Tucson is full of refined cafes and restaurants to enjoy a Sunday brunch or nice dinner. Now, you can add one more to the list: Amalour Revival Lounge.
The family-owned restaurant is located in the St. Philip's Plaza in Midtown Tucson, in the space formerly occupied by Bodega Kitchen & Wine.
Amalour – which takes its name from the ancient Catalan word meaning "a place of loving energy" – offers farm-to-table cuisine served in an artfully refined setting.
Amalour Revival Lounge brings farm-fresh cuisine to Midtown Tucson — Photo courtesy of Amalour Revival Lounge
Part of the appeal of dining here is the charming Art Nouveau-inspired decor and casually upscale ambiance. The restaurant's hand-painted logo (located over the fireplace) and menu art are patterned after early 20th-century Art Nouveau masters, particularly the decorative illustrations of Alphonse Mucha.
Inside the restaurant, tall windows; brick flooring; and sheer, white curtains draped across the doorways give the interior a stylish, bohemian feel.
The menu emphasizes seasonal, New American cuisine with influences from Italy, Greece and Spain. Locally sourced, organic ingredients are used in many of the dishes.
For starters, there are five bruschetta boards to choose from, including "The Honey Goat." It features goat cheese; lemon zest; black sesame seeds; and a dollop of Arizona raw, unfiltered mesquite honey.
The small plates menu includes enticing starters like cauliflower, jalapeño and quinoa fritters topped with creamy sharp cheddar and goat cheese sauce.
Entrees include Greek specialties like a beetroot and fettuccini plate with roasted red beets, feta and dill. Another good vegetarian option is the vegetarian beet burger, a homemade patty topped with arugula, havarti cheese, dill, avocado and a red pepper aioli.
For meat-lovers, the Harris Ranch flat iron steak is grilled to perfection and served with a creamy cauliflower and potato au gratin and grilled asparagus.
Most lunch prices range from $9 to $12, and dinner prices range from $12 to $30 for entrees.
When you're ready for a nightcap, grab a seat at the bar, where you can enjoy a craft brew, wine or a locally roasted espresso drink.
Happy hour happens daily from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. – the perfect excuse to sample a drink from Amalour's "Revival Cocktails" menu.
Sip on an Old Fashioned, Sazerac or Negroni made from scratch from the original recipes. (The menu even provides the date and origin of each drink.)
Whether you're looking for a romantic date night in Midtown or a destination for healthy, artful fare, Amalour Revival Lounge delivers great plates with a sweet hint of nostalgia.
