The Dish... A place so good that you almost want to tell NO ONE about it just to keep it all to yourself. 1) atmosphere: This has to be the hands down, most amazing atmosphere I have ever seen. It is intimate, dark, cozy and more amazingly, can barely seat 20 people, creating a one of a kind experience with the food, chef, and the significant other that is sure to be impressed. This creates a one of a kind experience that makes it feel that you have discovered something grand that no one else is even aware of, like your own secret Oasis away from the hurry and noise in most restaurants. 5 stars 2) taste: Some of the best craftsmanship in Tucson, started off with the mussels as an appetizer, The mussels were fresh and delicious, sauce creamy, and seasoned perfectly without overpowering the mussels. After we had the pan roasted chicken and the ahi tuna. The ahi was just as expected in a fine dining restaurant, fresh and delicious, but the chicken? my oh my, a glazed honey chicken that melted in your mouth, mash potatoes that reminded you of childhood, and cipollini onions. A combination that will tear your taste buds apart piece by piece like a roided out WWE wrestler with a machete and a taste for nerd. After dinner we were too full for dessert, but fortunately not for a drink to go. we picked up a bottle of wine and went home to finish off the night. The restaurant in all its ambiance will be greatly remembered.
(5)
Saba B.
We had the secret password as we'd called ahead, which is essential at Dish because the hidey hole dining room is so teeny that you hardly have room to change your mind. The wine list is tremendously varied, and some excellent offerings by the glass are much less pricey here than elsewhere (Cake, Trefethen, and Rockus Bockus all under $10). The Mosel riesling hit it out of the park alongside the mussels in saffron sauce with big tomato and garlic chunks. The menu is a creative bistro mosh which includes crispy duck, pureed soups, and several decadent salads which all dovetail nicely with the outstanding wine list. The staff is articulate in describing the wines and I've never had poor service here. They gave us a heads up when we were dallying and the entire restaurant was ordering so that we'd not be left out. They'd earn a 4th star if we had more room at the bar to spread out as we wound up buried in all of those extraneous plates, glasses, and cutlery with our wee little space. Delicioso!
(4)
Stacy W.
I agree with the other reviewers that reservations are necessary. The room is very small, but that adds to the charm. Being in the back of a shop gives it a sort of speakeasy feel. The bartender/waiter was very helpful in describing the wine selection, and we were very happy with the appetizers and dessert that we ordered: the salmon flatbread and artichoke/polenta dish (still thinking about that one) and the black and white (coffee with liqueur and cream) with cookies. The store is fun to look around in, too, and I got some gourmet chocolates there.
(5)
Andy S.
It was great to get back to the Dish again, and the experience was every bit as good as we remembered. The special was tempting (a big bowl of Saffron Mussels with a glass of wine for $11.50), but having just had mussels a night or two before, I opted instead for the Moulard Duck (peppercorn crust, braised red cabbage, crispy potato and blackberry sauce), which was excellent, as was my girlfriend's roasted chicken. So far, every meal we've had at the Dish has been great.
(5)
Gyasi K.
All the food was good. the steak here was cooked perfectly; it was fantastic. And I am definitely going to recreated the onion compound butter at home. If you want a cozy restaurant experience definitely recommend.
(5)
Jeanne F.
Literally the best dining experience I've had in Tucson. Beet carpaccio was delicious -- light and interesting. Mussels were really good -- usually Tucson seafood freaks me out -- but no angst here. Arctic char was perfect -- seriously just go. Call make a reservation and stop eating subpar food. Enjoy!
(5)
Lee P.
I took an out-of-town visitor to the Dish for dinner on a Friday night. My friend lives in NYC, and I was looking for a foodie-friendly spot where we could catch up. While the food only got about an 8 out of 10, the atmosphere was lovely. We sat at a high-top basically in the wine shop. It was quiet, warm, and cozy. We had the beet terrine appetizer, which was delicious. My friend got the lamb, which had a great sauce, but was a little too chewy. I had the mussels - overall pretty good, but too briny/salty for my taste. We finished with the ancho chile chocolate pot....DELICIOUS! Dessert + prosecco were definitely our favorite part of the meal. And, we bought a bottle of the red wine we'd had by the glass to take home. I would definitely go back with my husband on a date to the Dish. Probably best for parties of 2 - this is definitely a cozy, intimate spot so I don't think I'd go with a group.
The Dish is lovely! Definitely make a reservation before you go, as seating is very limited, if not inconspicuous. This gives the restaurant a certain sense of intimacy with the black and gold decor. Food at the Dish is fantastic. The four of us loved our meals: soft shell crab in a cornmeal crust with green risotto, chicken with asparagus and mashed potatoes, the soup of the day, and the bowl of mussels (me!). The mussels were flavored with saffron and lemon and tomato. I was so in love with this dish I had to pause throughout the meal to reminiscence on how good it was. Oh, and I really enjoyed my glass of Malbec and Todd liked his dry rose. The service did not knock my socks off, but really, the food was delicious, so I'll just figure it was an off night for the Dish and service will improve when we go back :) :)
(5)
Peter P.
The Dish is a little hidden gem in the desert. Its joined to a wine/spirits market (Rum Runner), and the staff is exceptional. The place has very limited seating so call ahead or get there early and peruse their market. They have a steamed mussels in saffron broth dish that blows my mind (This is Tucson after all.). Their chef prepares some pretty amazing specials, they had a tenderloin with balsamic glaze and mashed sweet potatoes once, which is my wife's favorite. The ambiance is great, elegant without feeling pretentious. They have a winning combination there, the food is fantastic, without being overly priced, a great staff, and the location can't be beat. Right in the center of town. Makes for a great starter to a date night.
(5)
Lauren A.
I was driving across country with my Dad and we stopped in Tucson and found this place on Yelp. I chose it because the vegetarian entree was something that I actually wanted to eat rather than a pasta dish. The Wild Mushroom Amaranth Cakes were unlike anything I had ever had eaten and were so delicious. My dad and I shared the Long-stem Artichoke Hearts which were also unbelievably delicious. The staff was very nice and the wine shop is great too! I can't recommend this place enough.
first visit with my wife and friends,excellent and unique menu, the soup of the day for me was butternut squash with watermelon squares...wonderful.. the mussels are over the top ...great service. didn't buy wine buy the glass, bought a nice red at the rum runner 12.00 corkage fee...all and all a very pleasant evening . great find....
(5)
Steve K.
Reasonably good food. Pretty pricey and a bit pretentious. Would I go again? Probably, but only for a really special occasion plus a different ambience.
(3)
Amanda B.
Okay, so I went here two weeks ago for dinner on a Saturday night. I did call the day before and make reservations. And thanks to Yelp, knew what to expect when walking in to the Rum Runner. We were seated right away. I love the intimate atmosphere this place has. There are maybe 8 tables and a bar. Our server explained we could pick a bottle of wine from the Rum Runner and would be charged the $12 corking fee. I am totally okay with that because it still wasn't as much markup as other restaurants charge. So, ordered an appetizer and went and picked a bottle of wine and brought it back to our table. So, my date and I split everything... so here is what we ordered. We started with the steamed mussels. They brought out the order split for us, and it was huge! I couldn't imagine eating that whole thing by myself. And yes, the server brought extra bread and said it was needed to get up all the good broth. He was right. We then split the Fancy Salad. I love goat cheese and pancetta, so it was a winner in my book. Again, they brought it out split. So good. For our main course we had the bacon wrapped pork medallions. The bacon that was wrapped around the perfectly cooked pork was awesome. And the edamame were so perfect with it. For dessert we had the peanut butter heart. It is like a silky smooth peanut butter cup. It was a perfect ending to the meal. I was so happy with the service and all the courses. I will definitely tell anyone to go here and will be back myself.
(5)
Monica E.
What a wonderful place! Love the Dish, and Rum Runner. Excellent selection of wine, cheeses, oils, chocolate and all sorts of other wonderful things! ...although, goodness! It would be so wonderful and much more inviting if one particular person would knock down the pretentious behavior even for a half day! Anyway, moving on. The bistro is lovely. Don't let the small size fool you. And the employees know their wine and will do their best to help you find a good match for mere sipping or for a good pairing. This place is great for a social with friends, an informal date night or a little getaway to the bar. For certain, try the steamed mussels. I have yet to find much better.
(4)
Emily R.
It had been a while since my boyfriend and I were really blown away by a meal at a restaurant....and The Dish did the trick! The Dish is attached to the Rumrunner and is SUPER tiny, which I love...and it means reservations are a must! I loved the atmosphere, very dark and intimite with a modern feel. I started with a glass of their Shiraz Carbernet, and Scott looked like a little boy on Christmas morning when he realized his favorite beer was offered on tap...Kronenbourg. Hardly anyone in Tucson carries that beer. The night was off to a good start.. We split the mussels, which were fantastic. The broth was sooo yummy we practically licked our bowls clean! We also split our entree of Short Ribs with Yam Fries. The short ribs were sooo tender we didn't need a knife to cut it! And the fries were outstanding, it came with a side of bleu cheese aioli for dipping. To end the evening, we split the Panna Cotta with cranberries. Perfect end to a perfect evening!
(5)
Morgan T.
How good is The Dish? As good as it gets. I've been to the "old" Dish, back when it had more space, and I've been to the "new" DIsh, where there are really only 4-5 tables and a big bar. To let Yelpers know, when they renovated the restaurant and the liquor store it is connected to, they had hoped to expand the restaurant out into the parking lot and make it a lot bigger than it was. But then they ran into some obscure Tucson building code that required the restaurant to have a certain number of private parking spaces that couldn't be shared with the liquor store, which makes no sense since they are one in the same! Since the Dish couldn't just buy another parking lot somewhere else, they had to cancel the expansion, and so now it is what it is. But, what is it? It's the best food in Tucson. HANDS DOWN. I've eaten at all the other "nice" restaurants in Tucson, most of which are tacky over-priced conveyor belts of "Southwestern international" blah-food contained within tackier resorts. The Dish creates super creative, richly flavored, top-notch food in a low-key friendly atmosphere. We went there the other night, and while the long-stemmed artichokes with white-corn polenta were delicious, the cane-braised short ribs were jaw-droppingly good. The best think about this place, though, is that it's attached to a good liquor store. You show up 10 minutes before your reservation, you pick out the wine you want to drink, you hand it to the hostess, and then you're seated and your wine is already selected! Corkage is $12, which on most good bottles is a lot less then the normal mark-up you'd pay off of a wine list.
(5)
Dina L.
This is one of Tucson's best kept secrets! I first found out about this place from Rachel Ray's $40 a day. It was hidden behind the wine and cheese place that it is attached too called the Rum Runner. When they were at their old location, it was very small but very cozy. The decor was very relaxing and was perfect for an intimate date night. Now that they've moved, you lose (in my opinion) the date-night feel, but I still enjoy the food and the company. Plus, if you love wine...you can pick your wine right then and there since some of the tables are located in the Rum Runner. The mussells are to die for...I love mussels and the savory broth is one of my favorites and the best I've had in Tucson. The homemade butter is declious and always love to get a second helping. I've loved everything I've tasted - The pork belly, the rock lobster, the shrimp, the baby spinach salad, the halibut and NY strip! I've never had a complaint. One of my faves!
(5)
Laurel R.
The best food and the most insulting service I have received in my entire life. From the woman who ran the Rumrunner who actually said, "blah, blah, blah," in the middle of what I had thought was a friendly conversation to the sommelier who referred to my 23% tip as "a trifle" there is no food in the world that could make me return to The Dish.
(1)
Sheldon A.
We were two couples who were looking forward to celebrating two birthdays at The Dish Bistro. We enjoy fine dining, had heard many complimentary remarks about this restaurant, and were very excited about the evening ahead. Knowing that the restaurant was small, we made reservations. We were seated without a wait exactly on time at a comfortable table for four. Our server was very pleasant and very professional. The restaurant is very intimate, quite appealingly appointed, and inviting. The specialty for the evening was trout with bacon wrapped risotto and an apple slaw. As soon as the server mentioned trout, one of the gentlemen who is especially fond of this fish, raised a sparkling eye and gave a slight nod of acknowledged pleasure. The two gentlemen of our group ordered the trout and both commented as to how very pleased they were with both qualtiy and flavor. The risotto was perfectly creamy with a hint of smokiness from the bacon. The trout delectably moist with a delicate flavor. The prestentation was quite eye-appealing as well. As for the duck breast, ordered by both ladies . . .another story altogether. The duck was ordered medium rare. It was complimented with a red cabbage, crispy homemade potato chips, and a blackberry sauce. Sounds delicious, doesn't it! Alas, the duck breast was tough and the red cabbage was so-so. The blackberry sauce was excellent. We thought that perhaps it was just the one order of duck that was tough, but no, it was both. Highly disappointing! As this was a celebratory evening out, we didn't want to create any discomfort for the birthday gentlemen. We did mention to the server that either the quality of the duck or the preparation was problematic. The presentation could be improved as well. There were approximately ten dinner entres on the menu. To me this is usually a very good indication of quality and expertise in preparation. The menu also appeared to be very thoughtfully created with serious creative consideration given to the entire plate. How very unfortunate that both orders of duck were frankly poor. It is somewhat understandable if one dinner is unsatisfactorily prepared but not both. We all wanted this restaurant to be at the top of our favorites list but we cannot say that it is. We may try The Dish Bistro again, however, because we do understand that at times a singular menu item may not be completely representative of the entire menu.
(2)
Jackie T.
A big bowl o' saffrony mussels and a nice glass of wine for $11.50. My favorite seafood deal in Tucson. And the deli has manchego cheese! Yessss.
(4)
Maribeth S.
We love this place. We have dinner here each time we are in Tucson....which has been three times in 2009...all the way from New Jersey. Great concept, with exceptional wine store connected to intimate restaurant. All three times we sat at the bar. We love Doug, the bartender/bar waiter and thoroughly enjoyed talking to Tom, one of the owners, during our first meal. Other guests always have been friendly and everyone seems to appreciate this gem. We sure do.
Great food and with a cozy ambiance that's nice for date night. :)
(4)
Gidge D.
Place was loud, and Tucson is trending 3 years behind the world. Menu was well put together. HOW do you mess up Tri tip?? I will try again.
(2)
Mike L.
What's with all the hype...it wasn't very good. After all the good reviews and word of mouth, I was expecting alot more then what we experienced. Decor. Very quaint and romantic. But very small. There's about 7 tables with bar seating for about 8 people. Service- very friendly and professional. I had heard that they did not take reservations, so we took a chance and was seated immediately. But I guess they changed there policy and they now take reservations. Food- Now this is were all the problems happened. Our first course was the fancy salad. It was just ok, nothing special. My wife had the short ribs. While the beef was nicely cooked and tender. The sauce was overly sweet and tasted of fennel, which was not listed in the menu. My main dish was the duck breast with beans and sausage. The beans were a little under done and crunchy and the sausage was bland. The biggest problem was the duck breast, it was completely over cooked. So it differently did not live up to the hype.
(2)
Scott N.
the look and feel of Dish is much more overwhelming than the actual dishes. i love the concept: small, few tables, limited crowd... the menu sounds unbelievable - but the food doesn't follow up. i will say that the fried lobster tail appetizer and the roasted pork appetizer were great. i highly recommend getting some wine and picking at the apps all night. we ordered the cornmeal dusted fried oysters and they were bad - they were either old or not fresh AT ALL. we each ate half an oyster and no more. we told the server that they weren't fresh and shouldn't be served - he still charged us for it (and actually asked if we wanted to leave them to "nibble on"). sucks for his tip... my brother had the osso bucco, and it tasted like smoke. the dish seemed like it was steeped in liquid smoke b/c that's all you tasted. it could have been chicken osso bucco and you couldn't have told the difference. the veal was completely lost in the overflavoring of the dish. i had the halibut that was nothing special. it was very bland and the dish needed to be drowned in the sauce, of which i only seemed to get a ladle's worth. i wouldn't order it again. overall, i might give dish another shot, probably when they change the menu up. the oyster ordeal sort of put me out with the whole idea of how a fine dining experience SHOULD be, and that's why i don't think you really get one at Dish.
(2)
John R.
In short, this is a real find, with food that is as creative and delicious as you will find anywhere. And that's really saying something. However, I'll agree with the gripes that the old location was better. It was more intimate and comfortable. The new location seems too bright and crowded. We sat right next to another couple, and tried hard not to listen to their conversation while they tried hard not to listen to ours. Regardless, without any ambient noise, it was rather awkward. It pains me to do this, but because of the social awkwardness of this new location I have knocked off one star. I have always found the service to be very knowledgeable and friendly. Beyond that, the food is beyond brilliant. The chef, whoever he or she is, is truly incredible. There is no point in mentioning specific dishes because they are all fantastic. Do not miss this place. But make reservations.
(4)
Tommy M.
Who would have thought that the best meal I had in Tucson was in a wine/liquor store! The Confit Duck thigh was easily one of the best duck dishes I have ever eaten! Try the Basil Ice Cream!
(5)
Daniel H.
My wife and regularly stop in for clams and a glass of wine. May not sound like much, it it's like dying and going to heaven! Amazing clams - it's the broth that takes them over the top. Dinner at the bar with drinks is as good as it gets in Tucson.
(5)
Eddy S.
Been coming here for a while now and should have written my raves long ago. It really is a nice quiet place for my business meetings where we can enjoy a nice wine (great selection since you get it at RR) and a bowl of shellfish. Staff has always been very pleasant. The corkage fee seems silly but its not a big deal. I could see this being a nice romantic dinner...If I could get a date :P
(4)
Andrew F.
We just moved to TUcson this summer and have been using Yelp to find good restaurants in town. The Yelp reviews of the Dish were good, and we were also told by a co-worker that the Dish was great, so we tried it out for date night. Unfortunately, both my wife and I were unimpressed. The restaurant was quaint, and romantic, but the service staff and food were terrible. We sat at the bar and ate because apparently all the other open tables (just about every table there) were reserved. OK...this must be a great place right? Not so fast... The server behind the bar seemed knowledgable about the wines, but overall he came across pretentious. Even the couple next to us made a joke and it just went over his head. I guess I just prefer wait staff that is more down to earth. The food was mediocre. And what really set me off was the pork loin I ordered. It was served medium rare. When I asked about it I was told this is how its prepared. Well, maybe this food is just too cutting edge for me or something. Oh, and I had the mussels. I love mussels, but these were un-remarkable. The standard buttery/wine sauce. If you want good mussels in Tucson, go to Maynards.
(2)
Troy W.
Excellent change of pace from the humdrum in Tucson. I was quite surprised to find something like this in Tucson. Great place to bring out of town guests. Very small so make a RESERVATION. Excellent dining experience.
(5)
H J.
It had been some time since I went to The Dish, a small but intimate restaurant located in the back of a wine shop in Tucson. I recalled it being very good, but that was probably 5 years ago, and I was hesitant since restaurants normally lose their edge over that period of time. Not so with The Dish. I took my wife, a client and his date just last Saturday, and it was fabulous. Two of us had the lamb, which was just perfect, and the mussles were also excellent. My wife had the Amaranth cakes, which she reported were amazing. We got a good bottle of wine from the shop, and just relaxed. They should expand this place because it's too good and too small. Oh, and we had no attitude issues with the staff. They were all very professional. I give it 5 stars because the food was the kind of thing you look for-an experience, not just the same old thing. Keep it up!
(5)
Pam C.
Hadn't been to the Dish for some time ( since the remodel) and was worried it would loose it's charm and intimate atmosphere and fantastic menu No problem. It's still very tiny and the food continues to be amazing. We didn't get reservations in time for a table but ate at the bar which was just as good. Wine was excellent and he sweet breads were too. Don't be afraid to try them here!! Wish I could eat here more often and will keep it high on my list of places to eat in Tucson next time I'm in town.
(5)
Matt P.
Very small place nested back behing a wine store. The bartender was very friendly and I love their saffron mussels! These are great. The wine selection is great. I wouldn't go here with a large group, probably just a couple of people sice it is so small.
(4)
Gary C.
Who knew? We walked into a retail wine store and came out having one of the best meals of the year. Visiting Tucson, I wanted a bottle of wine...something decent. I googled "best wine shop tucson" and the result was The RumRunner. We headed over and picked up a bottle of Numanthia but also discovered a tiny little restaurant tucked inside called "The Dish." Four tables and a counter with a nice ambiance. We had a quick look a the menu and it seemed right up our alley. The next night we went back for dinner and were blown away. The chef, Martin Sindells, an Australian living in Tucson, has got something special going on here. As is frequently our preference, we sat at the bar and spoke with Doug, the wine master and our server. Great guy, very knowledgeable and friendly. We started with openers...Baked Miti Crema with marcona almond crumble, heirloom tomato confit and black olive rusks. The Miti is a sheep cheese and I've never been served warm sheep cheese. This was flat out awesome but only to be outdone by the other opener, Pulled Pork and Duck Duet with peppered gyoza, fresh sheep milk cheese, pinot noir braised red grapes and baby french radish insalata. Best opener of the year. A bottle of Numanthia Termes was opened. On a sidebar I should also note that the wine list is literally the entire retail store...grab a bottle and pay only retail price with essentially a twelve dollar corkage fee. Awesome deal. I've never seen anything like this before. Entrees arrived soon. We had a Duck Confit with forbidden rice, matchstick carrots, bok choy, shiitake eggroll and black plum and pomegranate glaze. The other entree was Sicilian Braised Beef Rib with chipotle yam fries, sauteed arugula, orange zest and jus de braiser. Both were spectacular. The yam fries came with a blue cheese aioli. I might have chosen a horseradish version but nonetheless the meal was awesome. We couldn't finish our plates so the dessert menu was just a quick, though thoroughly tempting, read. The fact that this place can flourish in the dessert with a tiny staff, no marketing and no stand-alone location says a lot. The place was packed both times we visited. The folks working here have a bright future whether in Tucson or any place they choose to work. This is restauranting at it's best. Highest recommendation.
(5)
Melinda D.
This restaurant is seriously lacking in customer service! We have dined many times at Dish. We like the food. We made a reservation two weeks ahead for 3 people. When we arrived we were seated at the smallest table in the restaurant which barely fits two people. The table next to us had an extra person added at the end, his back was literally a couple of inches from our table. We asked for a table that would accomdate three people and not involve eating with someone's large back at our very tiny table. We were rudely informed that it was a take or leave it situation. It was very frustrating since we booked this as a special night out weeks earlier. Unfortunately, we are writing this restraurant off our list.
(1)
Brian M.
This place is fantastic. Chef Martin has designed an eclectic and satisfying menu filled with surprisingly well crafted dishes. From their signature mussels to the amazingy succulent artichokes stuffed and served over a creamy white polenta to the duck confit there are no disappointments on this menu. The attentive staff and spot on management crew get it it right each and every time. Hats off to The Dish for their unique approach to delectable dining!
(5)
Rosalyn W.
Since we don't get to Tucson all that often, I like to make sure we find interesting places to eat when we're there. I did my research and came up with a restaurant called The Dish Bistro, which is located inside The Rum Runner Wine Shop. The wine store is big, the restaurant is tiny, seating only 26, so reservations are a must. The decor is classy and the food is upscale fusion-y American, as cooked by an Australian. A lot of thought has gone into the pairing of dishes with the accompanying sides. For instance, there's an appetizer of Buttermilk Fried Sweetbreads with Marcona almond crumble / heirloom tomato confit / black olive rusks ($9.50). Or Long Stemmed Artichoke Hearts with shitake duxelles / parmesan polenta / truffle oil / almond basil pesto ($11.50). We shared a bowl of Cream of Parsnip Soup ($8.75) garnished with bacon, raisins and apples - it was heavenly. The delicious bread from The Village Bakeshop was served with a spread consisting of four kinds of onions which had been grilled, chopped and then mixed with both browned and regular butter. I've got to try making some at home. We ordered two entrees to share. The first was sesame crusted ahi tuna, pan seared rare (as requested), served on a mash of garbanzo beans along with sauteed green beans, fried spears of eggplant, and a feta cream sauce ($28). I thought the garbanzo mash was a brilliant idea that went beautifully with the fish. The green beans were perfectly cooked. Unfortunately the sauce, while tasty on its own, was overpowered by the fish. The eggplant, again perfectly cooked, was really overkill. Ken felt like it was a dish from Top Chef, trying too hard to stand out. The portion was quite large and I was stuffed and almost dreading the arrival of our second entree, veal cheek ravioli. If you've never had cheek, it's probably the most tender, succulent part of the animal; sadly, it almost never appears on a menu. So I was conflicted when our waiter said there was a misunderstanding and he hadn't put in the order for it. Although it could have been quickly prepared we decided to try dessert instead. There were many fascinating selections, but of course I went with the chocolate cake. Unfortunately it was brought to the table at refrigerator temperature so the flavor of the chocolate didn't shine. Our server said that they had tried serving it a room temperature but the texture of the cake suffered. By the way, our waiter was personable and knowledgeable about both the food and the wine. After telling him what we planned to eat, we asked him to choose our wine (a shared glass), and he picked a delicious pinot noir. If you choose to get a bottle from the vast selection in the store, you'll pay retail plus a $12 corkage fee, which I'm told is a good deal. Because of the mix up with our entrees, we were not charged for dessert. Despite the few small glitches, we were taken with so many aspects of the food and setting that we'll happily go back during our next visit.
(4)
Andrea K.
RUDE!!! The "hostess" or the woman behind the store counter was extremely unwelcoming and inhospitable. As we entered the cafe another manager type asked us for our reservations and seemed overly agitated at our presence. There was a palpable air of snottiness. Furthermore our waiter who in the past was kind and fun - barely spoke a word to us and took way too much time just to ask our drink order. The place was not that busy and was practically empty by the time we left. Shame on you Dish for making one of our local businesses an unpleasant experience.
(1)
Chang O.
4 stars. The Dish is a small restaurant tucked away inside a modern wine and cheese shop called the Rum Runner. Although we had the address, it took us a while because we were looking for a big sign that read "The Dish". The setting is modern, intimate and may even feel a bit pretentious. Patron dress ranged from casual to dressy, but all pretty tidy. The ambience is best for couples, the tables are small, much like round bar tables where one might stand, although there are high stools available. The largest table I spotted could accommodate a party of four, rubbing elbows. Since we had kids in tow after a long day out, we decided that it would be more comfortable for us to buy take-out. The food was very tasty, but the portions were not huge. We ordered a chicken dish, a pork dish, but our hands-down favorite were the steamed mussels, which not only tasted heavenly, but were also a phenomenal value, compared to other menu items. What puzzled me was that our waiter was a bit tentative about our take-out order, not being sure if our mussels could be made for take-out since it would be "brothy". Made me wonder if no one else had ordered take-out before. ("Things that make you go "hmm...") Bottom line was that they did have good take-out containers and none of the savory broth was spilled. Just didn't expect "take-out" that to be an issue at an establishment like this. The prices were on the high side, but may be rationalized by the quality of the food. The "jumbo shrimp with serrano ham" was tasty but the size of the portion (and the shrimp) was a bit disappointing. Other than that, everything qualifies for "thumbs up". The complimentary bread was also very good. The wine and cheese section carried a wide variety of wines and spirits. Dining patrons may order wine from the restaurant or pick a bottle from the wine shop but pay corkage. The cheese deli was also very diverse. We bought some very special and delicious fig tapenade, which was a new recipe from one of their chefs. Verdict: best for a romantic night on the town and if money were no object. Wasn't looking for oysters, but the mussels are a must-have.
