[meteorite-list] 6th Annual Eating Your Way Around Tucson - 2016

[almitt2 at localnet.com]

  Hi John and all,

  In regards to La Fuente Restaurant, on 1749 N. Oracle Rd., I
believe that restaurant has closed for good. Need input from those who
live in Tucson. Too bad as that was right in the heart of the Gem
Shows.

  For a great hamburger at low cost, In and Out Burger is a great
choice. They tend to be very busy so go there when you have the time
to do so. Another really great brewery and fantastic food, B&J's
Brewery just south of the Tucson Mall on Oracle has my extreme best
vote. Have fun and post here so those of us that can't go can enjoy
the show! Thanks!

  --AL Mitterling

Quoting John Teague via Meteorite-list
<meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>:

>
>
>
> Hey, List Members!
>
> I have it on good authority that Tucson is fast approaching!  With 
> that in mind, I am once again giving my ?Annual Eating Your Way 
> Around Tucson? list, a slight name change from last year.  This
list
> has been put together with over twenty years of attending the
shows. 
> These are my opinions (well, my wife, Cookie, too!) only.  I have
no
> vested interest in any of these establishments, no free food, etc! 
I
> just like good food!  Maybe you will find my/our tastes different 
> from yours but all of these are worth a try!
>
> Again this year, I am leaving for Tucson mid-January! This will be
my
> fifth year to make the 2200 mile (each way!) drive to Tucson.  My 
> wife,Cookie, did retire July 2nd and will make the dive with me
(for
> the FIRST time!) rather than flying!
>
> I am adding some new locations suggested by list members last year 
> after prior posts.  We did get to try some of them and enjoyed them

> VERY much.  I hope to add more this year!
>
> NEW FAVORITES for us!
> Fist, a BIG ?Thank you!? to Terry Sayther from Austin Texas!  Terry

> sent us a couple of suggestions for breakfast ? or ANYtime!  We are

> calling them ?MUSTS?!
>
> MUST #1:  Bobo's Restaurant, 2938 E. Grant Road, 520-326-6163 
> http://www.bobostucson.com/[1]  We at there ?more than once? in
2014! 
> Everything is GREAT!  I have to be gluten free but try the
pancakes! 
> They are the size of a plate!  The omelets are WONDERFUL!  Check
out
> the deserts!  Once again, Bobo?s ROCKS!
>
> MUST #2:  Robert?s Restaurant (closed Sunday), 3301 East Grant
Road,
> (520) 795-1436 http://www.robertstucson.com/[2]  We also visited 
> Robert?s a couple of times!  Robert?s is just down the street from 
> Bobo?s but on the opposite side of Grant!  You cannot go wrong with

> either choice!
>
> MUST #3:  Teresa?a Mosaic Café, 2456 N. Silver Mosaic Dr. (at Grant

> Rd, behind McDonalds), Tucson, AZ - 520-624-4512.  GREAT Mexican 
> food!  WONDERFUL margaritas!  http://www.teresamosaiccafe.com/[3]
>
> If you are looking for GREAT ?diner? eats, give Little Anthony's 
> Diner (, 7010 E Broadway Blvd, 520-296-0456) a try.  If you like 
> milkshakes the ?old fashioned way? (with the ?extra? shake that
won?t
> fit into you LARGE shake glass delivered to you table in the metal 
> mixing cup, complete with frost on the outside!) then Little 
> Anthony?s Diner is for you! http://littleanthonysdiner.com/[4] 
Little
> Anthony?s also sponsor car shows in their huge parking lot.  Like
old
> and new cars and trucks, be there Saturday 1/23 and/or 2/6 10am-2pm

> to see some cool vehicles!  I know this is not food/eating related 
> but check out The Gaslight Theatre (next to, and associated with 
> Little Anthony?s!) http://thegaslighttheatre.com/[5]!  During
Tucson
> show time, the Gaslight offers an old west themed, hilarious 
> melodrama!  We have attended each year for several years and have 
> enjoyed each performance!  This year?s production is ?The Cisco
Kid?.
>   You can order your tickets online for best seat selection and then

> pick them up in Tucson.
>
>
> Now, a ?Classic?!
>
> * Pat's Drive In, 1202 West Niagara Street, 520-624-0891
> I should not list this first, but I AM!  I first read about Pat's
in
> Arizona Highways magazine.  It is a tradition in Arizona!  It is on
a
> side street off N. Grande Ave, between Speedway and St. Marys.  It
is
> near the condo that we rent each year.  I had driven within half a 
> block of it for years and did not know it existed!  If you like the

