Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Tucson

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Tucson? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Tito and Pep

4.8

4.8 (2239)

$30 and under

Southwest

Midtown

About the restaurant

Tito & Pep is a bright venue in midtown Tucson providing exceptional service, quality food and beverage, in a convivial, relaxed atmosphere.

We hope to establish ourselves as a true hub, woven into the fabric of one of Tucson's most vibrant areas. The focus of the experience at Tito and Pep is mesquite-fired cuisine, as well as a full-service beverage menu featuring quality beer, wine, & cocktails.

Applying over 20 years of experience gained across the U.S. and abroad, Chef & Owner John Martinez draws influence from the multi-cultural history of the region and from his travels, to create a cuisine that is vibrant and delicious.

Top review

Sarah

Dined 3 days ago

The grilled chicken and shrimp entrees were delicious. The waitstaff were so charming and welcoming. It was a lovely evening.

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4.8

4.8 (2450)

$31 to $50

Brazilian Steakhouse

Foothills

About the restaurant

Churrasco de Brasil offers a unique and exciting way to enjoy the delicious traditional Brazilian-style of cooking. Known for outstanding service, the authentic “churrascaria” offers more than 14 flavorful cuts of meat including lamb, pork, sausage, chicken and beef on skewers carved tableside by gauchos. In addition to several cuts of meat, the continuous service includes a trip to the fresh and unlimited salad bar. Fried bananas, buttery mashed potatoes and mouthwatering pao de queijo (cheese bread) are served family style. A carefully crafted wine list and authentic Brazilian cocktails complement the unlimited fare.

Top review

MarkVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Just outstanding food, outstanding quality, and service that was over the top. You can’t go wrong here, enjoy it!

Villa Peru Modern Peruvian Cuisine

4.7

4.7 (540)

$31 to $50

Latin American

Midtown

About the restaurant

Coming from Perú, our family wanted a way to share our cuisine with our Arizona neighbors. This dream led us to open our restaurant, Villa Perú. Every meal here is a way for us to share Peruvian culture with you, and our dishes, design, and architecture were all chosen to capture the authentic experience of our first home. Allow our selection of sophisticated Peruvian dishes and traditionally made Pisco-themed cocktails to take you on a vicarious adventure you wont soon forget.

Top review

ShalmaliVIP

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

Great food and amazing pisco sours. Service was outstanding. A good place to celebrate a special occasion.

Bata

4.7

4.7 (1089)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown Tucson

About the restaurant

Bata is a restaurant designed to celebrate the best our region has to offer. We cook over a live oak fire, on our custom fabricated hearth. Our menu changes daily. We mill AZ grown grain in house, daily. We focus on whole animal butchery, done in house. We have an extensive fermentation program. Our bar program largely focuses on wines that are organic, biodynamic, and produced with minimal intervention. The cocktail list highlights the best products of the season, with a carefully curated list of spirits from across the globe. We believe that our hospitality is just as important as the food and beverages we put on the table.

We do not encourage our restaurant for young children. We do not have any highchairs in house and ask that you please bring your own if it is required.

We do not offer any outdoor seating. Private dining, kitchen counter and large party seating available. Email hello@batatucson.com for inquiries.

Top review

Lorian

Dined 1 day ago

Our waitress was amazingly attentive and after learning we did not drink alcohol, she brought us a sparkling green tea sencha to try. It was an amazing palette cleanser between each course, while also offering a yummy non alcoholic drink. Our first appetizer was the fermented potato roll that paired perfectly with their salted cultured butter. The winter green salad was refreshing, while also integrating a rich taste from the cured egg yolk and a nice dusting of bread crumbs. The beef carpaccio partnered with Xo sauce and spicy aioli complemented the soft beef greatly. The black cod draped in a jalapeño piri piri was absolutely decadent. The cod was buttery and fell apart at the touch of the fork, and is paired with soft yet crisp sunchokes and beets. Our final main course was the Vera Ranch steak perfectly cooked, matched with a charred onion soubise, potatoes, and a vibrant chimmichurri. We finished the night with the shiitake-caramel ice cream with homemade sprinkles. Bata provided an elegant but welcoming atmosphere.

Agustin Kitchen

4.6

4.6 (2427)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown Tucson

About the restaurant

New American Cuisine.
Happy Hour Drinks Every Day from 3-5!

Top review

Beth

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

Delicious dinner, wonderful service, definitely will be going back.