(4)
Karen C.
We celebrated our Anniversary and Ken's birthday at The Dish and have gone there with friends in between. We love the mussels and wine special, but the artichoke heart over polenta has got to be one of the best aps ever! The lemon grass creme brule last night was wonderful. This tiny restaurant reminds us of some of our favorite haunts back east -- small eating spaces in retail shops-- quirky but fun!
(5)
Mai G.
Yes, This is THE place Rachel (ehhhh) Ray reviewed for her dinner in Tucson. It is really super food, when it is ever open, that is! The Musts: The Pink Scallops, which are pink because they are served with anise and saffron, and the other (*note - to be honest the atmosphere is really dark, and the place is in a strip mall, but the food is sensational*) is the Ahi tuna...this is the single dish that seafood lovers with gourmet taste buds love in "dry-land" Tucson! Your run down: -It is Romantic -It is Trendy (but I think they prefer patrons over 35? Just my experience, but were never rude to moi!) -They have no view, and it is really too dark inside (hard to read menu) -The food is lavish and yet understated, simple meets decadence -Call before going to be certain they are open and to make reservations, if needed.
(4)
Jim S.
The title of this review should be 5 stars for the mussels special and 0 stars for the weird service we received. In the most recent yelp review of The Dish, 4 days earlier, Andrea K said that a "manager type" was "agitated at our presence" , "barely spoke" and it was an "unpleasant experience". Andrea K hit the nail on the head (or the fork in the mouth) since my wife and I experienced this "attitude thing" as well. We arrived at 5:00 and NO ONE was in the tiny bar area. We were met by this agitated server Phillipe with "do you have reservations?" and a scowl. Keep in mind, the place is empty. He comes back (after checking something which I guess was the reservation list ) and says we could sit at the end of the bar. There is never a cordial greeting or any effort to try and be nice to us. We get the wonderful mussels special and basically Phillipe served us in a robotic fashion. I believe we said thank you to him 1/2 dozen times and not once do we get any thanks. We leave an hour later (the bar is still totally empty) content with the wonderful mussels special but wondering how this guy can be working with the public. My guess is that he must be the owners son since I would fire him in 2 seconds. Andrea K was really on target with her yelp review on The Dish.
(5)
His T.
Went for the midweek mussels special and was not disappointed. What a great deal! As a marketing ploy it worked perfectly since we also had to get the truffle dessert to compare it with the one at Barrio Grill (Barrio's is better, but this one will not disappoint), and we couldn't help but buy a bottle of wine from RumRunners on the way out.
(4)
Roberta L.
A year ago I would have written a glowing review of this restaurant, one of my favorites for years. However, since they have moved, I don't see why they even bother anymore. Better they should have just reopened as a fine wine/liquor store. The restaurant now is even smaller than it used to be and the seating arrangement is much worse which contributes greatly to the uncomfortable ambiance. Sitting behind a column, otherwise open to the store, is not my idea of a nice dining environment. But there are even worse changes. The menu has been greatly pared down and many of my favorites are gone. So is my all time favorite waiter. The service during my recent visit was simply terrible. Steak, ordered by two of the foursome in our party, was served with great confusion about which steak was cooked medium and which was cooked rare. The waiter kept changing his mind. The mussels I ordered were the size of marbles, not those lush pillowy ones I've had in the past. If that was due to a seasonal variation, why have it on the menu? No one came to inquire about our satisfaction with the meal and we were glad to leave. Oh, yes!! NO RESERVATIONS. One might actually wait in line for this. There are many fine choices in Tucson these days so The Dish, in my opinion, is riding on its former reputation. Too bad.
(1)
Phil O.
We frequented The Dish at the old address, hadn't been there since the move. Although some of our favorite items are no longer (Vegetable Dish, duck dish, Baramundi) the special tonight was absolutely wonderful. Sole presented beautifully with a spaghetti squash, potato and cream sauce combination. All three of us just loved it. The goat cheese small dish wasn't as good as it used to be, but the leek soup was delicious. Coconut tart for dessert was perfect as well. Service couldn't have been better. Be sure to ask the waiter for the best entree that night, they always know. $12 corkage fee is out of line in my opinion. However, I still would be proud to take out-of-towners to The Dish.
(4)
Arissa C.
Wonderful wine selection (hmmmm maybe because they have a wine store next door) and menu ranging from barramundi to veal ...love their fragrant saffron mussels...always a treat to go here....
(5)
Gypsy B.
This is a wonderful place to eat in Tucson. The restaurant is located inside the Rumrunner Wine shop. Best to have reservations as only limited number of tables available . We were with a party of 8 adults . The atmosphere was relaxing. The Food was exceptionally good, and we were still talking about it hours later. If I could add more stars, on this place I would. Pick any wine in the store & pay a reasonable uncorking fee, or have house wines & beers. The service was efficient and unobtrusive. The staff were pleasant welcoming & knew the menu and specials. This is a great place for Adults to have a romantic intimate dinner. Great place for groups of adults., So folks leave the kids at home, and let us big kids have a place where we can relax.
(5)
Leo B.
Great food. Expensive prices but worth it on a special night out. Excellent wine selection.
(5)
H P.
this place is a little hard to find. it is tucked away behind rumrunner, set in from the road, and i passed by it a few times by accident. you must make reservations, as the space only has a few tables and a bar area for dining accommodations. my wife and i had the steamed mussels and beer combo. the mussels are steamed with white wine, garlic, and shallots, and they give you good crusty bread to dip in the broth. best deal in town! the jumbo shrimp dish is also pretty good, if a bit overpriced. i would really recommend sampling a few glasses of wine and pairing them with a bunch of appetizers. the entrees are pretty pricey, so it's better to just sample a few small dishes. i think this place would be better as a tapas / small dish joint. desserts are also yummy.
(4)
carol s.
Loved my evening here. Came in as a single diner (business trip) and was just going to check out their wine selection. Saw the cozy bistro and decided to take a seat. Ordered light and loved everything. Salad with nutmeg dressing terrific, the stuffed artichokes were amazing - complimented with a little puck of polenta in the middle - one of the best things I've ever eaten. Wine selection was excellent as well. The only thing missing was my other half!
(5)
Chris S.
Easily the best restaurant I have been to in Tucson. Elegant space, good service by knowledgeable people, delicious food (on the hearty side), and great wine list.
(5)
Jane Y.
for christmas we went to visit the rents for the first time in tucson. we definitely wanted to take them out to a nice, fancy, good eatery since they work so dang hard and NEVER take a break or treat themselves to a nice dinner. so of course, FANTASTIC, LOVING daughter to the rescue! since i wasn't familiar at all w/ the area and no one i knew could give me any pointers, i first searched on yelp (limited reviews of tucson) and then searched online. i had heard rachel ray made a visit here but that doesn't say much since she "oooh's" and "ahhh's" over everything. all in all, this sounded like a decent, upscale place in the area. and as another reviewer mentioned reservations are a MUST! it's a teeny tiny place but cozy and dim. between the 5 of us, we tried everything from SAFFRON MUSSELS, WARM GOAT CHEESE, VEGGIE DISH, DUCK, LAMB, and STEAK! i have to say, for a girl that doesn't like mussels, they were darn good and we were soakin up all the sauce w/ our bread. the lamb was too gamey for me and the steak a bit more cooked than i like but whatever wine that the waiter recommended was superb! the desserts were so not up to jane's standards so was a bit disappointed. overall, the food was decent (3 stars...nothing beats SF food) but the service was TOP NOTCH...thus the 4 stars.
(4)
Adam P.
I would definitely go back. Been wanting to try this place for years and finally got a chance. And they didn't disappoint. I found the service to be very pleasant, helpful, attentive but not intrusive. All of the staff was courteous and pleasant. Ambience was wonderful for a date night, great atmosphere in the wine shop with an urban feel but also felt like we could have been in Sonoma or Napa. Was fun to be able to 'shop' for our dinner bottle in the store with lots of reasonably priced selections to choose from and added to the experience. And was a smooth process too, not clumsy like other places with the same setup. Just grabbed off the shelf and took it to our table and server was there promptly to serve. The bread had a fun butter which is always an appreciated touch. The starter salads spinach and the fancy were fabulous, great flavors and much more than just an after thought on the menu. Really kicked off the dinner nicely. Chicken was well prepared as was the ahi. Both dishes were well seasoned and had multiple components that really worked well together. The celery on the Ahi was just enough to add some needed crunch and texture and the avocado tempura was a creative, and tasty, touch that rounded out the dish nicely. Portion sizes were just right. Courses were served and cleared at a perfect pace. Overall great dining experience. The menu left lots to look forward to so plenty of excuses to go back. Definitely need to go back for the mussels. It is small so I would only go with reservations although it does look like they do their best to accommodate. But I saw a lot of negative comments on here that I think was a result of friction with patrons, and the need for the restaurant to manage tables and turn them over. I think you need to respect the restaurant's need to turnover tables especially at such a small place. After all, with such good food we want everyone to enjoy and want them to stay in business! That said we were there for ~90 minutes and never felt rushed, check came without having to ask and at the appropriate time. Thanks dish!
(5)
Gina M.
I am truly in love the The Dish. Went there for my second time in a month. The QUIET atmosphere, friendly service and delicious food hard to beat. The spinach salad was outstanding as was the potato soup for starters. My husband & I had the chicken and I don't know how they do it - moist, flavorful, perfect temperature and the mashed potatoes and vegetables just as perfect. One of our friends had the tuna and another the lobster. There was not a bite left on their plates. For dessert we split a creme brulee and a chocolate cake with a cherry sauce. No bites left on either of those plates either. Over all experience simply delightful. What a great way to celebrate my birthday. Can't wait to return.
(5)
Richa S.
$12 mussels and a glass of wine. The mussles are buttery and tender. Friend ordered a Fancy Salad. It was actually a Simple salad with Fancy pricing. Thumbs down. Stick to the mussles and wine deal.
(4)
Cristina R.
Had my first dinner in Tucson for my birthday here, I had just moved to the city and my husband took me here to celebrate. It was incredible! I had the special of the day which was fish and it was a stunning dish! My husband had duck raviolis and they were out of this world!! Make sure you have a reservation in advance since the place is tiny!! Will definitely return for another special occasion!
(5)
Anne D.
I feel like I have died and gone to heaven when eating here. My loves: the bread and garlic butter, seared tuna small dish, the Ceasar salad, the duck, and the creme brule. And, I can wear blue jeans or my favorite dress and diamonds. It is very intimate, and you always know your food will be delicious. Yes, you end up talking to people next to you, but you have no idea who they are. You could be talking to a CEO or a miltary man, and they are all delightful. There is no discrimination. I love this place.
(5)
Laura R.
We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary at the Dish. We made reservations and told them it was our anniversary and the waiters took special care of us from the moment we walked in the door! Perfect wine advice phenomenal food excellent service and they even gave us a small anniversary gift. The atmosphere is intimate and adorable and I can't say enough about the food and service! If you are in Tucson be sure to go it was our best dining experience by far on our vacation!
(5)
alan m.
This has always been our favorite Tucson restaurant. However, our last two visits have definitely been below standard. Food has been uninspired at best and with some dishes actually poor. What has happened to the cooking here? I will not return until I hear of improvement! What a shame, as we love this place! Reviews, please! Has anyone had the same experience?
(5)
Sylvian F.
Bistro food and atmosphere. Pick a bottle of wine before you sit down and it's yours for the meal (with a fee attached). Creative meals that are classically delicious. This place is a real Tucson Gem. I am a fan of mussels, but have not tried theirs in quite a long time. When I had previously the quality of the mussels themselves were underwhelming. This may have changed, but I will await further reviews of them here before considering trying them again.
(5)
Isabella J.
Nestled inside a wine shop, this spot is super intimate (as in extra cozy) with something thirty seats. The ambiance makes for a perfect date night. Peruse the the shop before dinner, but a bottle and take it to the table with you. The wine selection at the shop (also known as The Rum Runner) is impressively varied and well priced. Their Wine shop/ restaurant concept was one of the first to hit Tucson and they certainly do it well. On the food front, they're Known for their Mussels, a definite must try. We enjoyed a bowl of those tonight. With a Caesar salad, fancy salad and the salmon dish. Everything was flavorful and well portioned, but a bit on the salty side. Wine by the glass is nicely priced. I love that their keep it real with their wine prices. So many restaurants in town mark up their wines to the point of of greed and that's a major turn off. Two servers usually handle the floor an handle it well attentively. The Dish is a solid go-to for locals and visitors alike.
(4)
Ty F.
Decent food (I had a huge pork chop) in a wine store, how can this be bad? The Friday night the bf and I went, it was not crowded -- one table sat empty for about 30 minutes. It's small and we had reservations and they were able to seat us early because we were pretty hungry. The paella puck thingy was good too. The food was good, not great by any stretch. You can buy any bottle of wine in the store to have with dinner for a $12 corkage which seems a bit high to me considering. Seems like a good place to try once.
(3)
Nicholas Q.
I met with a small group here recently to celebrate the birthday of one of our friends. We all sat at the bar and I would say that we were there on a good night because the service was pretty good, the atmosphere was nice a cozy, and the food was excellent. My friend and I ordered the steamed mussels in saffron broth with diced tomato, garlic, and fresh oregano. Approximately seven other diners were at the bat during the time we were there and they all started with this dish, which should give you a clear idea of how popular it is. The portion size was plenty for two people, the mussels were cooked just right, and the broth was really yummy. I would say this is perhaps the best deal on the menu. We also ordered pan-roasted Chicken with brandied creminis, cipollini onions, grilled asparagus, and mashed potatoes layered over a sage & butter pan sauce. What impressed me most was how well the chicken was cooked. I suspect they brine it prior to cooking, because it was very moist and juicy and cooked evenly all the way through with no pink or dryness anywhere. All the veggies were cooked just right and the sauce was a great accompaniment. Our dining companions were also please with all of there selections. Overall it was a great evening and a truly nice place to visit for a special occasion.
(5)
Kelli M.
Traveling in Tucson for work and I found The Dish Bistro on yelp. Don't let the parking lot and wine store front fool you. There is a tiny bar and restaurant to the right when you walk in. I came solo on a Wednesday night at 7:30 and had to wait for a spot. Based on the other reviews, in retrospect I was lucky to even get a seat without a reservation! The service at the bar was fairly good and the food was just okay. I had the salmon.
(3)
Veneranda A.
1) Plan ahead. Get reservations, and don't invite more than three people to come with you. Calling The Dish "intimate" is a stretch. The place seats very few people. 2) Save yourself for what is some of the best bistro cuisine you've ever eaten in a wine store...or anywhere else for that matter. This place has sentimental value for me, dating back to the old location. In law school, when fine dining was a luxury, my friend and I would call ahead, sit at the bar on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to get the mussel deal. Expertly steamed mussels and a glass of wine for $10. It's now $12.50, but, hey, it's still a good deal. Now I go there with my mother. We always get the same thing, because if it's not broke, don't fix it. We split the artichoke appetizer (artichokes stuffed with mushrooms on a bed of truffle oil infused polenta) and the roasted chicken with cippolini onions and mashed potatoes. The restaurant always accommodates this request and we make up for splitting the meal by ordering wine. And they have great wine. Make sure you try the bread and compound butter. It's a wonderful treat. Dessert, whether on a plate or in a glass, is a great way to round out the evening. This is the kind of place where you can sit long into the night, listen to great music, drink wine, and enjoy your company as much as the food...if your company is really really good.
(5)
Janet B.
This used to be my favorite restaurant in Tucson but dinner last night has changed that! The food was overpriced, under seasoned and mediocre while the service was un-attentive. This has made me sad and it will be a long while before I am ready to brave it again!
(2)
Melinda D.
This restaurant is seriously lacking in customer service! We have dined many times at Dish. We like the food. We made a reservation two weeks ahead for 3 people. When we arrived we were seated at the smallest table in the restaurant which barely fits two people. The table next to us had an extra person added at the end, his back was literally a couple of inches from our table. We asked for a table that would accomdate three people and not involve eating with someone's large back at our very tiny table. We were rudely informed that it was a take or leave it situation. It was very frustrating since we booked this as a special night out weeks earlier. Unfortunately, we are writing this restraurant off our list.
(1)
Brian M.
This place is fantastic. Chef Martin has designed an eclectic and satisfying menu filled with surprisingly well crafted dishes. From their signature mussels to the amazingy succulent artichokes stuffed and served over a creamy white polenta to the duck confit there are no disappointments on this menu. The attentive staff and spot on management crew get it it right each and every time. Hats off to The Dish for their unique approach to delectable dining!
(5)
Anne D.
I feel like I have died and gone to heaven when eating here. My loves: the bread and garlic butter, seared tuna small dish, the Ceasar salad, the duck, and the creme brule. And, I can wear blue jeans or my favorite dress and diamonds. It is very intimate, and you always know your food will be delicious. Yes, you end up talking to people next to you, but you have no idea who they are. You could be talking to a CEO or a miltary man, and they are all delightful. There is no discrimination. I love this place.
(5)
Laura R.
We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary at the Dish. We made reservations and told them it was our anniversary and the waiters took special care of us from the moment we walked in the door! Perfect wine advice phenomenal food excellent service and they even gave us a small anniversary gift. The atmosphere is intimate and adorable and I can't say enough about the food and service! If you are in Tucson be sure to go it was our best dining experience by far on our vacation!
(5)
alan m.
This has always been our favorite Tucson restaurant. However, our last two visits have definitely been below standard. Food has been uninspired at best and with some dishes actually poor. What has happened to the cooking here? I will not return until I hear of improvement! What a shame, as we love this place! Reviews, please! Has anyone had the same experience?
(5)
Sylvian F.
Bistro food and atmosphere. Pick a bottle of wine before you sit down and it's yours for the meal (with a fee attached). Creative meals that are classically delicious. This place is a real Tucson Gem. I am a fan of mussels, but have not tried theirs in quite a long time. When I had previously the quality of the mussels themselves were underwhelming. This may have changed, but I will await further reviews of them here before considering trying them again.
(5)
Isabella J.
Nestled inside a wine shop, this spot is super intimate (as in extra cozy) with something thirty seats. The ambiance makes for a perfect date night. Peruse the the shop before dinner, but a bottle and take it to the table with you. The wine selection at the shop (also known as The Rum Runner) is impressively varied and well priced. Their Wine shop/ restaurant concept was one of the first to hit Tucson and they certainly do it well. On the food front, they're Known for their Mussels, a definite must try. We enjoyed a bowl of those tonight. With a Caesar salad, fancy salad and the salmon dish. Everything was flavorful and well portioned, but a bit on the salty side. Wine by the glass is nicely priced. I love that their keep it real with their wine prices. So many restaurants in town mark up their wines to the point of of greed and that's a major turn off. Two servers usually handle the floor an handle it well attentively. The Dish is a solid go-to for locals and visitors alike.
(4)
Adam P.
I would definitely go back. Been wanting to try this place for years and finally got a chance. And they didn't disappoint. I found the service to be very pleasant, helpful, attentive but not intrusive. All of the staff was courteous and pleasant. Ambience was wonderful for a date night, great atmosphere in the wine shop with an urban feel but also felt like we could have been in Sonoma or Napa. Was fun to be able to 'shop' for our dinner bottle in the store with lots of reasonably priced selections to choose from and added to the experience. And was a smooth process too, not clumsy like other places with the same setup. Just grabbed off the shelf and took it to our table and server was there promptly to serve. The bread had a fun butter which is always an appreciated touch. The starter salads spinach and the fancy were fabulous, great flavors and much more than just an after thought on the menu. Really kicked off the dinner nicely. Chicken was well prepared as was the ahi. Both dishes were well seasoned and had multiple components that really worked well together. The celery on the Ahi was just enough to add some needed crunch and texture and the avocado tempura was a creative, and tasty, touch that rounded out the dish nicely. Portion sizes were just right. Courses were served and cleared at a perfect pace. Overall great dining experience. The menu left lots to look forward to so plenty of excuses to go back. Definitely need to go back for the mussels. It is small so I would only go with reservations although it does look like they do their best to accommodate. But I saw a lot of negative comments on here that I think was a result of friction with patrons, and the need for the restaurant to manage tables and turn them over. I think you need to respect the restaurant's need to turnover tables especially at such a small place. After all, with such good food we want everyone to enjoy and want them to stay in business! That said we were there for ~90 minutes and never felt rushed, check came without having to ask and at the appropriate time. Thanks dish!
(5)
Gina M.
I am truly in love the The Dish. Went there for my second time in a month. The QUIET atmosphere, friendly service and delicious food hard to beat. The spinach salad was outstanding as was the potato soup for starters. My husband & I had the chicken and I don't know how they do it - moist, flavorful, perfect temperature and the mashed potatoes and vegetables just as perfect. One of our friends had the tuna and another the lobster. There was not a bite left on their plates. For dessert we split a creme brulee and a chocolate cake with a cherry sauce. No bites left on either of those plates either. Over all experience simply delightful. What a great way to celebrate my birthday. Can't wait to return.
(5)
Richa S.
$12 mussels and a glass of wine. The mussles are buttery and tender. Friend ordered a Fancy Salad. It was actually a Simple salad with Fancy pricing. Thumbs down. Stick to the mussles and wine deal.
(4)
Cristina R.
Had my first dinner in Tucson for my birthday here, I had just moved to the city and my husband took me here to celebrate. It was incredible! I had the special of the day which was fish and it was a stunning dish! My husband had duck raviolis and they were out of this world!! Make sure you have a reservation in advance since the place is tiny!! Will definitely return for another special occasion!
(5)
Ty F.
Decent food (I had a huge pork chop) in a wine store, how can this be bad? The Friday night the bf and I went, it was not crowded -- one table sat empty for about 30 minutes. It's small and we had reservations and they were able to seat us early because we were pretty hungry. The paella puck thingy was good too. The food was good, not great by any stretch. You can buy any bottle of wine in the store to have with dinner for a $12 corkage which seems a bit high to me considering. Seems like a good place to try once.
(3)
Nicholas Q.
I met with a small group here recently to celebrate the birthday of one of our friends. We all sat at the bar and I would say that we were there on a good night because the service was pretty good, the atmosphere was nice a cozy, and the food was excellent. My friend and I ordered the steamed mussels in saffron broth with diced tomato, garlic, and fresh oregano. Approximately seven other diners were at the bat during the time we were there and they all started with this dish, which should give you a clear idea of how popular it is. The portion size was plenty for two people, the mussels were cooked just right, and the broth was really yummy. I would say this is perhaps the best deal on the menu. We also ordered pan-roasted Chicken with brandied creminis, cipollini onions, grilled asparagus, and mashed potatoes layered over a sage & butter pan sauce. What impressed me most was how well the chicken was cooked. I suspect they brine it prior to cooking, because it was very moist and juicy and cooked evenly all the way through with no pink or dryness anywhere. All the veggies were cooked just right and the sauce was a great accompaniment. Our dining companions were also please with all of there selections. Overall it was a great evening and a truly nice place to visit for a special occasion.
(5)
Kelli M.
Traveling in Tucson for work and I found The Dish Bistro on yelp. Don't let the parking lot and wine store front fool you. There is a tiny bar and restaurant to the right when you walk in. I came solo on a Wednesday night at 7:30 and had to wait for a spot. Based on the other reviews, in retrospect I was lucky to even get a seat without a reservation! The service at the bar was fairly good and the food was just okay. I had the salmon.
(3)
Jeanne F.
Literally the best dining experience I've had in Tucson. Beet carpaccio was delicious -- light and interesting. Mussels were really good -- usually Tucson seafood freaks me out -- but no angst here. Arctic char was perfect -- seriously just go. Call make a reservation and stop eating subpar food. Enjoy!
(5)
Veneranda A.
1) Plan ahead. Get reservations, and don't invite more than three people to come with you. Calling The Dish "intimate" is a stretch. The place seats very few people. 2) Save yourself for what is some of the best bistro cuisine you've ever eaten in a wine store...or anywhere else for that matter. This place has sentimental value for me, dating back to the old location. In law school, when fine dining was a luxury, my friend and I would call ahead, sit at the bar on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to get the mussel deal. Expertly steamed mussels and a glass of wine for $10. It's now $12.50, but, hey, it's still a good deal. Now I go there with my mother. We always get the same thing, because if it's not broke, don't fix it. We split the artichoke appetizer (artichokes stuffed with mushrooms on a bed of truffle oil infused polenta) and the roasted chicken with cippolini onions and mashed potatoes. The restaurant always accommodates this request and we make up for splitting the meal by ordering wine. And they have great wine. Make sure you try the bread and compound butter. It's a wonderful treat. Dessert, whether on a plate or in a glass, is a great way to round out the evening. This is the kind of place where you can sit long into the night, listen to great music, drink wine, and enjoy your company as much as the food...if your company is really really good.
(5)
Janet B.
This used to be my favorite restaurant in Tucson but dinner last night has changed that! The food was overpriced, under seasoned and mediocre while the service was un-attentive. This has made me sad and it will be a long while before I am ready to brave it again!
(2)
Stacy W.
I agree with the other reviewers that reservations are necessary. The room is very small, but that adds to the charm. Being in the back of a shop gives it a sort of speakeasy feel. The bartender/waiter was very helpful in describing the wine selection, and we were very happy with the appetizers and dessert that we ordered: the salmon flatbread and artichoke/polenta dish (still thinking about that one) and the black and white (coffee with liqueur and cream) with cookies. The store is fun to look around in, too, and I got some gourmet chocolates there.
(5)
Monica E.
What a wonderful place! Love the Dish, and Rum Runner. Excellent selection of wine, cheeses, oils, chocolate and all sorts of other wonderful things! ...although, goodness! It would be so wonderful and much more inviting if one particular person would knock down the pretentious behavior even for a half day! Anyway, moving on. The bistro is lovely. Don't let the small size fool you. And the employees know their wine and will do their best to help you find a good match for mere sipping or for a good pairing. This place is great for a social with friends, an informal date night or a little getaway to the bar. For certain, try the steamed mussels. I have yet to find much better.
(4)
Brian Z.
