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Late-night dining

From fine dining to fast burros, these Tucson eateries serve food into the night

Metromix
May 5, 2009

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The UA-area Frog & Firkin serves food until 11:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (Credit: Randy Harris/Metromix)

We've hit 100 degrees. Triple digits, people. That translates to many lifestyle changes (getting up early or switching to a vampire schedule, saying adios to pants, embracing that "dewy" look), not the least of which is when we get our food.

For many of us, the thought of eating dinner when the sun is still up is simply unappetizing. Uncivilized, really. But, we're also not New York; this is the Baked Apple, a city that does sleep, which means that most of our restaurants are shuttered by 9:30 p.m., if not earlier.

Thankfully, some kind establishments are there for you, Night Owl, and we've culled them here. This being Tucson, we've defined late-night dining as serving food at least until 11 p.m. In some cases that's true seven nights a week, in others, just one or two.

Cup Café

311 E. Congress St. - Tucson

520-798-1618

Open until midnight Fridays and Saturdays, the Cup switches to its late-night menu at 11 p.m., and it’s filled with favorite starters like the heartbreaker ($9, with roasted garlic cloves, brie, artichoke hearts, apple slice and a baguette) and shrimp and melon ceviche ($6). If you’re feeling healthy, you have green options (the Nicoise salad is $12) and eight sandwiches (the popular Maximilian, $8, is a roasted-turkey melt with green chiles on a croissant).

Delectables Restaurant

533 N. Fourth Ave. - Tucson

520-884-9289

Fridays and Saturdays, eat off the regular menu until 11 p.m. Choose from nine salads ($4-$14); a number of vegetarian options, like the white bean hummus plate ($10); and the bistro plates, including prosciutto, asiago cheese melon and grapes ($12). (That last one would be perfectly paired with a red wine flight.)

Grill

100 E. Congress St. - Tucson

520-623-7621

Grill is always open late, because it’s always open. The full menu is offered 24-7, and it’s a civilized approach to diner food with such favorites as the pesto-provolone omelet, chocolate-chip pancakes and “DB” (aka the death bomb, a spicy, fried ravioli appetizer). You’ll also find steak, salads and a full bar.

Luxor Cafe

3699 N. Campbell Ave. - Tucson

520-325-3771

Ever have a midnight craving for falafel or a lamb kebab? Here’s where to go, as the Mediterranean Luxor Café serves dinner Sundays through Thursdays until 12:30 a.m. and Fridays and Saturdays until 3:30 a.m. (This is not a typo!) You can relax in the hookah lounge late-night, too, or order a Turkish coffee ($1.95 for a small) to go with your meal.

Bentley's House of Coffee and Tea

1730 E. Speedway Blvd. - Tucson

520-795-0338

When the summer hours kick in May 17, you can stay at this UA-area coffee house until 11 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. And while you’ll find the usual sweets offered up at cafes, you can also nosh on a vegetarian-friendly menu that includes a quiche du jour, green corn tamales and a veggie burger. There’s no alcohol here, but some of the espresso drinks will alter you all the same.

El Güero Canelo

5201 S. 12th Ave. - Tucson

520-295-9005

Every night of the week, you can grab a Sonoran hot dog at both locations (the other is at 2480 N. Oracle Road) until midnight and wash it down with a Mexican Coke. The dogs are the specialty of the house, though we suggest you try their beans (whole pintos, not refried) and caramelos (sort of like a mini-quesadilla with carne), too.

Sam Hughes Place Championship Dining

446 N. Campbell Ave., Suite 150 - Tucson

520-747-5223

Serving food until midnight Mondays through Saturdays, a bar menu starts up at 9 p.m. (A happy hour, with different drink specials nightly, happens during these hours, too.) Choose from 10 items—all priced at $6—from nachos to a spicy California roll, a meatloaf sandwich to sliders.

Brooklyn Pizza

534 N. Fourth Ave. - Tucson

520-622-6868

If the regular hours aren’t late enough for you—until 11 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, until 10 on Sundays—no problem. Brooklyn Pizza opens its heart to the drunks...er, night owls...Fridays and Saturdays by opening its slices-only window from 11 p.m.-2:30 a.m. If you make it there before 11, order a full pie (large only, starting at $13.88 for cheese) with toppings from the usual to potato and eggplant. BP also makes its own Italian ices and gellatos.

Kingfisher Bar & Grill

2564 E. Grant Road - Tucson

520-323-7739

Starting at 10 nightly, the seafood favorite switches over to its bar menu, which is offered until midnight. We actually prefer to order off the bar menu whenever, and we’re not the only ones who like it—this is a preferred spot for local chefs when they get off work. Staples include the pan-fried shrimp cakes ($8.50), seasonal oysters (market price), the burger ($11, with bacon, cheddar, gorgonzola, roasted red peppers and poblano chiles) and grilled cheese ($9.50, with cheddar, gorgonzola, caramelized onions and tomato). A reverse happy hour starts at 10:30, with some food deals as well as two bucks off glasses of wine, beer and well drinks.

Thunder Canyon Brewery

7401 N. La Cholla Blvd. - Tucson

520-797-2652

The locally owned brewery keeps its kitchen open until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Give us a Baja burger (with green chiles, chipotle mayo, avocado and pepper-jack cheese, for $9.29). The extensive menu also has lots of pub fare (brauts, $8.99, and chicken pot pie, $8.49) and all the usual bar food you require. And then there are those brews, up to 13; those you can enjoy until midnight.

