Sauteed & Souffled

Tucson Has Good Seafood?

2006-12-04T11:34:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to do any cute introductions here about how much I like seafood. I have a raving passion for seafood. It's not cute; it's intense. If it's from the sea, it will be eaten by me. Salmon, clams, shrimps, tuna, and squid all have a place in my heart and it makes me so happy that Tucson has one of the best seafood restaurants I've ever eaten at. That restaurant is the Kingfisher Bar & Grill (2564 E Grant Rd., 520-323-7739) and it is absolutely my favorite restaurant in town.

Out of Town

2006-11-27T13:41:00.000-07:00

I was out of town all week and didn't have time to hit up a restaurant in Tucson. However, expect a brand new review next Monday!

Vero Amore: Vero Good

2006-11-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how universal pizza has become. Practically every culture eats this on a regular basis and have developed their own form of the food. Some Japanese restaurants cook it with squid and seaweed as toppings and even some Americans use BBQ sauce as the base instead of tomato sauce. However, it's hard to find pizza in Tucson made the way it was when it was originated back in Italy hundreds of years ago. Something simple but delicious.

That wait is over. Vero Amore (3305 N. Swan Rd., 520-325-4122) has arrived in this fine city and should awaken plenty of palates to show them exactly why pizza became the favorite dish of many.

My girlfriend Breanne and I took the drive last Wednesday night over to this restaurant to find out what exactly these chefs were preparing that was so special. We had both been craving pizza and we heard wonderful reviews about Vero Amore, so we decided to give it a shot. The drive over to the restaurant was slightly arduous considering we didn't realize it was in a strip mall and spent some time driving up and down Swan Road looking for a small Italian place. It was, in fact, next to the Basha's supermarket, and thankfully Breanne's eagle eyes saw it. I pulled a U-Turn and headed over to the place.

Upon parking and walking inside, we couldn't believe how nice it was for the surrounding location. Rustic tables, heavy chairs, and beautifully stained glass lighting really make the ambiance of Vero Amore very enjoyable. The chefs were in the back pulling in and out pizzas from a wood oven as a very friendly waitress came forward to greet us and help us with the menu. Quickly looking over the menu, we chose the anima pizza, ($9.95), which comes with andouille sausage, smoked mozzarella, parmesan and the house tomato sauce. We decided to both drink water. After ordering, we sat while talking and waiting for our delicious dish to arrive.

See, what makes the pizza here so traditional is the way it's prepared. All of Vero Amore's pies are prepared by the Verace Pizza Napoletana's strict standards. This organization sets the guidelines for the way pizza is to be made the way it was in the old country. This means that the sauce is made from plum tomatoes, the dough is made from finely ground flour, and all the dough was stretched on a marble slab. The wood oven and fresh buffalo mozzarella also are guidelines the chefs follow very closely. You're not going to find a fajita pizza or a dessert pizza here. This is what Italy tastes like and they truly respect the tradition.

Our pizza was delivered and I had never seen Breanne eat so fast. She absolutely loved the pizza and so did I. The crust was light but still chewy. The sauce was tangy but not overbearing. The cheese and sausage both complemented each other extremely well and it was phenomenal. After devouring the pie, we decided we were still hungry and ordered dessert. We decided on their panna cotta ($5.50), which is a white chocolate gelatin based dessert with raspberry sauce garnished across the dessert and the plate. This dessert was heavenly and not too heavy, but still had very strong flavors. The raspberry sauce screamed of freshness and everything felt wonderful to the senses.

The service was amazing as well. Our chef came over twice to make sure our meal and dessert were prepared constantly as our waitress was constantly filling our water glasses and getting used plates out of the way. I couldn't believe how wonderful everything, from the service to the food to the atmosphere, at Vero Amore was.

Synopsis: Vero Amore is making pizza the way it ought to be made and tried by every Tucsonian. Put down the phone and stop calling Papa Johns tonight and try what was the basis for the most popular dish in the world.

Inexpensive Indian

2006-11-14T08:45:00.000-07:00

I crave and live for Indian food.

I love the mix of spices and ability to eat cheaply, but still in quantities like a king. The curries and herbs warm me up and keep me satisfied. I could eat Indian food every day, especially when I'm sick to help me sweat the fever out. Because of this love, I definitely have done my fair amount of searching for the perfect Indian restaurant in Tucson. I have had my fill of mediocre tandoori and bland creamed spinach. But I have found the perfect restaurant for you to try if you like Indian or even just a good cheap meal that will stick to you for the rest of the day.

Readers, colleagues, and friends...go eat at Gandhi Cuisine of India (150 W. Fort Lowell Rd., 520-292-1738).

My girlfriend Breanne and I went over to Gandhi this past week after I had been in Chicago all weekend for job interviews. I knew I needed a solid meal to help me recover from the plane flights and the stressful time of being able to say the correct answers in the interviews. The drive to Gandhi from campus is fairly short, which is always a good thing, but the restaurant is easy to miss. Gandhi is in a strip mall that is tucked away from the street, which makes it hard to find. I highly suggest watching closely and not speeding around trying to find it because you may zoom right past and miss the amazing food waiting inside.