The Dish... A place so good that you almost want to tell NO ONE about it just to keep it all to yourself. 1) atmosphere: This has to be the hands down, most amazing atmosphere I have ever seen. It is intimate, dark, cozy and more amazingly, can barely seat 20 people, creating a one of a kind experience with the food, chef, and the significant other that is sure to be impressed. This creates a one of a kind experience that makes it feel that you have discovered something grand that no one else is even aware of, like your own secret Oasis away from the hurry and noise in most restaurants. 5 stars 2) taste: Some of the best craftsmanship in Tucson, started off with the mussels as an appetizer, The mussels were fresh and delicious, sauce creamy, and seasoned perfectly without overpowering the mussels. After we had the pan roasted chicken and the ahi tuna. The ahi was just as expected in a fine dining restaurant, fresh and delicious, but the chicken? my oh my, a glazed honey chicken that melted in your mouth, mash potatoes that reminded you of childhood, and cipollini onions. A combination that will tear your taste buds apart piece by piece like a roided out WWE wrestler with a machete and a taste for nerd. After dinner we were too full for dessert, but fortunately not for a drink to go. we picked up a bottle of wine and went home to finish off the night. The restaurant in all its ambiance will be greatly remembered.
(5)
roy g.
first visit with my wife and friends,excellent and unique menu, the soup of the day for me was butternut squash with watermelon squares...wonderful.. the mussels are over the top ...great service. didn't buy wine buy the glass, bought a nice red at the rum runner 12.00 corkage fee...all and all a very pleasant evening . great find....
(5)
Amanda B.
Okay, so I went here two weeks ago for dinner on a Saturday night. I did call the day before and make reservations. And thanks to Yelp, knew what to expect when walking in to the Rum Runner. We were seated right away. I love the intimate atmosphere this place has. There are maybe 8 tables and a bar. Our server explained we could pick a bottle of wine from the Rum Runner and would be charged the $12 corking fee. I am totally okay with that because it still wasn't as much markup as other restaurants charge. So, ordered an appetizer and went and picked a bottle of wine and brought it back to our table. So, my date and I split everything... so here is what we ordered. We started with the steamed mussels. They brought out the order split for us, and it was huge! I couldn't imagine eating that whole thing by myself. And yes, the server brought extra bread and said it was needed to get up all the good broth. He was right. We then split the Fancy Salad. I love goat cheese and pancetta, so it was a winner in my book. Again, they brought it out split. So good. For our main course we had the bacon wrapped pork medallions. The bacon that was wrapped around the perfectly cooked pork was awesome. And the edamame were so perfect with it. For dessert we had the peanut butter heart. It is like a silky smooth peanut butter cup. It was a perfect ending to the meal. I was so happy with the service and all the courses. I will definitely tell anyone to go here and will be back myself.
(5)
Saba B.
We had the secret password as we'd called ahead, which is essential at Dish because the hidey hole dining room is so teeny that you hardly have room to change your mind. The wine list is tremendously varied, and some excellent offerings by the glass are much less pricey here than elsewhere (Cake, Trefethen, and Rockus Bockus all under $10). The Mosel riesling hit it out of the park alongside the mussels in saffron sauce with big tomato and garlic chunks. The menu is a creative bistro mosh which includes crispy duck, pureed soups, and several decadent salads which all dovetail nicely with the outstanding wine list. The staff is articulate in describing the wines and I've never had poor service here. They gave us a heads up when we were dallying and the entire restaurant was ordering so that we'd not be left out. They'd earn a 4th star if we had more room at the bar to spread out as we wound up buried in all of those extraneous plates, glasses, and cutlery with our wee little space. Delicioso!
It was great to get back to the Dish again, and the experience was every bit as good as we remembered. The special was tempting (a big bowl of Saffron Mussels with a glass of wine for $11.50), but having just had mussels a night or two before, I opted instead for the Moulard Duck (peppercorn crust, braised red cabbage, crispy potato and blackberry sauce), which was excellent, as was my girlfriend's roasted chicken. So far, every meal we've had at the Dish has been great.
(5)
Gyasi K.
All the food was good. the steak here was cooked perfectly; it was fantastic. And I am definitely going to recreated the onion compound butter at home. If you want a cozy restaurant experience definitely recommend.
(5)
Lee P.
I took an out-of-town visitor to the Dish for dinner on a Friday night. My friend lives in NYC, and I was looking for a foodie-friendly spot where we could catch up. While the food only got about an 8 out of 10, the atmosphere was lovely. We sat at a high-top basically in the wine shop. It was quiet, warm, and cozy. We had the beet terrine appetizer, which was delicious. My friend got the lamb, which had a great sauce, but was a little too chewy. I had the mussels - overall pretty good, but too briny/salty for my taste. We finished with the ancho chile chocolate pot....DELICIOUS! Dessert + prosecco were definitely our favorite part of the meal. And, we bought a bottle of the red wine we'd had by the glass to take home. I would definitely go back with my husband on a date to the Dish. Probably best for parties of 2 - this is definitely a cozy, intimate spot so I don't think I'd go with a group.
The Dish is lovely! Definitely make a reservation before you go, as seating is very limited, if not inconspicuous. This gives the restaurant a certain sense of intimacy with the black and gold decor. Food at the Dish is fantastic. The four of us loved our meals: soft shell crab in a cornmeal crust with green risotto, chicken with asparagus and mashed potatoes, the soup of the day, and the bowl of mussels (me!). The mussels were flavored with saffron and lemon and tomato. I was so in love with this dish I had to pause throughout the meal to reminiscence on how good it was. Oh, and I really enjoyed my glass of Malbec and Todd liked his dry rose. The service did not knock my socks off, but really, the food was delicious, so I'll just figure it was an off night for the Dish and service will improve when we go back :) :)
(5)
Peter P.
The Dish is a little hidden gem in the desert. Its joined to a wine/spirits market (Rum Runner), and the staff is exceptional. The place has very limited seating so call ahead or get there early and peruse their market. They have a steamed mussels in saffron broth dish that blows my mind (This is Tucson after all.). Their chef prepares some pretty amazing specials, they had a tenderloin with balsamic glaze and mashed sweet potatoes once, which is my wife's favorite. The ambiance is great, elegant without feeling pretentious. They have a winning combination there, the food is fantastic, without being overly priced, a great staff, and the location can't be beat. Right in the center of town. Makes for a great starter to a date night.
(5)
Lauren A.
I was driving across country with my Dad and we stopped in Tucson and found this place on Yelp. I chose it because the vegetarian entree was something that I actually wanted to eat rather than a pasta dish. The Wild Mushroom Amaranth Cakes were unlike anything I had ever had eaten and were so delicious. My dad and I shared the Long-stem Artichoke Hearts which were also unbelievably delicious. The staff was very nice and the wine shop is great too! I can't recommend this place enough.
(5)
Emily R.
It had been a while since my boyfriend and I were really blown away by a meal at a restaurant....and The Dish did the trick! The Dish is attached to the Rumrunner and is SUPER tiny, which I love...and it means reservations are a must! I loved the atmosphere, very dark and intimite with a modern feel. I started with a glass of their Shiraz Carbernet, and Scott looked like a little boy on Christmas morning when he realized his favorite beer was offered on tap...Kronenbourg. Hardly anyone in Tucson carries that beer. The night was off to a good start.. We split the mussels, which were fantastic. The broth was sooo yummy we practically licked our bowls clean! We also split our entree of Short Ribs with Yam Fries. The short ribs were sooo tender we didn't need a knife to cut it! And the fries were outstanding, it came with a side of bleu cheese aioli for dipping. To end the evening, we split the Panna Cotta with cranberries. Perfect end to a perfect evening!
(5)
Steve K.
Reasonably good food. Pretty pricey and a bit pretentious. Would I go again? Probably, but only for a really special occasion plus a different ambience.
(3)
Morgan T.
How good is The Dish? As good as it gets. I've been to the "old" Dish, back when it had more space, and I've been to the "new" DIsh, where there are really only 4-5 tables and a big bar. To let Yelpers know, when they renovated the restaurant and the liquor store it is connected to, they had hoped to expand the restaurant out into the parking lot and make it a lot bigger than it was. But then they ran into some obscure Tucson building code that required the restaurant to have a certain number of private parking spaces that couldn't be shared with the liquor store, which makes no sense since they are one in the same! Since the Dish couldn't just buy another parking lot somewhere else, they had to cancel the expansion, and so now it is what it is. But, what is it? It's the best food in Tucson. HANDS DOWN. I've eaten at all the other "nice" restaurants in Tucson, most of which are tacky over-priced conveyor belts of "Southwestern international" blah-food contained within tackier resorts. The Dish creates super creative, richly flavored, top-notch food in a low-key friendly atmosphere. We went there the other night, and while the long-stemmed artichokes with white-corn polenta were delicious, the cane-braised short ribs were jaw-droppingly good. The best think about this place, though, is that it's attached to a good liquor store. You show up 10 minutes before your reservation, you pick out the wine you want to drink, you hand it to the hostess, and then you're seated and your wine is already selected! Corkage is $12, which on most good bottles is a lot less then the normal mark-up you'd pay off of a wine list.
(5)
Sheldon A.
We were two couples who were looking forward to celebrating two birthdays at The Dish Bistro. We enjoy fine dining, had heard many complimentary remarks about this restaurant, and were very excited about the evening ahead. Knowing that the restaurant was small, we made reservations. We were seated without a wait exactly on time at a comfortable table for four. Our server was very pleasant and very professional. The restaurant is very intimate, quite appealingly appointed, and inviting. The specialty for the evening was trout with bacon wrapped risotto and an apple slaw. As soon as the server mentioned trout, one of the gentlemen who is especially fond of this fish, raised a sparkling eye and gave a slight nod of acknowledged pleasure. The two gentlemen of our group ordered the trout and both commented as to how very pleased they were with both qualtiy and flavor. The risotto was perfectly creamy with a hint of smokiness from the bacon. The trout delectably moist with a delicate flavor. The prestentation was quite eye-appealing as well. As for the duck breast, ordered by both ladies . . .another story altogether. The duck was ordered medium rare. It was complimented with a red cabbage, crispy homemade potato chips, and a blackberry sauce. Sounds delicious, doesn't it! Alas, the duck breast was tough and the red cabbage was so-so. The blackberry sauce was excellent. We thought that perhaps it was just the one order of duck that was tough, but no, it was both. Highly disappointing! As this was a celebratory evening out, we didn't want to create any discomfort for the birthday gentlemen. We did mention to the server that either the quality of the duck or the preparation was problematic. The presentation could be improved as well. There were approximately ten dinner entres on the menu. To me this is usually a very good indication of quality and expertise in preparation. The menu also appeared to be very thoughtfully created with serious creative consideration given to the entire plate. How very unfortunate that both orders of duck were frankly poor. It is somewhat understandable if one dinner is unsatisfactorily prepared but not both. We all wanted this restaurant to be at the top of our favorites list but we cannot say that it is. We may try The Dish Bistro again, however, because we do understand that at times a singular menu item may not be completely representative of the entire menu.
(2)
Jackie T.
A big bowl o' saffrony mussels and a nice glass of wine for $11.50. My favorite seafood deal in Tucson. And the deli has manchego cheese! Yessss.
(4)
Maribeth S.
We love this place. We have dinner here each time we are in Tucson....which has been three times in 2009...all the way from New Jersey. Great concept, with exceptional wine store connected to intimate restaurant. All three times we sat at the bar. We love Doug, the bartender/bar waiter and thoroughly enjoyed talking to Tom, one of the owners, during our first meal. Other guests always have been friendly and everyone seems to appreciate this gem. We sure do.
Great food and with a cozy ambiance that's nice for date night. :)
(4)
Gidge D.
Place was loud, and Tucson is trending 3 years behind the world. Menu was well put together. HOW do you mess up Tri tip?? I will try again.
(2)
Mike L.
What's with all the hype...it wasn't very good. After all the good reviews and word of mouth, I was expecting alot more then what we experienced. Decor. Very quaint and romantic. But very small. There's about 7 tables with bar seating for about 8 people. Service- very friendly and professional. I had heard that they did not take reservations, so we took a chance and was seated immediately. But I guess they changed there policy and they now take reservations. Food- Now this is were all the problems happened. Our first course was the fancy salad. It was just ok, nothing special. My wife had the short ribs. While the beef was nicely cooked and tender. The sauce was overly sweet and tasted of fennel, which was not listed in the menu. My main dish was the duck breast with beans and sausage. The beans were a little under done and crunchy and the sausage was bland. The biggest problem was the duck breast, it was completely over cooked. So it differently did not live up to the hype.
(2)
Dina L.
This is one of Tucson's best kept secrets! I first found out about this place from Rachel Ray's $40 a day. It was hidden behind the wine and cheese place that it is attached too called the Rum Runner. When they were at their old location, it was very small but very cozy. The decor was very relaxing and was perfect for an intimate date night. Now that they've moved, you lose (in my opinion) the date-night feel, but I still enjoy the food and the company. Plus, if you love wine...you can pick your wine right then and there since some of the tables are located in the Rum Runner. The mussells are to die for...I love mussels and the savory broth is one of my favorites and the best I've had in Tucson. The homemade butter is declious and always love to get a second helping. I've loved everything I've tasted - The pork belly, the rock lobster, the shrimp, the baby spinach salad, the halibut and NY strip! I've never had a complaint. One of my faves!
(5)
Scott N.
the look and feel of Dish is much more overwhelming than the actual dishes. i love the concept: small, few tables, limited crowd... the menu sounds unbelievable - but the food doesn't follow up. i will say that the fried lobster tail appetizer and the roasted pork appetizer were great. i highly recommend getting some wine and picking at the apps all night. we ordered the cornmeal dusted fried oysters and they were bad - they were either old or not fresh AT ALL. we each ate half an oyster and no more. we told the server that they weren't fresh and shouldn't be served - he still charged us for it (and actually asked if we wanted to leave them to "nibble on"). sucks for his tip... my brother had the osso bucco, and it tasted like smoke. the dish seemed like it was steeped in liquid smoke b/c that's all you tasted. it could have been chicken osso bucco and you couldn't have told the difference. the veal was completely lost in the overflavoring of the dish. i had the halibut that was nothing special. it was very bland and the dish needed to be drowned in the sauce, of which i only seemed to get a ladle's worth. i wouldn't order it again. overall, i might give dish another shot, probably when they change the menu up. the oyster ordeal sort of put me out with the whole idea of how a fine dining experience SHOULD be, and that's why i don't think you really get one at Dish.
(2)
John R.
In short, this is a real find, with food that is as creative and delicious as you will find anywhere. And that's really saying something. However, I'll agree with the gripes that the old location was better. It was more intimate and comfortable. The new location seems too bright and crowded. We sat right next to another couple, and tried hard not to listen to their conversation while they tried hard not to listen to ours. Regardless, without any ambient noise, it was rather awkward. It pains me to do this, but because of the social awkwardness of this new location I have knocked off one star. I have always found the service to be very knowledgeable and friendly. Beyond that, the food is beyond brilliant. The chef, whoever he or she is, is truly incredible. There is no point in mentioning specific dishes because they are all fantastic. Do not miss this place. But make reservations.
(4)
Tommy M.
Who would have thought that the best meal I had in Tucson was in a wine/liquor store! The Confit Duck thigh was easily one of the best duck dishes I have ever eaten! Try the Basil Ice Cream!
(5)
Andrew F.
We just moved to TUcson this summer and have been using Yelp to find good restaurants in town. The Yelp reviews of the Dish were good, and we were also told by a co-worker that the Dish was great, so we tried it out for date night. Unfortunately, both my wife and I were unimpressed. The restaurant was quaint, and romantic, but the service staff and food were terrible. We sat at the bar and ate because apparently all the other open tables (just about every table there) were reserved. OK...this must be a great place right? Not so fast... The server behind the bar seemed knowledgable about the wines, but overall he came across pretentious. Even the couple next to us made a joke and it just went over his head. I guess I just prefer wait staff that is more down to earth. The food was mediocre. And what really set me off was the pork loin I ordered. It was served medium rare. When I asked about it I was told this is how its prepared. Well, maybe this food is just too cutting edge for me or something. Oh, and I had the mussels. I love mussels, but these were un-remarkable. The standard buttery/wine sauce. If you want good mussels in Tucson, go to Maynards.
(2)
Troy W.
Excellent change of pace from the humdrum in Tucson. I was quite surprised to find something like this in Tucson. Great place to bring out of town guests. Very small so make a RESERVATION. Excellent dining experience.
(5)
Daniel H.
My wife and regularly stop in for clams and a glass of wine. May not sound like much, it it's like dying and going to heaven! Amazing clams - it's the broth that takes them over the top. Dinner at the bar with drinks is as good as it gets in Tucson.
(5)
Eddy S.
Been coming here for a while now and should have written my raves long ago. It really is a nice quiet place for my business meetings where we can enjoy a nice wine (great selection since you get it at RR) and a bowl of shellfish. Staff has always been very pleasant. The corkage fee seems silly but its not a big deal. I could see this being a nice romantic dinner...If I could get a date :P
(4)
H J.
It had been some time since I went to The Dish, a small but intimate restaurant located in the back of a wine shop in Tucson. I recalled it being very good, but that was probably 5 years ago, and I was hesitant since restaurants normally lose their edge over that period of time. Not so with The Dish. I took my wife, a client and his date just last Saturday, and it was fabulous. Two of us had the lamb, which was just perfect, and the mussles were also excellent. My wife had the Amaranth cakes, which she reported were amazing. We got a good bottle of wine from the shop, and just relaxed. They should expand this place because it's too good and too small. Oh, and we had no attitude issues with the staff. They were all very professional. I give it 5 stars because the food was the kind of thing you look for-an experience, not just the same old thing. Keep it up!
(5)
Gary C.
Who knew? We walked into a retail wine store and came out having one of the best meals of the year. Visiting Tucson, I wanted a bottle of wine...something decent. I googled "best wine shop tucson" and the result was The RumRunner. We headed over and picked up a bottle of Numanthia but also discovered a tiny little restaurant tucked inside called "The Dish." Four tables and a counter with a nice ambiance. We had a quick look a the menu and it seemed right up our alley. The next night we went back for dinner and were blown away. The chef, Martin Sindells, an Australian living in Tucson, has got something special going on here. As is frequently our preference, we sat at the bar and spoke with Doug, the wine master and our server. Great guy, very knowledgeable and friendly. We started with openers...Baked Miti Crema with marcona almond crumble, heirloom tomato confit and black olive rusks. The Miti is a sheep cheese and I've never been served warm sheep cheese. This was flat out awesome but only to be outdone by the other opener, Pulled Pork and Duck Duet with peppered gyoza, fresh sheep milk cheese, pinot noir braised red grapes and baby french radish insalata. Best opener of the year. A bottle of Numanthia Termes was opened. On a sidebar I should also note that the wine list is literally the entire retail store...grab a bottle and pay only retail price with essentially a twelve dollar corkage fee. Awesome deal. I've never seen anything like this before. Entrees arrived soon. We had a Duck Confit with forbidden rice, matchstick carrots, bok choy, shiitake eggroll and black plum and pomegranate glaze. The other entree was Sicilian Braised Beef Rib with chipotle yam fries, sauteed arugula, orange zest and jus de braiser. Both were spectacular. The yam fries came with a blue cheese aioli. I might have chosen a horseradish version but nonetheless the meal was awesome. We couldn't finish our plates so the dessert menu was just a quick, though thoroughly tempting, read. The fact that this place can flourish in the dessert with a tiny staff, no marketing and no stand-alone location says a lot. The place was packed both times we visited. The folks working here have a bright future whether in Tucson or any place they choose to work. This is restauranting at it's best. Highest recommendation.
(5)
Karen C.
We celebrated our Anniversary and Ken's birthday at The Dish and have gone there with friends in between. We love the mussels and wine special, but the artichoke heart over polenta has got to be one of the best aps ever! The lemon grass creme brule last night was wonderful. This tiny restaurant reminds us of some of our favorite haunts back east -- small eating spaces in retail shops-- quirky but fun!
(5)
Rosalyn W.
Since we don't get to Tucson all that often, I like to make sure we find interesting places to eat when we're there. I did my research and came up with a restaurant called The Dish Bistro, which is located inside The Rum Runner Wine Shop. The wine store is big, the restaurant is tiny, seating only 26, so reservations are a must. The decor is classy and the food is upscale fusion-y American, as cooked by an Australian. A lot of thought has gone into the pairing of dishes with the accompanying sides. For instance, there's an appetizer of Buttermilk Fried Sweetbreads with Marcona almond crumble / heirloom tomato confit / black olive rusks ($9.50). Or Long Stemmed Artichoke Hearts with shitake duxelles / parmesan polenta / truffle oil / almond basil pesto ($11.50). We shared a bowl of Cream of Parsnip Soup ($8.75) garnished with bacon, raisins and apples - it was heavenly. The delicious bread from The Village Bakeshop was served with a spread consisting of four kinds of onions which had been grilled, chopped and then mixed with both browned and regular butter. I've got to try making some at home. We ordered two entrees to share. The first was sesame crusted ahi tuna, pan seared rare (as requested), served on a mash of garbanzo beans along with sauteed green beans, fried spears of eggplant, and a feta cream sauce ($28). I thought the garbanzo mash was a brilliant idea that went beautifully with the fish. The green beans were perfectly cooked. Unfortunately the sauce, while tasty on its own, was overpowered by the fish. The eggplant, again perfectly cooked, was really overkill. Ken felt like it was a dish from Top Chef, trying too hard to stand out. The portion was quite large and I was stuffed and almost dreading the arrival of our second entree, veal cheek ravioli. If you've never had cheek, it's probably the most tender, succulent part of the animal; sadly, it almost never appears on a menu. So I was conflicted when our waiter said there was a misunderstanding and he hadn't put in the order for it. Although it could have been quickly prepared we decided to try dessert instead. There were many fascinating selections, but of course I went with the chocolate cake. Unfortunately it was brought to the table at refrigerator temperature so the flavor of the chocolate didn't shine. Our server said that they had tried serving it a room temperature but the texture of the cake suffered. By the way, our waiter was personable and knowledgeable about both the food and the wine. After telling him what we planned to eat, we asked him to choose our wine (a shared glass), and he picked a delicious pinot noir. If you choose to get a bottle from the vast selection in the store, you'll pay retail plus a $12 corkage fee, which I'm told is a good deal. Because of the mix up with our entrees, we were not charged for dessert. Despite the few small glitches, we were taken with so many aspects of the food and setting that we'll happily go back during our next visit.
(4)
Andrea K.
RUDE!!! The "hostess" or the woman behind the store counter was extremely unwelcoming and inhospitable. As we entered the cafe another manager type asked us for our reservations and seemed overly agitated at our presence. There was a palpable air of snottiness. Furthermore our waiter who in the past was kind and fun - barely spoke a word to us and took way too much time just to ask our drink order. The place was not that busy and was practically empty by the time we left. Shame on you Dish for making one of our local businesses an unpleasant experience.
(1)
Chang O.
4 stars. The Dish is a small restaurant tucked away inside a modern wine and cheese shop called the Rum Runner. Although we had the address, it took us a while because we were looking for a big sign that read "The Dish". The setting is modern, intimate and may even feel a bit pretentious. Patron dress ranged from casual to dressy, but all pretty tidy. The ambience is best for couples, the tables are small, much like round bar tables where one might stand, although there are high stools available. The largest table I spotted could accommodate a party of four, rubbing elbows. Since we had kids in tow after a long day out, we decided that it would be more comfortable for us to buy take-out. The food was very tasty, but the portions were not huge. We ordered a chicken dish, a pork dish, but our hands-down favorite were the steamed mussels, which not only tasted heavenly, but were also a phenomenal value, compared to other menu items. What puzzled me was that our waiter was a bit tentative about our take-out order, not being sure if our mussels could be made for take-out since it would be "brothy". Made me wonder if no one else had ordered take-out before. ("Things that make you go "hmm...") Bottom line was that they did have good take-out containers and none of the savory broth was spilled. Just didn't expect "take-out" that to be an issue at an establishment like this. The prices were on the high side, but may be rationalized by the quality of the food. The "jumbo shrimp with serrano ham" was tasty but the size of the portion (and the shrimp) was a bit disappointing. Other than that, everything qualifies for "thumbs up". The complimentary bread was also very good. The wine and cheese section carried a wide variety of wines and spirits. Dining patrons may order wine from the restaurant or pick a bottle from the wine shop but pay corkage. The cheese deli was also very diverse. We bought some very special and delicious fig tapenade, which was a new recipe from one of their chefs. Verdict: best for a romantic night on the town and if money were no object. Wasn't looking for oysters, but the mussels are a must-have.
(4)
Mai G.
Yes, This is THE place Rachel (ehhhh) Ray reviewed for her dinner in Tucson. It is really super food, when it is ever open, that is! The Musts: The Pink Scallops, which are pink because they are served with anise and saffron, and the other (*note - to be honest the atmosphere is really dark, and the place is in a strip mall, but the food is sensational*) is the Ahi tuna...this is the single dish that seafood lovers with gourmet taste buds love in "dry-land" Tucson! Your run down: -It is Romantic -It is Trendy (but I think they prefer patrons over 35? Just my experience, but were never rude to moi!) -They have no view, and it is really too dark inside (hard to read menu) -The food is lavish and yet understated, simple meets decadence -Call before going to be certain they are open and to make reservations, if needed.
(4)
Pam C.
Hadn't been to the Dish for some time ( since the remodel) and was worried it would loose it's charm and intimate atmosphere and fantastic menu No problem. It's still very tiny and the food continues to be amazing. We didn't get reservations in time for a table but ate at the bar which was just as good. Wine was excellent and he sweet breads were too. Don't be afraid to try them here!! Wish I could eat here more often and will keep it high on my list of places to eat in Tucson next time I'm in town.
(5)
Jim S.
The title of this review should be 5 stars for the mussels special and 0 stars for the weird service we received. In the most recent yelp review of The Dish, 4 days earlier, Andrea K said that a "manager type" was "agitated at our presence" , "barely spoke" and it was an "unpleasant experience". Andrea K hit the nail on the head (or the fork in the mouth) since my wife and I experienced this "attitude thing" as well. We arrived at 5:00 and NO ONE was in the tiny bar area. We were met by this agitated server Phillipe with "do you have reservations?" and a scowl. Keep in mind, the place is empty. He comes back (after checking something which I guess was the reservation list ) and says we could sit at the end of the bar. There is never a cordial greeting or any effort to try and be nice to us. We get the wonderful mussels special and basically Phillipe served us in a robotic fashion. I believe we said thank you to him 1/2 dozen times and not once do we get any thanks. We leave an hour later (the bar is still totally empty) content with the wonderful mussels special but wondering how this guy can be working with the public. My guess is that he must be the owners son since I would fire him in 2 seconds. Andrea K was really on target with her yelp review on The Dish.
(5)
His T.
Went for the midweek mussels special and was not disappointed. What a great deal! As a marketing ploy it worked perfectly since we also had to get the truffle dessert to compare it with the one at Barrio Grill (Barrio's is better, but this one will not disappoint), and we couldn't help but buy a bottle of wine from RumRunners on the way out.
