The Sunset Travel Awards celebrate the best of the U.S., recognizing top hotels, restaurants, destinations, and experiences, in general. Every year, Sunset Magazine then shares its best of the best and they have some very nice things to say about downtown Tucson’s BATA.
As a matter of fact, BATA is the only Arizona restaurant mentioned in their “Best in the West” list, which covers “can’t-miss restaurants from Alaska to Baja.”
Here’s what the Sunset Staff had to say:
“With a wood-fired hearth at the center of the kitchen, Chef Tyler Fenton’s BATA in Tucson is the kind of elemental restaurant every city deserves. With a 400-mile sourcing rule, the restaurant uses micro-seasonal produce and local meats, with every dish containing an element that has been grilled, seared, smoked, charred, or cooked in the coals to create a new, fire-first Sonoran cuisine.”
Chef Fenton is immensely proud of the BATA team and the support they’ve seen from the Tucson community since opening in early 2022.
“This is a tremendous honor by Sunset Magazine,” he said. “It is especially exciting to be recognized amongst such talented company. I am thankful that the hard work and dedication of our team is being recognized in such a large way. Thank you to all our purveyors for supplying us with amazing products.”
For a restaurant that was recognized by TIME magazine and also as one of Bon Appétit’s “Best New Restaurants of 2022,” it’s destined to continue on its course of collecting accolades.
“We push ourselves to be better every day and I am excited to see how far this team and restaurant can go,” said Fenton.
In regards to expanding not just their downtown footprint but their presence in the city, the Fenton family is still strategizing its brand-new outdoor seating area, which will be paired with a menu different from what’s found inside. The space, located on the backside of the building, will have a full outdoor kitchen, shade, misters, etc.
Stay tuned for that but they’re aiming to have the new addition open within the next six months.
Aside from BATA and its basement bar, barbata, the Fenton family also operates Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink and Tough Luck Club at 101 E. Pennington St. and Fentonelli’s Pizzeria & Bar at 7262 N. Oracle Rd.
BATA is located at 35 E. Toole Ave. For more information, call (520) 367-4718 or visit batatucson.com.
To learn more about the other restaurants mentioned, visit sunset.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.