Once inside, you'll notice the entire staff is Indian and are all very helpful. They are constantly filling your water glasses and asking if you need anything. I love the service here because they really make you feel like you're wanted and not just a customer. After looking over the menu, Breanne decided on the Tikka Saag ($7.95), which is tandoori boneless chicken with creamed spinach. I chose the Margh Makhani ($7.95) that consists of tandoori chicken in a tomato butter sauce. Both our dishes came with basmati rice, raita, katchumber, cantaloupe, and a slice of orange. We also ordered a basket of naan bread to help us sop up the incredible sauces.

Within minutes, our food arrived piping hot. Breanne's was wonderful and not overwhelmingly hot with the tandoori chicken blending perfectly with the spinach. Mine was also incredible with the tangy tomato sauce blended perfectly with the soft and perfectly spiced chicken. The rice and raiti always compliment every Indian dish well and Gandhi knows how to make these to perfection. The orange at the end always refreshes and leaves Breanne and I very satisfied.

Synopsis: Gandhi is the definitive Indian restaurant in Tucson. Stop reading this and go.

Rosa's is Remarkable

2006-11-06T12:47:00.001-07:00

I remember when I moved to Tucson from Fairbanks, AK in 2004 that I couldn't wait to try authentic Mexican food. Everybody who had been to the city had told me the food in South Tucson rivals all other Mexican cuisine in the country and they were right. Restaurants such as Mi Nidito (1813 S. Fourth Ave.) and Guerro Canelo (5201 S. 12th Ave.) are consistently good, but there is one problem. From the campus, South Tucson restaurants are a good distance for me to drive to and it makes for a longer evening that I'd prefer, since I have the sleeping habits of an 80 year old man.

However, my girlfriend Breanne and I have found the perfect Mexican restaurant that is very close to campus that has fast service and some of the best tacos, enchiladas, and tosadas this side of the border. That restaurant is Rosa's Mexican Food (1750 E Fort Lowell Rd., 520-325-0362) and it quickly has become one of our favorite standbys.

I found out about Rosa's through my girlfriend's sister, Courtney, and her boyfriend, Chris. They both recommended the place after eating there with his parents over a weekend. Courtney went so far to say she could eat there every day and be happy. With that strong of praise, it was only a matter of time before Breanne and I worked our way uptown to see what the deal is with this place.

Located in a strip mall surrounded by a Blockbuster, Rosa's is not in the most scenic area of Tucson. However, the inside of the restaurant is bright and colorful with the walls painted in beaming shades of blues, pink, and yellow. Amazingly, the restaurant is always packed full of people, no matter what time of day it is and everybody who works there is speaking Spanish fluently at each other. This is definitely an authentic Mexican restaurant.

After being quickly seated, a big bowl full of chips and salsa was delivered to our table as Breanne and I ordered two iced teas. The chips, as they should be, were warm, crisp, and not overly salty. However, the highlight of this was the salsa. I swear this is some of the best salsa I have ever had and promise to buy a pint of it ($4.95) before I move from Tucson. The amazing flavors of cilantro with a strong tomato base make this, if not anything else, a reason to keep coming back.

Needless to say, the chips quickly disappeared as we received our drinks and then ordered our meals. Breanne ordered the #5, which is a plate of one cheese enchilada, a shredded beef taco, a beef tamale, and rice and beans ($8.00). I decided on the #4, which is two cheese enchiladas, a chicken taco, and beans($7.50). Our waiter left, but not after leaving us with another helping of our favorite chips and salsa.

Within 10 minutes, our food had arrived on scorching hot plates. I was so impressed with the speed our food was cooked and brought to us, but not as impressed as I was with the way the food tasted. The beans were made just right with no burnt or charred pieces at all. My taco was delicious, yet very simple as well as my cheese enchiladas. They also accidentally gave me three enchiladas, which I can't complain about, considering how delicious they were.

Breanne's dish was also gigantic and just as delicious. The shredded beef could almost melt in your mouth! Breanne's palate is also very sensitive and she doesn't like overly spicy meals, but Rosa's never upsets her.

Synopsis: If you don't want to drive 30 minutes out of your way for a meal in South Tucson, Rosa's easily can fulfill that desire for a good and hot Mexican meal that only Tucson can offer.

The Chain for Other Chains to Compete With

2006-10-30T13:27:00.002-07:00

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.

Mediocre Middle Eastern

2006-10-23T13:37:00.000-07:00

Normally, I trust what Jimmy Boegle has to say about Tucson restaurants. His reviews for the Tucson Weekly are informative and always give me ideas of places I should try out. Before this, Jimmy was always right and dead on about the service. However, he couldn't have been more wrong when it came to the Sultan's Palace (345 W. Drachman St., 520-622-2892), which has given my girlfriend Breanne and I the worst service possible out of any Tucson restaurant we have experienced.

I was very excited to try the Sultan's Palace because I enjoy Indian and Middle Eastern food so much. The idea of eating tandoori chicken, naan bread, and basmati rice always makes me happy. I was also pleased to see how close in proximity it was from campus. Breanne feels the same way about Indian cuisine and we went almost immediately after reading the review in the Weekly, expecting wonderful food similar to what Aladdin (3699 N Campbell Ave, 520-320-0468) and Gandhi (150 W Fort Lowell Rd., 520-292-1738) offer, which are two other Middle Eastern and Indian restaurants in Tucson.