(4)
Roberta L.
A year ago I would have written a glowing review of this restaurant, one of my favorites for years. However, since they have moved, I don't see why they even bother anymore. Better they should have just reopened as a fine wine/liquor store. The restaurant now is even smaller than it used to be and the seating arrangement is much worse which contributes greatly to the uncomfortable ambiance. Sitting behind a column, otherwise open to the store, is not my idea of a nice dining environment. But there are even worse changes. The menu has been greatly pared down and many of my favorites are gone. So is my all time favorite waiter. The service during my recent visit was simply terrible. Steak, ordered by two of the foursome in our party, was served with great confusion about which steak was cooked medium and which was cooked rare. The waiter kept changing his mind. The mussels I ordered were the size of marbles, not those lush pillowy ones I've had in the past. If that was due to a seasonal variation, why have it on the menu? No one came to inquire about our satisfaction with the meal and we were glad to leave. Oh, yes!! NO RESERVATIONS. One might actually wait in line for this. There are many fine choices in Tucson these days so The Dish, in my opinion, is riding on its former reputation. Too bad.
(1)
Phil O.
We frequented The Dish at the old address, hadn't been there since the move. Although some of our favorite items are no longer (Vegetable Dish, duck dish, Baramundi) the special tonight was absolutely wonderful. Sole presented beautifully with a spaghetti squash, potato and cream sauce combination. All three of us just loved it. The goat cheese small dish wasn't as good as it used to be, but the leek soup was delicious. Coconut tart for dessert was perfect as well. Service couldn't have been better. Be sure to ask the waiter for the best entree that night, they always know. $12 corkage fee is out of line in my opinion. However, I still would be proud to take out-of-towners to The Dish.
(4)
Arissa C.
Wonderful wine selection (hmmmm maybe because they have a wine store next door) and menu ranging from barramundi to veal ...love their fragrant saffron mussels...always a treat to go here....
(5)
Jane Y.
for christmas we went to visit the rents for the first time in tucson. we definitely wanted to take them out to a nice, fancy, good eatery since they work so dang hard and NEVER take a break or treat themselves to a nice dinner. so of course, FANTASTIC, LOVING daughter to the rescue! since i wasn't familiar at all w/ the area and no one i knew could give me any pointers, i first searched on yelp (limited reviews of tucson) and then searched online. i had heard rachel ray made a visit here but that doesn't say much since she "oooh's" and "ahhh's" over everything. all in all, this sounded like a decent, upscale place in the area. and as another reviewer mentioned reservations are a MUST! it's a teeny tiny place but cozy and dim. between the 5 of us, we tried everything from SAFFRON MUSSELS, WARM GOAT CHEESE, VEGGIE DISH, DUCK, LAMB, and STEAK! i have to say, for a girl that doesn't like mussels, they were darn good and we were soakin up all the sauce w/ our bread. the lamb was too gamey for me and the steak a bit more cooked than i like but whatever wine that the waiter recommended was superb! the desserts were so not up to jane's standards so was a bit disappointed. overall, the food was decent (3 stars...nothing beats SF food) but the service was TOP NOTCH...thus the 4 stars.
(4)
Matt P.
Very small place nested back behing a wine store. The bartender was very friendly and I love their saffron mussels! These are great. The wine selection is great. I wouldn't go here with a large group, probably just a couple of people sice it is so small.
(4)
Laurel R.
The best food and the most insulting service I have received in my entire life. From the woman who ran the Rumrunner who actually said, "blah, blah, blah," in the middle of what I had thought was a friendly conversation to the sommelier who referred to my 23% tip as "a trifle" there is no food in the world that could make me return to The Dish.
(1)
Gypsy B.
This is a wonderful place to eat in Tucson. The restaurant is located inside the Rumrunner Wine shop. Best to have reservations as only limited number of tables available . We were with a party of 8 adults . The atmosphere was relaxing. The Food was exceptionally good, and we were still talking about it hours later. If I could add more stars, on this place I would. Pick any wine in the store & pay a reasonable uncorking fee, or have house wines & beers. The service was efficient and unobtrusive. The staff were pleasant welcoming & knew the menu and specials. This is a great place for Adults to have a romantic intimate dinner. Great place for groups of adults., So folks leave the kids at home, and let us big kids have a place where we can relax.
(5)
Leo B.
Great food. Expensive prices but worth it on a special night out. Excellent wine selection.
(5)
H P.
this place is a little hard to find. it is tucked away behind rumrunner, set in from the road, and i passed by it a few times by accident. you must make reservations, as the space only has a few tables and a bar area for dining accommodations. my wife and i had the steamed mussels and beer combo. the mussels are steamed with white wine, garlic, and shallots, and they give you good crusty bread to dip in the broth. best deal in town! the jumbo shrimp dish is also pretty good, if a bit overpriced. i would really recommend sampling a few glasses of wine and pairing them with a bunch of appetizers. the entrees are pretty pricey, so it's better to just sample a few small dishes. i think this place would be better as a tapas / small dish joint. desserts are also yummy.
(4)
carol s.
Loved my evening here. Came in as a single diner (business trip) and was just going to check out their wine selection. Saw the cozy bistro and decided to take a seat. Ordered light and loved everything. Salad with nutmeg dressing terrific, the stuffed artichokes were amazing - complimented with a little puck of polenta in the middle - one of the best things I've ever eaten. Wine selection was excellent as well. The only thing missing was my other half!
(5)
Chris S.
Easily the best restaurant I have been to in Tucson. Elegant space, good service by knowledgeable people, delicious food (on the hearty side), and great wine list.
(5)
Pam C.
Hadn't been to the Dish for some time ( since the remodel) and was worried it would loose it's charm and intimate atmosphere and fantastic menu No problem. It's still very tiny and the food continues to be amazing. We didn't get reservations in time for a table but ate at the bar which was just as good. Wine was excellent and he sweet breads were too. Don't be afraid to try them here!! Wish I could eat here more often and will keep it high on my list of places to eat in Tucson next time I'm in town.
(5)
Scott N.
the look and feel of Dish is much more overwhelming than the actual dishes. i love the concept: small, few tables, limited crowd... the menu sounds unbelievable - but the food doesn't follow up. i will say that the fried lobster tail appetizer and the roasted pork appetizer were great. i highly recommend getting some wine and picking at the apps all night. we ordered the cornmeal dusted fried oysters and they were bad - they were either old or not fresh AT ALL. we each ate half an oyster and no more. we told the server that they weren't fresh and shouldn't be served - he still charged us for it (and actually asked if we wanted to leave them to "nibble on"). sucks for his tip... my brother had the osso bucco, and it tasted like smoke. the dish seemed like it was steeped in liquid smoke b/c that's all you tasted. it could have been chicken osso bucco and you couldn't have told the difference. the veal was completely lost in the overflavoring of the dish. i had the halibut that was nothing special. it was very bland and the dish needed to be drowned in the sauce, of which i only seemed to get a ladle's worth. i wouldn't order it again. overall, i might give dish another shot, probably when they change the menu up. the oyster ordeal sort of put me out with the whole idea of how a fine dining experience SHOULD be, and that's why i don't think you really get one at Dish.
(2)
John R.
In short, this is a real find, with food that is as creative and delicious as you will find anywhere. And that's really saying something. However, I'll agree with the gripes that the old location was better. It was more intimate and comfortable. The new location seems too bright and crowded. We sat right next to another couple, and tried hard not to listen to their conversation while they tried hard not to listen to ours. Regardless, without any ambient noise, it was rather awkward. It pains me to do this, but because of the social awkwardness of this new location I have knocked off one star. I have always found the service to be very knowledgeable and friendly. Beyond that, the food is beyond brilliant. The chef, whoever he or she is, is truly incredible. There is no point in mentioning specific dishes because they are all fantastic. Do not miss this place. But make reservations.
(4)
Tommy M.
Who would have thought that the best meal I had in Tucson was in a wine/liquor store! The Confit Duck thigh was easily one of the best duck dishes I have ever eaten! Try the Basil Ice Cream!
(5)
Matt P.
Very small place nested back behing a wine store. The bartender was very friendly and I love their saffron mussels! These are great. The wine selection is great. I wouldn't go here with a large group, probably just a couple of people sice it is so small.
(4)
Laurel R.
The best food and the most insulting service I have received in my entire life. From the woman who ran the Rumrunner who actually said, "blah, blah, blah," in the middle of what I had thought was a friendly conversation to the sommelier who referred to my 23% tip as "a trifle" there is no food in the world that could make me return to The Dish.
(1)
Andrew F.
We just moved to TUcson this summer and have been using Yelp to find good restaurants in town. The Yelp reviews of the Dish were good, and we were also told by a co-worker that the Dish was great, so we tried it out for date night. Unfortunately, both my wife and I were unimpressed. The restaurant was quaint, and romantic, but the service staff and food were terrible. We sat at the bar and ate because apparently all the other open tables (just about every table there) were reserved. OK...this must be a great place right? Not so fast... The server behind the bar seemed knowledgable about the wines, but overall he came across pretentious. Even the couple next to us made a joke and it just went over his head. I guess I just prefer wait staff that is more down to earth. The food was mediocre. And what really set me off was the pork loin I ordered. It was served medium rare. When I asked about it I was told this is how its prepared. Well, maybe this food is just too cutting edge for me or something. Oh, and I had the mussels. I love mussels, but these were un-remarkable. The standard buttery/wine sauce. If you want good mussels in Tucson, go to Maynards.
(2)
Troy W.
Excellent change of pace from the humdrum in Tucson. I was quite surprised to find something like this in Tucson. Great place to bring out of town guests. Very small so make a RESERVATION. Excellent dining experience.
(5)
Daniel H.
My wife and regularly stop in for clams and a glass of wine. May not sound like much, it it's like dying and going to heaven! Amazing clams - it's the broth that takes them over the top. Dinner at the bar with drinks is as good as it gets in Tucson.
(5)
Eddy S.
Been coming here for a while now and should have written my raves long ago. It really is a nice quiet place for my business meetings where we can enjoy a nice wine (great selection since you get it at RR) and a bowl of shellfish. Staff has always been very pleasant. The corkage fee seems silly but its not a big deal. I could see this being a nice romantic dinner...If I could get a date :P
(4)
H J.
It had been some time since I went to The Dish, a small but intimate restaurant located in the back of a wine shop in Tucson. I recalled it being very good, but that was probably 5 years ago, and I was hesitant since restaurants normally lose their edge over that period of time. Not so with The Dish. I took my wife, a client and his date just last Saturday, and it was fabulous. Two of us had the lamb, which was just perfect, and the mussles were also excellent. My wife had the Amaranth cakes, which she reported were amazing. We got a good bottle of wine from the shop, and just relaxed. They should expand this place because it's too good and too small. Oh, and we had no attitude issues with the staff. They were all very professional. I give it 5 stars because the food was the kind of thing you look for-an experience, not just the same old thing. Keep it up!
(5)
Gary C.
Who knew? We walked into a retail wine store and came out having one of the best meals of the year. Visiting Tucson, I wanted a bottle of wine...something decent. I googled "best wine shop tucson" and the result was The RumRunner. We headed over and picked up a bottle of Numanthia but also discovered a tiny little restaurant tucked inside called "The Dish." Four tables and a counter with a nice ambiance. We had a quick look a the menu and it seemed right up our alley. The next night we went back for dinner and were blown away. The chef, Martin Sindells, an Australian living in Tucson, has got something special going on here. As is frequently our preference, we sat at the bar and spoke with Doug, the wine master and our server. Great guy, very knowledgeable and friendly. We started with openers...Baked Miti Crema with marcona almond crumble, heirloom tomato confit and black olive rusks. The Miti is a sheep cheese and I've never been served warm sheep cheese. This was flat out awesome but only to be outdone by the other opener, Pulled Pork and Duck Duet with peppered gyoza, fresh sheep milk cheese, pinot noir braised red grapes and baby french radish insalata. Best opener of the year. A bottle of Numanthia Termes was opened. On a sidebar I should also note that the wine list is literally the entire retail store...grab a bottle and pay only retail price with essentially a twelve dollar corkage fee. Awesome deal. I've never seen anything like this before. Entrees arrived soon. We had a Duck Confit with forbidden rice, matchstick carrots, bok choy, shiitake eggroll and black plum and pomegranate glaze. The other entree was Sicilian Braised Beef Rib with chipotle yam fries, sauteed arugula, orange zest and jus de braiser. Both were spectacular. The yam fries came with a blue cheese aioli. I might have chosen a horseradish version but nonetheless the meal was awesome. We couldn't finish our plates so the dessert menu was just a quick, though thoroughly tempting, read. The fact that this place can flourish in the dessert with a tiny staff, no marketing and no stand-alone location says a lot. The place was packed both times we visited. The folks working here have a bright future whether in Tucson or any place they choose to work. This is restauranting at it's best. Highest recommendation.
(5)
Melinda D.
This restaurant is seriously lacking in customer service! We have dined many times at Dish. We like the food. We made a reservation two weeks ahead for 3 people. When we arrived we were seated at the smallest table in the restaurant which barely fits two people. The table next to us had an extra person added at the end, his back was literally a couple of inches from our table. We asked for a table that would accomdate three people and not involve eating with someone's large back at our very tiny table. We were rudely informed that it was a take or leave it situation. It was very frustrating since we booked this as a special night out weeks earlier. Unfortunately, we are writing this restraurant off our list.
(1)
Brian M.
This place is fantastic. Chef Martin has designed an eclectic and satisfying menu filled with surprisingly well crafted dishes. From their signature mussels to the amazingy succulent artichokes stuffed and served over a creamy white polenta to the duck confit there are no disappointments on this menu. The attentive staff and spot on management crew get it it right each and every time. Hats off to The Dish for their unique approach to delectable dining!
(5)
Jim S.
The title of this review should be 5 stars for the mussels special and 0 stars for the weird service we received. In the most recent yelp review of The Dish, 4 days earlier, Andrea K said that a "manager type" was "agitated at our presence" , "barely spoke" and it was an "unpleasant experience". Andrea K hit the nail on the head (or the fork in the mouth) since my wife and I experienced this "attitude thing" as well. We arrived at 5:00 and NO ONE was in the tiny bar area. We were met by this agitated server Phillipe with "do you have reservations?" and a scowl. Keep in mind, the place is empty. He comes back (after checking something which I guess was the reservation list ) and says we could sit at the end of the bar. There is never a cordial greeting or any effort to try and be nice to us. We get the wonderful mussels special and basically Phillipe served us in a robotic fashion. I believe we said thank you to him 1/2 dozen times and not once do we get any thanks. We leave an hour later (the bar is still totally empty) content with the wonderful mussels special but wondering how this guy can be working with the public. My guess is that he must be the owners son since I would fire him in 2 seconds. Andrea K was really on target with her yelp review on The Dish.
(5)
His T.
Went for the midweek mussels special and was not disappointed. What a great deal! As a marketing ploy it worked perfectly since we also had to get the truffle dessert to compare it with the one at Barrio Grill (Barrio's is better, but this one will not disappoint), and we couldn't help but buy a bottle of wine from RumRunners on the way out.
(4)
Chang O.
4 stars. The Dish is a small restaurant tucked away inside a modern wine and cheese shop called the Rum Runner. Although we had the address, it took us a while because we were looking for a big sign that read "The Dish". The setting is modern, intimate and may even feel a bit pretentious. Patron dress ranged from casual to dressy, but all pretty tidy. The ambience is best for couples, the tables are small, much like round bar tables where one might stand, although there are high stools available. The largest table I spotted could accommodate a party of four, rubbing elbows. Since we had kids in tow after a long day out, we decided that it would be more comfortable for us to buy take-out. The food was very tasty, but the portions were not huge. We ordered a chicken dish, a pork dish, but our hands-down favorite were the steamed mussels, which not only tasted heavenly, but were also a phenomenal value, compared to other menu items. What puzzled me was that our waiter was a bit tentative about our take-out order, not being sure if our mussels could be made for take-out since it would be "brothy". Made me wonder if no one else had ordered take-out before. ("Things that make you go "hmm...") Bottom line was that they did have good take-out containers and none of the savory broth was spilled. Just didn't expect "take-out" that to be an issue at an establishment like this. The prices were on the high side, but may be rationalized by the quality of the food. The "jumbo shrimp with serrano ham" was tasty but the size of the portion (and the shrimp) was a bit disappointing. Other than that, everything qualifies for "thumbs up". The complimentary bread was also very good. The wine and cheese section carried a wide variety of wines and spirits. Dining patrons may order wine from the restaurant or pick a bottle from the wine shop but pay corkage. The cheese deli was also very diverse. We bought some very special and delicious fig tapenade, which was a new recipe from one of their chefs. Verdict: best for a romantic night on the town and if money were no object. Wasn't looking for oysters, but the mussels are a must-have.
(4)
Karen C.
We celebrated our Anniversary and Ken's birthday at The Dish and have gone there with friends in between. We love the mussels and wine special, but the artichoke heart over polenta has got to be one of the best aps ever! The lemon grass creme brule last night was wonderful. This tiny restaurant reminds us of some of our favorite haunts back east -- small eating spaces in retail shops-- quirky but fun!
(5)
Mai G.
Yes, This is THE place Rachel (ehhhh) Ray reviewed for her dinner in Tucson. It is really super food, when it is ever open, that is! The Musts: The Pink Scallops, which are pink because they are served with anise and saffron, and the other (*note - to be honest the atmosphere is really dark, and the place is in a strip mall, but the food is sensational*) is the Ahi tuna...this is the single dish that seafood lovers with gourmet taste buds love in "dry-land" Tucson! Your run down: -It is Romantic -It is Trendy (but I think they prefer patrons over 35? Just my experience, but were never rude to moi!) -They have no view, and it is really too dark inside (hard to read menu) -The food is lavish and yet understated, simple meets decadence -Call before going to be certain they are open and to make reservations, if needed.
(4)
Roberta L.
A year ago I would have written a glowing review of this restaurant, one of my favorites for years. However, since they have moved, I don't see why they even bother anymore. Better they should have just reopened as a fine wine/liquor store. The restaurant now is even smaller than it used to be and the seating arrangement is much worse which contributes greatly to the uncomfortable ambiance. Sitting behind a column, otherwise open to the store, is not my idea of a nice dining environment. But there are even worse changes. The menu has been greatly pared down and many of my favorites are gone. So is my all time favorite waiter. The service during my recent visit was simply terrible. Steak, ordered by two of the foursome in our party, was served with great confusion about which steak was cooked medium and which was cooked rare. The waiter kept changing his mind. The mussels I ordered were the size of marbles, not those lush pillowy ones I've had in the past. If that was due to a seasonal variation, why have it on the menu? No one came to inquire about our satisfaction with the meal and we were glad to leave. Oh, yes!! NO RESERVATIONS. One might actually wait in line for this. There are many fine choices in Tucson these days so The Dish, in my opinion, is riding on its former reputation. Too bad.
(1)
Phil O.
We frequented The Dish at the old address, hadn't been there since the move. Although some of our favorite items are no longer (Vegetable Dish, duck dish, Baramundi) the special tonight was absolutely wonderful. Sole presented beautifully with a spaghetti squash, potato and cream sauce combination. All three of us just loved it. The goat cheese small dish wasn't as good as it used to be, but the leek soup was delicious. Coconut tart for dessert was perfect as well. Service couldn't have been better. Be sure to ask the waiter for the best entree that night, they always know. $12 corkage fee is out of line in my opinion. However, I still would be proud to take out-of-towners to The Dish.
(4)
Arissa C.
Wonderful wine selection (hmmmm maybe because they have a wine store next door) and menu ranging from barramundi to veal ...love their fragrant saffron mussels...always a treat to go here....
(5)
Gypsy B.
This is a wonderful place to eat in Tucson. The restaurant is located inside the Rumrunner Wine shop. Best to have reservations as only limited number of tables available . We were with a party of 8 adults . The atmosphere was relaxing. The Food was exceptionally good, and we were still talking about it hours later. If I could add more stars, on this place I would. Pick any wine in the store & pay a reasonable uncorking fee, or have house wines & beers. The service was efficient and unobtrusive. The staff were pleasant welcoming & knew the menu and specials. This is a great place for Adults to have a romantic intimate dinner. Great place for groups of adults., So folks leave the kids at home, and let us big kids have a place where we can relax.
(5)
Leo B.
Great food. Expensive prices but worth it on a special night out. Excellent wine selection.
(5)
H P.
this place is a little hard to find. it is tucked away behind rumrunner, set in from the road, and i passed by it a few times by accident. you must make reservations, as the space only has a few tables and a bar area for dining accommodations. my wife and i had the steamed mussels and beer combo. the mussels are steamed with white wine, garlic, and shallots, and they give you good crusty bread to dip in the broth. best deal in town! the jumbo shrimp dish is also pretty good, if a bit overpriced. i would really recommend sampling a few glasses of wine and pairing them with a bunch of appetizers. the entrees are pretty pricey, so it's better to just sample a few small dishes. i think this place would be better as a tapas / small dish joint. desserts are also yummy.
(4)
carol s.
Loved my evening here. Came in as a single diner (business trip) and was just going to check out their wine selection. Saw the cozy bistro and decided to take a seat. Ordered light and loved everything. Salad with nutmeg dressing terrific, the stuffed artichokes were amazing - complimented with a little puck of polenta in the middle - one of the best things I've ever eaten. Wine selection was excellent as well. The only thing missing was my other half!
(5)
Chris S.
Easily the best restaurant I have been to in Tucson. Elegant space, good service by knowledgeable people, delicious food (on the hearty side), and great wine list.
(5)
Jane Y.
for christmas we went to visit the rents for the first time in tucson. we definitely wanted to take them out to a nice, fancy, good eatery since they work so dang hard and NEVER take a break or treat themselves to a nice dinner. so of course, FANTASTIC, LOVING daughter to the rescue! since i wasn't familiar at all w/ the area and no one i knew could give me any pointers, i first searched on yelp (limited reviews of tucson) and then searched online. i had heard rachel ray made a visit here but that doesn't say much since she "oooh's" and "ahhh's" over everything. all in all, this sounded like a decent, upscale place in the area. and as another reviewer mentioned reservations are a MUST! it's a teeny tiny place but cozy and dim. between the 5 of us, we tried everything from SAFFRON MUSSELS, WARM GOAT CHEESE, VEGGIE DISH, DUCK, LAMB, and STEAK! i have to say, for a girl that doesn't like mussels, they were darn good and we were soakin up all the sauce w/ our bread. the lamb was too gamey for me and the steak a bit more cooked than i like but whatever wine that the waiter recommended was superb! the desserts were so not up to jane's standards so was a bit disappointed. overall, the food was decent (3 stars...nothing beats SF food) but the service was TOP NOTCH...thus the 4 stars.
(4)
alan m.
This has always been our favorite Tucson restaurant. However, our last two visits have definitely been below standard. Food has been uninspired at best and with some dishes actually poor. What has happened to the cooking here? I will not return until I hear of improvement! What a shame, as we love this place! Reviews, please! Has anyone had the same experience?
(5)
Rosalyn W.
Since we don't get to Tucson all that often, I like to make sure we find interesting places to eat when we're there. I did my research and came up with a restaurant called The Dish Bistro, which is located inside The Rum Runner Wine Shop. The wine store is big, the restaurant is tiny, seating only 26, so reservations are a must. The decor is classy and the food is upscale fusion-y American, as cooked by an Australian. A lot of thought has gone into the pairing of dishes with the accompanying sides. For instance, there's an appetizer of Buttermilk Fried Sweetbreads with Marcona almond crumble / heirloom tomato confit / black olive rusks ($9.50). Or Long Stemmed Artichoke Hearts with shitake duxelles / parmesan polenta / truffle oil / almond basil pesto ($11.50). We shared a bowl of Cream of Parsnip Soup ($8.75) garnished with bacon, raisins and apples - it was heavenly. The delicious bread from The Village Bakeshop was served with a spread consisting of four kinds of onions which had been grilled, chopped and then mixed with both browned and regular butter. I've got to try making some at home. We ordered two entrees to share. The first was sesame crusted ahi tuna, pan seared rare (as requested), served on a mash of garbanzo beans along with sauteed green beans, fried spears of eggplant, and a feta cream sauce ($28). I thought the garbanzo mash was a brilliant idea that went beautifully with the fish. The green beans were perfectly cooked. Unfortunately the sauce, while tasty on its own, was overpowered by the fish. The eggplant, again perfectly cooked, was really overkill. Ken felt like it was a dish from Top Chef, trying too hard to stand out. The portion was quite large and I was stuffed and almost dreading the arrival of our second entree, veal cheek ravioli. If you've never had cheek, it's probably the most tender, succulent part of the animal; sadly, it almost never appears on a menu. So I was conflicted when our waiter said there was a misunderstanding and he hadn't put in the order for it. Although it could have been quickly prepared we decided to try dessert instead. There were many fascinating selections, but of course I went with the chocolate cake. Unfortunately it was brought to the table at refrigerator temperature so the flavor of the chocolate didn't shine. Our server said that they had tried serving it a room temperature but the texture of the cake suffered. By the way, our waiter was personable and knowledgeable about both the food and the wine. After telling him what we planned to eat, we asked him to choose our wine (a shared glass), and he picked a delicious pinot noir. If you choose to get a bottle from the vast selection in the store, you'll pay retail plus a $12 corkage fee, which I'm told is a good deal. Because of the mix up with our entrees, we were not charged for dessert. Despite the few small glitches, we were taken with so many aspects of the food and setting that we'll happily go back during our next visit.
(4)
Andrea K.
RUDE!!! The "hostess" or the woman behind the store counter was extremely unwelcoming and inhospitable. As we entered the cafe another manager type asked us for our reservations and seemed overly agitated at our presence. There was a palpable air of snottiness. Furthermore our waiter who in the past was kind and fun - barely spoke a word to us and took way too much time just to ask our drink order. The place was not that busy and was practically empty by the time we left. Shame on you Dish for making one of our local businesses an unpleasant experience.
(1)
Anne D.
I feel like I have died and gone to heaven when eating here. My loves: the bread and garlic butter, seared tuna small dish, the Ceasar salad, the duck, and the creme brule. And, I can wear blue jeans or my favorite dress and diamonds. It is very intimate, and you always know your food will be delicious. Yes, you end up talking to people next to you, but you have no idea who they are. You could be talking to a CEO or a miltary man, and they are all delightful. There is no discrimination. I love this place.
(5)
Sylvian F.
Bistro food and atmosphere. Pick a bottle of wine before you sit down and it's yours for the meal (with a fee attached). Creative meals that are classically delicious. This place is a real Tucson Gem. I am a fan of mussels, but have not tried theirs in quite a long time. When I had previously the quality of the mussels themselves were underwhelming. This may have changed, but I will await further reviews of them here before considering trying them again.
(5)
Isabella J.
