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Often referred to as Little Italy on the west side, Los Olivos is a treasure and somewhat of a hidden gem in Tucson’s Italian restaurant scene.
In 2013, owner and chef Quetzakoatl Lora opened the restaurant at 937 W. Congress St. — near the corner of Congress Street and Grande Avenue, which is just a few steps away from La Chaiteria and Sonoran Delights Raspados.
Lora began as a dishwasher at the age of 16 in Clearwater, Florida, and eventually moved to Tucson where he served as Le Rendevous restaurant’s Executive Chef from 2000 to 2010. French and Italian are what he enjoys cooking the most so he opened his very own spot a little over a decade ago.
If you’re a fan of olives, you’re in for a treat because they’re incorporated into most of the menu (Olivos meaning “olive trees” in Spanish). Besides pizza, the restaurant offers other reasonably priced Italian dishes including pasta, sandwiches, and salads.
Recenly, a buddy of mine ordered the Seafood Cioppino and confidently said it was easily the best pasta dish he had ever eaten. Coming from someone who loves pasta and is in a band that tours the world, I’m taking his word for it. He loved all of it: the sauteed mussels, clams, scallops, shrimp, fish, crushed peppers, garlic, tomatoes, and white wine mixed in with the sauce.
Another dish worth your time is the Shrimp al Olivo. That same sauteed shrimp found in the Seafood Cioppino is in this dish but with green olives, basil, and a white wine sauce.
On your way out, grab a housemade cannoli for dessert!
Los Olivos is open from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Monday and 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Tuesday – Saturday.
Los Olivos is located at 937 W. Congress St. Keep up with Los Olivos on Facebook and visit orderlosolivos.com for more informaiton.
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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.