> old drive in restaurants, this IS the place for you!  If you like 
> greasy fries by the pound, this is for you!  If you like GREAT
chili
> hotdogs, this IS the place for you, please note that they have
three
> degrees of heat for their chili!
>
>
> We have "favorites" that we think everyone should try at least
once. 
> In no particular order:
>
> NEW!  NEW!  NEW! This is our NEW ?favorite? from 2013:
> * Guadalajara Grill was suggested by good friend, Dennis Beal,
XTAL,
> (Room 120, Hotel City Center, Marty Zinn?s Arizona Mineral & Fossil

> Show).  We have learned that if Dennis suggests a restaurant, you 
> BEST try it!  He has never sent us to a bad one, not even a
mediocre
> one!
> Guadalajara Grill ? West, 1220 E Prince Road-520-323-1022 (also 2nd

> location: East, 750 N Kolb Road, 520-296-1122.  We went to the one
on
> Prince the very last night we were in Tucson 2013.  Large parking
lot
> that was FULL!  It took us 15 minutes or more to find a parking
place
> ? then about 30-45 minutes to get a table ? BUT it was more than 
> worth the wait!  HUGE portions of GREAT food at reasonable prices! 
> You WILL enjoy it!
>
> * La Fuente Restaurant, 1749 N. Oracle Rd., 520-623-8659
> REALLY good Mexican/Tex-Mex food.  The lunch buffet is very good
and
> very reasonable.  If you're there for dinner, be sure to order the 
> Guacamole made table-side.  It is VERY GOOD!
>
> * Silver Saddle Steak House, 6th Ave. & I-10 (310 E. Benson
Highway),
> 520-622-6253
> This place is near downtown and has some of the best steak that
I've
> had in Tucson.  If you're going for dinner, it is best to get there

> early or be prepared to wait 30 minutes to an hour.  It IS worth
the
> wait!  I do not think that they take reservations.  We ate at
Silver
> Saddle at least twice in 2015 ? and probably will top that this
year!
>
> * Lil Abner's Steakhouse, 8501 N Silverbell Rd., 520-744-2800
> This is a MUST for Tucson show visitors.  I remember going there a 
> lot of years ago when this place was truly "in the middle of 
> nowhere"!  If you go this year, you'll she how that has changed. 
It
> use to be a drive out into the desert!  Any of the show weekends
will
> have tons of show folks there!  The steaks rival Silver Saddle but 
> everything is served with a salad, beans, and bread!  LOVE the 
> atmosphere there!
>
> * Daisy Mae's Steak House, 2735 W. Anklam Rd., 520-792-8888.  This
is
> just down the street from the condo we rent while in Tucson.  Great

> steaks!
>
> Other recommendations:
>
> Breakfast recommendations:
> * Blue Willow, 2616 N. Campbell Ave. Tucson, AZ  520-327-7577
> If you want to take time for a nice, leisurely breakfast, this is
THE
> place!  Food is great, prices are reasonable.  It is in a house 
> converted to a restaurant.
>
> * Los Betos Mexican Food, 3680 East Grant Road (520) 318-4787 and 
> 2100 West Grant Road (520) 624-7751, plus several other around
town.
> If you're looking for something that will keep you going through
MOST
> of a day visiting shows without having to stop to eat lunch, try
the
> burritos at any Los Betos!  There are many breakfast burritos 
> available and VERY reasonably priced.  Last year the one on
Speedway
> was closed for remodeling.  I hope it has reopened as it is so 
> convenient to several of the shows.  Look for a Los Betos!
>
> Traditional choices:
> El Charro Cafe, Bar Toma! & Gift Shop, 311 N. Court Ave., 622-1922
> This place has been in business since 1922 in Tucson!  That says it

> all!  The restaurant is located in the original family home in the
El
> Presidio
> Historic District.
>
> El Minuto Cafe, 354 S. Main Ave., 882-4145
> This is my wife's favorite for Mexican food!
>
> Mi Nidito Cafe, 1813 S. 4th Ave.; 622-5081
> I have not visited this one but it comes HIGHLY recommended by 
> locals.  We tired to get in a couple of times and the wait was 
> between 1 and 2 hours!
>
> I'm sure there are other great places to eat.  We are open for 
> suggestions!  I hope others will offer their suggestions!  (I am 
> including some suggestions from others at the end of this e-mail. 
I
> am certainly going to try some of them this trip!)
>
> Bon appétit!  (Being from Tennessee, I'm not quite sure what that 
> means ... but it sounds good!)
>
> Hope to see you in Tucson! (Look for the bearded guy wearing a 
> Tennesse orange "T" cap, and with a hungry, bewildered look on his 
> face ... and with the Tucson 'stoop'!  If you don't understand that