We were sorely let down.

The service was expected to be slow, as the article stated. However, this was non-existent service where we waited almost a half hour for a check after our meal. The food was made overly spicy for my girlfriend's chicken kabob, even after asking if the food could be toned down. The lamb was not falling off the bone either, as Jimmy said it would. It, rather, was tough and barely removable. With us being the only customers in the entire restaurant (shocking, huh?), I was shocked by the terrible service and poor presentation of food...especially with the many other amazing Middle Eastern and Indian restaurants in town.

For such an amazing restaurant, I was charged with quite the amazing bill of $35.

So, therefore, I encourage you to try Aladdin and Gandhi, which are incredible places to dine at with wonderful prices. I will be reviewing these restaurants within the next couple weeks. However, do me a favor and NEVER eat at the Sultan's Palace, unless you really enjoy being overcharged for terrible food and service.

It's About the Bread

2006-10-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

Isn't there just something about a good sandwich? I mean, the idea is so simple. You have your bread and in between are the topping and condiments. Yet, America is just addicted to sandwiches and I can't get enough of them. What I love the most about sandwiches is when the bread is fresh and warm, straight out of the oven. In my opinion, fresh baked bread is the essential part for a perfect sandwich and I'm obviously not alone. Many other Tucsonians feel the same way because Beyond Bread (3026 N. Campbell Ave, 520-332-9965) is one of the most popular fast casual restaurants in town.

Last Sunday, my girlfriend Breanne and I decided to go out to Beyond Bread for lunch. The idea of a fresh bakery roll with amazing meats, cheeses, and vegetables sounded perfect to us and we had to go. Since we live close to downtown, getting to the restaurant was painless and very close by car. We were weary though because normally, Beyond Bread is packed for lunch, no matter what day of the week it is. When I say packed, I really mean it. This place has out-the-door lines for hours with people just clamoring to get a good sandwich.

After arriving, we were happy to find out we were between crowds and the restaurant was busy, but not crazy yet. We walked in and grabbed a menu from the bin near the entrance. This place has a massive listing of hot and cold sandwich es as well as salads. They also have a wide variety of desserts, such as crème brûlée, scones, and cheesecakes, to try, if you are so inclined. The freshly baked breads, that is made daily, is also for sale. They have ciabattas, focaccias, and even walnut bread for you to bring home and enjoy.

Quickly scanning the menu, Breanne chose the “Bart's Bag” ($6.75) which is described as “turkey, brie, lettuce, tomato, red onion, honey mustard, and mayonnaise on a Baguette.” I decided on “Collete's Cordon Bleu” ($6.75) which is “chicken, ham, swiss, honey mustard on White.” We also ordered a bag of Baked Lays and a bag of Beyond Bread's regular chips, which made each sandwich $0.50 more.

Once we ordered, we didn't have to wait long for our food as a server ran out with both our sandwiches. The portions here are enormous, which is great for me since I'm constantly working out and need a lot of food. However, a half sandwich would be perfect for somebody with a normal appetite. Bre's sandwich had a good helping of turkey and the creamy brie cheese made this a “must try.” In fact, Bre orders this sandwich every time she comes to Beyond Bread because it's just that good. My cordon bleu sandwich was also amazing with a spicy honey mustard backing up thinly sliced ham and huge pieces of chicken.

Synopsis: Beyond Bread is a part of Tucson with a wide variety of people eating there on a daily basis; everybody from college students to grandmothers to massive families all eat out here. The decent prices, generous serving sizes, friendly staff, fast service, and fresh bread all are great reasons why the next restaurant you should eat at is Beyond Bread.

Heavenly Honjake

2006-10-09T13:32:00.001-07:00

Since the two years I have lived in Tucson, I have found out that I have a strong love for sushi. Something about me gets very excited about spicy tuna rolls, fresh wasabi, and beautiful presentations. Luckily, my girlfriend, Breanne, feels the exact same way about this Japanese cuisine and whenever we have spare cash, we make a point to gorge ourselves on as much sushi as we can possibly fit inside of us.

Out of all the sushi restaurants in Tucson, we have had some hits and misses. The one major hit previously to this outing was Sky Blue Wasabi. But, we were driving up Campbell Ave. recently and decided to try something new. This restaurant was Sushimatsu (2660 N. Campbell Ave., 520-320-1574) and Sky Blue may have just found some competition for, what we consider to be, the best sushi joint in Tucson.

Upon walking into Sushimatsu, which is attached to Yoshimatsu Healthy Japanese Food, we were amazed at how quiet was. Sushimatsu has a strict policy that no children or large groups of people can dine there, which Breanne and I couldn't be more happy about considering we were looking for a relaxing evening out together. The walls are painted black, the wooden floors are richly stained, and the sounds of trickling fountains and light Japanese music make up the atmosphere of Sushimatsu.

Breanne couldn't stop commenting on how elegant everything was with our waiters being very polite and patient. They were willing to explain every item on the menu in-depth and had an understanding of what each roll tasted like to them. Other sushi restaurants in town had incredibly rude service and were very short with us, which can be irritating, since Breanne likes to scan the menu throughly before ordering. With Breanne extremely happy with the service, so was I.