Nestled inside a wine shop, this spot is super intimate (as in extra cozy) with something thirty seats. The ambiance makes for a perfect date night. Peruse the the shop before dinner, but a bottle and take it to the table with you. The wine selection at the shop (also known as The Rum Runner) is impressively varied and well priced. Their Wine shop/ restaurant concept was one of the first to hit Tucson and they certainly do it well. On the food front, they're Known for their Mussels, a definite must try. We enjoyed a bowl of those tonight. With a Caesar salad, fancy salad and the salmon dish. Everything was flavorful and well portioned, but a bit on the salty side. Wine by the glass is nicely priced. I love that their keep it real with their wine prices. So many restaurants in town mark up their wines to the point of of greed and that's a major turn off. Two servers usually handle the floor an handle it well attentively. The Dish is a solid go-to for locals and visitors alike.
(4)
Veneranda A.
1) Plan ahead. Get reservations, and don't invite more than three people to come with you. Calling The Dish "intimate" is a stretch. The place seats very few people. 2) Save yourself for what is some of the best bistro cuisine you've ever eaten in a wine store...or anywhere else for that matter. This place has sentimental value for me, dating back to the old location. In law school, when fine dining was a luxury, my friend and I would call ahead, sit at the bar on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to get the mussel deal. Expertly steamed mussels and a glass of wine for $10. It's now $12.50, but, hey, it's still a good deal. Now I go there with my mother. We always get the same thing, because if it's not broke, don't fix it. We split the artichoke appetizer (artichokes stuffed with mushrooms on a bed of truffle oil infused polenta) and the roasted chicken with cippolini onions and mashed potatoes. The restaurant always accommodates this request and we make up for splitting the meal by ordering wine. And they have great wine. Make sure you try the bread and compound butter. It's a wonderful treat. Dessert, whether on a plate or in a glass, is a great way to round out the evening. This is the kind of place where you can sit long into the night, listen to great music, drink wine, and enjoy your company as much as the food...if your company is really really good.
(5)
Janet B.
This used to be my favorite restaurant in Tucson but dinner last night has changed that! The food was overpriced, under seasoned and mediocre while the service was un-attentive. This has made me sad and it will be a long while before I am ready to brave it again!
(2)
Stacy W.
I agree with the other reviewers that reservations are necessary. The room is very small, but that adds to the charm. Being in the back of a shop gives it a sort of speakeasy feel. The bartender/waiter was very helpful in describing the wine selection, and we were very happy with the appetizers and dessert that we ordered: the salmon flatbread and artichoke/polenta dish (still thinking about that one) and the black and white (coffee with liqueur and cream) with cookies. The store is fun to look around in, too, and I got some gourmet chocolates there.
(5)
Jeanne F.
Literally the best dining experience I've had in Tucson. Beet carpaccio was delicious -- light and interesting. Mussels were really good -- usually Tucson seafood freaks me out -- but no angst here. Arctic char was perfect -- seriously just go. Call make a reservation and stop eating subpar food. Enjoy!
(5)
Emily R.
It had been a while since my boyfriend and I were really blown away by a meal at a restaurant....and The Dish did the trick! The Dish is attached to the Rumrunner and is SUPER tiny, which I love...and it means reservations are a must! I loved the atmosphere, very dark and intimite with a modern feel. I started with a glass of their Shiraz Carbernet, and Scott looked like a little boy on Christmas morning when he realized his favorite beer was offered on tap...Kronenbourg. Hardly anyone in Tucson carries that beer. The night was off to a good start.. We split the mussels, which were fantastic. The broth was sooo yummy we practically licked our bowls clean! We also split our entree of Short Ribs with Yam Fries. The short ribs were sooo tender we didn't need a knife to cut it! And the fries were outstanding, it came with a side of bleu cheese aioli for dipping. To end the evening, we split the Panna Cotta with cranberries. Perfect end to a perfect evening!
(5)
Steve K.
Reasonably good food. Pretty pricey and a bit pretentious. Would I go again? Probably, but only for a really special occasion plus a different ambience.
(3)
Morgan T.
How good is The Dish? As good as it gets. I've been to the "old" Dish, back when it had more space, and I've been to the "new" DIsh, where there are really only 4-5 tables and a big bar. To let Yelpers know, when they renovated the restaurant and the liquor store it is connected to, they had hoped to expand the restaurant out into the parking lot and make it a lot bigger than it was. But then they ran into some obscure Tucson building code that required the restaurant to have a certain number of private parking spaces that couldn't be shared with the liquor store, which makes no sense since they are one in the same! Since the Dish couldn't just buy another parking lot somewhere else, they had to cancel the expansion, and so now it is what it is. But, what is it? It's the best food in Tucson. HANDS DOWN. I've eaten at all the other "nice" restaurants in Tucson, most of which are tacky over-priced conveyor belts of "Southwestern international" blah-food contained within tackier resorts. The Dish creates super creative, richly flavored, top-notch food in a low-key friendly atmosphere. We went there the other night, and while the long-stemmed artichokes with white-corn polenta were delicious, the cane-braised short ribs were jaw-droppingly good. The best think about this place, though, is that it's attached to a good liquor store. You show up 10 minutes before your reservation, you pick out the wine you want to drink, you hand it to the hostess, and then you're seated and your wine is already selected! Corkage is $12, which on most good bottles is a lot less then the normal mark-up you'd pay off of a wine list.
(5)
Ty F.
Decent food (I had a huge pork chop) in a wine store, how can this be bad? The Friday night the bf and I went, it was not crowded -- one table sat empty for about 30 minutes. It's small and we had reservations and they were able to seat us early because we were pretty hungry. The paella puck thingy was good too. The food was good, not great by any stretch. You can buy any bottle of wine in the store to have with dinner for a $12 corkage which seems a bit high to me considering. Seems like a good place to try once.
(3)
Laura R.
We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary at the Dish. We made reservations and told them it was our anniversary and the waiters took special care of us from the moment we walked in the door! Perfect wine advice phenomenal food excellent service and they even gave us a small anniversary gift. The atmosphere is intimate and adorable and I can't say enough about the food and service! If you are in Tucson be sure to go it was our best dining experience by far on our vacation!
(5)
Adam P.
I would definitely go back. Been wanting to try this place for years and finally got a chance. And they didn't disappoint. I found the service to be very pleasant, helpful, attentive but not intrusive. All of the staff was courteous and pleasant. Ambience was wonderful for a date night, great atmosphere in the wine shop with an urban feel but also felt like we could have been in Sonoma or Napa. Was fun to be able to 'shop' for our dinner bottle in the store with lots of reasonably priced selections to choose from and added to the experience. And was a smooth process too, not clumsy like other places with the same setup. Just grabbed off the shelf and took it to our table and server was there promptly to serve. The bread had a fun butter which is always an appreciated touch. The starter salads spinach and the fancy were fabulous, great flavors and much more than just an after thought on the menu. Really kicked off the dinner nicely. Chicken was well prepared as was the ahi. Both dishes were well seasoned and had multiple components that really worked well together. The celery on the Ahi was just enough to add some needed crunch and texture and the avocado tempura was a creative, and tasty, touch that rounded out the dish nicely. Portion sizes were just right. Courses were served and cleared at a perfect pace. Overall great dining experience. The menu left lots to look forward to so plenty of excuses to go back. Definitely need to go back for the mussels. It is small so I would only go with reservations although it does look like they do their best to accommodate. But I saw a lot of negative comments on here that I think was a result of friction with patrons, and the need for the restaurant to manage tables and turn them over. I think you need to respect the restaurant's need to turnover tables especially at such a small place. After all, with such good food we want everyone to enjoy and want them to stay in business! That said we were there for ~90 minutes and never felt rushed, check came without having to ask and at the appropriate time. Thanks dish!
(5)
Gina M.
I am truly in love the The Dish. Went there for my second time in a month. The QUIET atmosphere, friendly service and delicious food hard to beat. The spinach salad was outstanding as was the potato soup for starters. My husband & I had the chicken and I don't know how they do it - moist, flavorful, perfect temperature and the mashed potatoes and vegetables just as perfect. One of our friends had the tuna and another the lobster. There was not a bite left on their plates. For dessert we split a creme brulee and a chocolate cake with a cherry sauce. No bites left on either of those plates either. Over all experience simply delightful. What a great way to celebrate my birthday. Can't wait to return.
(5)
Richa S.
$12 mussels and a glass of wine. The mussles are buttery and tender. Friend ordered a Fancy Salad. It was actually a Simple salad with Fancy pricing. Thumbs down. Stick to the mussles and wine deal.
(4)
Cristina R.
Had my first dinner in Tucson for my birthday here, I had just moved to the city and my husband took me here to celebrate. It was incredible! I had the special of the day which was fish and it was a stunning dish! My husband had duck raviolis and they were out of this world!! Make sure you have a reservation in advance since the place is tiny!! Will definitely return for another special occasion!
(5)
Nicholas Q.
I met with a small group here recently to celebrate the birthday of one of our friends. We all sat at the bar and I would say that we were there on a good night because the service was pretty good, the atmosphere was nice a cozy, and the food was excellent. My friend and I ordered the steamed mussels in saffron broth with diced tomato, garlic, and fresh oregano. Approximately seven other diners were at the bat during the time we were there and they all started with this dish, which should give you a clear idea of how popular it is. The portion size was plenty for two people, the mussels were cooked just right, and the broth was really yummy. I would say this is perhaps the best deal on the menu. We also ordered pan-roasted Chicken with brandied creminis, cipollini onions, grilled asparagus, and mashed potatoes layered over a sage & butter pan sauce. What impressed me most was how well the chicken was cooked. I suspect they brine it prior to cooking, because it was very moist and juicy and cooked evenly all the way through with no pink or dryness anywhere. All the veggies were cooked just right and the sauce was a great accompaniment. Our dining companions were also please with all of there selections. Overall it was a great evening and a truly nice place to visit for a special occasion.
(5)
Kelli M.
Traveling in Tucson for work and I found The Dish Bistro on yelp. Don't let the parking lot and wine store front fool you. There is a tiny bar and restaurant to the right when you walk in. I came solo on a Wednesday night at 7:30 and had to wait for a spot. Based on the other reviews, in retrospect I was lucky to even get a seat without a reservation! The service at the bar was fairly good and the food was just okay. I had the salmon.
(3)
Andy S.
It was great to get back to the Dish again, and the experience was every bit as good as we remembered. The special was tempting (a big bowl of Saffron Mussels with a glass of wine for $11.50), but having just had mussels a night or two before, I opted instead for the Moulard Duck (peppercorn crust, braised red cabbage, crispy potato and blackberry sauce), which was excellent, as was my girlfriend's roasted chicken. So far, every meal we've had at the Dish has been great.
(5)
Gyasi K.
All the food was good. the steak here was cooked perfectly; it was fantastic. And I am definitely going to recreated the onion compound butter at home. If you want a cozy restaurant experience definitely recommend.
(5)
Brian Z.
The Dish... A place so good that you almost want to tell NO ONE about it just to keep it all to yourself. 1) atmosphere: This has to be the hands down, most amazing atmosphere I have ever seen. It is intimate, dark, cozy and more amazingly, can barely seat 20 people, creating a one of a kind experience with the food, chef, and the significant other that is sure to be impressed. This creates a one of a kind experience that makes it feel that you have discovered something grand that no one else is even aware of, like your own secret Oasis away from the hurry and noise in most restaurants. 5 stars 2) taste: Some of the best craftsmanship in Tucson, started off with the mussels as an appetizer, The mussels were fresh and delicious, sauce creamy, and seasoned perfectly without overpowering the mussels. After we had the pan roasted chicken and the ahi tuna. The ahi was just as expected in a fine dining restaurant, fresh and delicious, but the chicken? my oh my, a glazed honey chicken that melted in your mouth, mash potatoes that reminded you of childhood, and cipollini onions. A combination that will tear your taste buds apart piece by piece like a roided out WWE wrestler with a machete and a taste for nerd. After dinner we were too full for dessert, but fortunately not for a drink to go. we picked up a bottle of wine and went home to finish off the night. The restaurant in all its ambiance will be greatly remembered.
(5)
roy g.
first visit with my wife and friends,excellent and unique menu, the soup of the day for me was butternut squash with watermelon squares...wonderful.. the mussels are over the top ...great service. didn't buy wine buy the glass, bought a nice red at the rum runner 12.00 corkage fee...all and all a very pleasant evening . great find....
(5)
Amanda B.
Okay, so I went here two weeks ago for dinner on a Saturday night. I did call the day before and make reservations. And thanks to Yelp, knew what to expect when walking in to the Rum Runner. We were seated right away. I love the intimate atmosphere this place has. There are maybe 8 tables and a bar. Our server explained we could pick a bottle of wine from the Rum Runner and would be charged the $12 corking fee. I am totally okay with that because it still wasn't as much markup as other restaurants charge. So, ordered an appetizer and went and picked a bottle of wine and brought it back to our table. So, my date and I split everything... so here is what we ordered. We started with the steamed mussels. They brought out the order split for us, and it was huge! I couldn't imagine eating that whole thing by myself. And yes, the server brought extra bread and said it was needed to get up all the good broth. He was right. We then split the Fancy Salad. I love goat cheese and pancetta, so it was a winner in my book. Again, they brought it out split. So good. For our main course we had the bacon wrapped pork medallions. The bacon that was wrapped around the perfectly cooked pork was awesome. And the edamame were so perfect with it. For dessert we had the peanut butter heart. It is like a silky smooth peanut butter cup. It was a perfect ending to the meal. I was so happy with the service and all the courses. I will definitely tell anyone to go here and will be back myself.
(5)
Monica E.
What a wonderful place! Love the Dish, and Rum Runner. Excellent selection of wine, cheeses, oils, chocolate and all sorts of other wonderful things! ...although, goodness! It would be so wonderful and much more inviting if one particular person would knock down the pretentious behavior even for a half day! Anyway, moving on. The bistro is lovely. Don't let the small size fool you. And the employees know their wine and will do their best to help you find a good match for mere sipping or for a good pairing. This place is great for a social with friends, an informal date night or a little getaway to the bar. For certain, try the steamed mussels. I have yet to find much better.
(4)
Saba B.
We had the secret password as we'd called ahead, which is essential at Dish because the hidey hole dining room is so teeny that you hardly have room to change your mind. The wine list is tremendously varied, and some excellent offerings by the glass are much less pricey here than elsewhere (Cake, Trefethen, and Rockus Bockus all under $10). The Mosel riesling hit it out of the park alongside the mussels in saffron sauce with big tomato and garlic chunks. The menu is a creative bistro mosh which includes crispy duck, pureed soups, and several decadent salads which all dovetail nicely with the outstanding wine list. The staff is articulate in describing the wines and I've never had poor service here. They gave us a heads up when we were dallying and the entire restaurant was ordering so that we'd not be left out. They'd earn a 4th star if we had more room at the bar to spread out as we wound up buried in all of those extraneous plates, glasses, and cutlery with our wee little space. Delicioso!
I took an out-of-town visitor to the Dish for dinner on a Friday night. My friend lives in NYC, and I was looking for a foodie-friendly spot where we could catch up. While the food only got about an 8 out of 10, the atmosphere was lovely. We sat at a high-top basically in the wine shop. It was quiet, warm, and cozy. We had the beet terrine appetizer, which was delicious. My friend got the lamb, which had a great sauce, but was a little too chewy. I had the mussels - overall pretty good, but too briny/salty for my taste. We finished with the ancho chile chocolate pot....DELICIOUS! Dessert + prosecco were definitely our favorite part of the meal. And, we bought a bottle of the red wine we'd had by the glass to take home. I would definitely go back with my husband on a date to the Dish. Probably best for parties of 2 - this is definitely a cozy, intimate spot so I don't think I'd go with a group.
The Dish is lovely! Definitely make a reservation before you go, as seating is very limited, if not inconspicuous. This gives the restaurant a certain sense of intimacy with the black and gold decor. Food at the Dish is fantastic. The four of us loved our meals: soft shell crab in a cornmeal crust with green risotto, chicken with asparagus and mashed potatoes, the soup of the day, and the bowl of mussels (me!). The mussels were flavored with saffron and lemon and tomato. I was so in love with this dish I had to pause throughout the meal to reminiscence on how good it was. Oh, and I really enjoyed my glass of Malbec and Todd liked his dry rose. The service did not knock my socks off, but really, the food was delicious, so I'll just figure it was an off night for the Dish and service will improve when we go back :) :)
(5)
Peter P.
The Dish is a little hidden gem in the desert. Its joined to a wine/spirits market (Rum Runner), and the staff is exceptional. The place has very limited seating so call ahead or get there early and peruse their market. They have a steamed mussels in saffron broth dish that blows my mind (This is Tucson after all.). Their chef prepares some pretty amazing specials, they had a tenderloin with balsamic glaze and mashed sweet potatoes once, which is my wife's favorite. The ambiance is great, elegant without feeling pretentious. They have a winning combination there, the food is fantastic, without being overly priced, a great staff, and the location can't be beat. Right in the center of town. Makes for a great starter to a date night.
(5)
Lauren A.
I was driving across country with my Dad and we stopped in Tucson and found this place on Yelp. I chose it because the vegetarian entree was something that I actually wanted to eat rather than a pasta dish. The Wild Mushroom Amaranth Cakes were unlike anything I had ever had eaten and were so delicious. My dad and I shared the Long-stem Artichoke Hearts which were also unbelievably delicious. The staff was very nice and the wine shop is great too! I can't recommend this place enough.
(5)
Sheldon A.
We were two couples who were looking forward to celebrating two birthdays at The Dish Bistro. We enjoy fine dining, had heard many complimentary remarks about this restaurant, and were very excited about the evening ahead. Knowing that the restaurant was small, we made reservations. We were seated without a wait exactly on time at a comfortable table for four. Our server was very pleasant and very professional. The restaurant is very intimate, quite appealingly appointed, and inviting. The specialty for the evening was trout with bacon wrapped risotto and an apple slaw. As soon as the server mentioned trout, one of the gentlemen who is especially fond of this fish, raised a sparkling eye and gave a slight nod of acknowledged pleasure. The two gentlemen of our group ordered the trout and both commented as to how very pleased they were with both qualtiy and flavor. The risotto was perfectly creamy with a hint of smokiness from the bacon. The trout delectably moist with a delicate flavor. The prestentation was quite eye-appealing as well. As for the duck breast, ordered by both ladies . . .another story altogether. The duck was ordered medium rare. It was complimented with a red cabbage, crispy homemade potato chips, and a blackberry sauce. Sounds delicious, doesn't it! Alas, the duck breast was tough and the red cabbage was so-so. The blackberry sauce was excellent. We thought that perhaps it was just the one order of duck that was tough, but no, it was both. Highly disappointing! As this was a celebratory evening out, we didn't want to create any discomfort for the birthday gentlemen. We did mention to the server that either the quality of the duck or the preparation was problematic. The presentation could be improved as well. There were approximately ten dinner entres on the menu. To me this is usually a very good indication of quality and expertise in preparation. The menu also appeared to be very thoughtfully created with serious creative consideration given to the entire plate. How very unfortunate that both orders of duck were frankly poor. It is somewhat understandable if one dinner is unsatisfactorily prepared but not both. We all wanted this restaurant to be at the top of our favorites list but we cannot say that it is. We may try The Dish Bistro again, however, because we do understand that at times a singular menu item may not be completely representative of the entire menu.
(2)
Jackie T.
A big bowl o' saffrony mussels and a nice glass of wine for $11.50. My favorite seafood deal in Tucson. And the deli has manchego cheese! Yessss.
(4)
Maribeth S.
We love this place. We have dinner here each time we are in Tucson....which has been three times in 2009...all the way from New Jersey. Great concept, with exceptional wine store connected to intimate restaurant. All three times we sat at the bar. We love Doug, the bartender/bar waiter and thoroughly enjoyed talking to Tom, one of the owners, during our first meal. Other guests always have been friendly and everyone seems to appreciate this gem. We sure do.
Great food and with a cozy ambiance that's nice for date night. :)
(4)
Gidge D.
Place was loud, and Tucson is trending 3 years behind the world. Menu was well put together. HOW do you mess up Tri tip?? I will try again.
(2)
Mike L.
What's with all the hype...it wasn't very good. After all the good reviews and word of mouth, I was expecting alot more then what we experienced. Decor. Very quaint and romantic. But very small. There's about 7 tables with bar seating for about 8 people. Service- very friendly and professional. I had heard that they did not take reservations, so we took a chance and was seated immediately. But I guess they changed there policy and they now take reservations. Food- Now this is were all the problems happened. Our first course was the fancy salad. It was just ok, nothing special. My wife had the short ribs. While the beef was nicely cooked and tender. The sauce was overly sweet and tasted of fennel, which was not listed in the menu. My main dish was the duck breast with beans and sausage. The beans were a little under done and crunchy and the sausage was bland. The biggest problem was the duck breast, it was completely over cooked. So it differently did not live up to the hype.
(2)
Dina L.
This is one of Tucson's best kept secrets! I first found out about this place from Rachel Ray's $40 a day. It was hidden behind the wine and cheese place that it is attached too called the Rum Runner. When they were at their old location, it was very small but very cozy. The decor was very relaxing and was perfect for an intimate date night. Now that they've moved, you lose (in my opinion) the date-night feel, but I still enjoy the food and the company. Plus, if you love wine...you can pick your wine right then and there since some of the tables are located in the Rum Runner. The mussells are to die for...I love mussels and the savory broth is one of my favorites and the best I've had in Tucson. The homemade butter is declious and always love to get a second helping. I've loved everything I've tasted - The pork belly, the rock lobster, the shrimp, the baby spinach salad, the halibut and NY strip! I've never had a complaint. One of my faves!
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : No Attire : Dressy Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Brian Z.
The Dish... A place so good that you almost want to tell NO ONE about it just to keep it all to yourself. 1) atmosphere: This has to be the hands down, most amazing atmosphere I have ever seen. It is intimate, dark, cozy and more amazingly, can barely seat 20 people, creating a one of a kind experience with the food, chef, and the significant other that is sure to be impressed. This creates a one of a kind experience that makes it feel that you have discovered something grand that no one else is even aware of, like your own secret Oasis away from the hurry and noise in most restaurants. 5 stars 2) taste: Some of the best craftsmanship in Tucson, started off with the mussels as an appetizer, The mussels were fresh and delicious, sauce creamy, and seasoned perfectly without overpowering the mussels. After we had the pan roasted chicken and the ahi tuna. The ahi was just as expected in a fine dining restaurant, fresh and delicious, but the chicken? my oh my, a glazed honey chicken that melted in your mouth, mash potatoes that reminded you of childhood, and cipollini onions. A combination that will tear your taste buds apart piece by piece like a roided out WWE wrestler with a machete and a taste for nerd. After dinner we were too full for dessert, but fortunately not for a drink to go. we picked up a bottle of wine and went home to finish off the night. The restaurant in all its ambiance will be greatly remembered.
(5)Saba B.
We had the secret password as we'd called ahead, which is essential at Dish because the hidey hole dining room is so teeny that you hardly have room to change your mind. The wine list is tremendously varied, and some excellent offerings by the glass are much less pricey here than elsewhere (Cake, Trefethen, and Rockus Bockus all under $10). The Mosel riesling hit it out of the park alongside the mussels in saffron sauce with big tomato and garlic chunks. The menu is a creative bistro mosh which includes crispy duck, pureed soups, and several decadent salads which all dovetail nicely with the outstanding wine list. The staff is articulate in describing the wines and I've never had poor service here. They gave us a heads up when we were dallying and the entire restaurant was ordering so that we'd not be left out. They'd earn a 4th star if we had more room at the bar to spread out as we wound up buried in all of those extraneous plates, glasses, and cutlery with our wee little space. Delicioso!
(4)Stacy W.
I agree with the other reviewers that reservations are necessary. The room is very small, but that adds to the charm. Being in the back of a shop gives it a sort of speakeasy feel. The bartender/waiter was very helpful in describing the wine selection, and we were very happy with the appetizers and dessert that we ordered: the salmon flatbread and artichoke/polenta dish (still thinking about that one) and the black and white (coffee with liqueur and cream) with cookies. The store is fun to look around in, too, and I got some gourmet chocolates there.
(5)Andy S.
It was great to get back to the Dish again, and the experience was every bit as good as we remembered. The special was tempting (a big bowl of Saffron Mussels with a glass of wine for $11.50), but having just had mussels a night or two before, I opted instead for the Moulard Duck (peppercorn crust, braised red cabbage, crispy potato and blackberry sauce), which was excellent, as was my girlfriend's roasted chicken. So far, every meal we've had at the Dish has been great.
(5)Gyasi K.
All the food was good. the steak here was cooked perfectly; it was fantastic. And I am definitely going to recreated the onion compound butter at home. If you want a cozy restaurant experience definitely recommend.
(5)Jeanne F.
Literally the best dining experience I've had in Tucson. Beet carpaccio was delicious -- light and interesting. Mussels were really good -- usually Tucson seafood freaks me out -- but no angst here. Arctic char was perfect -- seriously just go. Call make a reservation and stop eating subpar food. Enjoy!
(5)Lee P.
I took an out-of-town visitor to the Dish for dinner on a Friday night. My friend lives in NYC, and I was looking for a foodie-friendly spot where we could catch up. While the food only got about an 8 out of 10, the atmosphere was lovely. We sat at a high-top basically in the wine shop. It was quiet, warm, and cozy. We had the beet terrine appetizer, which was delicious. My friend got the lamb, which had a great sauce, but was a little too chewy. I had the mussels - overall pretty good, but too briny/salty for my taste. We finished with the ancho chile chocolate pot....DELICIOUS! Dessert + prosecco were definitely our favorite part of the meal. And, we bought a bottle of the red wine we'd had by the glass to take home. I would definitely go back with my husband on a date to the Dish. Probably best for parties of 2 - this is definitely a cozy, intimate spot so I don't think I'd go with a group.
(4)Melinda D.
Took my mom here for her birthday dinner, and it was amazing. The mussels, which I had read so much about, were everything I had hoped for. In fact, the broth was so delicate and delicious that the mussels were almost incidental. Goat cheese brûlée was also excellent. Tiny, intimate restaurant, beautiful art on the walls, this is a great place to take someone on a special night.
(5)Jennifer B.
The Dish is lovely! Definitely make a reservation before you go, as seating is very limited, if not inconspicuous. This gives the restaurant a certain sense of intimacy with the black and gold decor. Food at the Dish is fantastic. The four of us loved our meals: soft shell crab in a cornmeal crust with green risotto, chicken with asparagus and mashed potatoes, the soup of the day, and the bowl of mussels (me!). The mussels were flavored with saffron and lemon and tomato. I was so in love with this dish I had to pause throughout the meal to reminiscence on how good it was. Oh, and I really enjoyed my glass of Malbec and Todd liked his dry rose. The service did not knock my socks off, but really, the food was delicious, so I'll just figure it was an off night for the Dish and service will improve when we go back :) :)
(5)Peter P.