> last one, you've not been to Tucson enough!!!)
>
> Suggestions from other list members!
>
> Suggestion from Bob Keller:
> If you appreciate a great breakfast and a good old fashioned greasy

> spoon, there is no finer eatery than Frank's in Tucson:  
> http://www.franksrestaurant.com/[6]  Franks Restaurant, 3843 E.
Pima St.
> - 520 881-2710.  Best not to attempt Frank's on weekends however,
as
> it will be filled to capacity with locals very shortly after they open.
> ----------------------------------
> Suggestion from Sue  drsue99 at yahoo.com :  For those of you who
enjoy
> microbrewed beer, or just good food in general, try the Barrio 
> brewery or Nimbus.  For great sandwiches, they Bison Witches.  We 
> used John Teague's guide two years ago and appreciate the
additions. 
> Thanks John!
> Barrio Brewing Co., 800 East 16th Street  (520) 791-2739, 
> http://www.barriobrewing.com/[7]
> From  Nathan Martin rocknate at gmail.com Lexington, MA:
> Baggin's Gourmet Sandwiches 1800 East Ft. Lowell St. in Tucson. It
is
> a chain with about 8 stores in the Tucson area (including one in
Oro
> Valley). They offer a variety of sandwiches, salads, sides and 
> desserts. I had one of the best sandwiches I have ever eaten and we

> went back there several times. Most of their sandwiches are in the
$7
> to $8 range so you can definitely get a cheaper lunch in Tucson but
I
> don't think you can get a better one. It makes me hungry just 
> thinking about it!
> --------------------------------------------------
> Nimbus Brewing Co., 3850 East 44th Street, (520) 745-9175, 
> https://locu.com/places/nimbus-brewing-co-tucson-us/#menu[8]
> Sue
> ----------------------------------
> Suggestions from Jim Baxter:
> Anyone who doesn't want to put up with the hour plus wait at Mi
> Nidito should at least order the cheese tostada with guacamole as
take
> out. About the size of a medium pizza with a thin really flaky
crust,
> a thin layer of melted cheese and radial 'spokes' of guacamole.
> Simple..... and..amazingly good!!
> ----------------------------------
> Suggestions from Paul Head:
> Poco and Mom's on Kolb Road just north of 22nd Street. They 
> specialize in Hatch Chile dishes.  1060 S. Kolb Road. 
 520-325-7044
> ----------------------------------
> Suggestions from Elayne (sorry, I?ve lost your last name!):
> Breakfast-Lunch: The Ajo Cafe on Ajo and Country Club by TEP and
the
> sister cafe Bread and Butter on NW corner E. 22nd St. and S.
Columbus
> Picture Mel's diner and Flo is there taking your order at the
counter
> or booth. Home made pie and cinn. rolls!!
>
> Great Italian: Caruso's.... on N. 4th Ave at 6th. Do not miss the 
> spumoni... fabu. Gavi's on Broadway at Pantano out East usually a 
> wait at both.. go early.
>
> Great Sushi: Kampai Sushi... NW corner Swan & Speedway Also Sushi
Cho
> on SW corner Broadway and Campbell/Kino look for Carl's Junior.
>
> Mexican: I agree with El Minudo on Main close the the convention 
> center not the other one. But then I got turned on to Rosa's
Mexican
> Food on SW corner Fort Lowell and N. Campbell set back in the SW 
> corner look for it.. It is worth it! Pick up a dozen tamales at 
> Tucson Tamale

Links:
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[1] ../services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bobostucson.com%2F
[2] ../services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.robertstucson.com%2F
[3] ../services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teresamosaiccafe.com%2F
[4] ../services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Flittleanthonysdiner.com%2F
[5] ../services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegaslighttheatre.com%2F
[6] ../services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.franksrestaurant.com%2F
[7] ../services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barriobrewing.com%2F
[8] 
../services/go.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Flocu.com%2Fplaces%2Fnimbus-brewing-co-tucson-us%2F%23menu