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ORO VALLEY. Chef / owner Michael Veres has made a name for himself in the Tucson culinary scene, first at the celebrated Daniels and now at his own restaurant. And Veres certainly has a way with Italian cuisine. Farfalle con Uva combines farfalle pasta, grilled chicken, red seedless grapes, walnuts and spinach, all sautéed in a gorgonzola cream sauce. The traditional lasagna – layers of pasta, ricotta, peas, ground sausage, marinara and mozzarella – earns raves, as does the eggplant and sausage topped Polenta Capponata. Rustic, handmade pizzas topped with any of about 20 ingredients are also very good, and daily specials are always fantastic.
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FioRito's
2702 E Grant Rd, Tucson, AZ 85716 · 520-325-6913
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NORTH TUCSON. Fans of thin, crispy-crust pizza should give this one a miss. FioRito's makes what most people consider the best Chicago-style pizza in town: deep-dish with lots of cheese, sauce and toppings like sausage, salami, capacolla, black olives, fresh tomatoes, green peppers, prosciutto, shrimp, roasted red peppers and artichokes. One of the most popular orders is the "Dolce Vita" laden with prosciutto, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil and garlic. There are other options, as well, such as baked pastas and excellent spinach and mushroom stuffed pork chops.
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Gavi
7865 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85710 · 520-290-8380
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EAST TUCSON. Full of Italian memorabilia, including soccer pictures and jerseys, this fun, relaxed restaurant offers hearty portions of tasty Italian fare. Everything is big – the menu, the portions and the flavors – except the bill. Try the southern Italian pasta dishes such as fettuccini funghi with sauteed mushrooms or classic lasagna with sausage and spinach. Beef and veal dishes are also expertly prepared. Finish with any of the great Italian desserts – gelato, cannoli or tiramisu.
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Intermezzo
5350 E Broadway Blvd, #128, Tucson, AZ 85711 · 520-748-8100
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EAST TUCSON. Intermezzo, a casually upscale Italian place east of downtown, is popular for quick lunches and fresh, flavorful dinners. At midday the restaurant bustles with folks enjoying bright salads and creative sandwiches such as roasted veggies and herbed goat cheese on focaccia. Dinner is a more leisurely affair, though no less colorful. Start with roasted asparagus and prosciutto drizzled with a balsamic vinegar reduction, or bruschetta with three different spreads (tapenade, herbed goat cheese, oven roasted tomato). Then sample a plate of shrimp capellini, Lamb Chops Marsala or eggplant parmesan. The Sunday brunch menu offers a nice alternative to some of the usual dishes, with French toast panini and a lovely frittata.
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DOWNTOWN. For more than ten years, Magpies has been serving some mighty fine gourmet pizzas. The Pueblo starts with a kicky Southwestern sauce and is topped with mozzarella, cheddar, ground beef, scallions, roasted green chiles, tomatoes and black olives. Juan Carlos Pesto features tomatoes, piñon nuts and mozzarella atop a basil-jalapeno pesto sauce. Or create your own specialty from among three crust types, five sauces, seven cheeses including soy, ten meats, and 25 vegetables and herbs. You can even go cheese-less, or get all your toppings wrapped up in a calzone.
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NoRTH
2995 E Skyline Dr, Tucson, AZ 85718 · 520-299-1600
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FOOTHILLS. NoRTH is the epitome of trendiness – the urban ambience is defined by sleek lines, white leather, exposed brick, and dark wood, plus awesome panoramic city views. Their forte is wood roasted and grilled dishes; not just meats but virtually everything on the menu has at least one ingredient that has seen the inside of the wood-fired oven. From high-end pizzas to steaks to the humble grilled artichoke and lemon aioli appetizer, the smoky flavor of an open fire adds depth to even the simplest Italian-inspired dishes. The extreme popularity of NoRTH means that it's often crowded, but on a positive note there are three other locations to visit: in Scottsdale, Glendale and Denver.
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Tavolino
7090 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85704 · 520-531-1913
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NORTH TUCSON. Tiny and trendy, Tavolino is one restaurant where reservations are an absolute must. Northern Italian cuisine is the specialty, with homemade pastas and grilled meats being the main choices. The logical appetizer choice is the Antipasto Assortito, a daily-changing array of meats, cheeses and marinated veggies that serves to excite the taste buds without sating the appetite. Although the offerings change regularly, two pasta dishes stand out: delicate butternut squash ravioli in butter and sage, and the layered lasagna, aromatic with meat and garlic. Grilled lamb chops and char-broiled chicken are also reliably well-prepared. Save room for the Bonet, a swoon-inducing chocolate custard topped with caramel sauce.
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Vero Amore
3305 N Swan Rd, Tucson, AZ 85712 · 520-325-4122
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FOOTHILLS. Owned by 20-something brothers Josh and Aric Mussman, Vero Amore makes what is possibly the best pizza in Tucson. Adhering to the standards set forth by the Verace Pizza Napoletana Association (arbiters of fine Neapolitan pizza), the restaurant bakes in a brick, wood-burning oven, using fresh mozzarella made in-house and roma tomatoes imported directly from Italy. This is pizza for grownups, the object of almost irrational cravings. In keeping with the high quality of the pies, salads and dressings are all super fresh and homemade, and the couple of pastas on the menu are divine.
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Vivace
4310 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85718 · 520-795-7221
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FOOTHILLS. Vivace is Italian for "lively," and this midtown restaurant lives up to the name. With a spacious, inviting dining room, an open kitchen and a separate wine bar, there is plenty of room to accommodate groups. A smaller dining room is suited to intimate dinners or special occasions. Chef Daniel Scordato, highly regarded in Tucson for his fantastic Italian cuisine, has created a stellar menu full of favorites like crispy crab cannelloni, linguini with grilled salmon, and veal osso bucco.
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Zona 78
78 W River Rd, Tucson, AZ 85704 · 520-888-7878
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FOOTHILLS. Despite the grown-up vibe here, Zona 78 is actually a pretty good place to bring kids. There's plenty of kitchen action to watch (check out the crust-tossers!), a lively staff and buzzing atmosphere, and besides – what kid doesn't like pizza? And that is the specialty here. A wood-fired oven (with a little help from some talented cooks) turns out perfectly baked, gourmet-style pies with unusual toppings like shrimp, pine nuts, caramelized onions and fennel. Plain old cheese is a good choice however, both for kids and adults, because the mozzarella is made fresh in-house. There are also several "I don't feel like pizza today" options, such as roasted chicken with spinach and cannellini beans, a few pasta dishes, and sandwiches.
Looking for a restaurant? We've explored the options, checked with critics, and pounded the pavement to offer only the best. Recommendations come complete with contact information and a brief description highlighting the important features of the restaurant. Fit our choices to your mood, or let us guide your tastes. You'll likely find a few places that not even locals know about.
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