Eating Downtown
Eat Your Vegetables
by Emily Ratley
et’s get one thing straight. I am not a vegetarian. I love bacon, I prefer my steak & lamb rare and I simply can’t pass up slow roasted poultry. I am however, sick and tired of the low-carb, all-meat, cheese and egg diets that have taken over the culinary consciousness of most Americans. What’s an Atkins dieter to do with the mad cow scare? I say eat your vegetables. After consuming all that meat and dairy there are some bodies that would benefit from a high fiber diet for a change. And I assure you there is no compromise in flavor when dining at the many downtown area restaurants featuring vegetarian cuisine.
There are a few locations that are exclusively vegetarian and many more that have a large selection of vegetarian items. For an almost exclusively vegetarian menu opt for the Garland Restaurant which is just outside of our downtown jurisdiction, but well worth including. Just walking in the door triggers the beginning of a happy dining experience because the aroma is so inviting. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and provide an array of foods with global influences such as Mexican, Asian, Mediterranean and American.
An exclusively vegetarian joint on 4th Ave. is the Casbah Tea House featuring organic cuisine and vegan selections. The choices are many including soups, hearty salads, sandwiches, & whole grains. The flavors are rich and savory with well-balanced seasoning. I never thought I would enjoy a vegetarian Rueben, but somehow they have managed it with the help of a fermented soy product called Tempeh. Don’t knock it. They also have a huge selection of tea including some incredibly fresh house-brewed selections.
The Oasis Vegetarian Eatery is slightly out of sight on South Stone, but easy enough to find. The menu at Oasis is monumental so decision-making can be difficult. I like to sample several small plates from the appetizer, soup and salad sections such as sweet potato fries, ginger garlic tofu and a Greek or Thai salad. There is also a huge selection of sandwiches, including veggie burgers and dogs, pastas, Mexican fare, chili, rice & bean dishes. For the most variety in vegetarian eating, Oasis is a must.
There are many restaurants that do a great job at highlighting vegetarian meals providing equally enjoyable flavors and textures as their meat-inclusive foods. The Cup Café at Hotel Congress, also open for breakfast, lunch and dinner is very sympathetic to vegetarians offering plenty of scrumptious salads, appetizers and entrees. I highly recommend the “Napolean was a Vegetarian” item on the dinner menu with grilled vegetables layered between polenta with light cheese and tomato sauce.
Martín’s on 4th Ave. has the best veggie tacos I’ve ever had. It was difficult to order something different but I’m glad I did. Martín serves his chilaquiles (corn tortillas layered with enchilada sauce, beans & cheese) with two fried eggs. The sauce has genuine dried chile flavor and is silky in the mouth, not like the chalky stuff that comes out of a can. He also has a nice variety of veggie burritos, a soup, tostadas and tortas.
Another 4th Ave. gem is Maya Quetzal with food of Guatamala. You can’t skip the Media Lunas (half moons), corn tortillas filled with spinach, walnuts, onion and garlic. There is a vegetarian soup and salad and lots of entrée choices that use traditional flavors from Guatamala such as potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, squash and pumpkin seeds resulting in aromatic scents and distinct flavors. It is truly unique cuisine in Tucson.
The list to the right includes other restaurants that have extensive vegetarian offerings but is not a comprehensive list of downtown-area restaurants. Most restaurants have at least a few items to accommodate vegetarians. Remember to eat your vegetables and as always, enjoy your downtown-area dining experience.
Veggie Delights
Downtown:
Barrio Food and Drink 135 S. 6th Ave., 629-0191
Café Q 121 E. Broadway, 622-4210
Cup Café 311 E. Congress, 798-1618
El Charro Café 345 S. Main Ave., 622-1922
Oasis Vegetarian Eatery 375 S. Stone Ave., 884-1616
4th Ave.
B-Line 621 N. 4th Ave., 882-7575
Casbah Tea House 628 N. 4th Ave., 740-0393
Delectables Restaurant 533 N. 4th Ave., 884-9289
Epic Café 745 N. 4th Ave., 624-6844
La Indita 622 N. 4th Ave., 792-0523
Martín’s 557 N. 4th Ave., 884-7909
Maya Quetzal 429 N. 4th Ave., 622-8207
University
Bentley’s House of Coffee & Tea 1730 E. Speedway, 795-0338
Chipotle Mexican Grill 905 E. University, 628-7967
Pei Wei Asian Diner 845 E. University, 884-7413
Sinbad’s Restaurant 810 E. University, 623-4010
Time Market Deli & Gatsby’s Pizza 444 E. University, 622-0761
Near and Dear
The Garland Restaurant 199 E. Speedway, 792-4221
