Downtown restaurant Maynards to reopen with a fresh new focus

It’s been many months since downtown visitors have had a chance to walk through the doors of this restaurant, but patience has been proven over and over again to be key.

After nearly 18 months of being closed, downtown Tucson’s Maynards is officially reopening on Friday, August 27.

With the grand reopening comes some new changes, too.

Executive chef Brian Smith is pumped to share the reimagined menu, along with some changes to the space and concept of the restaurant — alterations that old fans and newcomers should equally enjoy. Speaking of which, over the last few months, Smith and his team have been exploring the intersection of “local produce with global techniques” — a modern American take on regional fare.

“The sheer volume and variety of ingredients is a never-ending source of inspiration for us,” said Smith. “Having had some time to reflect over the past year, our team is looking forward to focusing more on local ingredients and new cooking techniques. After the year we’ve all had, I hope the food at Maynards brings everyone back together for a little bit of joy. I hope our food makes you smile.”

The new menu will be available a la carte, or as a tasting menu, including items like pork belly from Pima County’s E&R Pork. Smith’s culinary team has cured the pork belly with pastrami spices and is served with Ramona Farms pinto beans, fig leaf, watermelon, and serrano chili.

Another dish you can expect is the Top Knot Chicken out of Benson, which is served with house-made chorizo, local summer squash, radish, and onion soubise.

If you’re looking for vegetarian dishes, they’ve got one that features a mushroom ravioli made with Sonoran White Wheat and served with sweet corn, blue basil, and pecorino. You can’t forget about the salads either. Another new choices includes a Baby Bibb Lettuce Salad with greens from Merchant Gardens and Midnight Moon cheese, walnuts, and local herbs.

In addition to safe, distanced indoor dining, Maynards will also feature outdoor dining on the patio next to the historic train depot and mountain views.

The new hours of operation will be 4 – 9 p.m. on Wednesday – Sunday and Happy Hour spreading its joy from 4 – 6 p.m.

Maynards Market & Kitchen is located at 400 N. Toole Ave. For more information, call (520) 545-0577 or visit hotelcongress.com.