North Italian Restaurant; a personal favorite that always delivers

One of my favorite places to dine in Tucson will always be NoRTH restaurant in La Encantada shopping center. Serving contemporary Italian in an open dining area that overlooks the city lights, NoRTH has got quite a reputation and following. It is the "hot spot" for those living the in Foothills, and has an urban feel that attracts those looking to "be seen". NoRTH serves both lunch and dinner, and prices are reasonable, with lunches ranging between $7 to $15 and dinners ranging from $12 to $30. Dress is casual, but I would say "Foothills casual" which means many of the people dining there are dressed to impress. If you plan on visiting on the weekend I would advise making a reservation as it can get very busy, particularly the bar area which seems to be the local after work favorite for the young business professionals in the area. When we visit NoRTH we enjoy sitting at the bar as seating there is open to the interior and exterior of the restaurant, making it a great place to pull up a chair and just people watch. They have a great wine selection as well as a martini menu and everything else you can think of. The dining room is beautiful but the tables are placed close together so be prepared to learn everything you ever wanted to know about those sitting next to you. The noise level is loud most of the time so it might not be the greatest place to dine if you're planning on an intimate conversation. Now to the food....

Unfortunately I tend to stick with those foods I really enjoy and never experience the full menu, but at NoRTH I have ventured out and found I like pretty much everything. I almost always start with the Spinach salad, which is sprinkled with goat cheese and tossed in a Pancetta vinaigrette. I was really lost when there was a national recall on spinach this last Spring and I couldn't get my Spinach salad! If I'm not in the mood for the salad I will get the Calamari, which is served on a bed of Arugula that's been tossed in a lemon vinaigrette. It's incredible, that's all I can say. For those afternoons when we're eating light my husband and I will split a pizza, and I have to say they are about the best in town. The crust is very thin and slightly crisp, and North has some unusual combinations that are pretty incredible. If I'm really hungry then I have the difficult decision of choosing between the Chicken Parmigiana and the Short Rib "Osso Buco". The chicken, a huge moist breast that's served golden brown and slightly crispy, is topped off with fresh tomato marinara and mozzarella, and few butter rigatoni to accent. Every time I've had the chicken it's been incredible. The Short Rib "Osso Buco" is my comfort food; I feel guilty and peaceful every time I take a bite. And the white polenta that is served with this dish is the perfect compliment to the rich and slightly tangy sauce. If I'm feeling healthy I get the Salmon with roasted squash and sweet onions, which is delicious, but I'm partial to my comfort food. Deserts....well I have trouble getting to that course most of the time. They have the standards such as Tiramisu, Cheesecake and Creme Brulee. The few items I've had have been mediocre, but I'm VERY picky when it comes to dessert. You just got to try everything and see what you like.

Everyone I have referred to NoRTH has had a great experience. It's a lively and chic atmosphere that consistently provides great food and service. If you live in Tucson or are just visiting, I recommend stopping by NoRTH and checking it out. Who knows who you might see!

Tavolino offers some of Tucson's best Italian

The first thing that comes to mind when I think about Tavolino Italian restaurant is "make a reservation". The second thing that comes to mind is that I'm close to enjoying some of the best Italian cuisine in town. This little family run restaurant (and I do mean little; there are only 12 tables) has been hopping since it first opened in 2004. Though small, Tavolino has a lot of charm in an elegant, urban sort of way. With white walls and tables clothes, subdued lighting and candles on each table, dining at Tavolino can be a romantic experience if you want it to be. Still, the tables are very close together, so don't say anything you don't want you neighbors to hear! Whenever I've dined there I've seen more small groups then couples, but it's never been so noisy that I couldn't hold a conversation, so it's great for whatever your planning. There's a small bar which may seat four or five people uncomfortably (pretty crammed), but the liquor selection is limited so the bar isn't a place where people hang out anyway. Service has always been great whenever I've dined there, and the wait staff seem to know their business. Tavolino is located in a strip mall (the Safeway shopping center) in NW Tucson, but don't let that fool you. Once you get inside you'll forget your in Tucson.

As I said the food at Tavolino is some of the best Italian you can find in Tucson. The menu consists of a small number of entrees, maybe 12, but there's a lot of variety so you sure to find something you'll like. Tavolino offers several appetizers, but I never order these because I'm always saving room for desert. I also tend to fill up on the warm ciabatta bread and olive oil they bring to the table. I do love my carbs! Still I try to eat a well balanced meal so I make sure I start with a salad. My favorite is the insalata Tavolina, which is fresh romaine with garlic croutons, vinaigrette dressing and a few sliced tomatoes to garnish. It's a nice, lite salad that's a great start but not too filling.

