Eating the Old Pueblo: 10 Best Restaurants for Exploring the Tucson Food Scene

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Photo courtesy of DOWNTOWN Kitchen + Cocktails

DOWNTOWN Kitchen + Cocktails

Cuisine: American, Ethnic

Price Range: $$$

10Best Says

This lively downtown Tucson restaurant celebrates the city and its confluence of culinary traditions. Chef Janos Wilder has developed strong ties to the Southern Arizona gardeners and farmers for a farm-fresh menu with a strong emphasis on regional and indigenous ingredients. Try the Shrimp with a Sense of Place, a delectable entree featuring shrimp mojo de ajo on freshly ground corn masa, spicy black bean puree, salsa fresca, cholla bud escabeche and queso fresco. For an entree rich in local ingredients, try the ancho chile and chipotle braised lamb shank Tohono O'ohdam squash, served with local honey puree, greens, braising liquids and minted jalapeno vinaigrette.

Address:

135 South 6th Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85701
5206237700

Hours:

Lunch: Monday - Friday: 11:30am - 3:00pm
Dinner: Monday - Saturday: 5:00pm - Close, Sunday: 4:00pm - Close

EXPERT TIPS BY: Patricia Escarcega
Phoenix, Scottsdale Local Expert

Best Restaurants: "Happy hour food and drink specials are available every day from 4 pm to 6 pm."

Recommended as Best Restaurants Because: Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails offers a unique menu that marries Southern Arizona terroir with a unique fine dining sensibility.

Dinner
- Appetizers
  Roberto's Barrio Albondigas Soup^
  
  lightly minted meatballs in rich chicken & tomato broth finished w/ lime, radishes, queso fresco + cilantro ($10.00)
  
  Downtown Caesar^
  hearts of romaine, Caesar vinaigrette, garlic croutons + Grana Padano
  
  $6.50
  
  $10.00
  Sonoran White Wheat Berry + Spinach Salad
  
  pickled beef tongue (optional), apples, dates, raisins, carrots, broccoli, toasted sunflower seeds, cider vinaigrette, goat cheese ($10.00)
  
  Hamachi Tostada* ^
  
  spicy peruana beans, radishes, red onion, cilantro, roasted garlic cloves, roasted Anaheim chiles, lemon citronette, corn emulsion ($13.00)
  
  Calamari
  
  mango, candied ginger, roasted Spanish peanuts, watercress + green chile vinaigrette ($12.00)
  
  Bacon Wrapped Quail* ^
  
  stuffed with caramelized apples, Magdalena Big Cheese squash sauce, pomegranate arils, mild green chile vinaigrette ($13.00)
  
  KFC (Korean Fried Chicken)^
  
  double fried chicken trotters (3) in tangy, spicy, funky Koreatown sauce + toasted sesame seeds and scallions ($11.00)
  
  Grilled Garlic + Mushroom Bread^
  
  thyme, Madeira, leek fondue + Grana Padano ($11.00)
- Entrées
  
  Warm Grilled Quail, Pickled Cherries, Slow Roasted Tomatoes* ^
  
  frisée, roasted golden beets, basil, mint, cherry balsamico, polenta croutons ($25.00)
  
  Pan-Roasted Salmon + Corn Swim Through Late Sonoran Summer* ^
  
  corn with smoked poblano butter, salmon chicharrones, basil, EVOO + late-summer tomato goodness ($29.00)
  
  Duck Wanders Into Tucson Autumn^
  
  citrus braised duck quarter on chipotle molasses sweet potatoes with Aravaipa Asian pears, apples, roasted grapes, spiced wine reduction, Mission Garden membrillo vinaigrette + watercress / watermelon radishes ($26.00)
  
  Stir-Fried Rice Cakes + The Red Dragon with Fish Puffs^
  
  Korean style dashi broth, cabbage, scallions + caramelized onions ($23.00)
  
  Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Papas Braves + Romesco Sauce*
  
  cranberries, garlic + lemon broccoli, queso fresco ($24.00)
  
  Grilled Marinated Flank Steak, Fennel / Cherry Mostardo* ^
  
  olive oil crushed potatoes ($26.00)
  
  Malay Soft Eggplant, Pineapple + Long Bean Vegetable Curry^
  
  steamed rice, tofu, lime ($22.00)
  
  Morrocan Chicken Tagine* ^
  
  Silk Road seasonings, cauliflower, tomatoes, dried apricots, herbed Israeli couscous, minted yogurt ($25.00)
- Sharing Sides
  
  Chorizo Black Beans^
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Israeli Couscous w/ Mint Yogurt, Dried Apricots^
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Sweet 'N' Sour Eggplant w/ Spicy Peanuts
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Garlic Fries^
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Corn w/ Smoked Poblano Butter + Salmon Chicharrones^
  
  ($8.00)
  
  Stir-Fried Rice Cakes w/ Cabbage, Scallions, Caramelized Onions^
  
  ($8.00)
Dessert
- Dessert Wines
  
  Quady Electra, Orange Muscat, California 2009
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Graham's 10 Year Tawny Port, Portugal
  
