
• Serves: Lunch weekdays.
• Vibe: Get there before noon to avoid the long line that invariably forms each day for its bevy of fresh-baked treats and well-devised sandwiches.
• Don't miss: The chicken salad sandwich with apricot on a croissant ($8.25) will change your life for the better. Choose the beer-battered fries as your side.
10. Café Poca Cosa
110 E. Pennington St., 622-6400.
• Serves: Lunch and dinner.
• Vibe: This sleek restaurant changes menus twice daily and features imaginative Mexican cuisine helmed by owner Suzana Davila.
• Don't miss: The Plato Poca Cosa at lunch ($15) is chef's choice of three delicious entree items — usually one chicken, one beef and one vegetarian.
11. Caffé Milano
47 W. Congress St., 628-1601.
• Serves: Breakfast and lunch Mondays-Fridays; dinner Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant will be open tonight for the celebration.
• Vibe: Check out the European-style cafe in the mornings, when people sip on cappuccinos and watch soccer on one of the televisions. Lunch and dinner include panini, pasta, fish, meats, salads, beer and wine.
• Don't miss: The spaghettini aglio at lunch is tossed with garlic, olive oil and flakes of red pepper for a bit of a kick ($6.50). Add $2 for shrimp or chicken.
12. Casa Vicente
375 S. Stone Ave., 884-5253.
• Serves: Lunch on Thursdays and Fridays; dinner Tuesdays-Saturdays. The restaurant reopens today for dinner after a summer break.
• Vibe: This tapas bar has a variety of specials and also features paella and specialty foods from Spain. Many evenings feature live flamenco dancing and music.
• Don't miss: The amazing, fruit-filled $25 pitchers of white or red sangria.
13. Chile Verde
1 E. Congress St., 792-8226.
• Serves: Breakfast and lunch weekdays.
• Vibe: Mesquite-grilled authentic Mexican food specializing in tacos and burros. A fun salsa bar lets you choose condiments to your heart's content.
• Don't miss: The Burro Chileverde ($8.75) is wrapped in a large flour tortilla loaded with steak, tomatoes, mayonnaise and avocado. Deliciously soupy beans and rice come on the side.
14. Chris' Café
110 S. Church Ave., 882-9050.
• Serves: Breakfast and lunch daily.
• Vibe: This cozy cafe has a laminated map on one wall with postcards customers have sent owner Chris Early from around the world. The cafe sells pizza, pasta, salads, subs and desserts, but there's always room for extras like Greek food and seven-bean soup ($2.49 a cup; $3.29 a bowl).
• Don't miss: Check out the Philly cheesesteak with a Tucson attitude — a cheesesteak with chipotle mayonnaise and green chiles for $6.99 with a side.
15. Coyote Cafe at The Hotel Arizona
181 W. Broadway, 624-8711.
• Serves: Breakfast and lunch (dinner in the bar) daily.
• Vibe: Located on the ground level of downtown's largest hotel, features pastas, sandwiches, full bar, breakfast dishes and lunch buffets ($8.99, includes drink) weekdays.
• Don't miss: The chicken tortilla soup ($3.75 a cup; $6 a bowl).
16. Cup Café at Hotel Congress
311 E. Congress St., 798-1618.
• Serves: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Dinner is served until 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, when it changes to a condensed late-night menu until midnight.
• Vibe: The Cup possesses a quirky, laid-back atmosphere and serves an eclectic mix of sandwiches, salads and entrees that includes lots of vegetarian options.
• Don't miss: At dinner, order the Borracho Pork Tenderloin that's marinated in tequila and chipotle ($18) and topped with a red onion marmalade. The dish comes with a sweet potato gratin and green beans.
17. Cushing Street Bar and Restaurant
198 W. Cushing St., 622-7984.
• Serves: Until Labor Day, dinner Thursdays-Saturdays. After Labor Day, dinner is served Tuesdays-Saturdays.
• Vibe: One of downtown's most enduring establishments, Cushing Street offers a wide menu of seafood, burgers, pasta and salads, along with a full bar and a great patio. Listen to live jazz Saturday evenings from 7 to 10.