Entrees at Tavolino include several pasta options, steak, chicken, lamb chops and generally some type of fish. When I dine Italian I always go for the pasta, and you'll find incredible selection here because it's all homemade. I think I've mentioned I like clean flavors that aren't overwhelming, and everything I order at Tavolino satifies that desire. The Lasagna is my favorite. Though lasagna tends to have the same ingredients (layers of pasta filled with creamy cheese and a meat ragu), Tavolino's is very fresh and doesn't feel quite as heavy as some. I've also enjoyed a wonderful Penna pasta with mushrooms and sausage in a tomato cream sauce. Yum! During a current visit my girlfriend ordered the Ravioli filled with butternut squash and topped with a lite butter sage sauce. This combination of flavors was incredible and perfect for Fall. Another friend fell in love with the grilled chicken that's marinated in lime juice and rosemary. Although I don't like to eat anything that's on a bone (I don't like anything that requires too much work to eat) I have to admit it looked and smelled wonderful. The roasted vegetables and red potatoes that accompanied it made my mouth water. Entrees at Tavolino aren't too big so you won't be left with that "what have I done" feeling after your meal.

As I mentioned Tavolino does have a bar but if you want something other then wine your choices are limited. There are a few beers and liquors, and a good wine selection that's not too pricey. My husband and I don't drink much Italian wine so we usually depend on our server to help us make a selection. The wait staff is very knowledgeable about the wines offered and we've gotten great recommendations.

I mentioned that I always save room for dessert, but when I've gone overboard and don't have a lot of room left I go for the Affogato (vanilla gelato with a shot of espresso on top). It's still lite and gives me that much needed pick me up after a hearty Italian meal and wine. Tavolino also has an incredible Tiramisu and a to die for chocolate custard with caramel sauce (the Bonet).

After all my great experiences with Tavolino I have to say it's one of my favorites. The prices are a little higher, with most entrees running between $12 -$20, but the food makes it all worth it. Dress is business casual (don't wear torn jeans and flip flops!). And remember, make a reservation!

Torino Ristorante is an Oro Valley favorite!

Unfortunately Oro Valley isn't known for having great restaurants, but there are a few if you know where to look. Torino Ristorante Italiano is one that has a well deserved reputation in the community. Originally known as Cafe Torino, this tiny restaurant started out serving coffee and pastries in the morning and dinner at night with a maximum of 10 tables. As their reputation and business increased in the community, the owners purchased a larger space in the same retail center, and designated that as the new dinner restaurant while keeping the original space for breakfast and lunch.

Torino Ristorante is owned and operated by a family from Torino Italy, so as you can imagine all the recipes taste about as authentic as you can get. The restaurant offers a warm and inviting atmosphere, with dimmed accent lighting and muted walls with watercolor murals like you might find in a Tuscan restaurant. A small open bar is located at the back of the dining area, but seats might be hard to come by as Mike packs 'em in with his a reputation for being the best bartender in NW Tucson. On some nights there is live jazz, but there is generally soft jazz music in the background. Dress is semi casual, although almost anything goes. During the winter months and on weekends you will want to make reservations as they get very busy. Anyway, on to the food!

Whenever we dine Italian we always like to start with calamari. It's our favorite and if it's good then the rest of the meal tends to be good as well. Torino makes a great calamari, the batter is light and crisp with no taste of oil, just freshness. It's served with marinara sauce on the side, but I enjoy the calamari as is; it's just too good to cover the flavor. Squeeze on a little lemon and I'm good to go. The Bruschetta is also very good, and we've heard great things about other appetizers, but we've yet to try anything different yet. Always saving room for dessert!

I've ventured to try a few different entrees on my visits to Torino, and all have been terrific. The lasagna is always my favorite because it's a simple dish with a clean and rich combination of flavors. Ribbons of pasta and ground sausage are covered in the perfect blend of marinara and bechamel sauce, which is great for me as I tend to favor white cream sauces. The portion is not too big which is good because the dish is so rich. The Veal Osso Buco is also excellent, with tender meat that falls right off the bone. My husband's favorite dish is the Pasta Gorgonzola, and I have to admit it is incredible. I don't like anything that tastes similar to Bleu Cheese, but the creamy rich sauce and the slight bite from the Gorgonzola over fettuccine is perfection.

If you can make it to dessert I would go for the chocolate gelato. This creamy gelato is rich to begin with, but is then rolled in crushed chocolate which makes the flavor even more intense. Not enough chocolate? Well chocolate sauce is drizzled over the gelato, so it's about as chocolaty as you can get. My old stand by dessert is the tiramisu which is is quite good, but not the best I've had.

Torino has a great selection of Italian wines as well as a martini menu. If you are just looking for a beer or mixed drink they can do that too.

Service is very good in general, but on occasion it's been spotty. My husband and I like to enjoy our wine before dinner, so we tend to go when the restaurant is a little busier and the meal can be spaced out. If it's a slow night the service will be quick and you'll be done before you know what happened.

Overall you can't go wrong with dining at Torino Ristorante. Great food, great service and the perfect location in Oro Valley makes it the local hot spot that's not to be missed!