Love trying new restaurants and chowing down on new foods? This week, you’re in luck! From September 19 – 28, a handful of Tucson diners are participating in Arizona Restaurant Week where you can pay a small amount of money for an overwhelming amount of delicious food.
Every year during Arizona Restaurant Week, hot spots from around town change up their menu to entice foodies like us into their door to chow down on unique flavors and treats. Not only is it a great excuse to ditch cooking for a few days, but it’s also a fun way to check some of those restaurants off your list that you’ve been meaning to try.
How it Works
In Tucson, each restaurant can decide whether they want to offer a $20, $30, or $40 prix-fixe menu option. Then, you get to choose from a few options in each course. Go with a friend and try multiple dishes!
The meals do not include drinks (boo!) but some restaurants offer options for discounted bottles of wine (yay!) and other beverages.
Where to Go
In Vail, we’re sort of out of the restaurant loop this year. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t get in on the action. Although Phoenix clearly has the most participating restaurants, there are still a handful of eateries that are only about a half an hour drive away from us.
Downtown
Downtown is probably the fastest location to get to from Vail. Hop on I-10 for a few miles and you’ll be at the doorstep of a few delicious restaurants. Both of these downtown area restaurants are offering $30 menu options.
- Proper, Contemporary American (made with lots of local goodness), $30 option
- Catalina BBQ Co in Starr Pass, American Comfort Food, $30 option
Central Tucson
There’s only one restaurant in central Tucson participating this year and it’s about 35 to 40 minutes away from our small town. The good news is, they offer the cheapest option.
- Union Public House, American Comfort Food, $20 option
La Encantada
La Encantada is turning out to be the hotspot this year for Arizona Restaurant Week. If you don’t mind a little bit longer of a drive (about 45 minutes) you’ll have a lot of options to choose from. Plus, you can hit up your favorite shop when you’re done eating to walk off some of those delicious calories.
- Blanco, Mexican, $20 option
- North, Italian, $30 option
- Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, American, $30 option
- Acacia Real Food & Cocktails (across from La Encantada), Contemporary American, $30 option
Oro Valley
If you want to make the drive, there are a few enticing restaurant options out in Oro Valley. Each restaurant is offering a $30 option for you to try.
- Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Italian, $30 option
- Wildflower American Cuisine, Contemporary American, $30 option
- Epazote Kitchen & Cocktails, Southwestern, $30 option
- The Melting Pot, Fondue, $30 option
Want more details? Click on any of the restaurant names to see what they’re offering. Then, share with your friends (and us) on Facebook which restaurants were your favorite.
Photo Credit: Creative Commons, Martin Abegglen
