Back in July, Mama’s Hawaiian Bar-B-Cue closed its very last restaurant at 6310 E. Tanque Verde Rd. #120, which is right on the corner where Pima Street meets Wilmot Road. Wilmot Road then becomes Tanque Verde Road on that very corner (I know, it’s confusing) but that’s not the importance of this article.
What we want to shine a light on is Barbizza’s — a brand-new Memphis-style barbecue restaurant that also serves pizza, spaghetti, sandwiches, and more. The new restaurant opened on Wednesday, December 27.
Frank and Karla Cruce moved from Memphis to Tucson in June of this year. This isn’t their first rodeo, so to speak, when it comes to living in the Old Pueblo. They both lived in the city when they were teenagers.
“We always loved the area,” said Karla, “We decided to move here and start a business with his dad’s (a Navy Veteran) recipe for ribs, and then add our family’s favorite pizza recipes, too.
Memphis is famous for a few things like being the birthplace of rock and roll or being the home of blues, but when it comes to food, barbecue quickly comes to mind. It tends to be all about pork, too, whether it be shoulders, butts, ribs, pulled pork, etc.
At Barbizza’s, the likes of Memphis-style Hickory Smoked St. Louis Ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken stir fry, and a Cajun Flat Iron Sandwich (slow roasted pork on a toasted hoagie roll with creamy spiced pickled relish) grace the menu.
“We love food and have always loved entertaining at home,” Karla added. “Friends would always tell us that we should open a restaurant and share our food with others… so, that’s what we are doing!” We are a family-owned business and advocated most of our funds to refurbish the old Mama’s Hawaiian BBQ space — we found it in poor shape.”
So, comin’ in hotter than a Hot Link Smoked Sausage sandwich, Barbizza’s is ready to serve your barbecue needs on the east side. The current menu can be found on Barbizza’s website, which can also be ordered online for delivery or takeout.
The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Monday – Saturday and from noon – 8 p.m. on Sunday.
Barbizza’s is located at 6310 E. Tanque Verde Rd. #120. For more information, call (520) 526-2181 or visit barbizzas.com.
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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.