The Dish is a little hidden gem in the desert. Its joined to a wine/spirits market (Rum Runner), and the staff is exceptional. The place has very limited seating so call ahead or get there early and peruse their market. They have a steamed mussels in saffron broth dish that blows my mind (This is Tucson after all.). Their chef prepares some pretty amazing specials, they had a tenderloin with balsamic glaze and mashed sweet potatoes once, which is my wife's favorite. The ambiance is great, elegant without feeling pretentious. They have a winning combination there, the food is fantastic, without being overly priced, a great staff, and the location can't be beat. Right in the center of town. Makes for a great starter to a date night.
(5)Lauren A.
I was driving across country with my Dad and we stopped in Tucson and found this place on Yelp. I chose it because the vegetarian entree was something that I actually wanted to eat rather than a pasta dish. The Wild Mushroom Amaranth Cakes were unlike anything I had ever had eaten and were so delicious. My dad and I shared the Long-stem Artichoke Hearts which were also unbelievably delicious. The staff was very nice and the wine shop is great too! I can't recommend this place enough.
(5)Angela B.
The Dish Bistro is a hidden gem! Reservations are necessary because the dining area is very small and intimate. We arrived slightly before our reservation and found ourselves waiting about twenty five minutes before we were actually seated. Since the restaurant is actually attached to a wine shop, it was not hard to keep myself entertained by perusing the yummy wine and food selection. Unfortunately, I was starving upon our arrival so the wait keeps me from giving 5 stars. Next time I go, I'll make sure that I am not ravenous and will be prepared in case there is a wait. For an appetizer, the man and I shared the Goat Cheese Brûlée. My trainer would probably force me to do thirty extra sets if he knew how much of this I consumed. It was amazingly indulgent and I loved every bite!! I also had the Fancy Salad (tomato, more goat cheese *hanging my head in shame*, pancetta and a sherry-nutmeg dressing) which was good but I'm not sure that I would order it again. For our meals, I had the Celery Soup and hubs had the Ribeye. My soup was the 'soup of the day' and it was delicious. Hub's steak and Gruyere 'tots' were amazingly tasty as well. Honestly, pretty much every single morsel of food from The Dish that night was perfection. Our server was warm, welcoming and attentive as well. The next time I return, I HAVE to try the mussels. Someone at the table next to us ordered them and when they arrived, they smelled and looked amazing.
(4)roy g.
first visit with my wife and friends,excellent and unique menu, the soup of the day for me was butternut squash with watermelon squares...wonderful.. the mussels are over the top ...great service. didn't buy wine buy the glass, bought a nice red at the rum runner 12.00 corkage fee...all and all a very pleasant evening . great find....
(5)Steve K.
Reasonably good food. Pretty pricey and a bit pretentious. Would I go again? Probably, but only for a really special occasion plus a different ambience.
(3)Amanda B.
Okay, so I went here two weeks ago for dinner on a Saturday night. I did call the day before and make reservations. And thanks to Yelp, knew what to expect when walking in to the Rum Runner. We were seated right away. I love the intimate atmosphere this place has. There are maybe 8 tables and a bar. Our server explained we could pick a bottle of wine from the Rum Runner and would be charged the $12 corking fee. I am totally okay with that because it still wasn't as much markup as other restaurants charge. So, ordered an appetizer and went and picked a bottle of wine and brought it back to our table. So, my date and I split everything... so here is what we ordered. We started with the steamed mussels. They brought out the order split for us, and it was huge! I couldn't imagine eating that whole thing by myself. And yes, the server brought extra bread and said it was needed to get up all the good broth. He was right. We then split the Fancy Salad. I love goat cheese and pancetta, so it was a winner in my book. Again, they brought it out split. So good. For our main course we had the bacon wrapped pork medallions. The bacon that was wrapped around the perfectly cooked pork was awesome. And the edamame were so perfect with it. For dessert we had the peanut butter heart. It is like a silky smooth peanut butter cup. It was a perfect ending to the meal. I was so happy with the service and all the courses. I will definitely tell anyone to go here and will be back myself.
(5)Monica E.
What a wonderful place! Love the Dish, and Rum Runner. Excellent selection of wine, cheeses, oils, chocolate and all sorts of other wonderful things! ...although, goodness! It would be so wonderful and much more inviting if one particular person would knock down the pretentious behavior even for a half day! Anyway, moving on. The bistro is lovely. Don't let the small size fool you. And the employees know their wine and will do their best to help you find a good match for mere sipping or for a good pairing. This place is great for a social with friends, an informal date night or a little getaway to the bar. For certain, try the steamed mussels. I have yet to find much better.
(4)Emily R.
It had been a while since my boyfriend and I were really blown away by a meal at a restaurant....and The Dish did the trick! The Dish is attached to the Rumrunner and is SUPER tiny, which I love...and it means reservations are a must! I loved the atmosphere, very dark and intimite with a modern feel. I started with a glass of their Shiraz Carbernet, and Scott looked like a little boy on Christmas morning when he realized his favorite beer was offered on tap...Kronenbourg. Hardly anyone in Tucson carries that beer. The night was off to a good start.. We split the mussels, which were fantastic. The broth was sooo yummy we practically licked our bowls clean! We also split our entree of Short Ribs with Yam Fries. The short ribs were sooo tender we didn't need a knife to cut it! And the fries were outstanding, it came with a side of bleu cheese aioli for dipping. To end the evening, we split the Panna Cotta with cranberries. Perfect end to a perfect evening!
(5)Morgan T.
How good is The Dish? As good as it gets. I've been to the "old" Dish, back when it had more space, and I've been to the "new" DIsh, where there are really only 4-5 tables and a big bar. To let Yelpers know, when they renovated the restaurant and the liquor store it is connected to, they had hoped to expand the restaurant out into the parking lot and make it a lot bigger than it was. But then they ran into some obscure Tucson building code that required the restaurant to have a certain number of private parking spaces that couldn't be shared with the liquor store, which makes no sense since they are one in the same! Since the Dish couldn't just buy another parking lot somewhere else, they had to cancel the expansion, and so now it is what it is. But, what is it? It's the best food in Tucson. HANDS DOWN. I've eaten at all the other "nice" restaurants in Tucson, most of which are tacky over-priced conveyor belts of "Southwestern international" blah-food contained within tackier resorts. The Dish creates super creative, richly flavored, top-notch food in a low-key friendly atmosphere. We went there the other night, and while the long-stemmed artichokes with white-corn polenta were delicious, the cane-braised short ribs were jaw-droppingly good. The best think about this place, though, is that it's attached to a good liquor store. You show up 10 minutes before your reservation, you pick out the wine you want to drink, you hand it to the hostess, and then you're seated and your wine is already selected! Corkage is $12, which on most good bottles is a lot less then the normal mark-up you'd pay off of a wine list.
(5)Dina L.
This is one of Tucson's best kept secrets! I first found out about this place from Rachel Ray's $40 a day. It was hidden behind the wine and cheese place that it is attached too called the Rum Runner. When they were at their old location, it was very small but very cozy. The decor was very relaxing and was perfect for an intimate date night. Now that they've moved, you lose (in my opinion) the date-night feel, but I still enjoy the food and the company. Plus, if you love wine...you can pick your wine right then and there since some of the tables are located in the Rum Runner. The mussells are to die for...I love mussels and the savory broth is one of my favorites and the best I've had in Tucson. The homemade butter is declious and always love to get a second helping. I've loved everything I've tasted - The pork belly, the rock lobster, the shrimp, the baby spinach salad, the halibut and NY strip! I've never had a complaint. One of my faves!
(5)Laurel R.
The best food and the most insulting service I have received in my entire life. From the woman who ran the Rumrunner who actually said, "blah, blah, blah," in the middle of what I had thought was a friendly conversation to the sommelier who referred to my 23% tip as "a trifle" there is no food in the world that could make me return to The Dish.
(1)Sheldon A.
We were two couples who were looking forward to celebrating two birthdays at The Dish Bistro. We enjoy fine dining, had heard many complimentary remarks about this restaurant, and were very excited about the evening ahead. Knowing that the restaurant was small, we made reservations. We were seated without a wait exactly on time at a comfortable table for four. Our server was very pleasant and very professional. The restaurant is very intimate, quite appealingly appointed, and inviting. The specialty for the evening was trout with bacon wrapped risotto and an apple slaw. As soon as the server mentioned trout, one of the gentlemen who is especially fond of this fish, raised a sparkling eye and gave a slight nod of acknowledged pleasure. The two gentlemen of our group ordered the trout and both commented as to how very pleased they were with both qualtiy and flavor. The risotto was perfectly creamy with a hint of smokiness from the bacon. The trout delectably moist with a delicate flavor. The prestentation was quite eye-appealing as well. As for the duck breast, ordered by both ladies . . .another story altogether. The duck was ordered medium rare. It was complimented with a red cabbage, crispy homemade potato chips, and a blackberry sauce. Sounds delicious, doesn't it! Alas, the duck breast was tough and the red cabbage was so-so. The blackberry sauce was excellent. We thought that perhaps it was just the one order of duck that was tough, but no, it was both. Highly disappointing! As this was a celebratory evening out, we didn't want to create any discomfort for the birthday gentlemen. We did mention to the server that either the quality of the duck or the preparation was problematic. The presentation could be improved as well. There were approximately ten dinner entres on the menu. To me this is usually a very good indication of quality and expertise in preparation. The menu also appeared to be very thoughtfully created with serious creative consideration given to the entire plate. How very unfortunate that both orders of duck were frankly poor. It is somewhat understandable if one dinner is unsatisfactorily prepared but not both. We all wanted this restaurant to be at the top of our favorites list but we cannot say that it is. We may try The Dish Bistro again, however, because we do understand that at times a singular menu item may not be completely representative of the entire menu.
(2)Jackie T.
A big bowl o' saffrony mussels and a nice glass of wine for $11.50. My favorite seafood deal in Tucson. And the deli has manchego cheese! Yessss.
(4)Maribeth S.
We love this place. We have dinner here each time we are in Tucson....which has been three times in 2009...all the way from New Jersey. Great concept, with exceptional wine store connected to intimate restaurant. All three times we sat at the bar. We love Doug, the bartender/bar waiter and thoroughly enjoyed talking to Tom, one of the owners, during our first meal. Other guests always have been friendly and everyone seems to appreciate this gem. We sure do.
(4)David S.
After reading the wonderful reviews about this place from fellow Yelpers I decided to give it a go.... ....and.... It lived up to your great reviews. Step 1: Make reservations - Highly recommend as there are only seven tables and eight seats at the bar to dine at. Asked to be seated inside the restaurant area as two tables are located in the adjoining Rumrunner liquor store. Might make for a weird dining experience with shopping patrons walking about. Step 2: Review the menu online - Get an idea of what you might be interested in. This way you can select a bottle of wine to enjoy with dinner from the adjoining Rumrunner liquor store. Step 3: Arrive 10 minutes early - Select your wine. Retail price of wine + $12 to enjoy with dinner. Step 4: Enjoy! Our entrees: Shared the Baby Spinach Salad / sliced pear / crumbled blue / slivered almonds / roasted shallot vinaigrette [$8.50] **** Four Stars - Great combinations for flavors and texture. Cane Sugar Short Ribs / haricots verts / parsnip crisps / jus de braiser [$24.00] *** Three Stars - Really didn't impress me. Was like a small chunk of tender pot roast. The following replaced the Herb-steeped Beef Tenderloin on the menu. NY Strip Steak / Greens / mashed parsnip [$34.00] ***** Five Stars - Wonderful cut of aged meat, flavorful and tender. Mashed parsnip was very good but I think a type of parsnip pancake (baked of fried) would have been better choice for this dish. The above was enjoyed with a bottle of Cain Cuvée NV6. Being I knew we were going with a red meat dish (unless the chef's special was too good to pass up) I selected this wine from the adjoining Rumrunner liquor store being it was a blend of 49% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. It was a great choice as the wine danced on our palate and was not too dry. It is plush with a supple base that had a complex aromatic ambiance. Really went well with the meat dishes. Our waiter complemented us on our choice being this was one of the few wines the restaurant sells by the glass (after all that purusing - go figure).
(4)Chich S.
Great food and with a cozy ambiance that's nice for date night. :)
(4)Gidge D.
Place was loud, and Tucson is trending 3 years behind the world. Menu was well put together. HOW do you mess up Tri tip?? I will try again.
(2)Mike L.
What's with all the hype...it wasn't very good. After all the good reviews and word of mouth, I was expecting alot more then what we experienced. Decor. Very quaint and romantic. But very small. There's about 7 tables with bar seating for about 8 people. Service- very friendly and professional. I had heard that they did not take reservations, so we took a chance and was seated immediately. But I guess they changed there policy and they now take reservations. Food- Now this is were all the problems happened. Our first course was the fancy salad. It was just ok, nothing special. My wife had the short ribs. While the beef was nicely cooked and tender. The sauce was overly sweet and tasted of fennel, which was not listed in the menu. My main dish was the duck breast with beans and sausage. The beans were a little under done and crunchy and the sausage was bland. The biggest problem was the duck breast, it was completely over cooked. So it differently did not live up to the hype.
(2)Scott N.
the look and feel of Dish is much more overwhelming than the actual dishes. i love the concept: small, few tables, limited crowd... the menu sounds unbelievable - but the food doesn't follow up. i will say that the fried lobster tail appetizer and the roasted pork appetizer were great. i highly recommend getting some wine and picking at the apps all night. we ordered the cornmeal dusted fried oysters and they were bad - they were either old or not fresh AT ALL. we each ate half an oyster and no more. we told the server that they weren't fresh and shouldn't be served - he still charged us for it (and actually asked if we wanted to leave them to "nibble on"). sucks for his tip... my brother had the osso bucco, and it tasted like smoke. the dish seemed like it was steeped in liquid smoke b/c that's all you tasted. it could have been chicken osso bucco and you couldn't have told the difference. the veal was completely lost in the overflavoring of the dish. i had the halibut that was nothing special. it was very bland and the dish needed to be drowned in the sauce, of which i only seemed to get a ladle's worth. i wouldn't order it again. overall, i might give dish another shot, probably when they change the menu up. the oyster ordeal sort of put me out with the whole idea of how a fine dining experience SHOULD be, and that's why i don't think you really get one at Dish.
(2)John R.
In short, this is a real find, with food that is as creative and delicious as you will find anywhere. And that's really saying something. However, I'll agree with the gripes that the old location was better. It was more intimate and comfortable. The new location seems too bright and crowded. We sat right next to another couple, and tried hard not to listen to their conversation while they tried hard not to listen to ours. Regardless, without any ambient noise, it was rather awkward. It pains me to do this, but because of the social awkwardness of this new location I have knocked off one star. I have always found the service to be very knowledgeable and friendly. Beyond that, the food is beyond brilliant. The chef, whoever he or she is, is truly incredible. There is no point in mentioning specific dishes because they are all fantastic. Do not miss this place. But make reservations.
(4)Tommy M.
Who would have thought that the best meal I had in Tucson was in a wine/liquor store! The Confit Duck thigh was easily one of the best duck dishes I have ever eaten! Try the Basil Ice Cream!
(5)Daniel H.
My wife and regularly stop in for clams and a glass of wine. May not sound like much, it it's like dying and going to heaven! Amazing clams - it's the broth that takes them over the top. Dinner at the bar with drinks is as good as it gets in Tucson.
(5)Eddy S.
Been coming here for a while now and should have written my raves long ago. It really is a nice quiet place for my business meetings where we can enjoy a nice wine (great selection since you get it at RR) and a bowl of shellfish. Staff has always been very pleasant. The corkage fee seems silly but its not a big deal. I could see this being a nice romantic dinner...If I could get a date :P
(4)Andrew F.
We just moved to TUcson this summer and have been using Yelp to find good restaurants in town. The Yelp reviews of the Dish were good, and we were also told by a co-worker that the Dish was great, so we tried it out for date night. Unfortunately, both my wife and I were unimpressed. The restaurant was quaint, and romantic, but the service staff and food were terrible. We sat at the bar and ate because apparently all the other open tables (just about every table there) were reserved. OK...this must be a great place right? Not so fast... The server behind the bar seemed knowledgable about the wines, but overall he came across pretentious. Even the couple next to us made a joke and it just went over his head. I guess I just prefer wait staff that is more down to earth. The food was mediocre. And what really set me off was the pork loin I ordered. It was served medium rare. When I asked about it I was told this is how its prepared. Well, maybe this food is just too cutting edge for me or something. Oh, and I had the mussels. I love mussels, but these were un-remarkable. The standard buttery/wine sauce. If you want good mussels in Tucson, go to Maynards.
(2)Troy W.
Excellent change of pace from the humdrum in Tucson. I was quite surprised to find something like this in Tucson. Great place to bring out of town guests. Very small so make a RESERVATION. Excellent dining experience.
(5)H J.
It had been some time since I went to The Dish, a small but intimate restaurant located in the back of a wine shop in Tucson. I recalled it being very good, but that was probably 5 years ago, and I was hesitant since restaurants normally lose their edge over that period of time. Not so with The Dish. I took my wife, a client and his date just last Saturday, and it was fabulous. Two of us had the lamb, which was just perfect, and the mussles were also excellent. My wife had the Amaranth cakes, which she reported were amazing. We got a good bottle of wine from the shop, and just relaxed. They should expand this place because it's too good and too small. Oh, and we had no attitude issues with the staff. They were all very professional. I give it 5 stars because the food was the kind of thing you look for-an experience, not just the same old thing. Keep it up!
(5)Pam C.
Hadn't been to the Dish for some time ( since the remodel) and was worried it would loose it's charm and intimate atmosphere and fantastic menu No problem. It's still very tiny and the food continues to be amazing. We didn't get reservations in time for a table but ate at the bar which was just as good. Wine was excellent and he sweet breads were too. Don't be afraid to try them here!! Wish I could eat here more often and will keep it high on my list of places to eat in Tucson next time I'm in town.
(5)Matt P.
Very small place nested back behing a wine store. The bartender was very friendly and I love their saffron mussels! These are great. The wine selection is great. I wouldn't go here with a large group, probably just a couple of people sice it is so small.
(4)Gary C.
Who knew? We walked into a retail wine store and came out having one of the best meals of the year. Visiting Tucson, I wanted a bottle of wine...something decent. I googled "best wine shop tucson" and the result was The RumRunner. We headed over and picked up a bottle of Numanthia but also discovered a tiny little restaurant tucked inside called "The Dish." Four tables and a counter with a nice ambiance. We had a quick look a the menu and it seemed right up our alley. The next night we went back for dinner and were blown away. The chef, Martin Sindells, an Australian living in Tucson, has got something special going on here. As is frequently our preference, we sat at the bar and spoke with Doug, the wine master and our server. Great guy, very knowledgeable and friendly. We started with openers...Baked Miti Crema with marcona almond crumble, heirloom tomato confit and black olive rusks. The Miti is a sheep cheese and I've never been served warm sheep cheese. This was flat out awesome but only to be outdone by the other opener, Pulled Pork and Duck Duet with peppered gyoza, fresh sheep milk cheese, pinot noir braised red grapes and baby french radish insalata. Best opener of the year. A bottle of Numanthia Termes was opened. On a sidebar I should also note that the wine list is literally the entire retail store...grab a bottle and pay only retail price with essentially a twelve dollar corkage fee. Awesome deal. I've never seen anything like this before. Entrees arrived soon. We had a Duck Confit with forbidden rice, matchstick carrots, bok choy, shiitake eggroll and black plum and pomegranate glaze. The other entree was Sicilian Braised Beef Rib with chipotle yam fries, sauteed arugula, orange zest and jus de braiser. Both were spectacular. The yam fries came with a blue cheese aioli. I might have chosen a horseradish version but nonetheless the meal was awesome. We couldn't finish our plates so the dessert menu was just a quick, though thoroughly tempting, read. The fact that this place can flourish in the dessert with a tiny staff, no marketing and no stand-alone location says a lot. The place was packed both times we visited. The folks working here have a bright future whether in Tucson or any place they choose to work. This is restauranting at it's best. Highest recommendation.
(5)Melinda D.
This restaurant is seriously lacking in customer service! We have dined many times at Dish. We like the food. We made a reservation two weeks ahead for 3 people. When we arrived we were seated at the smallest table in the restaurant which barely fits two people. The table next to us had an extra person added at the end, his back was literally a couple of inches from our table. We asked for a table that would accomdate three people and not involve eating with someone's large back at our very tiny table. We were rudely informed that it was a take or leave it situation. It was very frustrating since we booked this as a special night out weeks earlier. Unfortunately, we are writing this restraurant off our list.
(1)Brian M.
This place is fantastic. Chef Martin has designed an eclectic and satisfying menu filled with surprisingly well crafted dishes. From their signature mussels to the amazingy succulent artichokes stuffed and served over a creamy white polenta to the duck confit there are no disappointments on this menu. The attentive staff and spot on management crew get it it right each and every time. Hats off to The Dish for their unique approach to delectable dining!
(5)Rosalyn W.
Since we don't get to Tucson all that often, I like to make sure we find interesting places to eat when we're there. I did my research and came up with a restaurant called The Dish Bistro, which is located inside The Rum Runner Wine Shop. The wine store is big, the restaurant is tiny, seating only 26, so reservations are a must. The decor is classy and the food is upscale fusion-y American, as cooked by an Australian. A lot of thought has gone into the pairing of dishes with the accompanying sides. For instance, there's an appetizer of Buttermilk Fried Sweetbreads with Marcona almond crumble / heirloom tomato confit / black olive rusks ($9.50). Or Long Stemmed Artichoke Hearts with shitake duxelles / parmesan polenta / truffle oil / almond basil pesto ($11.50). We shared a bowl of Cream of Parsnip Soup ($8.75) garnished with bacon, raisins and apples - it was heavenly. The delicious bread from The Village Bakeshop was served with a spread consisting of four kinds of onions which had been grilled, chopped and then mixed with both browned and regular butter. I've got to try making some at home. We ordered two entrees to share. The first was sesame crusted ahi tuna, pan seared rare (as requested), served on a mash of garbanzo beans along with sauteed green beans, fried spears of eggplant, and a feta cream sauce ($28). I thought the garbanzo mash was a brilliant idea that went beautifully with the fish. The green beans were perfectly cooked. Unfortunately the sauce, while tasty on its own, was overpowered by the fish. The eggplant, again perfectly cooked, was really overkill. Ken felt like it was a dish from Top Chef, trying too hard to stand out. The portion was quite large and I was stuffed and almost dreading the arrival of our second entree, veal cheek ravioli. If you've never had cheek, it's probably the most tender, succulent part of the animal; sadly, it almost never appears on a menu. So I was conflicted when our waiter said there was a misunderstanding and he hadn't put in the order for it. Although it could have been quickly prepared we decided to try dessert instead. There were many fascinating selections, but of course I went with the chocolate cake. Unfortunately it was brought to the table at refrigerator temperature so the flavor of the chocolate didn't shine. Our server said that they had tried serving it a room temperature but the texture of the cake suffered. By the way, our waiter was personable and knowledgeable about both the food and the wine. After telling him what we planned to eat, we asked him to choose our wine (a shared glass), and he picked a delicious pinot noir. If you choose to get a bottle from the vast selection in the store, you'll pay retail plus a $12 corkage fee, which I'm told is a good deal. Because of the mix up with our entrees, we were not charged for dessert. Despite the few small glitches, we were taken with so many aspects of the food and setting that we'll happily go back during our next visit.
(4)Andrea K.
RUDE!!! The "hostess" or the woman behind the store counter was extremely unwelcoming and inhospitable. As we entered the cafe another manager type asked us for our reservations and seemed overly agitated at our presence. There was a palpable air of snottiness. Furthermore our waiter who in the past was kind and fun - barely spoke a word to us and took way too much time just to ask our drink order. The place was not that busy and was practically empty by the time we left. Shame on you Dish for making one of our local businesses an unpleasant experience.
(1)Chang O.
4 stars. The Dish is a small restaurant tucked away inside a modern wine and cheese shop called the Rum Runner. Although we had the address, it took us a while because we were looking for a big sign that read "The Dish". The setting is modern, intimate and may even feel a bit pretentious. Patron dress ranged from casual to dressy, but all pretty tidy. The ambience is best for couples, the tables are small, much like round bar tables where one might stand, although there are high stools available. The largest table I spotted could accommodate a party of four, rubbing elbows. Since we had kids in tow after a long day out, we decided that it would be more comfortable for us to buy take-out. The food was very tasty, but the portions were not huge. We ordered a chicken dish, a pork dish, but our hands-down favorite were the steamed mussels, which not only tasted heavenly, but were also a phenomenal value, compared to other menu items. What puzzled me was that our waiter was a bit tentative about our take-out order, not being sure if our mussels could be made for take-out since it would be "brothy". Made me wonder if no one else had ordered take-out before. ("Things that make you go "hmm...") Bottom line was that they did have good take-out containers and none of the savory broth was spilled. Just didn't expect "take-out" that to be an issue at an establishment like this. The prices were on the high side, but may be rationalized by the quality of the food. The "jumbo shrimp with serrano ham" was tasty but the size of the portion (and the shrimp) was a bit disappointing. Other than that, everything qualifies for "thumbs up". The complimentary bread was also very good. The wine and cheese section carried a wide variety of wines and spirits. Dining patrons may order wine from the restaurant or pick a bottle from the wine shop but pay corkage. The cheese deli was also very diverse. We bought some very special and delicious fig tapenade, which was a new recipe from one of their chefs. Verdict: best for a romantic night on the town and if money were no object. Wasn't looking for oysters, but the mussels are a must-have.
(4)Karen C.
We celebrated our Anniversary and Ken's birthday at The Dish and have gone there with friends in between. We love the mussels and wine special, but the artichoke heart over polenta has got to be one of the best aps ever! The lemon grass creme brule last night was wonderful. This tiny restaurant reminds us of some of our favorite haunts back east -- small eating spaces in retail shops-- quirky but fun!
(5)Mai G.
Yes, This is THE place Rachel (ehhhh) Ray reviewed for her dinner in Tucson. It is really super food, when it is ever open, that is! The Musts: The Pink Scallops, which are pink because they are served with anise and saffron, and the other (*note - to be honest the atmosphere is really dark, and the place is in a strip mall, but the food is sensational*) is the Ahi tuna...this is the single dish that seafood lovers with gourmet taste buds love in "dry-land" Tucson! Your run down: -It is Romantic -It is Trendy (but I think they prefer patrons over 35? Just my experience, but were never rude to moi!) -They have no view, and it is really too dark inside (hard to read menu) -The food is lavish and yet understated, simple meets decadence -Call before going to be certain they are open and to make reservations, if needed.
(4)Jim S.