Rosati's on 6th

1838 E. Sixth St. - Tucson

520-622-2200

Open on Fridays and Saturdays until midnight (the Ina location is open until 1 a.m.), Rosati's doesn't just offer pizza (and sandwiches, and wings, and pastas...)—it offers four different kinds of pizza. So whether you like traditional thin crust, Chicago-style, pan or stuffed pizza, the UA-area pizzeria has you covered.

Frog & Firkin

874 E. University Blvd. - Tucson

520-623-7507

The beer menu is as important as the food menu, but it's good to know you can dine off the latter until 11:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The menu is a mix of pub fare (fish and chips, $9.95), specialty pizzas ($4.75 per slice, $14.95 for a small pie), sandwiches (the Newcastle has Italian sausage, peppers and red sauce and cheese, $7.95), salads and lots of starchy appetizers to soak up all that beer. And, since we mentioned it: You'll find close to 30 beers on tap and even more by the bottle.

Red Garter Bar & Grill

3143 E. Speedway Blvd. - Tucson

520-325-0483

Play some pool and sink your teeth into one of eight burgers ($5.95 and up) until midnight Mondays through Saturdays. (The cold beer you’ll need to wash it down with, well, you can get that until 2 a.m.) Yes, vegetarians have their own sandwich ($5.50), and there are plenty of finger-food options (green onion and sour cream fries, $2.95, and wings, $5.50) as well.

Ike's Coffee and Tea

3400 E. Speedway Blvd. # 121 - Tucson

520-323-7205

Ike’s has it right: The coffee-drinking crowd includes night owls, so they serve it up seven days a week until midnight. “It” is an array of pastries, sandwiches and salads (the chopped salad, with garbanzo beans, radishes and cheese is a bargain at $5.50), as well as whatever fancy coffee or tea drink you need to fight off the tireds.

The Taco Shop—Broadway

1350 E. Broadway - Tucson

520-622-1899‎

A favorite of vegetarians and drunks alike—hey, it’s close to the downtown bars and open 24-7—you get a hearty array of the Mexican staples (including breakfast burros, all the time) and a fine salsa bar. Do note that it’s sister restaurant on Stone is not an all-night affair.

Barrio Food & Drink

135 S. Sixth Ave. - Tucson

520-629-0191

You don't have to have those delicious cocktail creations on an empty stomach: Barrio serves its full dinner menu until midnight Fridays and Saturdays. That means the dry-rubbed venison ($22) or mixed greens salad with fresh fruit and pistachios ($9.50), fish tacos ($14.50) or chicken breast marinated in honey-chipotle barbecue sauce ($17) with your Hemingway daiquiri or one of their many other inventive drinks.

Midtown Bar & Grill

4915 E. Speedway Blvd. - Tucson

520-327-2011

There's no need to have to hit up a chain just because you're hungry at midnight: Midtown serves its full menu until 1 a.m. Specials include an all-you-can-eat fish fry on Fridays and fried chicken on Sundays; they're $9.99 and include fries and cole slaw. Sandwiches—the Philly cheesesteak is $7.50,—burgers, appetizers, you got it. (Get extra happy with a happy hour that lasts daily until midnight and includes $2.50 domestic pints and bottles, $3.50 well drinks.)

Pastiche Modern Eatery

3025 N. Campbell Ave. - Tucson

520-325-3333

Open until midnight seven days a week, the 11-year-old restaurant switches to a scaled-back menu starting at 10 p.m. that offers scaled-based prices on appetizers (about 40 percent off). Other dinner menu items—some salads, pastas and entrees—are also available, for full price. And, whatever wine special Pastiche has going (and there's always one going, sometimes on several varieties) applies at night, too.

Los Alazanes Mexican Food

2553 N. Campbell Ave. - Tucson

520-327-6075

It’s 2 a.m. You need a chimichanga. Now. OK—head to Los Alazanes, and there’s no need to hurry because it's always open. And that chicken chimi, with pico de gallo, sour cream, beans and rice will only set you back $6.30.

Shot in the Dark Cafe

121 E. Broadway Blvd. - Tucson

520-882-5544

The super down-home cafe (mismatched tables and chairs and etc.) serves its full menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner options 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You’ll find espresso drinks, teas and smoothies, plus board games and free Wi-Fi.

Maynards Market and Kitchen

400 N. Toole St. - Tucson

520-545-0577

Open until midnight Thursdays through Saturdays, the stars of the late-night menu are the stone-baked pizzas. You get four options ($9-$10), three of them vegetarian, plus the pizza of the week. Or, order some "snacks"—fries, flat bread, grilled apple bruschetta with brie, arugula and prosciutto. "Reverse happy hour" starts at 10 p.m., with $2 off all drafts and premium wines.

Taco Bron

6910 E. Tanque Verde Road - Tucson

520-722-4302

Satiate your caramelo craving until 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and Tuesdays through Thursdays, you're good until 11 p.m. We highly recommend their guacamole and chips ($5.50), a perfect late-night snack.

Jonathan's Cork

6320 E Tanque Verde Rd - Tucson

520-296-1631

Wednesdays through Saturdays, the East Side fine-dining staple serves up a late-night menu from 10 p.m. until midnight. Dine inside or al fresco, on signature items—jalapeno-bacon-wrapped shrimp ($7.95), escargot ($6.95)—as well as new ones—mac and cheese with parmesan crust ($6.95), baby back ribs ($8.95) and more.