  ($10.00)
  
  Graham's Six Grapes Port, Portugal
  
  ($8.00)
  
  Graham's 20 Year Tawny Port, Portugal
  
  ($15.00)
  
  Marques de Poley Oloroso, Spain
  
  ($10.00)
Happy Hour Menu
- Main
  
  Warm Oaxacan Peanuts
  
  w/ lime, roasted garlic + chiles pequin ($3.00)
  
  Slow Braised Beef Cheek Taco^
  
  cilantro + cabbage slaw, radishes + chiltepin salsa ($2.50)
  
  DTK + C Fish Taco* ^
  
  beer batter fried fish, shredded cabbage, remoulade, chiltepin salsa, flour tortilla ($3.00)
  
  J Dawg^
  
  beef hot dog, chorizo black beans, smoked poblano crema, mustard, nopalitos, red onion + French fries ($5.00)
  
  KFC (Korean Fried Chicken)^
  
  double fried chicken trotters (3) in tangy, spicy, funky Koreatown sauce + toasted sesame seeds and scallions ($8.00)
  
  Calamari*
  
  mango, candied ginger, roasted Spanish peanuts + watercress, green chile vinaigrette ($9.00)
  
  Grilled Garlic + Mushroom Bread^
  
  thyme, Madeira, leek fondue + Grana Padano ($11.00)
  
  Downtown Caesar^
  
  hearts of romaine, Caesar vinaigrette, garlic croutons + Grana Padano ($6.50)
  
  Roberto's Barrio Albondigas Soup^
  
  lightly minted meatballs in rich chicken & tomato broth finished w/ lime, radishes, queso fresco ($7.00)
  
  Sonoran White Wheat Berry + Spinach Salad
  
  pickled beef tongue (optional), apples, dates, raisins, carrots, broccoli, toasted sunflower seeds, cider vinaigrette, goat cheese ($7.00)
  
  Downtown Burger*
  
  mushrooms, smoked poblanos, manchego, bacon, caramelized onions on griddled torta bun + French fries ($10.00)
  
  Hamachi Tostada* ^
  
  spicy peruana beans, radishes, red onion, cilantro, roasted garlic cloves, roasted Anaheim chiles, lemon citronette, corn emulsion ($13.00)
  
  Salmon Belly Takashimi*
  
  lightly grilled salmon belly served in an eggroll wrapper, wasabi slaw, seaweed salad, pickled ginger, toasted nori, furikake ($6.00)
  
  Malay Soft Eggplant, Pineapple + Long Bean Vegetable Curry
  
  shiitake mushrooms, tofu ($12.00)
Bar
- Main
  Warm Oaxacan Peanuts
  
  w/ lime, roasted garlic + chiles pequin ($4.00)
  
  Slow Braised Beef Cheek Taco^
  cilantro + cabbage slaw, radishes + chiltepin salsa
  
  $4.00
  
  (3): $11.00
  DTK + C Fish Taco* ^
  beer batter fried fish, shredded cabbage, remoulade, chiltepin salsa, flour tortilla
  
  $5.00
  
  (3): $14.00
  J Dawg^
  
  beef hot dog, chorizo black beans, smoked poblano crema, mustard, nopalitos, red onion + French fries ($7.00)
  
  KFC (Korean Fried Chicken)^
  
  double fried chicken trotters (3) in tangy, spicy, funky Koreatown sauce + toasted sesame seeds and scallions ($11.00)
  
  Calamari
  
  mango, candied ginger, roasted Spanish peanuts + watercress, green chile vinaigrette ($12.00)
  
  Grilled Garlic + Mushroom Bread^
  
  thyme, Madeira, leek fondue + Grana Padano ($11.00)
  
  Downtown Caesar^
  
  hearts of romaine, Caesar vinaigrette, garlic croutons + Grana Padano ($10.00)
  
  Roberto's Barrio Albondigas Soup^
  
  lightly minted meatballs in rich chicken & tomato broth finished w/ lime, radishes, queso fresco ($10.00)
  
  Sonoran White Wheat Berry + Spinach Salad
  
  pickled beef tongue (optional), apples, dates, raisins, carrots, broccoli, toasted sunflower seeds, cider vinaigrette, goat cheese ($10.00)
  
  Downtown Burger*
  
  mushrooms, smoked poblanos, manchego, bacon, caramelized onions on griddled torta bun + French fries ($15.00)
  
  Hamachi Tostada* ^
  
  spicy peruana beans, radishes, red onion, cilantro, roasted garlic cloves, roasted Anaheim chiles, lemon citronette, corn emulsion ($13.00)
  
  Salmon Belly Takashimi*
  
  lightly grilled salmon belly served in an eggroll wrapper, wasabi slaw, seaweed salad, pickled ginger, toasted nori, furikake ($8.00)
  
  Malay Soft Eggplant, Pineapple + Long Bean Vegetable Curry
  
  shiitake mushrooms, tofu ($12.00)

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