The title of this review should be 5 stars for the mussels special and 0 stars for the weird service we received. In the most recent yelp review of The Dish, 4 days earlier, Andrea K said that a "manager type" was "agitated at our presence" , "barely spoke" and it was an "unpleasant experience". Andrea K hit the nail on the head (or the fork in the mouth) since my wife and I experienced this "attitude thing" as well. We arrived at 5:00 and NO ONE was in the tiny bar area. We were met by this agitated server Phillipe with "do you have reservations?" and a scowl. Keep in mind, the place is empty. He comes back (after checking something which I guess was the reservation list ) and says we could sit at the end of the bar. There is never a cordial greeting or any effort to try and be nice to us. We get the wonderful mussels special and basically Phillipe served us in a robotic fashion. I believe we said thank you to him 1/2 dozen times and not once do we get any thanks. We leave an hour later (the bar is still totally empty) content with the wonderful mussels special but wondering how this guy can be working with the public. My guess is that he must be the owners son since I would fire him in 2 seconds. Andrea K was really on target with her yelp review on The Dish.
(5)His T.
Went for the midweek mussels special and was not disappointed. What a great deal! As a marketing ploy it worked perfectly since we also had to get the truffle dessert to compare it with the one at Barrio Grill (Barrio's is better, but this one will not disappoint), and we couldn't help but buy a bottle of wine from RumRunners on the way out.
(4)Roberta L.
A year ago I would have written a glowing review of this restaurant, one of my favorites for years. However, since they have moved, I don't see why they even bother anymore. Better they should have just reopened as a fine wine/liquor store. The restaurant now is even smaller than it used to be and the seating arrangement is much worse which contributes greatly to the uncomfortable ambiance. Sitting behind a column, otherwise open to the store, is not my idea of a nice dining environment. But there are even worse changes. The menu has been greatly pared down and many of my favorites are gone. So is my all time favorite waiter. The service during my recent visit was simply terrible. Steak, ordered by two of the foursome in our party, was served with great confusion about which steak was cooked medium and which was cooked rare. The waiter kept changing his mind. The mussels I ordered were the size of marbles, not those lush pillowy ones I've had in the past. If that was due to a seasonal variation, why have it on the menu? No one came to inquire about our satisfaction with the meal and we were glad to leave. Oh, yes!! NO RESERVATIONS. One might actually wait in line for this. There are many fine choices in Tucson these days so The Dish, in my opinion, is riding on its former reputation. Too bad.
(1)Phil O.
We frequented The Dish at the old address, hadn't been there since the move. Although some of our favorite items are no longer (Vegetable Dish, duck dish, Baramundi) the special tonight was absolutely wonderful. Sole presented beautifully with a spaghetti squash, potato and cream sauce combination. All three of us just loved it. The goat cheese small dish wasn't as good as it used to be, but the leek soup was delicious. Coconut tart for dessert was perfect as well. Service couldn't have been better. Be sure to ask the waiter for the best entree that night, they always know. $12 corkage fee is out of line in my opinion. However, I still would be proud to take out-of-towners to The Dish.
(4)Arissa C.
Wonderful wine selection (hmmmm maybe because they have a wine store next door) and menu ranging from barramundi to veal ...love their fragrant saffron mussels...always a treat to go here....
(5)Gypsy B.
This is a wonderful place to eat in Tucson. The restaurant is located inside the Rumrunner Wine shop. Best to have reservations as only limited number of tables available . We were with a party of 8 adults . The atmosphere was relaxing. The Food was exceptionally good, and we were still talking about it hours later. If I could add more stars, on this place I would. Pick any wine in the store & pay a reasonable uncorking fee, or have house wines & beers. The service was efficient and unobtrusive. The staff were pleasant welcoming & knew the menu and specials. This is a great place for Adults to have a romantic intimate dinner. Great place for groups of adults., So folks leave the kids at home, and let us big kids have a place where we can relax.
(5)Leo B.
Great food. Expensive prices but worth it on a special night out. Excellent wine selection.
(5)H P.
this place is a little hard to find. it is tucked away behind rumrunner, set in from the road, and i passed by it a few times by accident. you must make reservations, as the space only has a few tables and a bar area for dining accommodations. my wife and i had the steamed mussels and beer combo. the mussels are steamed with white wine, garlic, and shallots, and they give you good crusty bread to dip in the broth. best deal in town! the jumbo shrimp dish is also pretty good, if a bit overpriced. i would really recommend sampling a few glasses of wine and pairing them with a bunch of appetizers. the entrees are pretty pricey, so it's better to just sample a few small dishes. i think this place would be better as a tapas / small dish joint. desserts are also yummy.
(4)carol s.
Loved my evening here. Came in as a single diner (business trip) and was just going to check out their wine selection. Saw the cozy bistro and decided to take a seat. Ordered light and loved everything. Salad with nutmeg dressing terrific, the stuffed artichokes were amazing - complimented with a little puck of polenta in the middle - one of the best things I've ever eaten. Wine selection was excellent as well. The only thing missing was my other half!
(5)Chris S.
Easily the best restaurant I have been to in Tucson. Elegant space, good service by knowledgeable people, delicious food (on the hearty side), and great wine list.
(5)Jane Y.
for christmas we went to visit the rents for the first time in tucson. we definitely wanted to take them out to a nice, fancy, good eatery since they work so dang hard and NEVER take a break or treat themselves to a nice dinner. so of course, FANTASTIC, LOVING daughter to the rescue! since i wasn't familiar at all w/ the area and no one i knew could give me any pointers, i first searched on yelp (limited reviews of tucson) and then searched online. i had heard rachel ray made a visit here but that doesn't say much since she "oooh's" and "ahhh's" over everything. all in all, this sounded like a decent, upscale place in the area. and as another reviewer mentioned reservations are a MUST! it's a teeny tiny place but cozy and dim. between the 5 of us, we tried everything from SAFFRON MUSSELS, WARM GOAT CHEESE, VEGGIE DISH, DUCK, LAMB, and STEAK! i have to say, for a girl that doesn't like mussels, they were darn good and we were soakin up all the sauce w/ our bread. the lamb was too gamey for me and the steak a bit more cooked than i like but whatever wine that the waiter recommended was superb! the desserts were so not up to jane's standards so was a bit disappointed. overall, the food was decent (3 stars...nothing beats SF food) but the service was TOP NOTCH...thus the 4 stars.
(4)Adam P.
I would definitely go back. Been wanting to try this place for years and finally got a chance. And they didn't disappoint. I found the service to be very pleasant, helpful, attentive but not intrusive. All of the staff was courteous and pleasant. Ambience was wonderful for a date night, great atmosphere in the wine shop with an urban feel but also felt like we could have been in Sonoma or Napa. Was fun to be able to 'shop' for our dinner bottle in the store with lots of reasonably priced selections to choose from and added to the experience. And was a smooth process too, not clumsy like other places with the same setup. Just grabbed off the shelf and took it to our table and server was there promptly to serve. The bread had a fun butter which is always an appreciated touch. The starter salads spinach and the fancy were fabulous, great flavors and much more than just an after thought on the menu. Really kicked off the dinner nicely. Chicken was well prepared as was the ahi. Both dishes were well seasoned and had multiple components that really worked well together. The celery on the Ahi was just enough to add some needed crunch and texture and the avocado tempura was a creative, and tasty, touch that rounded out the dish nicely. Portion sizes were just right. Courses were served and cleared at a perfect pace. Overall great dining experience. The menu left lots to look forward to so plenty of excuses to go back. Definitely need to go back for the mussels. It is small so I would only go with reservations although it does look like they do their best to accommodate. But I saw a lot of negative comments on here that I think was a result of friction with patrons, and the need for the restaurant to manage tables and turn them over. I think you need to respect the restaurant's need to turnover tables especially at such a small place. After all, with such good food we want everyone to enjoy and want them to stay in business! That said we were there for ~90 minutes and never felt rushed, check came without having to ask and at the appropriate time. Thanks dish!
(5)Gina M.
I am truly in love the The Dish. Went there for my second time in a month. The QUIET atmosphere, friendly service and delicious food hard to beat. The spinach salad was outstanding as was the potato soup for starters. My husband & I had the chicken and I don't know how they do it - moist, flavorful, perfect temperature and the mashed potatoes and vegetables just as perfect. One of our friends had the tuna and another the lobster. There was not a bite left on their plates. For dessert we split a creme brulee and a chocolate cake with a cherry sauce. No bites left on either of those plates either. Over all experience simply delightful. What a great way to celebrate my birthday. Can't wait to return.
(5)Richa S.
$12 mussels and a glass of wine. The mussles are buttery and tender. Friend ordered a Fancy Salad. It was actually a Simple salad with Fancy pricing. Thumbs down. Stick to the mussles and wine deal.
(4)Cristina R.
Had my first dinner in Tucson for my birthday here, I had just moved to the city and my husband took me here to celebrate. It was incredible! I had the special of the day which was fish and it was a stunning dish! My husband had duck raviolis and they were out of this world!! Make sure you have a reservation in advance since the place is tiny!! Will definitely return for another special occasion!
(5)Anne D.
I feel like I have died and gone to heaven when eating here. My loves: the bread and garlic butter, seared tuna small dish, the Ceasar salad, the duck, and the creme brule. And, I can wear blue jeans or my favorite dress and diamonds. It is very intimate, and you always know your food will be delicious. Yes, you end up talking to people next to you, but you have no idea who they are. You could be talking to a CEO or a miltary man, and they are all delightful. There is no discrimination. I love this place.
(5)Laura R.
We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary at the Dish. We made reservations and told them it was our anniversary and the waiters took special care of us from the moment we walked in the door! Perfect wine advice phenomenal food excellent service and they even gave us a small anniversary gift. The atmosphere is intimate and adorable and I can't say enough about the food and service! If you are in Tucson be sure to go it was our best dining experience by far on our vacation!
(5)alan m.
This has always been our favorite Tucson restaurant. However, our last two visits have definitely been below standard. Food has been uninspired at best and with some dishes actually poor. What has happened to the cooking here? I will not return until I hear of improvement! What a shame, as we love this place! Reviews, please! Has anyone had the same experience?
(5)Sylvian F.
Bistro food and atmosphere. Pick a bottle of wine before you sit down and it's yours for the meal (with a fee attached). Creative meals that are classically delicious. This place is a real Tucson Gem. I am a fan of mussels, but have not tried theirs in quite a long time. When I had previously the quality of the mussels themselves were underwhelming. This may have changed, but I will await further reviews of them here before considering trying them again.
(5)Isabella J.
Nestled inside a wine shop, this spot is super intimate (as in extra cozy) with something thirty seats. The ambiance makes for a perfect date night. Peruse the the shop before dinner, but a bottle and take it to the table with you. The wine selection at the shop (also known as The Rum Runner) is impressively varied and well priced. Their Wine shop/ restaurant concept was one of the first to hit Tucson and they certainly do it well. On the food front, they're Known for their Mussels, a definite must try. We enjoyed a bowl of those tonight. With a Caesar salad, fancy salad and the salmon dish. Everything was flavorful and well portioned, but a bit on the salty side. Wine by the glass is nicely priced. I love that their keep it real with their wine prices. So many restaurants in town mark up their wines to the point of of greed and that's a major turn off. Two servers usually handle the floor an handle it well attentively. The Dish is a solid go-to for locals and visitors alike.
(4)Ty F.
Decent food (I had a huge pork chop) in a wine store, how can this be bad? The Friday night the bf and I went, it was not crowded -- one table sat empty for about 30 minutes. It's small and we had reservations and they were able to seat us early because we were pretty hungry. The paella puck thingy was good too. The food was good, not great by any stretch. You can buy any bottle of wine in the store to have with dinner for a $12 corkage which seems a bit high to me considering. Seems like a good place to try once.
(3)Nicholas Q.
I met with a small group here recently to celebrate the birthday of one of our friends. We all sat at the bar and I would say that we were there on a good night because the service was pretty good, the atmosphere was nice a cozy, and the food was excellent. My friend and I ordered the steamed mussels in saffron broth with diced tomato, garlic, and fresh oregano. Approximately seven other diners were at the bat during the time we were there and they all started with this dish, which should give you a clear idea of how popular it is. The portion size was plenty for two people, the mussels were cooked just right, and the broth was really yummy. I would say this is perhaps the best deal on the menu. We also ordered pan-roasted Chicken with brandied creminis, cipollini onions, grilled asparagus, and mashed potatoes layered over a sage & butter pan sauce. What impressed me most was how well the chicken was cooked. I suspect they brine it prior to cooking, because it was very moist and juicy and cooked evenly all the way through with no pink or dryness anywhere. All the veggies were cooked just right and the sauce was a great accompaniment. Our dining companions were also please with all of there selections. Overall it was a great evening and a truly nice place to visit for a special occasion.
(5)Kelli M.
Traveling in Tucson for work and I found The Dish Bistro on yelp. Don't let the parking lot and wine store front fool you. There is a tiny bar and restaurant to the right when you walk in. I came solo on a Wednesday night at 7:30 and had to wait for a spot. Based on the other reviews, in retrospect I was lucky to even get a seat without a reservation! The service at the bar was fairly good and the food was just okay. I had the salmon.
(3)Veneranda A.
1) Plan ahead. Get reservations, and don't invite more than three people to come with you. Calling The Dish "intimate" is a stretch. The place seats very few people. 2) Save yourself for what is some of the best bistro cuisine you've ever eaten in a wine store...or anywhere else for that matter. This place has sentimental value for me, dating back to the old location. In law school, when fine dining was a luxury, my friend and I would call ahead, sit at the bar on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to get the mussel deal. Expertly steamed mussels and a glass of wine for $10. It's now $12.50, but, hey, it's still a good deal. Now I go there with my mother. We always get the same thing, because if it's not broke, don't fix it. We split the artichoke appetizer (artichokes stuffed with mushrooms on a bed of truffle oil infused polenta) and the roasted chicken with cippolini onions and mashed potatoes. The restaurant always accommodates this request and we make up for splitting the meal by ordering wine. And they have great wine. Make sure you try the bread and compound butter. It's a wonderful treat. Dessert, whether on a plate or in a glass, is a great way to round out the evening. This is the kind of place where you can sit long into the night, listen to great music, drink wine, and enjoy your company as much as the food...if your company is really really good.
(5)Janet B.
This used to be my favorite restaurant in Tucson but dinner last night has changed that! The food was overpriced, under seasoned and mediocre while the service was un-attentive. This has made me sad and it will be a long while before I am ready to brave it again!
(2)Melinda D.
This restaurant is seriously lacking in customer service! We have dined many times at Dish. We like the food. We made a reservation two weeks ahead for 3 people. When we arrived we were seated at the smallest table in the restaurant which barely fits two people. The table next to us had an extra person added at the end, his back was literally a couple of inches from our table. We asked for a table that would accomdate three people and not involve eating with someone's large back at our very tiny table. We were rudely informed that it was a take or leave it situation. It was very frustrating since we booked this as a special night out weeks earlier. Unfortunately, we are writing this restraurant off our list.
(1)Brian M.
This place is fantastic. Chef Martin has designed an eclectic and satisfying menu filled with surprisingly well crafted dishes. From their signature mussels to the amazingy succulent artichokes stuffed and served over a creamy white polenta to the duck confit there are no disappointments on this menu. The attentive staff and spot on management crew get it it right each and every time. Hats off to The Dish for their unique approach to delectable dining!
(5)Anne D.
I feel like I have died and gone to heaven when eating here. My loves: the bread and garlic butter, seared tuna small dish, the Ceasar salad, the duck, and the creme brule. And, I can wear blue jeans or my favorite dress and diamonds. It is very intimate, and you always know your food will be delicious. Yes, you end up talking to people next to you, but you have no idea who they are. You could be talking to a CEO or a miltary man, and they are all delightful. There is no discrimination. I love this place.
(5)Laura R.
We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary at the Dish. We made reservations and told them it was our anniversary and the waiters took special care of us from the moment we walked in the door! Perfect wine advice phenomenal food excellent service and they even gave us a small anniversary gift. The atmosphere is intimate and adorable and I can't say enough about the food and service! If you are in Tucson be sure to go it was our best dining experience by far on our vacation!
(5)alan m.
This has always been our favorite Tucson restaurant. However, our last two visits have definitely been below standard. Food has been uninspired at best and with some dishes actually poor. What has happened to the cooking here? I will not return until I hear of improvement! What a shame, as we love this place! Reviews, please! Has anyone had the same experience?
(5)Sylvian F.
Bistro food and atmosphere. Pick a bottle of wine before you sit down and it's yours for the meal (with a fee attached). Creative meals that are classically delicious. This place is a real Tucson Gem. I am a fan of mussels, but have not tried theirs in quite a long time. When I had previously the quality of the mussels themselves were underwhelming. This may have changed, but I will await further reviews of them here before considering trying them again.
(5)Isabella J.
Nestled inside a wine shop, this spot is super intimate (as in extra cozy) with something thirty seats. The ambiance makes for a perfect date night. Peruse the the shop before dinner, but a bottle and take it to the table with you. The wine selection at the shop (also known as The Rum Runner) is impressively varied and well priced. Their Wine shop/ restaurant concept was one of the first to hit Tucson and they certainly do it well. On the food front, they're Known for their Mussels, a definite must try. We enjoyed a bowl of those tonight. With a Caesar salad, fancy salad and the salmon dish. Everything was flavorful and well portioned, but a bit on the salty side. Wine by the glass is nicely priced. I love that their keep it real with their wine prices. So many restaurants in town mark up their wines to the point of of greed and that's a major turn off. Two servers usually handle the floor an handle it well attentively. The Dish is a solid go-to for locals and visitors alike.
(4)Adam P.
I would definitely go back. Been wanting to try this place for years and finally got a chance. And they didn't disappoint. I found the service to be very pleasant, helpful, attentive but not intrusive. All of the staff was courteous and pleasant. Ambience was wonderful for a date night, great atmosphere in the wine shop with an urban feel but also felt like we could have been in Sonoma or Napa. Was fun to be able to 'shop' for our dinner bottle in the store with lots of reasonably priced selections to choose from and added to the experience. And was a smooth process too, not clumsy like other places with the same setup. Just grabbed off the shelf and took it to our table and server was there promptly to serve. The bread had a fun butter which is always an appreciated touch. The starter salads spinach and the fancy were fabulous, great flavors and much more than just an after thought on the menu. Really kicked off the dinner nicely. Chicken was well prepared as was the ahi. Both dishes were well seasoned and had multiple components that really worked well together. The celery on the Ahi was just enough to add some needed crunch and texture and the avocado tempura was a creative, and tasty, touch that rounded out the dish nicely. Portion sizes were just right. Courses were served and cleared at a perfect pace. Overall great dining experience. The menu left lots to look forward to so plenty of excuses to go back. Definitely need to go back for the mussels. It is small so I would only go with reservations although it does look like they do their best to accommodate. But I saw a lot of negative comments on here that I think was a result of friction with patrons, and the need for the restaurant to manage tables and turn them over. I think you need to respect the restaurant's need to turnover tables especially at such a small place. After all, with such good food we want everyone to enjoy and want them to stay in business! That said we were there for ~90 minutes and never felt rushed, check came without having to ask and at the appropriate time. Thanks dish!
(5)Gina M.
I am truly in love the The Dish. Went there for my second time in a month. The QUIET atmosphere, friendly service and delicious food hard to beat. The spinach salad was outstanding as was the potato soup for starters. My husband & I had the chicken and I don't know how they do it - moist, flavorful, perfect temperature and the mashed potatoes and vegetables just as perfect. One of our friends had the tuna and another the lobster. There was not a bite left on their plates. For dessert we split a creme brulee and a chocolate cake with a cherry sauce. No bites left on either of those plates either. Over all experience simply delightful. What a great way to celebrate my birthday. Can't wait to return.
(5)Richa S.
$12 mussels and a glass of wine. The mussles are buttery and tender. Friend ordered a Fancy Salad. It was actually a Simple salad with Fancy pricing. Thumbs down. Stick to the mussles and wine deal.
(4)Cristina R.
Had my first dinner in Tucson for my birthday here, I had just moved to the city and my husband took me here to celebrate. It was incredible! I had the special of the day which was fish and it was a stunning dish! My husband had duck raviolis and they were out of this world!! Make sure you have a reservation in advance since the place is tiny!! Will definitely return for another special occasion!
(5)Ty F.
Decent food (I had a huge pork chop) in a wine store, how can this be bad? The Friday night the bf and I went, it was not crowded -- one table sat empty for about 30 minutes. It's small and we had reservations and they were able to seat us early because we were pretty hungry. The paella puck thingy was good too. The food was good, not great by any stretch. You can buy any bottle of wine in the store to have with dinner for a $12 corkage which seems a bit high to me considering. Seems like a good place to try once.
(3)Nicholas Q.
I met with a small group here recently to celebrate the birthday of one of our friends. We all sat at the bar and I would say that we were there on a good night because the service was pretty good, the atmosphere was nice a cozy, and the food was excellent. My friend and I ordered the steamed mussels in saffron broth with diced tomato, garlic, and fresh oregano. Approximately seven other diners were at the bat during the time we were there and they all started with this dish, which should give you a clear idea of how popular it is. The portion size was plenty for two people, the mussels were cooked just right, and the broth was really yummy. I would say this is perhaps the best deal on the menu. We also ordered pan-roasted Chicken with brandied creminis, cipollini onions, grilled asparagus, and mashed potatoes layered over a sage & butter pan sauce. What impressed me most was how well the chicken was cooked. I suspect they brine it prior to cooking, because it was very moist and juicy and cooked evenly all the way through with no pink or dryness anywhere. All the veggies were cooked just right and the sauce was a great accompaniment. Our dining companions were also please with all of there selections. Overall it was a great evening and a truly nice place to visit for a special occasion.
(5)Kelli M.
Traveling in Tucson for work and I found The Dish Bistro on yelp. Don't let the parking lot and wine store front fool you. There is a tiny bar and restaurant to the right when you walk in. I came solo on a Wednesday night at 7:30 and had to wait for a spot. Based on the other reviews, in retrospect I was lucky to even get a seat without a reservation! The service at the bar was fairly good and the food was just okay. I had the salmon.
(3)Jeanne F.
Literally the best dining experience I've had in Tucson. Beet carpaccio was delicious -- light and interesting. Mussels were really good -- usually Tucson seafood freaks me out -- but no angst here. Arctic char was perfect -- seriously just go. Call make a reservation and stop eating subpar food. Enjoy!
(5)Veneranda A.
1) Plan ahead. Get reservations, and don't invite more than three people to come with you. Calling The Dish "intimate" is a stretch. The place seats very few people. 2) Save yourself for what is some of the best bistro cuisine you've ever eaten in a wine store...or anywhere else for that matter. This place has sentimental value for me, dating back to the old location. In law school, when fine dining was a luxury, my friend and I would call ahead, sit at the bar on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to get the mussel deal. Expertly steamed mussels and a glass of wine for $10. It's now $12.50, but, hey, it's still a good deal. Now I go there with my mother. We always get the same thing, because if it's not broke, don't fix it. We split the artichoke appetizer (artichokes stuffed with mushrooms on a bed of truffle oil infused polenta) and the roasted chicken with cippolini onions and mashed potatoes. The restaurant always accommodates this request and we make up for splitting the meal by ordering wine. And they have great wine. Make sure you try the bread and compound butter. It's a wonderful treat. Dessert, whether on a plate or in a glass, is a great way to round out the evening. This is the kind of place where you can sit long into the night, listen to great music, drink wine, and enjoy your company as much as the food...if your company is really really good.
(5)Janet B.
This used to be my favorite restaurant in Tucson but dinner last night has changed that! The food was overpriced, under seasoned and mediocre while the service was un-attentive. This has made me sad and it will be a long while before I am ready to brave it again!
(2)Stacy W.
I agree with the other reviewers that reservations are necessary. The room is very small, but that adds to the charm. Being in the back of a shop gives it a sort of speakeasy feel. The bartender/waiter was very helpful in describing the wine selection, and we were very happy with the appetizers and dessert that we ordered: the salmon flatbread and artichoke/polenta dish (still thinking about that one) and the black and white (coffee with liqueur and cream) with cookies. The store is fun to look around in, too, and I got some gourmet chocolates there.
(5)Monica E.
What a wonderful place! Love the Dish, and Rum Runner. Excellent selection of wine, cheeses, oils, chocolate and all sorts of other wonderful things! ...although, goodness! It would be so wonderful and much more inviting if one particular person would knock down the pretentious behavior even for a half day! Anyway, moving on. The bistro is lovely. Don't let the small size fool you. And the employees know their wine and will do their best to help you find a good match for mere sipping or for a good pairing. This place is great for a social with friends, an informal date night or a little getaway to the bar. For certain, try the steamed mussels. I have yet to find much better.
(4)Brian Z.
The Dish... A place so good that you almost want to tell NO ONE about it just to keep it all to yourself. 1) atmosphere: This has to be the hands down, most amazing atmosphere I have ever seen. It is intimate, dark, cozy and more amazingly, can barely seat 20 people, creating a one of a kind experience with the food, chef, and the significant other that is sure to be impressed. This creates a one of a kind experience that makes it feel that you have discovered something grand that no one else is even aware of, like your own secret Oasis away from the hurry and noise in most restaurants. 5 stars 2) taste: Some of the best craftsmanship in Tucson, started off with the mussels as an appetizer, The mussels were fresh and delicious, sauce creamy, and seasoned perfectly without overpowering the mussels. After we had the pan roasted chicken and the ahi tuna. The ahi was just as expected in a fine dining restaurant, fresh and delicious, but the chicken? my oh my, a glazed honey chicken that melted in your mouth, mash potatoes that reminded you of childhood, and cipollini onions. A combination that will tear your taste buds apart piece by piece like a roided out WWE wrestler with a machete and a taste for nerd. After dinner we were too full for dessert, but fortunately not for a drink to go. we picked up a bottle of wine and went home to finish off the night. The restaurant in all its ambiance will be greatly remembered.
(5)roy g.
first visit with my wife and friends,excellent and unique menu, the soup of the day for me was butternut squash with watermelon squares...wonderful.. the mussels are over the top ...great service. didn't buy wine buy the glass, bought a nice red at the rum runner 12.00 corkage fee...all and all a very pleasant evening . great find....
(5)Amanda B.
Okay, so I went here two weeks ago for dinner on a Saturday night. I did call the day before and make reservations. And thanks to Yelp, knew what to expect when walking in to the Rum Runner. We were seated right away. I love the intimate atmosphere this place has. There are maybe 8 tables and a bar. Our server explained we could pick a bottle of wine from the Rum Runner and would be charged the $12 corking fee. I am totally okay with that because it still wasn't as much markup as other restaurants charge. So, ordered an appetizer and went and picked a bottle of wine and brought it back to our table. So, my date and I split everything... so here is what we ordered. We started with the steamed mussels. They brought out the order split for us, and it was huge! I couldn't imagine eating that whole thing by myself. And yes, the server brought extra bread and said it was needed to get up all the good broth. He was right. We then split the Fancy Salad. I love goat cheese and pancetta, so it was a winner in my book. Again, they brought it out split. So good. For our main course we had the bacon wrapped pork medallions. The bacon that was wrapped around the perfectly cooked pork was awesome. And the edamame were so perfect with it. For dessert we had the peanut butter heart. It is like a silky smooth peanut butter cup. It was a perfect ending to the meal. I was so happy with the service and all the courses. I will definitely tell anyone to go here and will be back myself.