Zio Peppe

4.6

4.6 (267)

$31 to $50

Italian

East Tucson

About the restaurant

Zio Peppe is where tradition meets innovation, serious collides with playful, and gourmet converges with casual. Zio Peppe means “Uncle Joe’ in Italian, and just like a beloved “funcle” – a fun uncle, Zio Peppe will make sure all are welcome, and everybody is having a good time.

Zio Peppe is a collaboration between Chef Devon Sanner and Chef Mat Cable. Our menu is anchored in Italian-American classics of pizza and pasta, but draws heavy influence from the foods and flavor profiles of Tucson and the Sonoran region.

Sanner joins forces with Cable after having cooked under Tucson culinary legend Janos Wilder for the past 15 years, serving as chef at Janos, JBAR, Downtown + Cocktails, and The Carriage House.

Zio Peppe, which means “Uncle Joe” in Italian, is in part a tribute to Cable’s uncle, Joe Sottosanti, who opened Tucson’s first Sicilian pizza place, Tesseo’s Pizzeria, nearly 50 years ago.

Top review

NancyVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Low key place for excellent food and great service.

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True Food Kitchen - Tucson

4.6

4.6 (928)

$30 and under

American

Foothills

About the restaurant

True Food Kitchen is a chef-driven restaurant and scratch bar that was founded by Dr. Andrew Weil, the pioneer of integrative medicine, to provide food that tastes great and is good for you. At our table, delicious dining and conscious nutrition go hand in hand, without sacrificing flavor, creativity or indulgence. Our expertly trained chefs craft flavor-forward dishes, handcrafted cocktails and freshly pressed refreshers so you can enjoy epic food experiences that aren’t just good for you, but good to you. Join us in Tucson for lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch. New flavors, new combinations, new obsessions. Come see us for something completely new and delicious.

Top review

EstellaVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Food was tasty and came out quickly. Our server was courteous and professional. Great experience overall.

Dante's Fire Cocktails and Cuisine

4.5

4.5 (395)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Midtown

About the restaurant

Dante's Fire, Cocktails & Cuisine has a simple philosophy - Food made from food. Executive Chef & Owner Ken Foy's vision of a scratch kitchen creating Fine Food For Everyone.

Dante’s Fire has been voted Best Late Night eatery by the Community in Tucson, received multiple articles from The Tucson Foodie, and Best Margarita & Food by the Judges & Crowd at the 2022 & 2023 World Margarita Championship, respectively. In July of 2022, Chef Kenneth Foy was crowned the Iron Chef of Tucson. In July of 2023, Chef Kenneth Foy was challenged for his title of Iron Chef of Tucson. Through a tough battle, Chef Kenneth Foy emerged victorious and still holds his title as the Reining Iron Chef of Tucson.

We've created a fine food, casual atmosphere that caters to well, everyone. Start with our daily Happy Hour and feel welcome to hang out all night long.

Top review

CathyVIP

Dined on Nov 16, 2024

It was our first visit and we will be back! Nice of the chef to visit our table.

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Thai Curry Shrimp (GF)

JW Marriott Starr Pass - Passaggio

4.4

4.4 (991)

$31 to $50

Italian

Downtown Tucson

About the restaurant

Sharing the natural beauty and warmth of the serene landscape while delivering the flavors of a modern trattoria by using the hidden bounty of the Sonoran Desert. We offer a destination for those that seek, those that travel, and those that enjoy with an unpretentious design, rustic yet flavorful cuisine, and thoughtful service. Our Italian inspired cuisine allows our curators to deliver the best of the season with passion filled dishes and cocktails. Our menu celebrates the synergetic relationships of our community by partnering with proud artisans.

Top review

Sean

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

This was a fantastic brunch with Santa. Everything was top notch and wonderful. Food stations were plentiful and staffed with friendly employees. Santa was perfect and made sure we had the right approach to taking the picture for the little guy. Only area for improvement would be was that it was too warm in the room. Staff and food was excellent. Price point was a good value for what you got in return. Would recommend this brunch to anyone. Much better option than the busier breakfasts or waiting in line at the mall.

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Popular dish

Halibut & Risotto

Chela's Latin Cuisine

4.4

4.4 (15)

$30 and under

Mexican

Downtown Tucson

About the restaurant

We are a family owned business that began serving the Tucson community in the 90’s by food
trucks. Our first location, El Sur Restaurant, has become a staple in Tucson over the last 20 years.
Come support our sister concept, Chela’s Latin Cuisine, in Downtown Tucson!

Top review

Rachael

Dined on Dec 11, 2024

Had a great experience at Chela’s. The staff was friendly. The food was great! The Flan was AMAZING! I’ll definitely visit here again!

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