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DOWNTOWN. You're probably wondering where the name comes from. Well, if you run the phrase "buy sandwiches" together, it might sound a bit like "Bison Witches." OK, maybe that's not so creative, but the food at this neighborhood college hangout is. They serve sandwiches, soups, salads and beer – but what a selection. Soups and salads are served in big bread bowls, making them a complete meal in and of themselves. But the sandwiches truly are noteworthy, due to their variety, massive size and general tastiness. Try the Hawaiian chicken, brie and roast beef, or the Wildcat (roast beef, smoked turkey, smoked gouda, lettuce and spicy honey-mustard). If you're feeling homesick, there's grilled cheese or PB&J – now that's comfort food! The beverage list is impressive too – 8 domestics and imports on tap, plus more than 30 microbrews and over 20 imports in bottles. Great drink specials (this is a college bar, after all!).
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Eegee's
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3743 S 12th Av, Tucson, AZ 85713 · 520-792-1828
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SOUTH TUCSON. A fixture in Tucson since 1971, this is the preferred stop on sweltering Arizona days when folks drop in for an "eegee," a unique fruity, slushy concoction somewhere between an Italian ice and a slightly thawed sorbet. Choose from lemon, strawberry, pina colada or the changing flavor of the month. Food-wise, the subs, salads, soups, fries and pasta are steps above the usual fast food fare, making it a popular lunchtime destination, too. There are about 20 locations around town, so an "eegee" is never far from hand!
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El Minuto Cafe
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354 S Main Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701 · 520-882-4145
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DOWNTOWN. El Minuto, "the minute," offers a quick but satisfying meal. Sonoran food in the best tradition is served amid colorful Mexican decor. The food is excellent, the wait staff friendly, and the place buzzes with energy, particularly at lunchtime. Located across the street from the Tucson Convention Center and a block from the downtown business district, an professional crowd can often be found enjoying the spacious dining room or the covered porch. Excellent chimichangas, burritos, enchiladas and more.
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Feast
4122 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85712 · 520-326-9363
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NORTHEAST. People don't simply talk about Feast, they enthuse. The concept seems simple enough: excellent gourmet food (but nothing too experimental), reasonable prices, and the option to dine in or take out. The menu changes every month – call ahead or check their website to see what's available – but virtually every dish is a knockout. You might encounter a savory cheesecake with artichoke hearts, zesty sweet potato chilaquiles, perfect parmesan risotto, a fennel and garlic-rubbed pork chop, or chicken masala over basmati rice and fresh sautéed spinach. Desserts are all exceptional and prepared in-house, including the ice cream, but the chocolate truffle cookies are sublime. If you're going for take out, you can also select a bottle of wine to go.
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NORTH TUCSON. Try this breezy cafe for a tasty French-style meal. Chef Coralie Satta-Williams is originally from Marseilles and she creates an array of tempting breakfasts such as her signature Eggs Provençale and fresh strawberry French toast. Lunch options range from creative salad combinations (try grilled Portobello, grapes and smoked Gouda on Romaine lettuce), to fancy sandwiches and full-flavored pastas. And the traditional Marseillaise omelette is a taste treat, filled with anchovies, tomatoes and garlic. Ghini's has a nice selection of French wines as well.
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NORTH TUCSON. The only restaurant in town with a completely meatless menu, Govinda is located in the Hare Krishna Center and features an all-you-care-to-eat buffet. The offerings vary from day to day, but on Tuesday nights the menu is all Indian and on Thursday nights the choices are all vegan (no dairy). The variety is impressive, ranging from pastas to Mexican casseroles, and everything is fresh and healthy. Sunday brunch includes a selection of traditional breakfast dishes such as pancakes, home fries, fruit, and even tofu scrambles. Call ahead or check Govinda's website to see what's on the menu.
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CATALINAS. Weary of the desert heat? Head for the hills! Or the mountains – Mount Lemmon, to be exact. A bit off the beaten path, 8000 feet up in the little town of Summerhaven is this family-run no-frills café. Eat light for lunch – try the fondue with French bread and veggies – and then splurge on dessert. People are known to travel up the mountain just for a fix of Belgian chocolate, blackberry or strawberry pie, all made with closely guarded secret recipes, of course. Pie offerings vary from day to day (sometimes from hour to hour), but literally all of them are great. If the weather is sketchy, call ahead; if the Mt Lemmon highway is closed, so is the cafe!
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Ocotillo Café
2021 N Kinney Rd, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ 85743 · 520-883-5705
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WEST TUCSON. If you're fortunate enough to be in Tucson sometime during January-April you are in for a treat. Those are the only months that the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum's Ocotillo Café is open for lunch, and a better foray into Southwestern cuisine is rare indeed. The menu is short and changes frequently, but exceptionally fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs grace every plate in some combination, giving color and zing to every dish. For example, a chile-cured sirloin is served alongside roasted garlic-chevre polenta and grilled machengo cheese, napolitos, scallions and red and yellow tomatoes; a vegetarian concoction sings with chile-flecked orzo, tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, napolitos, roasted peppers, fresh corn and eggplant in chipotle chile cream sauce. Food simply doesn't get much more flavorful.
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NORTH TUCSON. Stylish and contemporary, Pastiche serves an eclectic variety of New American cuisine that's proven to be quite a hit with locals. The menu is wide-ranging, with dishes such as bruschetta topped with marinated tomatoes, brie and fresh basil, a wonderful "steak frites" salad, cioppino, a mushroom soufflé topped with asiago cream sauce, pumpkin ravioli in sage-brown butter, and some hearty pasta creations. Just about everything on the menu is available in half portions or so-called "bistro" portions, a boon for light eaters and folks who can't make up their minds!
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FOOTHILLS. Tohono Chul Park's café is set amidst desert cactus gardens in a Spanish Colonial house – an absolutely lovely and peaceful place to enjoy a meal or a snack. In the morning, opt for traditional pancakes or a Southwestern breakfast dish like huevos rancheros. Midday meals take a mostly Mexican/Southwestern approach with options such as tortilla soup, grilled raspberry-chipotle chicken and enchiladas, plus some fresh and tasty sandwiches and salads. A charming afternoon tea spread includes finger sandwiches, pastries and scones with jam and cream. If you're visiting the park, plan to do so around mealtime!
Looking for light and tasty dishes with a quick turn-around time? Or perhaps a power lunch to close the deal? Here, you’ll find the right setting for either! An assortment of decors from casual and sporty to sophisticated and businesslike. You may also find the option of ordering take-out food.
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