Hello everyone! Yes, today is Saturday but, I did start writing my “Friday Finds” yesterday and ran into life, which as you know can sometimes throw a curve ball at you! So, I’m going to crunch three restaurants into one blog post. I thought it best to do it this way as I want to start putting more holiday goodie recipes out for December. It’s also winter here in Tucson and many people are coming back for the weather and some are having family and friends visit. The three places I’m going to review are in different parts of Tucson, which some have called, “The biggest little town”, they’ve ever seen. Indeed these restaurants are many miles apart. The Tucson Metropolitan area now encompasses 227 square miles and around a million people, with food to fit almost every taste bud. The three restaurants are, The Parish, 6453 N. Oracle Road, on the northwest side of town. Boca, 533 N 4th Ave, in the downtown area and The Barnyard,11011 E Tanque Verde Rd, on the far east side of town. Let’s dive in and take a closer look.
The Parish, as the name implies is a restaurant with a New Orleans flavor. The atmosphere is open and very inviting with sturdy wooden tables, colorful lights and walls adorned with art from local artists. They even have what I call, the seance room, which feels much like a Parlor in an old house in the French Quarter. This room could come in handy if you want to have dinner with a loved one that has passed! The bar is also a big part of the restaurant and they have an extensive drink menu like many bars in New Orleans. The food is very down home Southern with dishes like, catfish and chicken and waffles. You can also order more New Orleans style food with appetizers such as, Frogs legs and hush puppies. Then you can dig in for some shrimp and grits , red beans and rice or a hearty bowl of Gumbo. As my waiter put it, “Where else are you going to find Gumbo in the desert?” He made a good point, so I had to order it, along with the cornbread and my friend had the fried chicken salad and hush puppies. The Gumbo was rich and of the style that’s more like a stew. There are various forms of Gumbo but this type really goes well with the hush puppies. All of the other dishes were very good except for the cornbread. I wasn’t impressed and it lacked the flavor of corn that I’m accustomed to. Lunch is the best time to go if you want to try out The Parish before taking friends or family. The menu is the same but the prices are a little cheaper. Also their Happy Hour, Tues-Fri 3pm-6pm has $2 off cocktails and wine and $5 draft beer as well as specials on appetizers. If you’re looking for something unique and fun The Parish will fit the bill.
Boca on 4th Avenue is directly in the heart of the hip downtown/college scene. The vibe is very funky and laidback but with a bit of a culinary purpose. Chef Maria Mazon has an amazing reputation and has won awards for her cuisine and been on many television cooking shows. They have a variety of street tacos and other Mexican fare but with a twist, that shows you, what can be done with a little imagination. One of the fun things to try at Boca is their chips and salsa. Unlike other restaurants they serve 6 different salsas daily with freshly made corn chips . I like this idea because you’ll be able to try many flavors of salsa every time you come. I guess the only draw back is if you find one you really like and they aren’t making it the day you visit. I did think a couple of the salsas, tried a little too hard, the goat cheese one for example was over the top and very bitter. The tacos are all served with either flour or soft corn tortillas and on the small side, as most street tacos are. All of the combinations seem very well thought out and the green chili pork I had was nice and tender. My friend ate the Dan Gibson taco a local favorite, a dried beef style simmered in a tomato, red chili sauce. I had to try their take on Borscht. This soup was cooked with beets, sweet potato, beans and Ancho chili topped with a Mexican crema. I went into it with an open mind because I certainly didn’t know what to expect. I will say, it was delicious and I liked it very much but it was more of an Ancho chili soup than a beet base. Boca also boast a huge variety of Tequila, so if that’s something you’d like to try, this is the place for you. Tequila has become very popular across the country and for good reason. Gone are the days of the shots that made you shudder as you tossed them down with a little salt and lime. Tequila has been raised to the level of a fine Scotch or Brandy with some shots costing $50 or more. Those shots however are beyond the scope of this blog. After eating at Boca, it’s a good idea to take a stroll along 4th Avenue enjoying the nightlife and quirky shops that line the street. The college vibe is definitely present and gives one a little life in their step. Give Boca a try and you’ll be happy you did.
The Barnyard is the last restaurant and possibly the farthest restaurant east on Tanque Verde road in Tucson before hitting Reddington Pass, which is a dirt road that winds its way over the mountains. The first thing you’ll notice is the majority of the restaurant is outside. There are tables and Gazebos for dining in the open courtyard as well as tables on the covered patio overlooking the corn hole playing area. As you can imagine this outdoor setting is great for families with children. There’s enough space for them to run around without annoying other diners. The food can be described as American fare since they serve everything from hand crafted pizza to Filet Mignon . The night I went, it was with a bunch of friends and it was a Thursday which is Prime Rib night. We sat inside, in front of huge windows, where you can watch them making your meal. The bar was hopping and there was live music. Inside was a little noisy but the bustling atmosphere gave you the feeling of having a real “night out”. We had to try the “fried mac n cheese balls”. They sound much better than they tasted yet you couldn’t stop eating them for some reason. I think anything fried has that effect on most of us! The Prime Rib was a generous cut and cooked perfectly. Those that ordered it raved about the taste and didn’t have any left on their plate. Fish tacos were also a huge hit as were the Winter Salads with grilled or fried chicken, candied walnuts, pears and blue cheese. Of all the restaurants in today’s post the Barnyard might be the most expensive. For a nice night out or a special occasion I believe the price was worth it. For Tucson it’s a unique place that is very inviting with a diverse menu and great food. The live entertainment was actually really good but hard to hear over the din of the crowd. They only take reservations for parties of 8 or more so if you plan to go it’s best to go early and certainly before 6:30 pm.
All three of these restaurants can give you a great night out in Tucson. Their menus will fit just about any taste in your party and I think everyone will enjoy themselves no matter where you’d chose to go. If you’ve been to any of these restaurants please leave us a comment in the box below and if you have any questions please send them in and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Until next time Boone Appétit!
