Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in Tucson

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in Tucson? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Nook - Tucson

4.7

4.7 (289)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Downtown Tucson

About the restaurant

Enjoy exceptional service and a friendly atmosphere at Nook. It's a wonderful spot for enjoying a delicious meal while catching up with old acquaintances over lunch. Nook is located just south of the Prima County Public Library on East Congress Street. It opened in 2015 and has become a trendy eatery that serves up New American cuisine. Owners Nikki and Matt Thompson along with Todd Anderson are fellow Tucsonans who love their community. Local artists have work showcased throughout this contemporary restaurant. Nook also prides itself on serving up locally sourced food. Try the Godfather Benedict with prosciutto, arugula, poached egg hollandaise and balsamic drizzle for breakfast, or come down during lunch for a green corn tamale pie with cabbage salad. It offers take-out service and is open for breakfast and lunch during the week. This restaurant also serves brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

Top review

DaveVIP

Dined on Dec 1, 2024

Been here many times. Simply a very inviting setting from the owners to the employees always welcoming. Not your usual menu which differentiates it from your usual breakfast/lunch. Pancake s? Yes. Burgers? Yes, but so much more.

The Cup Cafe

4.8

4.8 (2128)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Downtown Tucson

About the restaurant

Recently awarded "Top 100 Neighborhood Gems in America" by OpenTable!

Reservations are highly recommended for dinner due to limited indoor seating and high demand for patio seating.
During breakfast and lunch we do not accept reservations, *EXCEPT* on these holidays: Easter, Mother's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

The Cup Café is a downtown Tucson tradition with a reputation for delicious, inspired fare, alive with flavor. A full-service, historic modern bistro, The Cup Café appeals to locals and visitors alike.

Enjoy the variety of The Cup’s all-day menu and the fresh, delectable, and ever-changing daily features. Selections include build-your-own omelets, unique salads, great appetizers, full-course entrees, classic sandwiches, as well as vegan and vegetarian options.

The Cup also proudly features homemade desserts, baked in-house, as well as a comfortable and expansive outdoor patio, full-service bar, unique signature cocktails, and intriguing wine selections.

Thank you!

Top review

sharon

Dined 2 days ago

This is a great place for a tasty meal with some unusual menu items. My husband and I have tried the Pistol Grip pasta, Old Pueblo Pesto pasta, and the Hotel Salad with flank steak. ALL ARE FANTASTIC!

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Popular dish

Fish 'N' Chips

Popular dish

Stuffed Chicken Gnocchi

Bata

4.7

4.7 (1089)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown Tucson

About the restaurant

Bata is a restaurant designed to celebrate the best our region has to offer. We cook over a live oak fire, on our custom fabricated hearth. Our menu changes daily. We mill AZ grown grain in house, daily. We focus on whole animal butchery, done in house. We have an extensive fermentation program. Our bar program largely focuses on wines that are organic, biodynamic, and produced with minimal intervention. The cocktail list highlights the best products of the season, with a carefully curated list of spirits from across the globe. We believe that our hospitality is just as important as the food and beverages we put on the table.

We do not encourage our restaurant for young children. We do not have any highchairs in house and ask that you please bring your own if it is required.

We do not offer any outdoor seating. Private dining, kitchen counter and large party seating available. Email hello@batatucson.com for inquiries.

Top review

Lorian

Dined 1 day ago

Our waitress was amazingly attentive and after learning we did not drink alcohol, she brought us a sparkling green tea sencha to try. It was an amazing palette cleanser between each course, while also offering a yummy non alcoholic drink. Our first appetizer was the fermented potato roll that paired perfectly with their salted cultured butter. The winter green salad was refreshing, while also integrating a rich taste from the cured egg yolk and a nice dusting of bread crumbs. The beef carpaccio partnered with Xo sauce and spicy aioli complemented the soft beef greatly. The black cod draped in a jalapeño piri piri was absolutely decadent. The cod was buttery and fell apart at the touch of the fork, and is paired with soft yet crisp sunchokes and beets. Our final main course was the Vera Ranch steak perfectly cooked, matched with a charred onion soubise, potatoes, and a vibrant chimmichurri. We finished the night with the shiitake-caramel ice cream with homemade sprinkles. Bata provided an elegant but welcoming atmosphere.

Core Kitchen and Wine Bar at The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain

4.5

4.5 (744)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Marana

About the restaurant

True American cuisine that is approachable, innovative and inspired by Sonoran and regional influences. The menu is complemented by an extensive wine list in an elegant, yet casual atmosphere. The open kitchen highlights the culinary team creating á la carte offerings with plenty of interaction. The private dining room provides an option to entertain larger parties and family gatherings with a personalized chef menu. The chef’s table sets the tone for a world-class interactive, personalized gourmet dining experience.
CORE serves breakfast and dinner.

Top review

Sean

Dined today

Great dinner, awesome service. The atmosphere was calm and quiet, perfect for a night out.

Agustin Kitchen

4.6

4.6 (2427)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown Tucson

About the restaurant

New American Cuisine.
Happy Hour Drinks Every Day from 3-5!