• Don't miss: The grilled blackened Atlantic salmon with shallot butter and lemon zest with rice and grilled vegetables ($18).
18. Deb's Coney Café
110 S. Church Ave., 624-5027.
• Serves: Breakfast and lunch weekdays. The cafe is opening later nowadays — usually for lunch — because of an illness.
• Vibe: This small spot in La Placita Village serves up hot dogs, chicken, salads and sandwiches. Dogs start at $3.50 (add $1 for veggie dogs), and burgers begin at $5.75.
• Don't miss: Any of the hot dogs, silly.
19. Dizzy G's
75 E. Pennington St.
• A sign on the door of this American diner on Friday said it will reopen soon under new management.
20. El Charro Café
311 N. Court Ave., 622-1922.
• Serves: Lunch and dinner.
• Vibe: El Charro, the oldest continuously operated family-run Mexican restaurant in America, has dished up Sonoran fare in this colorful former home for decades. There are now five locations throughout the Tucson area. Enjoy a prickly pear margarita at its bar, ¡Toma!, which is housed in a neighboring building.
• Don't miss: The carne seca drying in racks on the roof.
21. El Minuto Café
345 S. Main Ave., 882-4145.
• Serves: Lunch and dinner; closed Sundays.
• Vibe: Cheerful Mexican music plays over the sound system in this festive restaurant that's next to El Tiradito Wishing Shrine.
• Don't miss: One of the $6.48 lunch specials, which include burros, enchiladas and a topopo salad.
22. Enoteca Pizzeria and Wine Bar
58 W. Congress St., 623-0744.
• Serves: Lunch and dinner weekdays; dinner only Saturdays. Closed Sundays.
• Vibe: This cafeteria-style place bustles at lunch with people lined up to order lasagna, pizzas, paninis and salads. Enjoy a glass of wine at the bar or at one of the many tables and chairs inside and out.
• Don't miss: You can't go wrong with any of its pizzas.
23. Grill
100 E. Congress St., 623-7621.
• Serves: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Vibe: This 24-hour eatery features American diner fare — burgers, sandwiches and pastas. Prices range from a $1.99 serving of ham, sausage links or bacon to a 12-ounce rib-eye for $16.99. The Red Room next door offers a full bar and live music.
• Don't miss: A big bowl of Cap'n Crunch cereal for $3.99.
24. Iguana Café
210 E. Congress St., 882-5140.
• Serves: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Vibe: A restaurant with a prominent bar, the Iguana serves diner food with a healthy dose of Mexican dishes thrown in.
• Don't miss: The wine margarita for $3.
25. Ike's Coffee and Tea
100 N. Stone Ave., 792-1800.
• Serves: Breakfast and lunch weekdays.
• Vibe: Don't let the name fool you — this busy shop has its share of fancy coffee and tea drinks but also features fantastic salads, sandwiches and pastries.
• Don't miss: The chopped salad ($5.95) comes with a healthy serving of greens, celery, onion, radish, tomatoes and cheese.
26. La Cocina Restaurant at Old Town Artisans
201 N. Court Ave., 622-0351 .
• Serves: Lunch daily and happy hour menu 4-8 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays.
• Vibe: This restaurant was the stables area for the San Augustín de Tucson fort built by the Spanish in 1775. Foods include salads, sandwiches, burgers, pasta, Sonoran fare and a full bar.
• Don't miss: Saturday's celebration at 7 p.m. featuring two bands ($5 cover) including The Quaking River Band with Lisa Otey and a $6 buffet.
27. Little Café Poca Cosa
151 N. Stone Ave.
• Serves: Breakfast and lunch.
• Vibe: This homey, casual and cash-only restaurant opened in 1987 and offers Mexican dishes and daily features. It's run by other Davilas — Sandra, Marcela and Luis. Luis and Belem, Marcela and Sandra's parents, own the restaurant.
The cafe is closed until Sept. 11 for its summer break.
• Don't miss: Gut-busting breakfasts and lunch specials.