After taking the time to decide, we chose the Spicy Tuna Roll ($4.50), Alaskan Roll ($8.50), and the Rainbow Roll ($8.50). I chose to drink a large Sapporo beer ($5.00) while Breanne had a glass of plum wine and soda ($6.00). What amazed us was within a minute of ordering, we had our drinks in front of us with complimentary miso soup and fresh edamame. The miso was perfect with it not being too salty, but still having a hearty tofu flavor. Our edamame was the same with it being salted perfectly and easy to pop out of its casing.

After we finished our edamame and soup, the sushi was delivered and it was heavenly. The spicy tuna was strong and had a nice Japanese garlic flavor it. Even with a heaping helping of wasabi in my soy sauce, the roll was not overbearing, but still had a great kick. The rainbow roll was also wonderful with the yellowtail, tuna, salmon, and shrimp blending together with the rice and avocado. Breanne and I really believe the rainbow roll is the best roll for a sushi beginner to try as it gives you many different pieces of fish to try to figure out what you enjoy the most.

But the best item Breanne and I ate that night was, easily, the Alaskan roll. The salmon used at Sushimatsu is special due to the fact it is Honjake Salmon, which the restaurant swears upon and uses strictly. When we ordered our meal, we didn't think there would be a major difference upon the way Sushimatsu's salmon tasted compared to other sushi restaurants. We couldn't have been more wrong. The salmon was amazingly fresh and did not have a fishy flavor. It almost tasted pure and we couldn't have ate the roll any faster.

Synopsis: With its proximity to campus, their policies about large groups and children, and wonderful service and food. For a nice, quiet evening after a long day at work, you can't go wrong here with a roll with some Honjake Salmon and a big bowl of miso soup.

Marvelous Mexican with a Twist

2006-10-01T14:27:00.000-07:00

My girlfriend, Breanne, is very indecisive when it comes to choosing a restaurant to eat at. Common answers I get when I ask her what she'd like to eat are “I don't care,” “You choose,” or “Narrow it down to two choices and I'll choose then.” Her amazing lack of preference is almost admirable and had to come to be expected by me. However, this week was a rare moment for Breanne when I asked her what she'd want for dinner and I got a definite answer.

“I want to go to Zivaz, does that sound good?”

Happy that I didn't have to choose, we quickly hopped in my car and made our way from campus down Broadway towards Zivaz Mexican Bistro (4590 E. Broadway Blvd., 520-325-1234). On the way, we reminisced about how we'd drive past this restaurant every time we'd go to the Park Place Mall and always said that it looked like something we should try, since we both like good Mexican food and also enjoy casual dining such as Pei Wei Asian Diner and Sauce. This place seemed to be a fusion of those qualities from the outside, which would make it a great restaurant for us, but never seemed to stop. Finally, we were going to try that mysterious restaurant we had been eying.

As I parked the car and we walked inside, we were amazed by how clean and bright Zivaz is. The furniture and walls were all in a beautifully muted color scheme of yellows and greens. The menu is huge and against the wall you immediately see upon walking in. We felt like we were being really fancy by going here, but also remembered it was a casual dining experience by the all-you-can-drink soda fountains in the corner and the Tucson policemen eating together while in uniform at a table in the back of the restaurant.

After perusing the menu, I had decided on the Camaron Mignon ($12.95), which is giant shrimp that are wrapped in bacon and covered in a “Zivaz” cream sauce. Breanne chose the tacos ($6.95), which is two flour tortillas (you can choose corn too) with lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole, and beef. Both dishes come with rice, beans, and a side salad. We also ordered two drinks from the soda fountain where I got a Mountain Dew and Breanne made herself an Arnold Palmer.

While waiting for our food, we were given a bowl of red, white, and green corn chips with two different types of salsa. One salsa was tomato based while the other with made with tomatillos, making it a green salsa. Both were very tasty and were up top par with many authentic Mexican restaurants in Tucson.

Shortly after we finished the chips, our meals arrived and they looked amazing. My Camaron Mignon was so delicious with the cream sauce being very delicate and the bacon was cooked to perfection to the point it was not chewy, but also not overly crispy. Breanne's tacos were seasoned very well and she was given a generous amount of guacamole, which she was very happy about. The beef was perfectly cooked and jam-packed full of flavor. However, the rice, beans, and salads were good, but nothing worth writing home about. I was happy though to see we got black beans with our meals rather than the standard of refried as a nice change.

Synopsis: This restaurant is definitely on par with the wonderful casual sit-down restaurants in Tucson. If you're looking for something fast and delicious near the Park Place Mall, Zivaz Mexican Bistro is the place to try.

The Downtown Dinner Experience

2006-09-25T12:01:00.000-07:00

I remember when I first came to the University of Arizona. I was an RA in Coronado Hall and on the first day of training, I had been in Tucson for about three hours. I had no clue where to go for something to eat or even what there was to eat in Tucson. Luckily, my staff had all made plans to eat after training was done for the night. So, I jumped in a car with about four other RAs and we were off. On the short drive over, they kept telling me that I would love this place and how cheap the food was.

They couldn't have been more right. Bison Witches (326 N. 4th Ave., 520-740-1541) quickly became my favorite place to eat in Tucson when I wanted a hot, delicious, and inexpensive meal that was within walking distance from campus. This restaurant serves the biggest sandwiches known to man, massive bread bowls of soup, and lots of good beer all at a low price. What more could I ask for?