Top review

Beth

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

Delicious dinner, wonderful service, definitely will be going back.

Stables Ranch Grille - Tubac Golf Resort

4.5

4.5 (850)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Tubac

About the restaurant

Stables Ranch Grille at Tubac Golf Resort & Spa serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Stables Ranch Grille is named for its historical significance of being the famed Otero ranch an actual stable back in the day. Our rustic dining rooms reveal the original Spanish cobblestone floor and massive hand-hewn beams. Enjoy American Southwestern cuisine featuring appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pasta, fresh seafood, steaks, chops, and southwestern specialties. Friendly service, fine-casual cuisine, and a comfortable atmosphere combine for a rustic yet upscale dining experience with incredible views of the Santa Rita Mountains. Two dining rooms, two patios, and a large bar provide several areas to dine or relax with a tasty beverage.
You won't want to miss our famous bar complete with saddles for barstools.
If your desired time is not available, phone (520) 398-3515. Reservations are not necessary for breakfast or lunch but are recommended for dinner and for patio seating.

Top review

AbigailVIP

Dined 2 days ago

My husband and in laws dined at the Stables while we were visiting them over the holidays. What a great spot and our new favorite restaurant in the area. Service was excellent, food was top notch and great value, and lots of drink options. All the salads were excellent and I enjoyed my salmon entree. The environment and setting is also so charming. Definitely recommend and will return.

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Experience

Sunday 50% off Wine of select menu

Experience

Wednesday Prime

Maynards

4.6

4.6 (2363)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown Tucson

About the restaurant

Nestled in the historic train depot, Maynards offers an authentic dining experience featuring locally-inspired dishes, an award-winning wine list, and hand-crafted cocktails. Market-driven and fueled by a passion for the Southwest, Maynards delights guests with ephemeral seasonal dishes that celebrate the harvests of the Sonoran Desert in an elegant, romantic atmosphere.

Downtown Tucson’s Historic East End is both a destination and a hub for those seeking the heart of urban Tucson.

Top review

Stan

Dined 6 days ago

This is a beautiful place, great service and lovely food.

Cielos

4.3

4.3 (1303)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Midtown

About the restaurant

Cielos at Lodge on the Desert offers one of the best dining options in Southern Arizona. Dine on contemporary seasonal cuisine that pays tribute to Southwest ingredients. Complemented by classic craft cocktails featuring local spirits and a delectable wine list, Cielos is the perfect place for a romantic night out or a casual happy hour with friends.
The intimate space is framed with floor-to-ceiling windows and overlooks a spacious secluded Saltillo-tiled outdoor private patio featuring bistro string lighting, a four-sided, tiled fireplace for optimal year-round al fresco dining. Cielos and its Bar both reflect a genuine, richly authentic Southern Arizona historic charm and ambience including rough-hewn artist-design hand-painted wood beams, Mexican tin chandeliers, floating potted plants and shade sails.

Top review

Michael

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

Pleace was great but there was a lot of noise coming from one table but we got thru it. Food was great and service was great. Would go again and tell my friends about the place.

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Dante's Fire Cocktails and Cuisine

4.5

4.5 (395)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Midtown

About the restaurant

Dante's Fire, Cocktails & Cuisine has a simple philosophy - Food made from food. Executive Chef & Owner Ken Foy's vision of a scratch kitchen creating Fine Food For Everyone.

Dante’s Fire has been voted Best Late Night eatery by the Community in Tucson, received multiple articles from The Tucson Foodie, and Best Margarita & Food by the Judges & Crowd at the 2022 & 2023 World Margarita Championship, respectively. In July of 2022, Chef Kenneth Foy was crowned the Iron Chef of Tucson. In July of 2023, Chef Kenneth Foy was challenged for his title of Iron Chef of Tucson. Through a tough battle, Chef Kenneth Foy emerged victorious and still holds his title as the Reining Iron Chef of Tucson.

We've created a fine food, casual atmosphere that caters to well, everyone. Start with our daily Happy Hour and feel welcome to hang out all night long.

Top review

CathyVIP

Dined on Nov 16, 2024

It was our first visit and we will be back! Nice of the chef to visit our table.

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Thai Curry Shrimp (GF)

Cayton’s at The Golf Club at Dove Mountain

4.3

4.3 (678)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Marana

About the restaurant

Cayton’s Restaurant at The Golf Club at Dove Mountain, serves rustic and refined cuisine rooted in Southern Tradition. The casually elegant ambiance of the clubhouse restaurant is the perfect setting to enjoy signature entrées and an extensive selection of regional craft beers. The views of Tucson from Cayton’s patio enhance the experience. Cayton’s is open to the public, members and guests and is available for private dining events.

Top review

Jessica

Dined 5 days ago

Our meal was absolutely delicious! We had the Bucatini and Dove Mountain Burger and both were cooked to perfection. We dined later in the evening so the heaters were very welcomed and we even had dinner guests (Javelina) join us on the back porch while enjoying the live music!

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