Florence, Phoenix, and Tucson, AZ
 

We are going to visit family in both Florence and Phoenix. No, my sister is not a guard at the prison in Florence.

What are the interesting places and restaurants in and around Florence?

What are some of the better inexpensive to moderately priced restaurants in Tucson? Any cuisine. We will just go one afternoon.

We are planning to go the vaunted Bianca pizza in Phoenix. And there is a cajun restaurants as well. Can you please provide a few inexpensive to moderate restaurants in Phoenix? Any cuisine.

Thank you in advance.

Sorry Bianco's Pizza.

Bookmarking so I remember to ask a coworker on Monday!

I think there is a restaurant in Florence now. I was there years ago for a zoning meeting (it is the county seat) and when we broke for lunch, we all had to go to Coolidge to find a restaurant!

As far as interesting places near Florence, there is the old courthouse and nearby Casa Grande ruins.

Go to Bianco about 30 minutes before it open. Get online, have one person go next door to the bar and get beers or wine. Back to the line. IF you don't get in during the first seating, go back to bar, have another drink and a nice appetizer and wait until you get called. {They will call over to the bar for you}. Going later means long wait, and this will be the case for almost every night of the week.

Interested in seeing what you think; we weren't overly impressed. Good, but not great.

Thank you all for the advice.

I am going with an impatient group and I do not think they will tolerate the restaurant do si do.

Don't forget there's a Grimaldi's Pizza in Scottsdale if you get a craving for home.

There is a Greek Monastery near by that offers visits. I've never been but have heard it's v. interesting. Sorry can't help with restaurants.

The website is www.stanthonysmonastery.com

Expect lengthy delays at Pizzeria Bianco, a fact of life since it was chosen Best Pizza in the USA by NY Times etc. They now open for lunch and remain open thru dinner, which has cut the 3 hour delays a lot though if you go mid-afternoon.

Across the plaza from PB (probably 30 yards away) is Nobuo at Teeter House, a James Beard award winning chef's take on Japanese working man's food. The best deal here is the bi-monthly chef's specials but the daily lunches are still good ... the local food critic rated it the # 3 restaurant in Phoenix area ... http://www.azcentral.com/best/2011/c...se.html?page=3 ...

Here's their site ... http://nobuofukuda.com/ ... if going for lunch (limited but inexpensive) I recommend the pork belly buns or soft shelled crab sandwich, and the Okonomiyaki is big enough for two.

Here's another list of 10 top restos downtown (PB and Nobuo are the first two listed but there are 8 others ...) http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/...staurants.html

Don't forget there's a Grimaldi's Pizza in Scottsdale if you get a craving for home

Unless there is a long line of tourists due to an over inflated reputation and disinterested service, I am not interested.

Not sure if these fit your moderately priced category but they're some of the best in Tucson.

North at Encantada Shopping Center, North Skyline www.foxrestaurantconcepts.com/north.html

Wildflower on North Oracle

Tavlino's across from Encantada www.tavolinoristorante.com

Vivace in St. Phillips Plaza (may be too pricey) www.vivacetucson.com Reservations essential

Pastiche on Campbell Dr.

Two that will definitely fit into a moderate price category are Tohono Chul Park Tea Room (for breakfast,lunch,dinner) www.tohonochulpark.org

Sauce on North Oracle Good pizza and pasta, reasonable prices

Thank you History.

I am loathe to go to a better restaurant with my sister and her SO, they complain about all the wrong things to the point of embarrassment.

My sister once sent back a burger at Mickey D's because it was too salty. I asked her wasn't that the resaon you go to Mickey D's.

An historic restaurant in Tucson is the original El Charro. It is Sonoran Mexican, downtown, on Court Street. I spend winters in Tucson and always take out of town guests there, including those who say they don;t like Mexican food. It is supposed to be the oldest Mexican restaurant in the US.
Tucson is very spread out, a large basin, so it would be helpful if we knew which part of town you'll be visiting.
History gave you a very good list for the Campbell Ave corridor and the Foothills.I would add Elle Wine Bistro.There is also a Sauce on Campbell. University Ave. near the U of A has lots of fun casual places like Frog and Firkin and 4th Ave, nearby,has more.
I only stop in Florence for gas..sorry.

@Bill_H I forgot that Bianco is open for lunch now, thanks for the reminder.

@Adu - if you sister is that bad [i.e. the McD's incident mentioned above] I would not take her to Bianco. She is going to say "Waited all that time and the pizza is burned [char from oven] and like cardboard [very thin crust, not NY style for sure]"

Thank you Happy.
_______

Bianco's is with the other side of the family. They do not complain until they leave the restaurant.

But you are right my sister lived in the Chicago area for more than 40 years and is loves that Lou Malnati's stuff which is like Bisquick and ketchup and hates thin crust pizza. The first time she said Lou Malnati, I though we were going to a lighting store.

I do not offer an opinion unless asked.

I have been Arizona four or five times but mainly on business and have not been there in almost 7 years.

Define moderately priced.

Less than $20 an entree but bigger than a breadbox.

Regarding your target entree price, should point that the Nobuo menu I mentioned above is for 'small plates' for two people, so for example the $8 "Pork Belly Buns" is for 2 sandwiches, likewise the $10 Soft Shelled Crab sandwiches, though the Okonomiyaki (seafood and pork pancake) is one pizza-sized disc.

In other words this is a very inexpensive yet high quality place for lunch. All three of these menu items (more than most people could eat) for $13 per person ... if you go to Pizzeria Bianco and the wait is too long then this place (which I actually like better) is right across the courtyard and it's usually easy to get a table. So long as you're OK with Japanese food.

Thanks for the suggestions.