Noshing Around

New: Melt Gelato and Crepe Café

Six weeks ago, this California-based franchise opened at the food court at the southern end of Tucson Mall. A Melt is scheduled to open in Park Place in mid-July. Melt features 32 flavors of gelato, sorbetto (a frozen-fruit purée dessert), savory and sweet crepes, and panini sandwiches. To find out more, call 293-2744 and 745-5968, respectively.


Coming Soon: My Big Fat Greek Restaurant

Opening in Tucson on July 23, the restaurant already has locations in Tempe, Chandler, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. The menu will feature traditional Greek favorites like souvlaki, moussaka, spanikopita and saganaki (flaming cheese), as well as pizzas and burgers, at 95 W. River Road (in the former Arizona Ale House location); 888-0428.


Worldly Wine Dinners

VinTabla will host special dinners on select Mondays throughout the summer, featuring three-course meals and wine-taste pairings from emerging wine regions. Regions explored are Greece on July 16; Alsace, France, on Aug. 6; and Loire Valley, France, on Aug. 20. Dinners cost $30; to include a wine-taste pairing, add $15. Reservations are available all evening, starting at 5 p.m. Advance reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 577-6210 or through opentable.com. VinTabla is located at 2890 E. Skyline Drive in Plaza Colonial.


Shrimp Bucket

Rockin' Baja Lobster offers all-you-can-eat shrimp buckets on Mondays and Tuesdays from 4 p.m. until closing for $19.95. Enjoy endless buckets of seasoned jumbo shrimp with rice, beans, tortillas and a Caesar salad bar at 7131 E. Broadway Blvd.; 721-BAJA.


Wine Oh

The intersection of Skyline Road and Campbell Avenue will soon be embroiled in a wine war. In mid-July, the Scottsdale-based Armitage wine lounge, café and wine store is moving into La Encantada. The shopping center already has AJ's Fine Foods, which displays an extensive selection of bottled wines. Across the street on the southwest corner is VinTabla, a wine restaurant and retail shop. On the southeast corner sits Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, offering 100 wines by the glass.