After a successful multi-week soft opening, The District Bites and Brew is hosting its grand opening/official menu release on Saturday, May 31. At 3025 N. Campbell Rd., they’ll have live music, drink specials, and local vendors (TBD) from 1 to 4 p.m.
Owners Gabriel Cordova and Tracy Hien, along with the rest of the crew, are nearly done putting the final touches on the space inside the former Pastiche building.
Their journey to opening a restaurant of their own traces back to time spent with Pastiche’s original owner, Pat Connors, and to the sense of community they missed deeply when local dining rooms shuttered in 2020. That absence made it clear just how much they valued the connection and camaraderie that restaurants create.
“We realized there is so much more to restaurants than just the food,” said Cordova. “People missed the community and seeing their favorite local server and bartender. They missed going to establishments where everyone knew their name. This is what Pat Connors was known for. This was what the original Pastiche restaurant was known for.”
Connors passed away in 2017, and the restaurant was sold and operated by different owners before closing just a couple of years ago.
“As we began working on the building, it was almost impossible to keep the windows clean due to people peering in,” said Cordova. “We knew we were bringing something good to the neighborhood.”
Over the past few weeks, during the restaurant’s soft opening period, they’ve heard stories about first dates in the building, and even “regulars” reclaiming their favorite table or chair at the bar.
“We’ve had people come in here with teary eyes because they saw life being put back into the building,” Cordova added. “People have missed what this building once was, referencing Pat Connors, and had a story about how he made every customer feel like family. This is what we are hoping to revitalize. This is the legacy we want to bring back to life.”
Speaking of the soft opening, the local support has been “phenomenal” so far.
“We definitely undershot our staffing on our first day of being open,” said Cordova. “Every seat and table was filled up, and we got our first taste of a dinner rush.”
So, as mentioned earlier, the official, official menu will debut on Saturday, May 31. The menu has been crafted to be simple, yet creative—”American eats with a twist.”
“One twist we are doing is our spin burgers,” said Cordova. “It’s essentially a burger, but we are crimping it shut, holding all of the ingredients inside. Think of it like a burger calzone! We serve all of them with a side of au jus dipping sauce.”
Menu Sneak Peek
- Mac Daddy (Spin Burger) – Double smash patties topped with mac and cheese, sealed in a brioche bun. Served with a side of house chips. Upgrade to crispy fries or side salad.
- Surf and Turf Burger – Double smash patties, melted cheddar, garlic aioli, lettuce, tomato, onion. Topped with a fried pickle, jumbo blackened shrimp served with a side of bone marrow and house chips.
- PB&J Press (Spin Desert) – Deep-fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich that’s dusted with powdered sugar, served with strawberry compote
There’s also a full bar at The District. One of their signature cocktails is the Big Pat Martini—an ode to Pat Connors of Pastiche. “It was his favorite drink, so it will be one of ours as well,” Cordova added.
Ultimately, the team behind The District hopes to contribute something meaningful to Tucson’s local food scene.
“We simply want to build a neighborhood establishment where people can come and escape the stressors of life,” said Cordova. “Welcome to the District Bites and Brew! Where everyone knows your name!”
The District Bites and Brew is located at 3025 N. Campbell Rd. Keep up with the latest by following The District on Instagram and Facebook.
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.
