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The Range: The Tucson Weekly's Daily Dispatch

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Monday, January 30, 2012

Chow Now Open: Jackson's Gastropub and Grille

Posted by Adam Borowitz on Mon, Jan 30, 2012 at 12:00 PM

The new Jackson's Gastropub and Grille at 8245 N. Silverbell Road has been hailed as one in a string of new gastropub concepts, but that seems somewhat inaccurate. Aspiring gastropub, perhaps, but certainly not of the caliber most think of when the term "gastropub" is employed.

Not that it isn't fine in its own right, but those expecting gastropub-style food might be underwhelmed. It appears much more like sports-bar fare - including numerous references to motorcycles on the menu, which screams sports or biker bar - and what decor there is looks like what one finds on the walls at a Famous Sam's. It has only been open a month though, so it's anybody's guess as to what the future may bring.

The beer selection is all the usual suspects - again, almost identical to what you find at a pub, not a gastropub - which seemed to be plenty to keep the almost packed house happy this Saturday. It appears the surrounding Continental Ranch neighborhood needed such a venue, and Jackson's Gastropub and Grille looks to be fulfilling that need just fine.

But as we basked in the bright glow of four enormous televisions tuned to ultimate fighting and the karaoke guy started warming up his gear, it felt so much like a sports bar that I wanted to run outside and peel the letters "gastropub" from the banner affixed to the exterior. With a few new letters one could rearrange the sign to say "sportsbar," which would be a better explanation of what's happening inside anyway.

Tags: Jackson's Gastropub and Grille, oro valley restaurants, tucson restaurants