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: $$$

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.

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)
  
  Grilled Minted Zucchini + Herbed Couscous^ **
  
  thinly sliced zucchini marinated w/ mint + crushed pepper, herbed couscous, beets + sumac scented preserved meyer lemon citronette ($11.00)
  
  Pork Belly Donuts (3)^
  
  foie gras caramel, apple-fennel slaw, sea salt ($13.00)
  
  Calamari**
  
  mango, candied ginger, roasted Spanish peanuts + watercress, green chile vinaigrette. ($12.00)
  
  Downtown Caesar
  
  hearts of romaine, Caesar vinaigrette, garlic croutons + Grana Padano ($10.00)
  
  Chicken Tortilla Soup^
  
  avocado, lime, cilantro, radish, queso fresco ($10.00)
  
  Crisp-Fried Soft-Shelled Crab + Peanut Sauce**
  
  Laotian pounded mango salad mint, basil, cilantro, serrano/lime citronette ($13.00)
  
  Downtown Burger*
  
  mushrooms, smoked poblanos, foie gras, manchego, bacon, caramelized onions on griddled torta bun + French fries ($15.00)
  
  Ben Forbes' Chorizo Torta^
  
  caramelized onions, cheddar, lettuce, smoked poblano crema, griddled torta bun, French fries ($14.00)
  
  Goa'n into Spring^ **
  
  rich cauliflower puree with spicing grom Goa, India, ghee sauteed asparagus, oyster mushrooms, Romanesco, peas raita, garlic naan ($22.00)
  
  Pan Roasted Chicken Breast Stuffed w/ Habanero Pepita Pesto^
  
  frijoles maneados, chile Colorado sauce, chayote / cilantro / slaw ($23.00)
Dinner
- Appetizers
  Chicken Tortilla Soup^
  
  avocado, lime, cilantro, radish, queso, fresco ($10.00)
  
  Downtown Caesar
  hearts of romaine, Caesar vinaigrette, garlic croutons + Grana Padano
  
  $6.50
  
  $10.00
  Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio* ^
  
  truffled sea salt, green pea aioli, whole grain mustard, preserved egg yolk, herbs ($12.00)
  
  Crisp-Fried Soft - Shell Crab + Peanut Sauce**
  
  Laotian pounded mango salad mint, basil, cilantro, serrano/lime citronette ($13.00)
  
  Grilled Garlic + Mushroom Bread^ **
  
  thyme, Madeira, leek fondue + Grana Padano ($11.00)
  
  BBQ Garlic Shrimp 'N' Cheesy Grits* ** ^
  
  Creole sauce, merleton remoulade ($13.00)
  
  Grilled Minted Zucchini + Herbed Couscous^ **
  
  thinly sliced zucchini marinated w/ mint + crushed pepper, herbed couscous, beets + sumac scented preserved meyer lemon citronette ($11.00)
  
  Calamari**
  
  mango, candied ginger, roasted Spanish peanuts, watercress + green chile vinaigrette ($12.00)
  
  Pork Belly Donuts (3)^
  
  foie gras caramel, apple-fennel slaw, sea salt ($13.00)
- Entrées
  
  Seared Salmon + Green Pea Coulis* ^ **
  
  mascarpone cauliflower puree, golden raisins, Romanesco + pea salad ($28.00)
  
  Grilled Cabrilla, Corn, Tomatillo Salsa* ** ^
  
  line caught from the Sea of Cortez, rich corn broth, street vendors, posole + roasted tomatillo salsa ($29.00)
  
  Seared Herb Encrusted Porchetta + Creamy Polenta and Root Vegetables^
  
  mushroom brodo, whole roasted shallots, horseradish cream ($25.00)
  
  Pan-Roasted Chicken Breast Stuffed w/ Habanero Pepita Pesto
  
  frijoles maneados, chile Colorado sauce, chayote / cilantro / slaw ($23.00)
  
  Spaghetti Primavera**
  
  shaved asparagus, zucchini, Romanesco, peas, slow-roasted cherry tomatoes, piquillo peppers, soft spring garlic in rich mushroom broth + Sonoran mushroom florets, basil pesto, Grana Padano ($19.00)
  
  Grilled Marinated Flank Steak, Fennel / Cherry Mostardo* ^
  
  olive oil crushed potatoes with Castelveltrano olives ($26.00)
  
  Goa'n into Spring^ **
  
  rich cauliflower puree with spicing grom Goa, India, ghee sauteed asparagus, oyster mushrooms, Romanesco, peas raita, garlic naan ($22.00)
  
  Seared Duck Confit, Rhubarb Compote + Cara Cara Orange Balsamico* ^
  
  spaghetti squash, new potatoes, asparagus ($26.00)
- Sharing Sides
  
  Chorizo Black Beans^
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Frijoles Maneados^
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Garlic Fries** ^
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Cheesy Grits** ^
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Mascarpone Cauliflower Puree** ^
  
  ($8.00)
  
  Creamy Polenta** ^
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Sauteed Spaghetti Squash** ^
  
  ($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)
  
  Grilled Minted Zucchini + Herbed Couscous^ **
  
  thinly sliced zucchini marinated w/ mint + crushed pepper, herbed couscous, beets + sumac scented preserved meyer lemon citronette ($8.00)
  
  Pork Belly Donuts (3)^
  
  foie gras caramel, apple-fennel slaw, sea salt ($10.00)
  
  Calamari* **
  
  mango, candied ginger, roasted Spanish peanuts + watercress, green chile vinaigrette ($9.00)
  
  Downtown Caesar
  
  hearts of romaine, Caesar vinaigrette, garlic croutons + Grana Padano ($6.50)
  
  Downtown Caesar*
  
  hearts of romaine, Caesar vinaigrette, garlic croutons + Grana Padano ($6.50)
  
  Chicken Tortilla Soup^
  
  avocado, lime, cilantro, radish, queso fresco ($7.00)
  
  Downtown Burger*
  
  mushrooms, smoked poblanos, foie gras, manchego, bacon, caramelized onions on griddled torta bun + French fries ($10.00)
  
  Ben Forbes' Chorizo Torta^
  
  caramelized onions, cheddar, lettuce, smoked poblano crema, griddled torta bun, French fries ($10.00)
  
  Goa'n into Spring^ **
  
  rich cauliflower puree with spicing grom Goa, India, ghee sauteed asparagus, oyster mushrooms, Romanesco, peas raita, garlic naan ($17.00)
  
  Pan Roasted Chicken Breast Stuffed w/ Habanero Pepita Pesto^
  
  frijoles maneados, chile Colorado sauce, chayote / cilantro / slaw ($19.00)

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