Recently, my girlfriend and I had the longest day of classes and work possible. We were ragged, tired, and extremely hungry. We especially didn't want to spend the time to make a meal either. So, we decided to wander down 4^th Ave. to get us a fix of Bison Witches and it was definitely needed.

When we walked in, we were happy to find we just missed the dinner rush and were able to find a table easily. Normally, Bison Witches is packed full of the downtown crowd and college students. The restaurant is very small, considering the location and half of the interior is taken up by a massive bar. Around the bar are many televisions playing the various sporting events that were being broadcast on ESPN. It normally is dimly lit inside, with most of the light coming from the refrigerators at the bar, and the jukebox is blasting classic rock hits such as “Highway to Hell” and “Brown Sugar.”

What I love about Bison Witches is the menu. You can either get sandwiches, soup, or both. They also have appetizers as well. It's simple and easy to read. The sandwich choices are amazing too with plenty of different choices. What I do every time I go there is get the half sandwich and soup meal. No matter which sandwich or soup choice you get, the order is $6.50, which is the price for most of the full sandwiches on the menu. Considering the bread that comes on the sandwich is enormous and the bread bowl is also huge, you can't beat this deal. Hence, my girlfriend and I both went for this deal.

Breanne chose the “Hawaiian Chicken” sandwich with the “Cream of Broccoli” bread bowl. The Hawaiian Chicken sandwich is made up of “two 4oz. oven baked chicken breasts that are topped with pineapple slices, melted provolone cheese, and shredded lettuce” while the Cream of Broccoli is described as “a light and delicate soup loaded with bits of broccoli, cheese, and spices.” I ordered the Corned Beef after my amazing experience with it at the Auld Dubliner and the Boston Clam Chowder bread bowl. The Corned Beef is “lean and tender, thin sliced corn beef is paired with spicy deli mustard, topped with melted Swiss cheese and is served on bakery fresh rye bread” and the Boston Clam Chowder has “fresh diced clams in a New England style chowder loaded with bits of celery and chunks of potato.” Bre stuck with water while I ordered a Shiner Hefeweizen, which was only $1 since it was a Thursday and they have deals on beer every night of the week.

The waitress lit up as Bre ordered her Hawaiian Chicken because it comes with a side of BBQ sauce that the waitress said she could eat “every day and not get tired of.” We got really excited about that and waited for our meal. Like I said, we beat the dinner crowd coming in and our meal was made quickly. Bre's sandwich was very bright with the pineapples and like the waitress said, the BBQ was very delicious, but not to the point where we'd want to eat it every day. My sandwich was also amazing with the soft rye bread mixing with the delicately cut pieces of corned beef perfectly. Both of our soups were hot and delicious as well. The Arizona Poore Brothers chips that came with both of our meals rounded out a perfect meal that helped us rejuvenate from the long week.

Synopsis: Bison Witches is a staple in the U of A community due to its proximity to campus and its ability to churn out quality food and beer for a very reasonable price. If you're in Tucson looking for a cheap meal that will satisfy, this is the place to go.

Dubliner in the Desert

2006-09-18T11:58:00.000-07:00

I'm not Irish at all. Many people find this hard to believe considering a lot of my family is from East Coast, I cheer for the Red Sox, and I really like Guinness. But my family is mostly Slovak and Russian, so I never grew up eating Irish food. St. Patrick's Day was just another day for me and corned beef wasn't my idea of a good sandwich meat.

But, as you probably know from reading this blog, is that I love new restaurants. When I saw a brand new restaurant being built only a block away from my apartment, I had to try it out. Over the summer, the construction on this place was fairly quick and I began to see it was an Irish pub with a dark black exterior that looks nothing like the rest of the restaurants on University. Windows advertising Guinness and Harp were being put in and richly stained furniture was being moved inside. It seemed interesting and different for Tucson.

Like I said earlier, Irish fare is just unfamiliar territory for me. But, I'm not scared to try new things and decided to go in. Finally, the fall semester and this restaurant, The Auld Dubliner (800 E. University Blvd., 520-206-0323), opened their doors. Immediately, Breanne, who is my girlfriend, and I tried to find a time when we were free to try out the newest place to get a good meal and a cold beer near the University of Arizona.

Finally, we decided to go to dinner there on a Thursday night and invited our friend, Ashley, along. Ashley and Breanne were extremely excited to try the Dubliner because, unlike me, they are Irish and very proud of it. They've had amazing corned beef and know what a “banger” is. I felt like I was good hands, if I had any questions about what to order, with them around.

Upon walking in, we all felt like we were in a different world. The owners didn't just hang up a couple Guinness posters, but actually took time and consideration to make this restaurant seem genuine. Tables made from old Harp beer barrels, dimly lit lamps, and traditional Irish music all made up the interior of the Dubliner. Ashley, who had been to Ireland previously, remarked at how traditional the decorating choices of this restaurant were. There was definitely a crowd in the restaurant as well who all seemed to be enjoying the food and surroundings.

