The Chain for Other Chains to Compete With

It was a rainy Sunday and the cloud cover was very heavy. The weather was very cool and I knew I needed a hearty meal to keep me warm throughout the day, but I also wanted to watch some football. So, I called my girlfriend, Breanne, up and asked her out to lunch. She also was looking for a meal that could stick to her bones and we tried thinking of such a restaurant.

Finally, we remembered how we liked going to BJ's Restaurant and Brewery (4270 N. Oracle Road, 520-690-1900) last semester and we decided it was due time for another visit. In the past, the food and service have been fairly decent. We hoped we wouldn't be disappointed on this visit. Considering they have a massive screen that can play four football games at one time and a huge menu full of meals that will satisfy any deep hunger you can imagine.

After driving up Oracle to the restaurant, we were surprised that we were seated immediately. In the past, there is always a 20 minute wait, no matter what time of day it is. But this was a pleasant surprise as we were seated as soon as we walked through the doors.

BJ's is really beautiful on the inside. Even though this is a chain restaurant, you can tell the interior designers spent a lot of time making this place look nice with huge ceilings, clean booths and tables, great lighting, and a spacious bar. Strongly varnished woods, a comfortable temperature setting, and that massive television screen I mentioned earlier, gives you an atmosphere Applebee's or Chili's can't even compare to.

Looking over the menu quickly, Breanne decided on the BBQ Beef Sandwich ($8.95), which comes with onion strings and provolone cheese. I chose the Roast Beef Dip Sandwich ($8.95), which is served with the usual au jus and also has a creamy horseradish sauce on the side. I was drinking a Coke while Breanne sipped on an iced tea. Being so early in the day, we decided not to drink any of the beers they have available. However, they have a wonderful selection of ales and lagers to try from their “Piranha Pale Ale” all the way to “The Nutty Brewnette,” which are all brewed in-house.

Our waitress was fast, efficient, and always willing to give us more refills. She was able to get the food in and out to us within 10 minutes of ordering and I couldn't have been more impressed with that service. The food was also very good. Breanne was really enjoying her sandwich, which had a very smoky and slightly spicy BBQ sauce throughout the beef. My dip was incredible with the beef being extremely tender and the onions in the sandwich were cooked to perfection by not being bitter at all or overly strong. With both our places overloaded with wedge-cut fries, this was definitely a meal that was going to stick to our ribs for a good portion of the day.

Synopsis: BJ's is definitely setting a standard in chain restaurant eating. From the fresh and hot food to the wonderful atmosphere all the way to the swift service, this is a chain worth trying...and normally, I'm not a fan of chains. If you're dining in Tucson, this is a place that is definitely worth trying.