CHOW SCAN Chow Scan is the Weekly’s selective guide to Tucson restaurants. Only restaurants that our reviewers recommend are included. Complete reviews are online at www.tucsonweekly.com. Dates of reviews from August 1999 to the present are included in Chow Scan. Send comments and updates to: Chow, P.O. Box 27087, Tucson, AZ 85726. These listings have no connection with Weekly advertising.
KEY PRICE RANGES $ $8 or less $ $ $8-$15 $ $ $ $15-$25 $ $ $ $ $25 and up. Prices are based on menu entrée selections, and exclude alcoholic beverages. FORMS OF PAYMENT V Visa MC Mastercard AMEX American Express DIS Discover DC Diner’s Club checks local checks with guarantee card and ID only debit debit cards CatCard University of Arizona CatCard. TYPE OF SERVICE Counter Quick or fast-food service, usually includes take-out. Diner Minimal table service. Café Your server is most likely working solo. Bistro Professional servers, with assistants bussing tables. Full Cover Multiple servers, with the table likely well set. Full Bar Separate bar space for drinks before and after dinner.
entrées here, although the emphasis is on Korean barbecue and sushi (including the tempting all-you-can-eat option for $19.95). For an interactive, do-it-yourself treat, try preparing the Korean barbecue yourself at your table. Just consider yourself warned: Pork belly, though delicious, will catch on fire if you’re not paying attention. (12-1-11) $$-$$$ WEI ASIAN CAFÉ E 9450 E. Golf Links Road. 722-1119. Open MondaySaturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday noon-9 p.m. Café/ Beer and Wine. MC, V. The far eastside’s restaurant scene is looking a bit better thanks to Wei. The café aspires to be truly pan-Asian, featuring a huge menu of dishes attributed to China, Vietnam, Thailand, Korea, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore. The food is reasonably priced and consistently decent to excellent. Give the sesame chicken a shot if you’re unsure what to try. (10-20-05) $-$$
PIZZA 1702 C 1702 E. Speedway Blvd. 325-1702. Open MondaySaturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Café/Beer and Wine. AMEX, DIS, MC, V. This little university-area pizza joint has friendly service and pizza slices bigger than your head. With an ever-changing 50-plus beers on tap, there’s something for everyone. If that’s not enough, generous salads and delicious wings will keep you coming back for more. (3-13-08) $$ BIANCHI’S W 1110 N. Silverbell Road. 882-8500. Open SundayThursday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-midnight. Counter/Full Bar. AMEX, DIS, MC, V. Twice-cooked for crisp crust that tears well, their Meateater’s Supreme is packed at 13 inches. $-$$ BROOKLYN PIZZA COMPANY C 534 N. Fourth Ave. 622-6868. Open MondayThursday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-2:30 a.m.; Sunday noon-10 p.m. Counter/Beer and Wine. AMEX, DC, DIS, MC, V. There may be nothing gourmet or innovatively outrageous about Brooklyn Pizza, but if you like your pie with a crunchy, handtossed crust, a savory simmered tomato sauce, lots of gooey mozzarella cheese and the traditional toppings of your choice, you’ve come to the right place. Sandwiches
also reflect attention to the “only best ingredients” philosophy. There’s nothing here that will disappoint. $ BZ’S PIZZA E 9431 E. 22nd St., No. 137. 546-1402. Open Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Café/Beer and Wine. DIS, MC, V. Eastsiders have a nifty little pizza joint that puts out some great gourmet pies. The crust is light and chewy; the sauce is smooth and rich; and if you can’t find a topping you like, you should just stay home. Nightly pasta specials, great salads and sandwiches are on the menu. The vibe is family-friendly, although BZ’s is also a great place to meet friends for a glass of wine and a couple of pizzas. (7-7-11) $-$$ EMPIRE PIZZA AND PUB C 137 E. Congress St. 882-7499. Open SundayWednesday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Counter/Full Bar. AMEX, DIS, MC, V. Empire Pizza and Pub has injected a new kind of life into downtown Tucson, serving up big New York-style pizza by the slice (or whole), along with some salads and Italian sandwiches. The small patio offers views of the craziness on Congress Street, while the back bar area offers a couple of TVs featuring whatever game happens to be on. (2-3-11) $ GRANDMA TONY’S E 7010 E. Broadway Blvd. 885-7117. Open SundayThursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Diner/No Alcohol. MC, V. Also at 7878 E. Wrightstown Road (886-4461). Brought to you by the folks at the Gaslight Theatre, these are hand-tossed pies with a round edge and real mozzarella. The favorites are the ham and pineapple or the mushroom and sausage. For the same lowish price, you can also order any combination of toppings. $-$$ GRIMALDI’S C 446 N. Campbell Ave., No. 100. 882-6100. Open daily 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Bistro/Full Bar. AMEX, DC, DIS, MC, V. One of New York City’s highest-rated pizza joints is serving some of the best pizza in Tucson. You’ll pay more here for your coal brick-oven pie, but it’s worth it. We recommend sitting in the bar area while you munch on your pizza or calzone, so you can watch the doughthrowing and pizza-baking show. All three sauces (red, white and pesto) are tasty; just be careful while selecting the often-pricey toppings. (9-25-08) $$-$$$
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RICE HOUSE CHINA THAI C 54 W. Congress St. 622-9557. Open MondaySaturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Café/Counter/Beer Only. AMEX, DIS, MC, V. The food at this downtown spot, which offers a full assortment of both Thai and Chinese standards, can be hit-and-miss—but when it’s good, it’s really good. The tom yum soup is incredible, and you should really try the pad prig king (a dry red curry). You can find some amazing deals as lunch specials, too. (1-12-12) $-$$ SERI MELAKA E 6133 E. Broadway Blvd. 747-7811. Open Monday-
Thursday 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Café/Beer and Wine. AMEX, DC, DIS, MC, V. For a wonderful dip into the festive and aromatic cooking of Southeast Asia, a trip to Seri Melaka will leave your senses swimming. From the spicy, authentic sambals to the outstanding curries, Seri Melaka serves up authentic cuisine at reasonable prices. (10-18-01) $$ TAKAMATSU E 5532 E. Speedway Blvd. 512-0800. Open SundayThursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-midnight. Bistro/Full Bar. AMEX, DIS, MC, V. After a devastating fire, Takamatsu is back. If you like Japanese or Korean food, you’ll find plenty of tasty
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peanut butter FEBRUARY 2 - 8, 2012
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