As we looked over the menu, the general consensus between the three of us was that this was not typical University Blvd. fare. The food was very well described and had very attentive, but not annoying, service who was cordial and willing to answer any questions we had. The beer selection was also very impressive with 10 traditional ales and lagers on tap alone, let alone the many they have bottled and the wide and vast options of Irish whiskeys. Finally, I decided on the Fish and Chips ($12.95) and a pint of Guinness Stout ($5.00). Breanne decided on the Corned Beef Sandwich ($8.95) and Ashley chose the Corned Beef and Cabbage ($12.95). Since Ashley had spent the night previously drinking hard at a chain restaurant in town, she decided to stay away from the alcohol choices.

The service was fast! Our food came promptly and hot...but what was impressive was the presentation. The food came on beautiful white plates with curry powder around the edges to give the dishes a good color. This was unlike anything near the college at all. And the food was, hands down, the best food on University Blvd. Everything was delicious.

My fish was battered in a Black and Tan beer batter and came on a bed of fries that were dusted with a light curry powder. It was piping hot and went very well with my Guinness, which was poured perfectly. Breanne's corned beef sandwich came with swiss cheese, apple-onion relish, and horseradish mayonnaise and honestly, I liked mine, but I liked her meal so much more. With all those amazing ingredients combined with a crusty rye bread, it was to die for. Ashley's corned beef and cabbage was HUGE. There was a plentiful amount of meat on her plate and the amount of cabbage she received was extraordinary. Everybody kept commenting on how flavorful our meals were.

The one piece of this meal that made this not only one of the best restaurants in the University district, but Tucson altogether, was their little touches with their condiments. The malt vinegar, ketchup, and mustard were even from Ireland. This truly made the meal authentic and not like anything else you could get in Tucson. Strong mustards and ketchups infused with curry were what made the meals light up so well.

I can't get over how wonderful of a time we had at The Auld Dubliner. The location to campus, the amazing service, and the extremely tasty Irish food converted me into a true fan of Irish fare. Breanne was just commenting to me recently how she is craving the corned beef and can't wait to go back. I think we may have to, sooner than later.

Inventive Italian on the North Side

2006-09-11T12:44:00.000-07:00

Just like us, restaurant employees need a day to rest and relax from the hectic work week. Therefore, it is amazingly hard to eat out on a holiday. I figured this out recently when my girlfriend, Breanne, called me and had a craving for pasta on Labor Day. I told her that it would be no problem finding a place to eat. But that was kind of a lie considering every restaurant I called was closed for the holiday, not to mention many Italian restaurants in Tucson are closed on Monday to begin with. This wasn't going to be an easy task.

After the umpteenth try, I finally had found a place to go enjoy a nice meal that I heard wonderful things about and it was the last restaurant in the Italian section of the phone book. This restaurant was Zona 78 (78 W River Rd., 520-888-7878) and I was extremely thankful they were open, otherwise it was looking like a night of Top Ramen and peanut butter sandwiches for us.

Breanne was excited about my plan and invited our friend, Lauren, out with us for this meal...it's not often we get to relax and spend time together on a Monday evening. So, we all piled into my car and drove to River Road. Now, Zona 78 is a good drive away from all three of us, since we are all on campus and, being on River, it is close to the Foothill district of Tucson. However, it was a holiday and we had no obligations for the rest of the evening, so the drive was no hassle.

Finally, we arrived and immediately, were very pleased with the beautiful atmosphere of the restaurant. Everything was very casual with the Florida State/Miami football game on the TVs by the bar, but classy with the light jazz music playing and the beautiful artwork around the walls. It has a very hip feel to it and I couldn't be more pleased. My girlfriend seemed just as happy as me considering she kept leaning in and telling me that this was “such a good choice” and this was before we even had given a waitress our drink order.

The one interesting fact about the ambiance of Zona 78 was how the waitresses were dressed. With one exception, all of them had absurdly short skirts on. These skirts were so short that one could compare the shorts worn by Hooters waitresses; these skirts left nothing to the imagination and all three of us noticed this immediately.

After we had been seated, we looked over the menu and it was exactly what we were looking for. All three of us kept remarking about how “everything looked good” and it was going to be “hard to choose.” Finally, we ordered and I decided on the “Pizza Boy Pizza,” which came with pepperoni, hard salami, mozzarella, and fresh basil ($9.50). Breanne chose on the “Mediterranean Penne Pasta,” which had grilled chicken, artichokes, kalamata olives, pine nuts, tomatoes, pesto cream, and Feta cheese ($10.50). Lauren ordered the “Shrimp Cavatelli,” which is fresh Cavatelli pasta with rock shrimp, San Marazano tomatoes, basil, and Parmigiano-Reggiano ($10).

To drink, I ordered a Nimbus Blonde ($3.75), which I was very happy to see they carried since I am a huge fan of Nimbus Beers considering it is such an amazing business and also locally brewed. Lauren ordered a glass of Pinot Bianco ($5.50). Breanne decided to stick with water. My Nimbus wasn't flat at all and was poured perfectly. Lauren's wine was dry but still very fruity with many subtle hints of melon.

However, there was one huge problem and that was the service. The problem was that our waitress almost completely neglected us between seating and taking our order. It was at least 20 minutes before she came back to ask us what we'd like to drink and then she was surprised we “already” knew what we wanted. I was also annoyed that she never gave us straws for our drinks, even after asking, until the end of our meal. She also never looked at you, but seemed distracted by something else and was constantly darting her head around. She also made us repeat ourselves constantly and it was just amazingly rude.

