Over any amount of time, just about everyone and everything experiences change — a metamorphosis of some sort. And, much like the caterpillar completing its transformation into a beautiful butterfly, The Coronet is constantly blooming in newness over on the corner of Meyer Avenue and Cushing Street.
Beginning on Thursday, March 9, Coronet Cafe is officially launching its evening dinner service and staying open until 9 p.m. (they used to close at 2 p.m.). This also means that anyone enjoying a cocktail at Nightjar will be able to order food directly from Coronet Cafe later in the evening.
New Hours of Operation
Coronet Cafe will now be open from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Thursday – Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday). From 2 – 5 p.m., they’ll be serving a smaller menu of coffee, tea, wine, beer, pastries, and more with a Happy Hour kicking off soon from 3 – 5 p.m. daily (coming soon).
Nightjar also has a new set of hours from 5 p.m. – midnight on Thursday – Saturday and 5 – 9 p.m. on Sunday – Monday. This is great news because Nightjar was also closed on Monday, leaving many of us double-checking our calendars in anticipation of Tuesday.
New Dishes On The Block
With the changes in hours and available service options at each of the three concepts come new menu items as well. The new additions and alterations to the day and night menus are dishes Sally Kane, owner of The Coronet, Coronet Cafe, and Nightjar, knows will lure folks in time and time again.
“I know we are a destination but I also feel like we’re very much a neighborhood place,” said Kane. “To me, because the corner restaurant is fine dining, I really want to create a space that the neighborhood feels comfortable going to all the time.”
The menu features dishes like Bangers and Mash, Pulled Rabbit Poutine, Pickles, Roasted Artichoke Hearts, and an array of sustainable tinned seafood choices. Plus, a well-considered charcuterie board that’s paired with a Mushroom Walnut Pâté.
“Coronet Cafe is opening at night, which is kind of like opening a whole new business, and then we’re adding new menu items to a menu that existed,” Kane explained. “But then, we’re also changing menu items in the daytime — adding some amazing things like a Bun Cha and a breakfast bowl.”
One of the standouts on the new menu is the grilled cheese sandwich and all of its glorious amounts of cheddar and gruyère cheese — a comfort food fanatic’s fantasy. Aside from the obvious cheese, there’s peach aleppo thrown in the mix and then sandwiched between slices of Barrio Bread.
“I live in the neighborhood, we’re a neighborhood cafe, and that’s what I would be looking for at night,” said Kane in regard to the new grilled cheese sandwich. “It comes with French fries but you can sub the Curried Carrot Soup or local greens salad. Plus, we’re doing a really slow-cooked, smokey ham hock that you can add to the grilled cheese.”
For those familiar with Nightjar’s late-night menu, there’s no need to worry because dishes like the Bossam (Korean braised pork belly, scallion salad, grilled kimchi, and ssamjang on a butter leaf wrap), the Roasted Artichoke Hearts with a Barrio Bread crostini, and the belly-warming Coronet Burger will be on the Coronet Cafe’s menu.
The burger, which Kane describes as a “slam dunk,” is everything you’d want in a burger. Some may even refer to it as comfort food between two buns. The meaty meal comes with French fries and if meat isn’t your forte, there’s a meat-free patty.
Fun Times In Downtown
Aside from the food at Coronet Cafe, Nightjar, and The Coronet, they’re still hosting events like the recurring Chess Club, and live music indoors and on the patio. Plus, the return of their beloved movie nights out on the patio is making a comeback once the weather warms up a bit.
“We’ll be starting movies again soon and this time it will be in the small courtyard instead of the big one,” said Kane. “That’ll be so great with the cafe there and Nightjar — it’ll just be its own thing. And we’ll also be doing double features sometimes as the days get longer.”
At the end of the day, the trio of concepts is a lovely addition to downtown Tucson, and as Mr. Rogers would say, “it’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood.” This is especially so when paying a visit to The Coronet, Coronet Cafe, and Nightjar.
The Coronet, Coronet Cafe, and Nightjar are located at 198 W. Cushing St. For more information and to see the full menus, visit coronettucson.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.
