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 garnished with 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)
  
  Grilled Garlic + Mushroom Bread^
  
  thyme, Madeira, leek fondue + Grana Padano ($11.00)
  
  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)
  
  Hamachi Tostada* ^
  
  spicy peruana beans, radishes, red onion, cilantro, roasted garlic cloves, roasted Anaheim chiles, lemon citronette, corn emulsion ($13.00)
- Entrées
  
  Frenchie's Bouef Bourguignon^
  
  old school with brandy, red wine, pearl onions, whole mushroom caps, aromatics, braised short ribs, lardoons, creamy horseradish mashed potatoes ($29.00)
  
  Salmon Warms to Winter* ^
  
  borlotti beans, butternut squash, chive + herb scented garlic mushroom fricassee with apple + Madeira scented miso broth ($28.00)
  
  Duck Wanders Into Tucson Autumn^
  
  citrus braised duck quarter on chipotle molasses sweet potatoes with pears, apples, roasted grapes, spiced wine reduction, membrillo vinaigrette, watercress + watermelon radishes ($26.00)
  
  Minted Lamb Bolognese Rigatoni with Creamy Pea Sauce^
  
  tomato lamb ragu with mint, pea cream + Grana Padano ($22.00)
  
  Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Papas Bravas + Romesco Sauce*
  
  cranberries, garlic + lemon broccoli, queso fresco ($24.00)
  
  Pan-roasted Maple Glazed Chicken Breast* ^
  
  stuffed with housemade apple sausage on creamy polenta with rich maple scented dark chicken jus, roasted Brussels sprouts and their leaves, parsnip curls ($24.00)
  
  Ma Po Tofu^
  
  our version of Mother Chen's Chengdu classic: tofu, pork, leeks, Sichuanese chili bean paste, fermented black beans, rice noodles ($23.00)
  
  Chiles en Nogado
  
  poblano chile stuffed with grapes, apples, walnuts, pears, caramelized onions, squash + walnut cream sauce, arroz verde, pomegranate arils, roasted grapes, orange supremes, cilantro ($22.00)
- Sharing Sides
  
  Chorizo Black Beans^
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Horseradish Potatoes^
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Arroz Verde W/ Walnut Sauce, Pomegranate
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Garlic Fries^
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Roasted Brussels Sprouts + Leaves^
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Creamy Polenta^
  
  ($6.00)
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)
  
  Chiles en Nogado
  
  poblano chile stuffed w/ grapes, apples, pears, caramelized onions, squash + walnut cream sauce, arroz verde pomegranate arils, roasted grapes, orange supremes, cilantro ($22.00)
  
  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)
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)
  
  Chiles en Nogado
  
  poblano chile stuffed w/ grapes, apples, pears, caramelized onions, squash + walnut cream sauce, arroz verde pomegranate arils, roasted grapes, orange supremes, cilantro ($22.00)
  
  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)

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