28. Maynards Market and Kitchen
400 N. Toole Ave., 545-0577.
• Serves: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Vibe: You can choose from the long family-style table in the market, the restaurant's classy dining room or the patio near the railroad tracks. Chef Adam Buzzalini often updates the menu of soups, sandwiches, pizzas, salads and impressive dinner entrees. The kitchen is open until midnight Thursdays through Saturdays.
• Don't miss: The Duck Three Ways ($26) at dinner, which includes politically incorrect but melt-in-your-mouth seared foie gras.
29. Not Just Java
33 N. Stone Ave., 624-8852.
• Serves: Pastries (no full meals) weekdays.
• Vibe: A small room with friendly service that serves up coffee, smoothies, shakes and fruit drinks.
• Don't miss: The Reeses shake for $4.
30. On a Roll
63 E. Congress St., 622-7655.
• Serves: Lunch and dinner; closed Sundays.
• Vibe: On a Roll upped the hip factor tenfold downtown when it opened last September. The restaurant's sweet deals and extensive sushi options attract the after-hours work crowd as well as the scenesters. It gets busy on Saturdays with people flowing in from Congress, the Rialto and area clubs and bars.
• Don't miss: Its happy hours (4-6 p.m. weekdays) and reverse happy hours (10 p.m.-close Thursdays-Saturdays). A selection of rolls, salads, appetizers and other items are half-off, providing some of the best non-"all-you-can-eat" sushi deals in town.
31. Quesadilla's Grill
110 S. Church Ave., 798-3697.
• Serves: Breakfast and lunch weekdays.
• Vibe: This tiny La Placita cafe serves Mexican food that tops out at $6.25 for a two-shrimp or fish taco combo plate with rice and beans.
• Don't miss: Try the chicken quesadilla with green chiles and spices on a 14-inch tortilla for $5.65. All of the quesadillas range from $4.75-$6.25.
32. Scooter's Café
110 S. Church Ave., 882-2923.
• Serves: Breakfast and lunch weekdays.
• Vibe: Down the way from Quesadilla's is Scooter's, where you'll find coffee, sandwiches, soups, salads and pastries. Manager Maurine Gossett and her husband, Carl, own Stolen Recipe BBQ Co. and soon will incorporate barbecue dishes, such as a $5 pulled pork sandwich, on the Scooter's menu.
• Don't miss: The $4.95 daily special with a side.
33. Shot in the Dark Café
121 E. Broadway, 882-5544.
• Serves: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Vibe: This all-night eatery sometimes has live music and serves egg dishes, sandwiches, soups and salads. Bring your laptop to take advantage of the free Wi-Fi or use one of the community computers.
• Don't miss: The cafe boasts its own pastry chef, so snack away on anything sweet.
34. Subway
29 W. Congress St., 207-6480.
• Serves: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Vibe: Your typical Subway with inexpensive sandwiches featuring your choice of toppings.
• Don't miss: The 6-inch breakfast sandwich until 11 a.m. costs a dollar and includes egg and four pieces of cheese.
35. The Taco Shop Co.
17 N. Stone Ave., 903-0255.
• Serves: Breakfast and lunch weekdays.
• Vibe: A clean, chainlike restaurant that offers burritos, tortas and tacos.
• Don't miss: The 8-ounce fresh guacamole for $2.25.
36. Tooley's on Congress
278 E. Congress St.
• Serves: Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
• Vibe: Organic coffees and teas, pastries, soups, quiche and salads.
• Don't miss: Try a roast beef sandwich assistant manager Jet Guido's way — with lots of mayo and Tapatio Hot Sauce on fresh ciabatta bread.
Nearby
Barrio Brewing Co.
800 E. 16th St., 791-2739.
• Serves: Lunch and dinner daily.
• Vibe: This former warehouse has been redone with mostly salvaged materials. Enjoy the 10 microbrews that are brewed on site, watch a game, play shuffleboard and enjoy the restaurant's solid, quality bar menu of burgers, salads and sandwiches.
• Don't miss: Try the 6-ounce Diane Burger ($7.95), with onions, mushrooms, garlic and white pepper sautéed in butter, red wine and beef stock and topped with Swiss cheese. Substitute beer-battered fries for an extra 75 cents.