Luckily, for our waitress, the food was very delicious. My pizza was piping hot, covered with all the amazing toppings, and had such a light crust. It was crisp, yet chewy enough to let you know you weren't eating a cracker. Breanne's pasta was very bright and had a perfect amount of the ingredients. The Feta cheese and kalamata olives, which are very Greek components, with the small pasta pieces made for an amazing dish that left her stuffed. But as good as both those dishes were, none of them compared to the Shrimp Cavatelli. I loved Lauren's Shrimp Cavatelli so much that I actually ate the rest of her meal, upon her request, after I had finished my pizza. The pasta was big and cooked to perfection and the tomato sauce was light enough to not be overpowering.

The amazing dinner got us in such a good mood, despite the poor service, that we looked over the dessert menu. With Lauren on a diet, we decided all three of us would split one item and we chose the “Belgian Chocolate Chunk” ($5.50), which was a double chocolate chip cookie with pecans that was topped with vanilla bean gelato and a rich chocolate ganache. This dessert was intensely chocolaty and it was amazing because of that. The cookie was cooked to perfection with it not being too hard, but not being pure dough. It almost was a variation of the “pizookie” that you can get at Oregano's, without the pizza tin. After our dessert, we left Zona 78 content, full, and happy.

Synopsis: Overall, Zona 78 is a great restaurant. The amazing choices of Italian food, very affordable prices, and great portions make this a place you must try. However, the owner would be wise to look over the waitresses he is hiring and possibly make a stricter dress code for them as well. But, other than that, Zona 78 should be a constant visit for Tucsonians that enjoy good pizza and pasta.

The Taste of Thailand in Tucson

2006-09-03T16:47:00.000-07:00

Before I moved to Tucson in 2004, I lived in Fairbanks, Alaska for four years. Surprisingly, this small Alaskan city spoiled me rotten with its abundance of amazing Thai restaurants. With a population of 40,000, Fairbanks has four breath-taking places to get amazing Khao Na Ped, Kang Pa-Nang, and Pad Thai. These restaurants were always clean, fresh, and the chefs, being from Thailand, making authentic meals from their home country. It surprised me that Fairbanks had this, especially since the interior of Alaska couldn't be any farther away from Thailand.

Naturally, I was addicted and wanted more after moving to the desert. I was sorely disappointed. Restaurants in Tucson, which claimed to have Thai food, failed miserably. One restaurant, which will remain nameless, actually had the gall to put BBQ sauce over butter noodles and call that Pad Thai. I was shocked and started to miss Fairbanks, the frozen city full of spicy curry.

Luckily, I finally found what I have been looking for...coconut milk, lemon grass, and peanut sauce...and it's all at the Bangkok Cafe (2511 E. Speedway Blvd., 520-323-6555).

My girlfriend and I were out driving down Speedway Ave. looking for a restaurant to eat at after a long day of classes, meetings, and work. On the left side of the street was a small building that said “Bangkok Cafe, Authentic Thai Cuisine.” We both got extremely excited at the prospect of a true Thai restaurant, especially since it is close to campus. So, we pulled into the parking lot and decided to give it a try.

Immediately walking in, we were amazed by the beautiful interior of this restaurant. The walls are painted a cool and calming light green color and there are carefully painted pictures of Thailand and Buddhist imagery everywhere. There was traditional Thai music playing over the speaker system and the waitresses were dressed very brightly. After we were seated, we couldn't help but admire the beautiful chairs made out of bamboo and loved the fact they were padded perfectly for a comfortable dining experience. My girlfriend looked at me and said, “Ooooh. Good choice.”

At this point, we began to peruse over the menu. We were excited to see a wide variety of choices with may different soups, noodle dishes, rice platters, and all the curries you could ever want. Bangkok Cafe's menu is extensive and also have wonderful explanations of each menu item that explained what exactly a “Tom Jued Woon Sen” is to the average diner that does not eat Thai food on a regular basis. After a few minutes, my girlfriend decided to order the “Pad Khing Sod,” which is a ginger, skitake mushroom, and onion dish with your choice of chicken, beef, or pork (she chose chicken), and I ordered the Chicken Pad Thai, which is rice noodles, chicken, egg, bean sprouts, and tamarind sauce. Both of our dishes were $7.95, which is such a good price considering the portions.

While waiting for our food, we couldn't help but admire how well decorated this restaurant is. The music wasn't overpowering, the light brown tile floors weren't cold or slippery, and the waitresses were always smiling and attentive with filling our water glasses. It truly was beautiful here. Even the massive bar on the right side of the restaurant fit in with everything else and wasn't too obtrusive.

Shortly after we ordered, our food was quickly delivered. I was skeptical about the restaurant's food at first due to Arizona's track record with Thai food, but also because of the review the Tucson Weekly gave this place a couple years ago. Reviewer Jimmy Boegle said, “The majority of the dishes we sampled were inexplicably bland, which is a terrible shame." However,something must have changed over the past couple years because this food was so flavorful and left you wanting more. My Pad Thai was sweet, not overbearing with the tamarind sauce and all the vegetables cooked with the rice noodles were still crisp and obviously fresh. My girlfriend's Pad Khing Sod had a strong ginger flavor with the Shitake mushrooms still having the original consistency and not cooked to mush at all. Both of our dishes had chicken with them and they were cooked perfectly as well. Nothing was too salty and it truly felt like I was back in Fairbanks again eating the curries and the bean sprouts and trying to survive the cold through it all.

