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Arizona Inn for Innovative Cuisine, Who Knew?

January 1, 2016 — Arizona Inn, cuisine, Korean tacos, Tucson

We went out to eat in our neighborhood today to celebrate the new year. I was thinking of eggs Benedict but we arrived after the breakfast menu had been retired. Much to my delight the lunch menu had been updated since our last visit to include many new dishes that are right up my culinary alley. The Arizona Inn is a very classy place to dine, stay, or do just about anything. I used to take my mother there all the time because she loved the ambiance. I am also a fan of the reserved, quiet atmosphere and the historic style. In Tucson nobody really needs to put up a Christmas tree at home because the Inn provides a fabulous super tree in the library every year for all of us to enjoy. They keep the wood fire going and the charm flowing for hotel guests, so off the street visitors are treated to the same upgraded style. We love the dining room, but the Audubon Bar is adjacent which has a patio where the full menu is also available. The entire space is elegant and designed for classic leisure. I am not sure if many remember classic leisure, but it includes well designed surroundings, croquet, and fabulous service.

I was surprised to see the jackfruit Korean tacos so I ordered them. My starter of vegetarian spring rolls was fresh and delicious. The salad on which the rolls were served was the most sumptuous part of the dish, adding texture and another layer of flavor to go with the dipping sauces. To be honest I would have been satisfied after that course, but the tacos arrived and they really excited me. I finished my soba noodles and two of my tacos, which took me past the point of sensible portions. I am guilty of overeating on New Years Day!! Well, I made no resolutions, so I guess I did not break any. Bob was not able to finish his paella after his starter of corn and cauliflower chowder. I tasted the chowder, another vegetarian item, and really like it too. Bob ordered take out dessert, so the experience lives on in the fridge as two kinds of cake.

Our service was delivered with impeccable precision and grace by Mike Yaugor who has worked at the Inn for six years and likes it. I try not to hound waiters with my lacto-ovo vegetarianism by asking too many questions, but I need specificity. Mike was proactively ready to serve anyone, even vegans. He knew everything about everything on the menu. When Bob ordered paella, which normally is served after 5 pm, he proactively found out that the kitchen could accommodate the order at lunch time. Mike is my kind of guy, a happy, attentive, detail oriented server, comfortable with his colleagues and his guests. He did not mind asking the chefs to don the toques to come out for kudos on camera. Nathan Brown and Mathew Patton were holding down the kitchen on 1 January, 2016. They kicked out a lunch that made our celebration special and memorable. We are both impressed with the innovative new twists to the offerings. We’ll be back! This is, by far, the best restaurant in my neighborhood at the moment.