🇺🇸 Tucson Food Discovery – Tito & Pep 🐟

This hidden gem specializes in Southwest flavors + mesquite wood-fired cooking 🍴 Located on Speedway in downtown Tucson, it was even named one of the 50 Best Restaurants in the US by the New York Times in 2022! 🏆 Head chef John Martinez 👨🍳 is a Tucson native who blends local ingredients with Mexican, Mediterranean, and Latin influences into unforgettable dishes 💫 The key to the flavor? Everything is cooked over mesquite charcoal, giving each dish a gentle yet deep smoky aroma. The restaurant looks modest from outside, but the interior is stunning—warm wood accents and an intimate vibe make it perfect for a date night 💑 The menu is concise but carefully crafted, with daily specials adding variety. The staff are knowledgeable and happy to guide you through the menu. Starters: Their salads 🥗 are light and refreshing—good for sharing. Grilled Octopus 🐙: Tender and soft (a crowd favorite, though personally it wasn’t my top pick 😅). Mains: Sea of Cortez Shrimp 🦐: Rich seafood broth, fresh shrimp—though the corn masa dumplings underneath were just okay. Dinner Pollo (special): Roasted chicken 🐓 with crispy skin and tender meat. Served with a tropical papaya-ginger sauce and spicy green peppers—a tasty twist! Grilled Trout 🐟: Larger than expected! Crispy skin served with sautéed Swiss chard—subtly smoky and satisfying 👍 Perfect for anyone wanting to try authentic Southwest-Mexican fusion in a cozy yet refined setting. Extremely popular among locals—always packed on weekends! 🕔 Reservations highly recommended (walk-in waits can be 1+ hours). They also serve brunch on weekends—a great relaxed option! 🥂 🏠 4122 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85712 #AZ #Tucson #Arizona #RestaurantRecommendation #FoodieFind #HiddenGem #DateNight