Synopsis: I can't recommend Bangkok Cafe enough. The portions are huge for the price you pay and the flavor can't be beat. This is truly authentic Thai cuisine and with it in a central location of Tucson, you can't pass this restaurant up.

Choose Your Wasabi Wisely

2006-08-27T20:02:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how many sushi restaurants are in Tucson, Arizona. Off the top of my head, I could count over fifteen I had eaten at alone and I am sure more are opening as I write this. There is something about this southwestern city that brings out the urge to eat lots of raw fish, vinegar rice, and pickled ginger. But with the saturation of this Japanese cuisine in Tucson, it would be easy for the average college student to get lost and not be able to find the best the city has to offer.

Look no longer. Sky Blue Wasabi (250 W. Craycroft Road., Tucson, Arizona) has found its way to become not only the best sushi restaurant, but one of the best overall restaurants in the Tucson metropolitan area.

Over Spring Break, my girlfriend and I were trying to find someplace to eat that we hadn't been before. After driving around town, we saw this beautiful building off of Broadway and Craycroft that had blue neon lights lighting up the parking lot. Excited to see what was brightening the street, we drove over and found Sky Blue Wasabi. Since we were both hungry and it seemed new enough, we decided to go in and give it a try.

Immediately walking in, my girlfriend remarked that the atmosphere of this place is “completely not Tucson.” Poor lighting and dull colors are not to be associated with the restaurant. Stainless steel, courteous servers, and that neon blue lighting make up the interior of Sky Blue. There are plasma televisions everywhere broadcasting ESPN while the sushi chefs are lively creating their masterpieces of eel and yellowtail; the teppan yaki tables are blazing in the back of the room while the guests are clapping along with the entertainment.

We sat down at the sushi bar and looked over the menu. There were so many choices and many that we had never seen before. Sky Blue has the old standbys such as California Rolls, Spicy Tuna, and a wide variety of different sashimi. However, they have unique rolls that are strictly available at Sky Blue and only Sky Blue such as the Sky Blue Wasabi Roll ($9). This roll contains eel, avocado and thinly sliced strawberries that have been coated with a special sauce. We were weary to try the special rolls at first and decided to try a Rainbow Roll ($8), Spicy Tuna Roll ($5), Salmon Sushi ($4), and a California Roll rolled in Masago ($5). I told my girlfriend that if we were still hungry after this order, we would have to try the Sky Blue Wasabi Roll and she agreed.

After ordering our food, the waitress gave us a complimentary bowl of miso soup. The miso here was salty but not overbearing and had very strong flavors of seaweed. It was absolutely delicious, especially with the small cubes of tofu added. Both of us ate it quickly and really enjoyed it. It was just the right amount to get our appetites roaring for some incredible sushi.

By the time we finished, our sushi chef was done preparing our meal in a beautiful presentation that had our sushi on white plates with centerpieces of flowers made out of carrots and cucumbers. Every plate of rolls included the usual wasabi and pickled ginger pieces. With all the choices in front of us, we chose to eat the Rainbow Roll first. The Rainbow Roll consists of a California Roll with avocado and different pieces of fish such as tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and shrimp. My girlfriend really enjoyed that because it allows you to sample the different types of fish you can eat without spending money on something you may not enjoy.

After that, we tried the Spicy Tuna which came with a garlic hot sauce on the bottom of the plate. Alone, the roll was amazing. With soy sauce and wasabi added, it was fiery hot. The contrast of the soft tuna with the hot garlic sauce was incredible. The salmon and the California Roll with Masago were also amazing with such strong flavors and rice that didn't fall apart immediately upon touching with your chopsticks.

My girlfriend and I were so impressed with this selection we chose that we decided to indulge ourselves and try the Sky Blue Wasabi Roll with the eel and strawberries. Our chef looked very happy that we ordered this roll and prepared it with a huge smile across his face. As he put the finishing touches on the dish, we were amazed by the difference of this presentation. It came on a darker plate with lots of pink and neon green sweet sprinkles around the rim. The chef had poured a sweet sauce across our rolls to enhance the flavor of the strawberries. Cautious about trying eel, my girlfriend asked me if I could try the roll first. I did and I couldn't believe how many flavors were in this roll. The salty eel with the creamy avocado with the tart strawberry made this such a complex treat. After my face lit up from enjoyment, my girlfriend dug in and after tasting it, her smile matched mine. This was fabulous.

With a waitstaff who was attentive and amazing presentation at a low cost, this was a restaurant every Tucsonian should try. It will not only let you experience the best of what Tucson has to offer in the world of sushi, but also leave you happy to know you can get amazing food as well. My girlfriend and I have gone back countless times with friends and they, like us, always leave content and full without an empty wallet.

Synopsis: Every student should drive over to Sky Blue Wasabi and taste what you will crave after graduation.

Just a test

2006-08-22T14:29:00.000-07:00

Eventually, restaurant reviews for the Tucson metropolitan area will be right here! Get excited.