Guide to Caesar Salads in Tucson

CERES built a following downtown on fresh, handmade pasta and a weekly rotating gelato flavor that draws a loyal following. Its Caesar keeps to basics, with romaine, house-made croutons, shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano and a house Caesar dressing.

Falora bakes its Neapolitan pizza in an oven imported from a third-generation builder in Naples, and it later added house-made pasta to the menu. The Caesar swaps in Merchant's Garden romaine, asiago, house-made croutons, anchovy and Caesar dressing, minus the egg.

Fresco Pizzeria & Pastaria has stayed family-owned for years, making its dough, sauces and pasta from scratch daily. Its Caesar uses romaine, parmesan and croutons, and it's a convenient pick since Fresco offers delivery.

Jaime's Pizza Kitchen carries on three generations of the Moreno family's history in Tucson's restaurant scene, and owner Gabriel Moreno honed his craft at Pizza Luna before opening his own downtown pizzeria in 2023. Its Caesar Salad uses a petite lettuce blend, house-made croutons and shredded grana, all tossed in an extra garlicky Caesar dressing that nods to the restaurant's ties to Pizza Luna.

Kaiju Burger tempts diners with its wagyu burgers, but don't sleep on the Garlic Panko Crusted Caesar Salad with chopped romaine, Caesar dressing, shredded parmesan, and garlic toasted panko.

Kingfisher Bar & Grill has served fresh seafood and grilled meats since 1993. Tucson Weekly readers have voted it Best Seafood for more than 20 years running. Its Caesar arrives chopped, with romaine, parmesan, croutons and Caesar dressing, and diners can add three brown or Spanish white anchovy fillets for $7.

Locale Neighborhood Italian Restaurant runs as an all-day trattoria, pairing a bakery and wine shop with a patio where guests can play bocce. Its Caesar sticks with anchovy dressing, Parmigiano-Reggiano and croutons.

Noodies is CERES' sister restaurant, serving the same handmade pasta alongside its own rotating weekly gelato flavors. The space carries playful noodle murals and Hong Kong-diner touches. Its Caesar keeps it simple, with romaine, focaccia croutons and shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Penelope Pizza rose from a pandemic-era food truck to a spot on a national top-50 pizzeria ranking, thanks to its wood-fired pies and imported Italian flour. Its Classic Caesar rounds out the menu with fresh greens, house croutons, lemon parm and a garlic Caesar dressing made in-house.

Reilly Craft Pizza and Drink occupies a converted century-old funeral home downtown, and it pairs artisan pizzas with craft cocktails from its underground Tough Luck Club. Its Caesar keeps things classic, with romaine, grana, toasted breadcrumbs and a creamy house dressing.

Renee's Tucson, long known as Renee's Organic Oven, has built its menu around organic, locally sourced ingredients since 2005 and later landed a spot on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." Its Small Caesar Salad uses romaine, parmesan and house-made gluten-free croutons, along with a vegetarian dressing made with raw egg.

Time Market blends a neighborhood grocery with a bakery, deli and wood-fired pizzeria near the University of Arizona. The building once housed Gatsby's Pizza, Tucson's first artisanal pizzeria. Its Kale Salad isn't marketed as a Caesar, but the lemon and pecorino dressing with toasted breadcrumbs lands close enough.

Vero Amore holds certification from Italy's Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, and its wood-fired Neapolitan pizza and tableside flaming cheese wheel pasta keep regulars coming back. The Caesar comes half or whole, with fresh romaine, house-made dressing, aged Parmesan and golden crostini, plus the option to add grilled chicken, shrimp, salmon or lump crab.

Zio Peppe blends Italian-American classics with Sonoran flavor, turning out wood-fired pizzas and house-made pasta on the east side. Its Caesar sticks to romaine, Parmigiano and house-made garlic croutons, and diners can add chicken or anchovy.