Judi Friedman and Jerry Lankin
We’re two SaddleBrooke foodies forever seeking great places to eat! We’ll review two restaurants each month for taste and presentation, service, price, value, and ambiance. If you have a favorite eatery and would like to spread the word, please send us an email at [email protected].
Giuseppe’s Ristorante Italiano
6060 N. Oracle Road, 520-505-4187
giuseppestucson.com
An old-time favorite for authentic Italian food and ambiance on South Oracle Road, Giuseppe’s never disappoints for taste and service. We traveled for dinner with our friends Irv and Bonnie. We started the evening with several cocktails from their ample and well-priced Happy Hour menu. Shared appetizers began with a generous bowl of steamed mussels in a rendered pancetta, onion, garlic, and herb-infused wine and butter sauce, which was delicious, while Giuseppe’s famous and original stuffed mushrooms were enjoyed by all. Judi and Jerry shared a traditional Caesar salad, which, when constructed correctly (as this was), is always the mark of an authentic Italian restaurant. Bonnie ordered the fettuccine alfredo in a perfectly prepared creamy cheese sauce served with fettuccine noodles and a side of green vegetable. Irv and Judi chose the eggplant parmesan (breaded eggplant with tomato sauce, parmesan, and fresh mozzarella cheese, baked and served with linguine pasta). A yummy and filling dish. Jerry had the chicken parmesan, prepared in a similar manner, with a spicy tomato sauce and linguine. The service was excellent, and the ambiance smacks of being in Little Italy in New York. Giuseppe’s food is a cut above similar Italian restaurants in Tucson while priced below the high-end offerings of the “fine dining” crowd.
Ambiance ****
Taste and Presentation ****
Service ****
Price $$$
Value *****
Giuseppe’s is recommended.
It’s Greek to Me
15920 N. Oracle Road, 520-825-4199
It’s Greek to Me is a small, unassuming treasure in the same shopping center as the Golden Goose. From the moment your Cooks walked into this small, fascinating restaurant to the end of the evening, we were delightedly impressed. We had made a reservation (a really good idea when the snowbirds are back), and our table was waiting for us. Marissa, our attentive server, greeted us with menus and brought us our water right away. There are so many interesting choices, from the appetizers to the desserts, that it was really difficult to choose from the interesting offerings. We started with tzatziki and falafel. The tzatziki is homemade yogurt (truly Greek yogurt!) seasoned with cucumbers and garlic and served with delectable pita bread. The falafel is made with spiced chickpeas and fava beans, which are ground to a paste and fried in fresh oil. If it weren’t completely rude, we would have gladly scooped the few drops of tzatziki with our fingertips! With our appetizers, we each enjoyed wine. Jerry had the Kourtaki Retsina, a fragrant dry and medium-bodied wine with lemon preserve, herbal cedar, and pine resin flavors on the palate. The menu states that it is an acquired taste that one either loves or does not. Judi had the Skouras Zoe Red, which is a blend of 95% Agiorgitiko and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. This wonderful wine has an exceptional cherry and mulberry bouquet. Your Cooks then shared the Greek salad, consisting of romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives, pepperoncini, and feta cheese, with a wonderful vinaigrette. Marissa brought our main courses out with perfect timing. For his main dish, Jerry ordered the moussaka, which, with the first bite, he stated was “excellent!” This dish is prepared with seasoned ground beef baked with layers of eggplant, potatoes, and béchamel, which felt like custard, and finished with a wonderful braised lamb sauce. It is served with rice and vegetables. Judi ordered the pastitsio, which also contained ground beef baked with pasta and topped with the delicious béchamel sauce and also finished with the braised lamb sauce. The plated zucchini was perfectly done. As if that wasn’t enough, we ordered the sokolatopita, a rich chocolate cake made with quality cocoa, soaked in a butter-brandy sauce and served with berries and cream. We did take most of this home, as we were full and so very satisfied with this wonderful dining experience.
Ambiance ****
Taste and Presentation ****
Service *****
Price $$$
Value *****
It’s Greek to Me is highly recommended.