It's your own fault about the sopapillas: they're not an Arizona thing so you're not going to find very good ones like you do in Colorado, New Mexico and parts of Texas. And, I'm sorry, but El Minuto is garbage and a total tourist trap that's guilty of many of the same sins as Mosaic.
I disagree with some of this, but I think it's good to call out Mosaic. They've been riding the tide of the name recognition for many years, sometimes undeservingly so, and have become somewhat complacent. They've been needing core changes for a while at the Ironwood Hills location.
That said, Mosaic Dos, on La Cholla is much better, both for food and for atmosphere. There's also usually not been a wait for a table when I've been. Bad location, but it's worth visiting and is the best Mexican available in the Foothills.
Mosaic also had a location in El Segundo, California, near LAX, for several years, that closed only a few months ago. I never got to go, but I was curious if they relented and served the slop that the Californians like, or kept with traditions. Based on their closing, I would guess the latter.
The Red Room wasn't a shithole. That was a huge loss. It was a great beer and whiskey bar that served as an "intimate" live music venue, and had the incredible sort of old charm that make places like that truly great. The Grill was as polarizing as they come. But everyone who lived a certain period of their lives in Tucson has a story about it. And that's what makes it an icon. But the fact is, icons are rarely money makers, and The Grill had to die at some point.
Personally, I liked the food. When I lived Downtown, I would go almost every Saturday for lunch and, when I worked Downtown, I would go every other week or so. I never understood how they made it as long as they did because they were always totally dead during lunch.
And I never could stand the fact that Lindy's got credited as serving a great burger when it's maybe one step up from Mc Donald's, while The Grill was always ignored in terms of burgers. It may not have been cooked just right, but you were getting a $15 burger (what you would pay for it at the beloved Zinburger, where it will likely be overcooked and not as good) for $9.
I'll miss The Grill. But I'm not surprised it's closed. Time has passed though; let it go. Move on.
I think this is being interpreted incorrectly. The actual list at the bottom's description begins with "The top restaurants for Mexican food in or near 20 U.S. cities." To me, that says they picked 20 US cities and then used Zagat to try and decipher the top Mexican restaurant as they were already rated. So this is not a well-researched, expertive, comprehensive list of the country's best Mexican food but, rather, a poorly executed article (on the part of USA Today, but shame on the Star for picking it up) that is really more like a high school research project done at the last minute. The interviews sound like they stood around in a major airport and tried to talk to people, probably while they were waiting to pick someone else up.
Justified critiques. You fail to mention their happy hour though, which is one of the best in the city. I think this place blows their most obvious competition, Barrio, out of the water.
Recent Comments
I disagree with some of this, but I think it's good to call out Mosaic. They've been riding the tide of the name recognition for many years, sometimes undeservingly so, and have become somewhat complacent. They've been needing core changes for a while at the Ironwood Hills location.
That said, Mosaic Dos, on La Cholla is much better, both for food and for atmosphere. There's also usually not been a wait for a table when I've been. Bad location, but it's worth visiting and is the best Mexican available in the Foothills.
Mosaic also had a location in El Segundo, California, near LAX, for several years, that closed only a few months ago. I never got to go, but I was curious if they relented and served the slop that the Californians like, or kept with traditions. Based on their closing, I would guess the latter.
Personally, I liked the food. When I lived Downtown, I would go almost every Saturday for lunch and, when I worked Downtown, I would go every other week or so. I never understood how they made it as long as they did because they were always totally dead during lunch.
And I never could stand the fact that Lindy's got credited as serving a great burger when it's maybe one step up from Mc Donald's, while The Grill was always ignored in terms of burgers. It may not have been cooked just right, but you were getting a $15 burger (what you would pay for it at the beloved Zinburger, where it will likely be overcooked and not as good) for $9.
I'll miss The Grill. But I'm not surprised it's closed. Time has passed though; let it go. Move on.