Breakfast and coffeehouses
Brawley's Restaurant — 6367 E. Broadway. This neighborhood place dishes up a delicious, affordable breakfast (lunch, too) and some of the best coffee in town. Tucson casual. Open: 5 a.m. weekdays; 6 a.m. Sundays. 722-5571. ¢ E
Crying Onion — 3684 W. Orange Grove Road. Whether you want an order of toast or a breakfast of champions, this eatery gets you going. Breakfast and lunch only. No credit cards. Tucson casual. Open: 6:30 a.m. 531-1330. $ NW
The Egg Connection — 3114 E. Fort Lowell Road. Lots of food and choices — including home fries or grits — that are good, cheap and fast. Breakfast and lunch only. Tucson casual. Open: 6 a.m. 881-1009. $ 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. 323-2345. $ C
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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. High casual. Smoking allowed on patio. 917-2930. $$$$ NW
Bistro Zin — 1865 E. River Road. This chic restaurant with deep-red walls and banquettes resembles a Big Apple brasserie with good wines by the bottle, glass or in flights. Reservations recommended. High casual. 299-7799. $$$ FH
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. High casual. Smoking on the patio. 299-2020. $$$ FH
Ventana Room — 7000 N. Resort Drive, in Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. This is the definition of "fine dining" — near faultless food, stunning wine list, warm, hospitable service. Dressy. 299-2020. $$$$ FH
The Grill at Hacienda del Sol Resort — 5601 N. Hacienda del Sol Road. Top service and fine cuisine. Sunday brunch. High casual. Smoking at the bar and on the patio. 529-3500. $$$$ FH
Anthony's in the Catalinas — 6440 N. Campbell Ave. Voted Tucson's favorite restaurant with a view, Anthony's offers Continental dining, an award-winning wine list and attentive service. Reservations recommended. Dressy. Smoking in the lounge or on the patio. 299-1771. $$$$ FH
Arizona Inn — 2200 E. Elm St. This Tucson landmark offers understated elegance and upscale, satisfying food. Dressy. 325-1541. $$$$ C
Soleil — 3001 E. Skyline Drive. The fish is swimmingly fresh, and the desserts are a don't-miss. Tucson casual to high casual. 299-3345. $$$$ FH
American and grills
Metropolitan Grill — 7892 N. Oracle Road. Stylish restaurant/bar with an exhibition kitchen serves a variety of dishes. Reservations recommended. Tucson casual. 531-1212. $$ NW
Elbow Room — 1145 W. Prince Road. This old favorite has deep-fried, no-frills food at remarkably low prices. Tucson casual. Smoking section. 690-1011. ¢ 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 soups, burgers and dinners. Tucson casual. 393-2720. $$ SW
Tucson Racquet & Fitness Club — 4001 N. Country Club Road. Eat in or take out — even if you're not a member. There are salads, build-your-own-entree plates and healthful side orders. Tucson casual. 795-6960. $ C
Risky Business — 10515 N. Oracle Road, 531-0202; 6866 E. Sunrise Drive, 577-0021; 250 S. Craycroft Road, 584-1610. Family-friendly restaurants with burgers, salads and sandwiches. Tucson casual. $ NW, FH, C
Pizza
Brooklyn Pizza Company — 534 N. Fourth Ave. Best-selling pizza is the tried-and-true pepperoni, but the staff recommends the cheese pizza with tomato and basil sauce. Tucson casual. 622-2902. $ C
Rosati's Authentic Chicago Pizza — 8814 E. Tanque Verde Road. Northeast Side pizza parlor bakes an exceptional pie, with several crust options, including double-dough pizza. Tucson casual. 760-4777. $ FH
Asian and Pacific Rim
P.F. Chang's China Bistro — 1805 E. River Road. This sleek restaurant serves out-of-the-ordinary Cantonese, Shanghai, Szechuan and Mongolian cuisine. Tucson casual. 615-8788. $$ FH
Shabu Shabu Tanaka — 5655 E. River Road. This Japanese restaurant lets you cook the meals yourself — in a flavorful broth, with plenty of fresh ingredients. Tucson casual. 232-1393. $-$$ FH
Sakura — 6534 E. Tanque Verde Road. If you want dinner and a show, here's your place. The cooks whip up Japanese meals and do fancy knife work at your table. Tucson casual. 298-7777 $$-$$$ FH
Veggie-friendly
Guilin Chinese Restaurant — 3250 E. Speedway. An abundance of vegetarian dishes to choose from. Tucson casual. 320-7768. $ C
India Oven — 2727 N. Campbell Ave. Indian restaurants are a vegetarian's friend, and that's especially true here. 326-8635. Tucson casual. $$ C
La Indita — 622 N. 4th Ave. The food here draws from Mexican, Tarascan Indian and Tohono O'odham cuisines. The beans are vegan; the vegetarian selections, abundant. Tucson casual. 792-0523. $-$$ C
Lovin' Spoonfuls — 2990 N. Campbell Ave. This vegan restaurant (no meat, no dairy) really blossoms with the dinner entrees. Tucson casual. 325-7766. $ C
Where is it?
C–Central E–East
D–Downtown FH–Foothills
GV–Green Valley NW–Northwest
S–South SW–Southwest
SE–Southeast
What does it cost?
Price-range estimates are for dinner for two. Drinks, tax and tip are not included.
¢ – About $10 $ – $10-$20
$$ – $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.
