If you want something brand new this month, you can step inside a futuristic portal that serves craft cocktails. You can eat Roman-style pizza by the square up in the Foothills. And you can head down to the Pascua Yaqui reservation for handmade pasta and slots. It’s a fun time to be here. Appreciate it while you can.
Bellissimo Ristorante Italiano at Casino del Sol
5655 W. Valencia Road, 838-6626
Casino del Sol brought back its Italian concept Bellissimo, with some contemporary updates by Executive Chef Ryan Clark. In true Clark fashion, he’s sourcing the menu from Arizona suppliers like Pivot Produce, Hayden Mills, Queen Creek Olive Mill and more.
The highlight here is fresh spaghetti, made by hand every day in the center of the restaurant using White Sonora Wheat from the Yaqui community of Vícam, Sonora. The press release advertises an awesome deal: $15 endless spaghetti on Tuesdays.
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays. casinodelsol.com/dining/bellissimo-ristorante-italiano
Donut Bar
33 N. Sixth Ave., 372-7120
Donut Bar is a hit all over San Diego with its whimsical creations like the unicorn doughnut and the Big Poppa-Tart stuffed with an entire Pop Tart.
This is the first Tucson location, although there was a short-lived outpost in Scottsdale that closed in October. The downtown shop features a “cool glass window” where you can see your doughnuts being made in the kitchen. We passed around some doughnuts this week in the office, and the consensus was that the dough was thicker and more substantial than your regular doughnut. Read more about Donut Bar’s Tucson location here.
Hours: 7 a.m. until sold out Mondays-Fridays, 8 a.m. until sold out Saturdays-Sundays. The store will also be open 5-10 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays. facebook.com/donutbartucson
Ni Hao Tea
4726 E. Broadway, 367-4083
Ni Hao Tea is located in the former home of the dearly-departed Mr. Goodcents sandwich shop on Broadway next to the Planet Fitness. The freshly-sliced cold cuts are gone, and in its place is a selfie wall that’s covered in fake grass. Also, drinks made with ceremonial-grade matcha, which is much more potent and a step above your regular green tea. On our recent visit, we really enjoyed the purple taro smoothie made from freshly-steamed taro paste. There was a dollop of mashed taro on top, which gave the drink a sweet nutty flavor unlike anything I’ve ever had.
Hours: noon-10 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, noon- 8 p.m. Sundays. facebook.com/nihaobobatea
Portal Cocktails
220 N. Fourth Ave., 269-0394
Step inside a portal to a new dimension located directly behind the main dining room of Ermanos Craft Beer and Wine Bar. This dimension includes modern cocktail classics like the white negroni, chilled with an ice cube that’s literally been stamped with the bar’s logo.
This is Portal Cocktails, a feat of modern engineering... and a major mood. The Erman brothers commissioned a local aviation firm to design the ceiling, which features poplar wood slats that curve and glow with LED lights. The website describes the space as a “cozy womblike dirigible” inspired by the architecture of Oaxaca’s major archaeological site Monte Alban.
Hours: 4 p.m.-midnight Sundays-Thursdays, 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Fridays-Saturdays. facebook.com/portalcocktails/
Postino
2500 E. Grant Road, 342-0098
If you’ve ever spoken to a Phoenix hipster (yes, they exist), Postino may have been part of that conversation. This Arcadia-based chain of wine bars has a huge following in the Valley of the Sun, and it was in fact the most hyped-up opening in Tucson this month.
That’s because Postino hits all the bases: The wine is interesting but somehow inexpensive, the decor is vintage cool, and the food is simple but yum. If you wanna go beyond the signature choose-your-own bruschetta board, I recommend the whole crispy cauliflower, partly because I’m still thinking about that lovely romesco sauce with the capers and yellow raisins.
Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays., 11 a.m.-midnight Fridays, 9 a.m.-midnight Saturdays and 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays. postinowinecafe.com
Posto Sano
6370 N. Campbell Ave., 638-6182
From Daniel Scordato, the owner of Tucson’s beloved upscale Italian restaurant Vivace, comes a new foray into fast-casual foods.
Posto Sano is located in the revolving restaurant space that once held Cafe Jasper on the southeast corner of North Campbell Avenue and East Skyline Drive. I hope this concept sticks, because I really, really like it. I’ve never been to Italy before, but I felt like I was there when the server brought out a plate of square-shaped Roman pizza, which has a puffy texture almost like focaccia bread.
Maybe it’s the fact that they serve sparkling water for free, but the place feels like a sidewalk cafe you’d happen upon when in Rome. Also, they got a lot of good-looking wine. Read more about Posto Sano here.
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. postosano.com
Public Taphouse
6720 E Camino Principal, publictaphouse.com
Our favorite Fourth Avenue nanobrewery has gone full-on east side. Public Brewhouse opened a second location called Public Taphouse in the former Sierra Bonita Vineyards tasting room this February. The move allows them to expand their distribution across Tucson. The cozy space and bottle shop offers Public’s unique line of beers on tap, plus wine and other craft beers in cans.
On the horizon:
— Over in Bisbee, they’re about to revive the popular 1950s-style Dots Diner, which is located on the grounds of The Shady Dell vintage Airstream trailer park.
— One of the most popular food vendors at the weekly Tohono O’odham Swapmeet plans to open a brick-and-mortar in the next couple weeks. El Taco Rustico is known for its mesquite-grilled meats like carne asada, which are expertly cooked by a former chef from Hacienda del Sol. El Taco Rustico is going into the building at 2281 N. Oracle Road that most recently held Cafe Marcel.
— The Denver-based breakfast chain Snooze AM Eatery is getting closer to being open. The inside of the space was still in the design phases during my visit last week to their neighbors Postino. The space is going in on East Grant Road and North Tucson Boulevard across the street from Culinary Dropout.
— An Indian restaurant called Spice Garden is going up near the Harkins Theatres at 5815 N. Arizona Pavilions Drive in Marana, according to the Discover Marana food blog.
