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 cooksoutofthekitchen@gmail.com.
Agustín Kitchen
Mercado San Agustín, 100 S. Avenida Del Convento, Tucson, AZ 85745, 520-282-0676
A dear friend of Judi’s was in town, and your Cooks had the opportunity to get together, with Jerry’s suggestion, at Agustín Kitchen for brunch. What a great suggestion it was! The restaurant is in a corner at the Mercado San Agustín in downtown Tucson where there is a vibrant atmosphere. Walking into the restaurant, there was calm, quiet, and a simple, modern décor. We were warmly greeted, promptly seated at our table, and given menus and water. Our drink order was served promptly—three mimosas and a Bloody Mary (which was spot-on regarding heat and salt!). We had the time to relax and catch up with Claudia and meet her friend Skip. Our server was ready to take our order when we were ready—definitely not rushed. We ordered three Caesar salads: one plain, one with chicken, and one with shrimp. The fourth order was for the smoked salmon benedict. All of the Caesars were wonderfully dressed, made with Grana Padano, cured egg yolk, and anchovy dressing. Everyone thought that the dressing was delicious. The traditional eggs benedict featured an exceptional hollandaise sauce topping, perfectly poached eggs with delightful smoked salmon, along with salad, tomato, onion, and a breakfast potato. Everyone felt that their dish was excellent. It is a great place to enjoy wonderful food in a quiet atmosphere and catch up with dear friends.
Ambiance *****
Taste and Presentation *****
Service *****
Price $$$
Value ****
Agustín Kitchen is highly recommended.
El Charro Café
311 N. Court Ave., Tucson, AZ 85701, 520-622-1922
Talk about an old tradition! El Charro Café has been a staple of Tucson since 1922. It’s a real charmer and sits in the midst of Old Tucson, just north of Congress Street behind some of our newer high-rise government buildings. Your Cooks went there with a group of 20, making arrangements in advance to be seated in the downstairs wine cellar, and it really looked the part. For ease of service for the group, they created a personal menu with a choice of two appetizers, chips and salsa, which were regularly replenished, and the wonderful salsa, spiced just right. Also available was the Fiesta mixed green salad with your choice of dressing, which everyone enjoyed. We had a choice of three entrees. The grilled fish tacos were made with cod within a corn tortilla and served with rice and beans. The polo Arizona enchiladas contained shredded chicken with a green sauce (a bit too spicy for Judi’s taste) and also served with rice and beans. A vegan burro was our third offering. Although we have just described some very standard Mexican fare, it was all well prepared, tasty, and served very efficiently. One does not need to go downtown to obtain this particular meal, so we are rating this restaurant for its much more substantive and interesting menu that is available at this location. (There are several other El Charro restaurants all over the Tucson area.) Jerry’s very favorite dish at this El Charro is the seafood enchilada dish, which is not duplicated anywhere in Tucson. Their multi-page menu has all of your favorites and more! It is well worth the trip to begin enjoying some of the best Mexican fare in town. Additionally, you will see a most interesting venue that takes you well back in time to an earlier and simpler city. Parking is extremely easy on both the street and in a metered lot. Reservations are suggested, as this is a well-known and popular venue for great food.
Ambiance *****
Taste and Presentation ****
Service *****
Price $$$
Value ***
El Charro Café (downtown) is highly recommended.