Less than two years ago, downtown Tucson was delighted by the arrival of BATA, and it continues to pop on the radar of locals, those visiting from out of town, and national publications. If this is your first time reading about BATA, picture this: an inventive, chic eatery crafted by the self-taught culinary wizard, chef Tyler Fenton.
In a short time, BATA, which draws inspiration from the sleek vibes of modern Europe, has been recognized by TIME magazine, landed on Bon Appétit’s “Best New Restaurants of 2022” list, and received a few other accolades. Now, the regional magazine Arizona Highways is getting a whiff of what BATA is cookin’ on 35 E. Toole Ave.
The magazine refers to the restaurant as a “front-row dining experience that’s one-of-a-kind — just like everything else at BATA.”
“Given how we source our food for the menu, we draw huge inspiration from Tucson and the desert,” Tyler Fenton told Arizona Highways. “We like to use heritage ingredients whenever possible, like tepary beans and white Sonoran wheat — ingredients that are native to our region and have been growing here for a really long time. They connect us to our sense of place.”
A little over six months after BATA debuted its menu, they revealed Barbata — an underground cocktail bar nestled underneath the 1930s historic warehouse. The 1,000-square-foot barbata has since become a popular downtown bar for sipping on craft cocktails while snacking on small bites from the upstairs kitchen.
Also, the Fentons aren’t finished altering and adding to BATA. In 2024, they’re planning to expand space by adding a brand-new outdoor seating area. You can expect some of those same touches with the outdoor patio, too. Chef Tyler Fenton and the rest of the team behind BATA are still finalizing the designs, but the patio will for sure include shade and misters. Plus, there’s going to be a new menu that’ll be prepared over a wood fire in a full outdoor kitchen.
BATA is located at 35 E. Toole Ave. For more information, call (520) 367-4718 or visit batatucson.com.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
