Best Of Tucson®

Best Late-Night Eats

Grill

READERS' PICK: Despite the fact that there really is no competition on the late-night-grub-front downtown, Grill strives as though there were a Denny's on every corner. You want it fried and comforting? You got it. A touch of nouvelle cuisine? It can be had. Drinks? Grill has a full liquor license. Music? Last time we were there, Wilco's classic "Being There" lilted from the sound system. Plus, Grill's Red Room has live music every weekend for free! And the good shit, too--Woody and now Jim follow a strict "no pabulum" policy. But at 2 a.m., none of that matters; it's "can't talk--eating" time. If it were a smash hit: "Alice's Restaurant," Arlo Guthrie.

B-SIDE: Kingfisher Bar and Grill, 2564 E. Grant Road. Our birdwatcher friends know that a kingfisher in Australia is a kookaburra. If you find yourself hungry after 9 p.m. you can find your merry merry way over to Kingfisher Bar and Grill. Start off with a cocktail prepared by some of the best bartenders in town. They are well known for their martinis, but a well-prepared sidecar or cosmopolitan would certainly make your life a bit more gay as you choose an appetizer from the famed oyster selections. After you've polished off your dozen you should order Kingfisher's all-time favorite, grilled baby back pork ribs. If the night leaves you feeling a bit guilty, a spoon salad with marinated chicken, casera cheese, vegetables and beans is a healthful choice. Our friend the kookaburra would probably laugh the night away with the soft-shell crab sandwich.