Tucson restaurants have plenty of dining deals going on right now. Here are two destinations for each night to get you through the week.
Some are great deals for the family, while others ease the sticker shock of a fancy night out.
About half are for the summer only. Go to go.azstarnet.com/ summer_restaurants for our full list of summer dining deals.
SUNDAY
Acacia at St. Philip's
4340 N. Campbell Ave., 232-0101.
Every Sunday evening this summer, Acacia is showing a free movie. At 8, grab a seat in the Acacia Room and some complimentary popcorn and enjoy table service.
Before showtime, hang out in the bar area and take advantage of some food deals: four meaty wings with carrots and celery for $4; ribs and fries for $10; chicken dumplings for $4; and lavosh for $8. Well drinks, beer and glasses of wine are half-price.
This Sunday, Acacia will show "Goodfellas."
McClintock's At Saguaro Ranch
3755 W. Conrads Way, Marana, 579-2100.
From 5 to 10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, the restaurant is featuring a Summer Sunset Special for $99 per couple. Anyone who has eaten there will tell you that's a good deal.
The menu changes weekly and the deal includes a shared appetizer; shared salad; choice of one of three entrees; and dessert. Two glasses of paired wine come with each meal. Reservations are required, and the Summer Sunset Special ends in September.
MONDAY
The Grill at Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch
5601 N. Hacienda del Sol Road, 299-1501.
All dinner entrees are half-off from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays with the purchase of an appetizer ($8-$17). Entrees include the pecan-grilled buffalo in a red wine reduction sauce, served with a Yukon potato cake with bits of veal and tender-crisp baby carrots for $18.
Bottles of wine are half-off, as well, and the wine list is 2,200 labels strong and ranges from $22 to $6,000 a bottle.
The Monday night dinner-and-wine deals go through the end of September.
Italia
6464 E. Tanque Verde Road, 733-1111.
From 2 to 6:30 p.m. and 8:30-10 p.m. Mondays-Fridays in the bar, lounge or patio, enjoy $2 drafts and $5 martinis at Bob McMahon's newest restaurant.
During those hours, the Italian restaurant also lowers the prices of 11 appetizers to $3.95. Choices include lasagna bites, prawn bruschetta and Italian sausage sliders.
TUESDAY
Olive R Twist Cafe
4915 E. Speedway, 319-8955.
Taco Tuesday is still going strong. From 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. every Tuesday all year, it's 50-cent beef tacos, 25-cent chicken taquitos and $1 turkey chile or non-meat nachos. The special is good for dine-in only, and a drink purchase is required.
Bottles of Corona, Pacifico and Land Shark Lager are $2.50.
Chick-fil-A
4585 N. Oracle Road, 408-2456. 3605 E. Broadway, 321-4232.
This one's for the kids.
From 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, it's Family Night, where kids get a free four-nugget meal with the purchase of an adult combo meal or entree salad.
There's also a free craft activity for kids, and the chain's cow mascot makes an appearance.
WEDNESDAY
Vila Thai Cuisine
972 E. University Blvd., 393-3489.
From 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Vila's dinner combos come with white or brown rice, Phad Thai Jay and your choice of one of six entrees for $9.95. You must ask for the deal — it's not on the regular dinner menu. Entrees include cashew chicken or tofu; Panang curry with chicken or tofu; garlic chicken; and Thai jungle vegetables with tofu.
Zona 78
7301 E. Tanque Verde Road, 296-7878.
On Wednesdays at the new Tanque Verde Road location, take advantage of half-off bottles of wine through September. The original Zona 78 at 78 W. River Road offers the same special on Tuesdays.
During happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, draft beers are $2 and well liquor is half-off. Tasters ($6-$8.50)are also half-off. The dozen draft selections include Guinness, Newcastle Brown Ale and Stella Artois.
Or order a $20 Summer Trio, which is a choice of a draft beer, glass of house wine or sangria; a taster appetizer; and a pizza. The Summer Trio ends Sept. 30.
THURSDAY
J Bar
3770 E. Sunrise Drive, 615-6100.
J Bar's Summer Samplers change weekly and are available starting at 5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays for $12.95.
This week's choices are Cajun jambalaya cakes; piquillo peppers stuffed with local squash served with gazpacho verde; and carne seca sauté with roasted peanut chipotle dipping sauce.
Elle Wine Country Restaurant
3048 E. Broadway, 327-0500.
If you eat in the lounge, the entire bar menu ($6-$24) is half-off from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. daily. All bottles of wine are half-off in the entire restaurant Sundays-Thursdays.
The bar menu includes sandwiches; salads; a rock shrimp ceviche with plantain chips and bits of fruit ($10); and build-your-own cheese plates ($20-$24).
Elle also features a summer tour through early September of two courses of food and two glasses of wine for $22.
The current tour stop is the Central Coast of California, which goes until Aug. 17.
FRIDAY
1702
1702 E. Speedway, 325-1702.
Fridays are fun days at 1702, home of giant slices of pizza.
Specials include $2 off Belgian bottles and 10 percent off all other bottled beer from a list of more than 50 varieties.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, a one-topping piece of pizza and a soda costs $5.50. Replace the soda with a draft beer, and the deal costs $7.50.
VinTabla
2890 E. Skyline Drive, 577-6210.
On Fridays, start with the wine tasting from 5 to 7 p.m. Taste from five to 10 different wines, nibble on hors d'oeuvres and learn from master sommelier Laura Williamson for $10. The bar menu of salads, appetizers and pizzas ($5-$12) are half-price during the tasting.
Every night in the bar and lounge, order the VinSliders or the shrimp and calamari with a glass of wine or beer for $10. During happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. daily, the price is lowered to $7.50, and the bar menu is half-off.
SATURDAY
Feast
4122 E. Speedway, 326-9363.
This week's Summer Requests include lobster, corn and scallion bread pudding with Parmesan cream sauce ($6.50); gazpacho ($3.75; $6.50 bowl); barley pear salad ($7.25); gnocchi with house-made sausage ($13.50); and coconut macadamia caramel tart ($6.50).
Summer Requests, which switch on Tuesdays, end Aug. 31.
You can buy bottles of wine in the restaurant (an additional $7 corking fee is applied). The fee is waived if you buy another bottle to take home.
Pastiche Modern Eatery
3025 N. Campbell Ave., 325-3333.
Pastiche offers special appetizer pricing from 10 p.m. to midnight daily. Some examples: hummus that normally costs $6.50 is $4.50; $9.50 bruschetta is $7; and $5.25 Diablo fries are $3.75.
During the summer, all bottles of wines sell at retail prices.
And until Labor Day, Pastiche's $20 summer feature is thyme-crusted sea bass with a bistro baby greens salad.
