Sonoran Restaurant Week returns to Tucson from September 4 through 13, marking 10 days of prix-fixe menus across the city. Consequently, both longtime locals and first-time visitors get a fresh reason to explore the region's restaurant scene.
More than 120 restaurants are expected to take part this year, offering fixed-price menus at $15, $25, $35, $45 or $55 per person. Each menu costs at least 20% less than the same courses would normally run. That price covers the food alone; tax, tip, drinks and anything ordered off the regular menu come extra.
Key details
Sonoran Restaurant Week runs 10 days, including both weekends, from September 4 through 13.
Menus are priced at $15, $25, $35, $45 or $55 per person, each discounted at least 20% below regular menu prices.
No pass, coupon or code is required. Diners simply ask for the Restaurant Week menu when they sit down.
Some restaurants limit their Restaurant Week menu to certain nights, so it's worth checking each restaurant's page before heading out.
How it works
First, pick a price point. Fixed menus run from $15 to $55, and each one sits at least 20% below what the same meal would normally cost. From there, book ahead where possible. With 120 restaurants and 10 days of expected full dining rooms, a reservation makes the night easier. Finally, show up hungry. There's no pass or code involved; diners only need to ask their server for the Restaurant Week menu.
Planning a schedule
Sonoran Restaurant Week rewards a bit of planning. Since the event spans 10 days and includes breakfast, lunch and dinner options across the city, mapping out a rough schedule in advance helps diners avoid decision fatigue once the week begins. That said, it's smart to leave some flexibility, since new restaurants and menus tend to join in the weeks leading up to the event.
Diners can browse participating restaurants by neighborhood, cuisine and price point on the Sonoran Restaurant Week website. A handful of restaurants also host special private dinners throughout the 10 nights, separate from their regular Restaurant Week menus.
Who's behind it
Sonoran Restaurant Week is produced by Tucson Foodie and presented with support from Visit Tucson, The Treasury 1929, Don Julio, and Rombauer Vineyards, among other sponsors. Restaurants interested in joining can apply directly through the Sonoran Restaurant Week website.
Special events
To begin, Sonoran Restaurant Week will launch a kickoff party at the Treasury 1929. The following restaurants will also host special dinners:
Friday, Sept. 4 - Inca's Peruvian Cuisine
Saturday, Sept. 5 - Penca
Sunday,Sept. 6 morning - Flying V
Sunday, Sept. 6 dinner - Bashful Bandit Barbecue
Tuesday, Sept. 8 - Sunshine Wine
Wednesday, Sept. 9 - BOCA by Chef Maria Mazon
Thursday, Sept. 10 - Bacio Italiano
Friday, Sept. 11 - Cielos at Lodge on the Desert
Saturday, Sept. 12 - Nana's Kitchen
Sunday, Sept. 13 - Wild Garlic Grill
Keep an eye on the special events page for menus when they are finalized.
The restaurant lineup
The full restaurant list is live now, and it's a big one. Over 100 restaurants have signed on so far, spanning downtown, midtown, the foothills, Oro Valley, Marana and beyond. A handful of menus are already posted, and the rest are marked "coming soon" as restaurants finalize their offerings ahead of September.
Here's a sampling of what's confirmed by neighborhood, plus a look at what's still to come.
Downtown
Downtown carries the heaviest concentration of participants. BATA, BOCA by Chef Maria Mazon, CORBETT'S, CRUDA Mariscos & Oyster Bar, La Chingada Cocina Mexicana, Penca, The Coronet, and Ursa all have spots reserved on the list, alongside newcomers like Charro Steak & del Rey, and Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink.
Midtown
Midtown's lineup includes Feast, Locale Neighborhood Italian Restaurant, Kon Tiki Restaurant & Lounge, Kintoki Sushi House & Bar, and Miramonte.
Foothills
Foothills diners can look toward Flying V, which already has a menu posted at $55 per person. Contigo Latin Kitchen, Fiamme Pizza Napoletana, Reforma Modern Mexican, and Wild Garlic Grill round out the neighborhood.
University & Fourth Avenue
Kneller's Delicatessen & Appetizing and Postino both have menus live already, at $25 and a $25-to-$35 range, respectively. Arizona Inn, Mojo Cuban Kitchen and Rum Bar, and Sonoran House Sam Hughes are also confirmed.
Beyond the city center
Sonoran Restaurant Week reaches well outside central Tucson this year. Sawmill Run Restaurant on Mount Lemmon has a $45 menu posted, and other far-flung spots include Rune Wines in Elgin and Sonoita, Tanque Verde Ranch, and La Olla Mexican Cafe, and Nana's Kitchen in Marana.
Diners can browse the complete, continually updated list, filter by price, meal or dietary need, and add favorites to a personalized schedule at the Sonoran Restaurant Week website. Since new menus post throughout the summer, it's worth checking back before finalizing any plans.
Where to find the full list
Tucson Foodie updates the participating restaurant list regularly as new spots and menus come in, so it's worth checking back throughout the summer.
Have fun out there, Tucson.
