Mother Hubbard's Green Corn Waffle is my essential Tucson dish!!!! Disappointed they don't get a mention.
Completely overlooked Tania's 33 on Grande. Their barbacoa is legendary and their cheese crisps are perfect. Also Wings and Rice on Broadway's chicken fried rice with the Hibachi sauce is awesome, Bianchi's Italian's Chicken Alfredo pizza is to die for, and La Estrella Bakery's cuernos and cochitos have been my favorite since I was a child. Mandarin Grill has some amazing Moo Goo Gai Pan and their lunch specials are immense and well flavored. Bamboo Club is higher end asian dining but on Thursdays if I remember correctly, they have awesome specials during happy hour and the portions for a dinner entree are enormous.
For the best thin crust, wood-fired, vegan pizza in town, go to Dry River Company and try the Portobella Shrooms pizza with Daiya non-dairy cheese, or the Tomatillo pizza with carmelized onions and jalapenos--delicious!!
I can't complain one bit.. A few of my original list made it on the list! (this fat man knows his food)
Pat's Chili Dogs
Red Chili Chimi at Molina's midway
Steak and egg burrito at Chaco's
The scallops at The Dish
the Macadamia crusted Hawaiian fish at Kingfisher
Al Pastor Caramelo at BK's
The Sonoran Dog at BK's
Puerco Verde tacos at Boca
Cheesesteak at Frankie's
the Panang Neau at Char
the Short Ribs at DOWNTOWN
the "Italian" pizza at Dry River
Lovin Spoonfuls has lots of deelish vegan food...and pastries and cookies yum hasn't anyone ever eaten there?
El Charro is where hotels send tourists. Which means: STAY AWAY. You want *real*, authentic carne seca? Go to South Tucson.
Really glad to see Zemam's on here. Just spent 2 and a half years in Hawaii and moaned to everyone who would listen about how bad I want to go back there. I'd encourage everyone to try more than just the vegan/vegetarian options there, though.
How could the TW staff not bother to list any of the great chicken & waffle combos from May's Counter Chicken & Waffles? What a terrible oversight! At least you've got a dish from La Botana on this list.
100 things on this list and the only thing you mention from Rocco's is some vegan bullshit at the very end? Everyone ignore these novices and get the wings.
How does this guy have so much money to keep opening restaurants after his previous attempts have all failed?
This place also got a similarly mixed review -- in the Star perhaps? You'd think Steve would have worked the bugs out (so to speak) by now.
Sounds yummy. Loved Red Sky and Luna Bella and I can't wait to try Chef Schultz's Wild Garlic Grill.
Scarpia, B: You have a strange idea of what constitutes a "generally positive comment."
Also, I've started off my tenure with eleven issues of 64 pages or more, plus a ton of digital content, so there's a little more to what I've done than two rants and responding to you. But, hey, you're entitled to your often unpleasant opinions.
Where I have been reading them? In the Tucson Weekly. I have been reading the TW for a long number of years and I have complained in the past about the TW wasting its reviewers' and readers' time in reviewing "coffee shops." How about the series of reviews of the places at Wade and Silverbell to start. I have neither the time nor the inclination to do your job for you. Get one of your under or non paid writer/intern/assistants to go back over the last ten years and see if I am not correct.
It is unfortunate that you have started off your tenure with a rant against a competitor, published Pedersen's rant against a former employer, and now find it necessary to challenge a generally positive comment.
Scarpia, B: Of the ten reviews immediately prior to this one, one was a Sonoran-style restaurant and one could possibly be described as a "coffee shop." So, where are you reading all these reviews you're complaining about?
Wow, real French food in Tucson. Who would have thunk. It is a pleasure to read a review of a place that is not a coffee shop and doesn't serve Sonoran style food. Life being what it is I would forgive a little southwestern service to get an honest to goodness soufflé. To paraphrase Dr. Johnson, the miracle is that it exists at all. And lastly, thank God we didn't have to bear Garrett's comments on the frites.
Le Rendez- Vous is my go-to restaurant for French in Tucson. Always spot on pate, fish dishes and dessert. The wine list is adequate, I think it can accommodate a wide range of tastes and budgets. The service is my experience has always been good and the place so small that if it weren't it would be easy to track down some assistance.
Thanks PickyPalate. I've seen other reviews on this place. At first blush it seems the kind of place I would really enjoy, having been 5 years in Belgium including countless visits to France. The common thread seems to be service, lack thereof. No consistency. I've been so disappointed with restaurants in Tucson (a recent transplant) that I just can't bring myself to risk another let down by going here ... I'll await more consistency of reviews regarding the service before I venture.
Re: “Tucson's 100 Essential Dishes”
1) Machaca Breakfast Burrito at St. mary's Mexican (or just their tortillas, by themselves)
2) Pho or Cơm Gà Sate at Miss Saigon (so. damn. good)
3) Tiramisu at Gavi (best thing on their menu)
4) The cakes at Nadine's (the pies ar good too)
5) The cookies at Viro's (the Italian cookies of course)
6) Fish tacos at Pico de Gallo (sloppy messy deliciousness)
7) Italian Wedding soup at Oregano's (a wonderful treat when someone makes me go there cuz they want the pizza cookie)
8) Veggie Sub at East Coast Super Subs (makes you forget you are eating a veggie sub)
9) Chicken Enchiladas at El Minuto (I've tried them all over town and theirs are the best)
10) Potato Pancake's at Millie's Pancake Haus (and the german apple, or BOTH together!)
and not just the Eegee but the TEAGEE (hangover helper) are the things I can't go without in Tucson!
(and Thank You Brian Lopez, you have validated my love for the ranch fries at eegees for which I get a load of cr*p for from friends)