We first heard about the new concept in late 2021 and the time has finally come! Basqueria has officially opened in the former Fired Pie pizza joint at 350 E. Congress St.
Freddy ElMesselmani, who also operates Urban Pita across the street at 345 E. Congress St., welcomed folks in on Saturday, August 3.
Originally, ElMesselmani was hoping to relocate Urban Pita into the space but his current lease said otherwise. So, why not make a brand-new concept that serves tapas and a slick sangria menu?
Therefore, Basqueria is here to fill our bellies, adding another option for downtown eaters.
The restaurant’s menu is inspired by the pintxos (bite-sized dishes) found in the Basque country of Northern Spain and Southern France. Before opening the Basqueria, ElMesselmani soaked up the culture and toured the Basque region including Bilbao and the North Spanish coast.
Geologically, the new spot is where Congress Street, Toole Avenue, and Fourth Avenue create a fork — near OBON and around the corner from Rialto Theatre and Hotel Congress.
There’s a lot to eat at Basqueria! Keep scrolling for the full menu.
Basqueria Menus
Cold
- Cheese Board – Murcia al vino, manchego, goat cheese, burrata mozzarella, dried fruits, assorted nuts, with jam and crostini
- Mixed Board – Choice of two cheeses and two meats with jam and crostini
- Russian Salad – Jamón Iberico, potatoes, carrots, eggs, pickles, peas, and aioli, topped with tuna, served on bread Pintxo Style
- Smoked Salmon Pintxo – Goat cheese on bread with smoked salmon, whipped hot honey, and pickled onions.
- Meat Board – Jamón Iberico, chorizo, serrano, nduja, with cornichon, pickled onions, with jam and crostini
- Tomato Spread – Garlic-rubbed toasted baguette with house-made tomato spread, olive oil, salt, and pepper
- Deviled Eggs – Hard-cooked egg with housemade filling, topped with shrimp. Served on bread Pintxo Style
- House Salad – Mixed greens with onions, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and bell peppers with house red wine vinaigrette
Hot
- Patatas Bravas – Twice fried potatoes, salsa brava, house aioli
- Shrimp Pintxo – Marinated grilled shrimp on a skewer (two per order)
- Vegetable Pintxo – Marinated zucchini, yellow squash, mushrooms, onions, and green pepper on a skewer (two per order)
- Sauteéd Chicken – Chicken sauteéd with lemon, garlic, white wine, butter, and cilantro served with a side of bread
- Potato Croquette – Breaded and fried mashed potato with mozzarella. Served on bread Pintxo style
- Tortilla Española – Spanish-style baked egg and potato omelet with onions
- Lamb Pintxo – Marinated grilled lamb on a skewer (two per order)
- Lamb Chops – Three grilled lamb chops served with chimichurri sauce
- Bacalao Pil Pil – Cod slow-cooked in olive oil with sliced garlic and chiles. Served on bread Pintxo style
Main
- Paella Verdura – Saffron arborio rice with vegetables
- Paella Del Mar – Saffron arborio rice with mussels, shrimp, Cod, and calamari
- Chicken Basquez – Chicken breast with Basque-style tomato and pepper sauce over rice
- Paella Basqueria – Saffron arborio rice with chicken thigh and chorizo
- Ropa Vieja – Spicy shredded beef pot roast served with rice
Dessert
- Basque Cheesecake – Old-world style “burnt” cheesecake
- Assorted European Pastries – Asked your server about assorted pastry options
- Koka Flan – Vanilla custard with soft caramel topping
- Fruit & Chantilly Cream – Add fruit and Chantilly cream to any dessert
Brunch (Saturday and Sunday)
- Classic Breakfast – Two eggs over medium, potatoes, chorizo, tomato spread with sliced baguette
- Steak & Eggs – Steak cooked to order with scrambled eggs, potatoes, chimichurri sauce with sliced baguette
- Salad Basquez – Mixed greens, smoked salmon, goat cheese, green peppers, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, house vinaigrette
- Eggs Basquez – Basque-style tomato and pepper sauce with baked eggs served with sliced baguette
- Pastry Board – Assorted pastries
Happy Hour Menu
4 – 6 p.m. on Tuesday – Saturday
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Sunday
- Half-off house sangria
- $1 off six-ounce
- $2 off nine-ounce
- 25% off select items:
- Tomato Spread
- Deviled Eggs
- Patatas Bravas
- Chicken Basquez
Late-Night Eats
Basqueria also brings late-night bites downtown!
The current hours of operation are 4 p.m. – midnight on Tuesday – Wednesday, 4 p.m. – 2 a.m. on Thursday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 2 a.m. on Saturday, 10 a.m. – midnight on Sunday, and closed Mondays. The last call for food and drinks is 30 minutes before closing time.
Basqueria is located at 350 E. Congress St. For more information, visit basqueriaaz.com and follow Basqueria on Instagram.
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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.