(5)Saba B.
We had the secret password as we'd called ahead, which is essential at Dish because the hidey hole dining room is so teeny that you hardly have room to change your mind. The wine list is tremendously varied, and some excellent offerings by the glass are much less pricey here than elsewhere (Cake, Trefethen, and Rockus Bockus all under $10). The Mosel riesling hit it out of the park alongside the mussels in saffron sauce with big tomato and garlic chunks. The menu is a creative bistro mosh which includes crispy duck, pureed soups, and several decadent salads which all dovetail nicely with the outstanding wine list. The staff is articulate in describing the wines and I've never had poor service here. They gave us a heads up when we were dallying and the entire restaurant was ordering so that we'd not be left out. They'd earn a 4th star if we had more room at the bar to spread out as we wound up buried in all of those extraneous plates, glasses, and cutlery with our wee little space. Delicioso!
(4)Angela B.
The Dish Bistro is a hidden gem! Reservations are necessary because the dining area is very small and intimate. We arrived slightly before our reservation and found ourselves waiting about twenty five minutes before we were actually seated. Since the restaurant is actually attached to a wine shop, it was not hard to keep myself entertained by perusing the yummy wine and food selection. Unfortunately, I was starving upon our arrival so the wait keeps me from giving 5 stars. Next time I go, I'll make sure that I am not ravenous and will be prepared in case there is a wait. For an appetizer, the man and I shared the Goat Cheese Brûlée. My trainer would probably force me to do thirty extra sets if he knew how much of this I consumed. It was amazingly indulgent and I loved every bite!! I also had the Fancy Salad (tomato, more goat cheese *hanging my head in shame*, pancetta and a sherry-nutmeg dressing) which was good but I'm not sure that I would order it again. For our meals, I had the Celery Soup and hubs had the Ribeye. My soup was the 'soup of the day' and it was delicious. Hub's steak and Gruyere 'tots' were amazingly tasty as well. Honestly, pretty much every single morsel of food from The Dish that night was perfection. Our server was warm, welcoming and attentive as well. The next time I return, I HAVE to try the mussels. Someone at the table next to us ordered them and when they arrived, they smelled and looked amazing.
(4)Andy S.
It was great to get back to the Dish again, and the experience was every bit as good as we remembered. The special was tempting (a big bowl of Saffron Mussels with a glass of wine for $11.50), but having just had mussels a night or two before, I opted instead for the Moulard Duck (peppercorn crust, braised red cabbage, crispy potato and blackberry sauce), which was excellent, as was my girlfriend's roasted chicken. So far, every meal we've had at the Dish has been great.
(5)Gyasi K.
All the food was good. the steak here was cooked perfectly; it was fantastic. And I am definitely going to recreated the onion compound butter at home. If you want a cozy restaurant experience definitely recommend.
(5)Lee P.
I took an out-of-town visitor to the Dish for dinner on a Friday night. My friend lives in NYC, and I was looking for a foodie-friendly spot where we could catch up. While the food only got about an 8 out of 10, the atmosphere was lovely. We sat at a high-top basically in the wine shop. It was quiet, warm, and cozy. We had the beet terrine appetizer, which was delicious. My friend got the lamb, which had a great sauce, but was a little too chewy. I had the mussels - overall pretty good, but too briny/salty for my taste. We finished with the ancho chile chocolate pot....DELICIOUS! Dessert + prosecco were definitely our favorite part of the meal. And, we bought a bottle of the red wine we'd had by the glass to take home. I would definitely go back with my husband on a date to the Dish. Probably best for parties of 2 - this is definitely a cozy, intimate spot so I don't think I'd go with a group.
(4)Melinda D.
Took my mom here for her birthday dinner, and it was amazing. The mussels, which I had read so much about, were everything I had hoped for. In fact, the broth was so delicate and delicious that the mussels were almost incidental. Goat cheese brûlée was also excellent. Tiny, intimate restaurant, beautiful art on the walls, this is a great place to take someone on a special night.
(5)Jennifer B.
The Dish is lovely! Definitely make a reservation before you go, as seating is very limited, if not inconspicuous. This gives the restaurant a certain sense of intimacy with the black and gold decor. Food at the Dish is fantastic. The four of us loved our meals: soft shell crab in a cornmeal crust with green risotto, chicken with asparagus and mashed potatoes, the soup of the day, and the bowl of mussels (me!). The mussels were flavored with saffron and lemon and tomato. I was so in love with this dish I had to pause throughout the meal to reminiscence on how good it was. Oh, and I really enjoyed my glass of Malbec and Todd liked his dry rose. The service did not knock my socks off, but really, the food was delicious, so I'll just figure it was an off night for the Dish and service will improve when we go back :) :)
(5)Peter P.
The Dish is a little hidden gem in the desert. Its joined to a wine/spirits market (Rum Runner), and the staff is exceptional. The place has very limited seating so call ahead or get there early and peruse their market. They have a steamed mussels in saffron broth dish that blows my mind (This is Tucson after all.). Their chef prepares some pretty amazing specials, they had a tenderloin with balsamic glaze and mashed sweet potatoes once, which is my wife's favorite. The ambiance is great, elegant without feeling pretentious. They have a winning combination there, the food is fantastic, without being overly priced, a great staff, and the location can't be beat. Right in the center of town. Makes for a great starter to a date night.
(5)Lauren A.
I was driving across country with my Dad and we stopped in Tucson and found this place on Yelp. I chose it because the vegetarian entree was something that I actually wanted to eat rather than a pasta dish. The Wild Mushroom Amaranth Cakes were unlike anything I had ever had eaten and were so delicious. My dad and I shared the Long-stem Artichoke Hearts which were also unbelievably delicious. The staff was very nice and the wine shop is great too! I can't recommend this place enough.
(5)Emily R.
It had been a while since my boyfriend and I were really blown away by a meal at a restaurant....and The Dish did the trick! The Dish is attached to the Rumrunner and is SUPER tiny, which I love...and it means reservations are a must! I loved the atmosphere, very dark and intimite with a modern feel. I started with a glass of their Shiraz Carbernet, and Scott looked like a little boy on Christmas morning when he realized his favorite beer was offered on tap...Kronenbourg. Hardly anyone in Tucson carries that beer. The night was off to a good start.. We split the mussels, which were fantastic. The broth was sooo yummy we practically licked our bowls clean! We also split our entree of Short Ribs with Yam Fries. The short ribs were sooo tender we didn't need a knife to cut it! And the fries were outstanding, it came with a side of bleu cheese aioli for dipping. To end the evening, we split the Panna Cotta with cranberries. Perfect end to a perfect evening!
(5)Steve K.
Reasonably good food. Pretty pricey and a bit pretentious. Would I go again? Probably, but only for a really special occasion plus a different ambience.
(3)Morgan T.
How good is The Dish? As good as it gets. I've been to the "old" Dish, back when it had more space, and I've been to the "new" DIsh, where there are really only 4-5 tables and a big bar. To let Yelpers know, when they renovated the restaurant and the liquor store it is connected to, they had hoped to expand the restaurant out into the parking lot and make it a lot bigger than it was. But then they ran into some obscure Tucson building code that required the restaurant to have a certain number of private parking spaces that couldn't be shared with the liquor store, which makes no sense since they are one in the same! Since the Dish couldn't just buy another parking lot somewhere else, they had to cancel the expansion, and so now it is what it is. But, what is it? It's the best food in Tucson. HANDS DOWN. I've eaten at all the other "nice" restaurants in Tucson, most of which are tacky over-priced conveyor belts of "Southwestern international" blah-food contained within tackier resorts. The Dish creates super creative, richly flavored, top-notch food in a low-key friendly atmosphere. We went there the other night, and while the long-stemmed artichokes with white-corn polenta were delicious, the cane-braised short ribs were jaw-droppingly good. The best think about this place, though, is that it's attached to a good liquor store. You show up 10 minutes before your reservation, you pick out the wine you want to drink, you hand it to the hostess, and then you're seated and your wine is already selected! Corkage is $12, which on most good bottles is a lot less then the normal mark-up you'd pay off of a wine list.
(5)Sheldon A.
We were two couples who were looking forward to celebrating two birthdays at The Dish Bistro. We enjoy fine dining, had heard many complimentary remarks about this restaurant, and were very excited about the evening ahead. Knowing that the restaurant was small, we made reservations. We were seated without a wait exactly on time at a comfortable table for four. Our server was very pleasant and very professional. The restaurant is very intimate, quite appealingly appointed, and inviting. The specialty for the evening was trout with bacon wrapped risotto and an apple slaw. As soon as the server mentioned trout, one of the gentlemen who is especially fond of this fish, raised a sparkling eye and gave a slight nod of acknowledged pleasure. The two gentlemen of our group ordered the trout and both commented as to how very pleased they were with both qualtiy and flavor. The risotto was perfectly creamy with a hint of smokiness from the bacon. The trout delectably moist with a delicate flavor. The prestentation was quite eye-appealing as well. As for the duck breast, ordered by both ladies . . .another story altogether. The duck was ordered medium rare. It was complimented with a red cabbage, crispy homemade potato chips, and a blackberry sauce. Sounds delicious, doesn't it! Alas, the duck breast was tough and the red cabbage was so-so. The blackberry sauce was excellent. We thought that perhaps it was just the one order of duck that was tough, but no, it was both. Highly disappointing! As this was a celebratory evening out, we didn't want to create any discomfort for the birthday gentlemen. We did mention to the server that either the quality of the duck or the preparation was problematic. The presentation could be improved as well. There were approximately ten dinner entres on the menu. To me this is usually a very good indication of quality and expertise in preparation. The menu also appeared to be very thoughtfully created with serious creative consideration given to the entire plate. How very unfortunate that both orders of duck were frankly poor. It is somewhat understandable if one dinner is unsatisfactorily prepared but not both. We all wanted this restaurant to be at the top of our favorites list but we cannot say that it is. We may try The Dish Bistro again, however, because we do understand that at times a singular menu item may not be completely representative of the entire menu.
(2)Jackie T.
A big bowl o' saffrony mussels and a nice glass of wine for $11.50. My favorite seafood deal in Tucson. And the deli has manchego cheese! Yessss.
(4)Maribeth S.
We love this place. We have dinner here each time we are in Tucson....which has been three times in 2009...all the way from New Jersey. Great concept, with exceptional wine store connected to intimate restaurant. All three times we sat at the bar. We love Doug, the bartender/bar waiter and thoroughly enjoyed talking to Tom, one of the owners, during our first meal. Other guests always have been friendly and everyone seems to appreciate this gem. We sure do.
(4)David S.
After reading the wonderful reviews about this place from fellow Yelpers I decided to give it a go.... ....and.... It lived up to your great reviews. Step 1: Make reservations - Highly recommend as there are only seven tables and eight seats at the bar to dine at. Asked to be seated inside the restaurant area as two tables are located in the adjoining Rumrunner liquor store. Might make for a weird dining experience with shopping patrons walking about. Step 2: Review the menu online - Get an idea of what you might be interested in. This way you can select a bottle of wine to enjoy with dinner from the adjoining Rumrunner liquor store. Step 3: Arrive 10 minutes early - Select your wine. Retail price of wine + $12 to enjoy with dinner. Step 4: Enjoy! Our entrees: Shared the Baby Spinach Salad / sliced pear / crumbled blue / slivered almonds / roasted shallot vinaigrette [$8.50] **** Four Stars - Great combinations for flavors and texture. Cane Sugar Short Ribs / haricots verts / parsnip crisps / jus de braiser [$24.00] *** Three Stars - Really didn't impress me. Was like a small chunk of tender pot roast. The following replaced the Herb-steeped Beef Tenderloin on the menu. NY Strip Steak / Greens / mashed parsnip [$34.00] ***** Five Stars - Wonderful cut of aged meat, flavorful and tender. Mashed parsnip was very good but I think a type of parsnip pancake (baked of fried) would have been better choice for this dish. The above was enjoyed with a bottle of Cain Cuvée NV6. Being I knew we were going with a red meat dish (unless the chef's special was too good to pass up) I selected this wine from the adjoining Rumrunner liquor store being it was a blend of 49% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. It was a great choice as the wine danced on our palate and was not too dry. It is plush with a supple base that had a complex aromatic ambiance. Really went well with the meat dishes. Our waiter complemented us on our choice being this was one of the few wines the restaurant sells by the glass (after all that purusing - go figure).
(4)Chich S.
Great food and with a cozy ambiance that's nice for date night. :)
(4)Gidge D.
Place was loud, and Tucson is trending 3 years behind the world. Menu was well put together. HOW do you mess up Tri tip?? I will try again.
(2)Mike L.
What's with all the hype...it wasn't very good. After all the good reviews and word of mouth, I was expecting alot more then what we experienced. Decor. Very quaint and romantic. But very small. There's about 7 tables with bar seating for about 8 people. Service- very friendly and professional. I had heard that they did not take reservations, so we took a chance and was seated immediately. But I guess they changed there policy and they now take reservations. Food- Now this is were all the problems happened. Our first course was the fancy salad. It was just ok, nothing special. My wife had the short ribs. While the beef was nicely cooked and tender. The sauce was overly sweet and tasted of fennel, which was not listed in the menu. My main dish was the duck breast with beans and sausage. The beans were a little under done and crunchy and the sausage was bland. The biggest problem was the duck breast, it was completely over cooked. So it differently did not live up to the hype.
(2)Dina L.
This is one of Tucson's best kept secrets! I first found out about this place from Rachel Ray's $40 a day. It was hidden behind the wine and cheese place that it is attached too called the Rum Runner. When they were at their old location, it was very small but very cozy. The decor was very relaxing and was perfect for an intimate date night. Now that they've moved, you lose (in my opinion) the date-night feel, but I still enjoy the food and the company. Plus, if you love wine...you can pick your wine right then and there since some of the tables are located in the Rum Runner. The mussells are to die for...I love mussels and the savory broth is one of my favorites and the best I've had in Tucson. The homemade butter is declious and always love to get a second helping. I've loved everything I've tasted - The pork belly, the rock lobster, the shrimp, the baby spinach salad, the halibut and NY strip! I've never had a complaint. One of my faves!
(5)Scott N.
the look and feel of Dish is much more overwhelming than the actual dishes. i love the concept: small, few tables, limited crowd... the menu sounds unbelievable - but the food doesn't follow up. i will say that the fried lobster tail appetizer and the roasted pork appetizer were great. i highly recommend getting some wine and picking at the apps all night. we ordered the cornmeal dusted fried oysters and they were bad - they were either old or not fresh AT ALL. we each ate half an oyster and no more. we told the server that they weren't fresh and shouldn't be served - he still charged us for it (and actually asked if we wanted to leave them to "nibble on"). sucks for his tip... my brother had the osso bucco, and it tasted like smoke. the dish seemed like it was steeped in liquid smoke b/c that's all you tasted. it could have been chicken osso bucco and you couldn't have told the difference. the veal was completely lost in the overflavoring of the dish. i had the halibut that was nothing special. it was very bland and the dish needed to be drowned in the sauce, of which i only seemed to get a ladle's worth. i wouldn't order it again. overall, i might give dish another shot, probably when they change the menu up. the oyster ordeal sort of put me out with the whole idea of how a fine dining experience SHOULD be, and that's why i don't think you really get one at Dish.
(2)John R.
In short, this is a real find, with food that is as creative and delicious as you will find anywhere. And that's really saying something. However, I'll agree with the gripes that the old location was better. It was more intimate and comfortable. The new location seems too bright and crowded. We sat right next to another couple, and tried hard not to listen to their conversation while they tried hard not to listen to ours. Regardless, without any ambient noise, it was rather awkward. It pains me to do this, but because of the social awkwardness of this new location I have knocked off one star. I have always found the service to be very knowledgeable and friendly. Beyond that, the food is beyond brilliant. The chef, whoever he or she is, is truly incredible. There is no point in mentioning specific dishes because they are all fantastic. Do not miss this place. But make reservations.
(4)Tommy M.
Who would have thought that the best meal I had in Tucson was in a wine/liquor store! The Confit Duck thigh was easily one of the best duck dishes I have ever eaten! Try the Basil Ice Cream!
(5)Andrew F.
We just moved to TUcson this summer and have been using Yelp to find good restaurants in town. The Yelp reviews of the Dish were good, and we were also told by a co-worker that the Dish was great, so we tried it out for date night. Unfortunately, both my wife and I were unimpressed. The restaurant was quaint, and romantic, but the service staff and food were terrible. We sat at the bar and ate because apparently all the other open tables (just about every table there) were reserved. OK...this must be a great place right? Not so fast... The server behind the bar seemed knowledgable about the wines, but overall he came across pretentious. Even the couple next to us made a joke and it just went over his head. I guess I just prefer wait staff that is more down to earth. The food was mediocre. And what really set me off was the pork loin I ordered. It was served medium rare. When I asked about it I was told this is how its prepared. Well, maybe this food is just too cutting edge for me or something. Oh, and I had the mussels. I love mussels, but these were un-remarkable. The standard buttery/wine sauce. If you want good mussels in Tucson, go to Maynards.
(2)Troy W.
Excellent change of pace from the humdrum in Tucson. I was quite surprised to find something like this in Tucson. Great place to bring out of town guests. Very small so make a RESERVATION. Excellent dining experience.
(5)Daniel H.
My wife and regularly stop in for clams and a glass of wine. May not sound like much, it it's like dying and going to heaven! Amazing clams - it's the broth that takes them over the top. Dinner at the bar with drinks is as good as it gets in Tucson.
(5)Eddy S.
Been coming here for a while now and should have written my raves long ago. It really is a nice quiet place for my business meetings where we can enjoy a nice wine (great selection since you get it at RR) and a bowl of shellfish. Staff has always been very pleasant. The corkage fee seems silly but its not a big deal. I could see this being a nice romantic dinner...If I could get a date :P
(4)H J.
It had been some time since I went to The Dish, a small but intimate restaurant located in the back of a wine shop in Tucson. I recalled it being very good, but that was probably 5 years ago, and I was hesitant since restaurants normally lose their edge over that period of time. Not so with The Dish. I took my wife, a client and his date just last Saturday, and it was fabulous. Two of us had the lamb, which was just perfect, and the mussles were also excellent. My wife had the Amaranth cakes, which she reported were amazing. We got a good bottle of wine from the shop, and just relaxed. They should expand this place because it's too good and too small. Oh, and we had no attitude issues with the staff. They were all very professional. I give it 5 stars because the food was the kind of thing you look for-an experience, not just the same old thing. Keep it up!
(5)Gary C.
Who knew? We walked into a retail wine store and came out having one of the best meals of the year. Visiting Tucson, I wanted a bottle of wine...something decent. I googled "best wine shop tucson" and the result was The RumRunner. We headed over and picked up a bottle of Numanthia but also discovered a tiny little restaurant tucked inside called "The Dish." Four tables and a counter with a nice ambiance. We had a quick look a the menu and it seemed right up our alley. The next night we went back for dinner and were blown away. The chef, Martin Sindells, an Australian living in Tucson, has got something special going on here. As is frequently our preference, we sat at the bar and spoke with Doug, the wine master and our server. Great guy, very knowledgeable and friendly. We started with openers...Baked Miti Crema with marcona almond crumble, heirloom tomato confit and black olive rusks. The Miti is a sheep cheese and I've never been served warm sheep cheese. This was flat out awesome but only to be outdone by the other opener, Pulled Pork and Duck Duet with peppered gyoza, fresh sheep milk cheese, pinot noir braised red grapes and baby french radish insalata. Best opener of the year. A bottle of Numanthia Termes was opened. On a sidebar I should also note that the wine list is literally the entire retail store...grab a bottle and pay only retail price with essentially a twelve dollar corkage fee. Awesome deal. I've never seen anything like this before. Entrees arrived soon. We had a Duck Confit with forbidden rice, matchstick carrots, bok choy, shiitake eggroll and black plum and pomegranate glaze. The other entree was Sicilian Braised Beef Rib with chipotle yam fries, sauteed arugula, orange zest and jus de braiser. Both were spectacular. The yam fries came with a blue cheese aioli. I might have chosen a horseradish version but nonetheless the meal was awesome. We couldn't finish our plates so the dessert menu was just a quick, though thoroughly tempting, read. The fact that this place can flourish in the dessert with a tiny staff, no marketing and no stand-alone location says a lot. The place was packed both times we visited. The folks working here have a bright future whether in Tucson or any place they choose to work. This is restauranting at it's best. Highest recommendation.
(5)Karen C.
We celebrated our Anniversary and Ken's birthday at The Dish and have gone there with friends in between. We love the mussels and wine special, but the artichoke heart over polenta has got to be one of the best aps ever! The lemon grass creme brule last night was wonderful. This tiny restaurant reminds us of some of our favorite haunts back east -- small eating spaces in retail shops-- quirky but fun!
(5)Rosalyn W.
Since we don't get to Tucson all that often, I like to make sure we find interesting places to eat when we're there. I did my research and came up with a restaurant called The Dish Bistro, which is located inside The Rum Runner Wine Shop. The wine store is big, the restaurant is tiny, seating only 26, so reservations are a must. The decor is classy and the food is upscale fusion-y American, as cooked by an Australian. A lot of thought has gone into the pairing of dishes with the accompanying sides. For instance, there's an appetizer of Buttermilk Fried Sweetbreads with Marcona almond crumble / heirloom tomato confit / black olive rusks ($9.50). Or Long Stemmed Artichoke Hearts with shitake duxelles / parmesan polenta / truffle oil / almond basil pesto ($11.50). We shared a bowl of Cream of Parsnip Soup ($8.75) garnished with bacon, raisins and apples - it was heavenly. The delicious bread from The Village Bakeshop was served with a spread consisting of four kinds of onions which had been grilled, chopped and then mixed with both browned and regular butter. I've got to try making some at home. We ordered two entrees to share. The first was sesame crusted ahi tuna, pan seared rare (as requested), served on a mash of garbanzo beans along with sauteed green beans, fried spears of eggplant, and a feta cream sauce ($28). I thought the garbanzo mash was a brilliant idea that went beautifully with the fish. The green beans were perfectly cooked. Unfortunately the sauce, while tasty on its own, was overpowered by the fish. The eggplant, again perfectly cooked, was really overkill. Ken felt like it was a dish from Top Chef, trying too hard to stand out. The portion was quite large and I was stuffed and almost dreading the arrival of our second entree, veal cheek ravioli. If you've never had cheek, it's probably the most tender, succulent part of the animal; sadly, it almost never appears on a menu. So I was conflicted when our waiter said there was a misunderstanding and he hadn't put in the order for it. Although it could have been quickly prepared we decided to try dessert instead. There were many fascinating selections, but of course I went with the chocolate cake. Unfortunately it was brought to the table at refrigerator temperature so the flavor of the chocolate didn't shine. Our server said that they had tried serving it a room temperature but the texture of the cake suffered. By the way, our waiter was personable and knowledgeable about both the food and the wine. After telling him what we planned to eat, we asked him to choose our wine (a shared glass), and he picked a delicious pinot noir. If you choose to get a bottle from the vast selection in the store, you'll pay retail plus a $12 corkage fee, which I'm told is a good deal. Because of the mix up with our entrees, we were not charged for dessert. Despite the few small glitches, we were taken with so many aspects of the food and setting that we'll happily go back during our next visit.
(4)Andrea K.
RUDE!!! The "hostess" or the woman behind the store counter was extremely unwelcoming and inhospitable. As we entered the cafe another manager type asked us for our reservations and seemed overly agitated at our presence. There was a palpable air of snottiness. Furthermore our waiter who in the past was kind and fun - barely spoke a word to us and took way too much time just to ask our drink order. The place was not that busy and was practically empty by the time we left. Shame on you Dish for making one of our local businesses an unpleasant experience.
(1)Chang O.
4 stars. The Dish is a small restaurant tucked away inside a modern wine and cheese shop called the Rum Runner. Although we had the address, it took us a while because we were looking for a big sign that read "The Dish". The setting is modern, intimate and may even feel a bit pretentious. Patron dress ranged from casual to dressy, but all pretty tidy. The ambience is best for couples, the tables are small, much like round bar tables where one might stand, although there are high stools available. The largest table I spotted could accommodate a party of four, rubbing elbows. Since we had kids in tow after a long day out, we decided that it would be more comfortable for us to buy take-out. The food was very tasty, but the portions were not huge. We ordered a chicken dish, a pork dish, but our hands-down favorite were the steamed mussels, which not only tasted heavenly, but were also a phenomenal value, compared to other menu items. What puzzled me was that our waiter was a bit tentative about our take-out order, not being sure if our mussels could be made for take-out since it would be "brothy". Made me wonder if no one else had ordered take-out before. ("Things that make you go "hmm...") Bottom line was that they did have good take-out containers and none of the savory broth was spilled. Just didn't expect "take-out" that to be an issue at an establishment like this. The prices were on the high side, but may be rationalized by the quality of the food. The "jumbo shrimp with serrano ham" was tasty but the size of the portion (and the shrimp) was a bit disappointing. Other than that, everything qualifies for "thumbs up". The complimentary bread was also very good. The wine and cheese section carried a wide variety of wines and spirits. Dining patrons may order wine from the restaurant or pick a bottle from the wine shop but pay corkage. The cheese deli was also very diverse. We bought some very special and delicious fig tapenade, which was a new recipe from one of their chefs. Verdict: best for a romantic night on the town and if money were no object. Wasn't looking for oysters, but the mussels are a must-have.
(4)Mai G.
Yes, This is THE place Rachel (ehhhh) Ray reviewed for her dinner in Tucson. It is really super food, when it is ever open, that is! The Musts: The Pink Scallops, which are pink because they are served with anise and saffron, and the other (*note - to be honest the atmosphere is really dark, and the place is in a strip mall, but the food is sensational*) is the Ahi tuna...this is the single dish that seafood lovers with gourmet taste buds love in "dry-land" Tucson! Your run down: -It is Romantic -It is Trendy (but I think they prefer patrons over 35? Just my experience, but were never rude to moi!) -They have no view, and it is really too dark inside (hard to read menu) -The food is lavish and yet understated, simple meets decadence -Call before going to be certain they are open and to make reservations, if needed.
(4)Pam C.
Hadn't been to the Dish for some time ( since the remodel) and was worried it would loose it's charm and intimate atmosphere and fantastic menu No problem. It's still very tiny and the food continues to be amazing. We didn't get reservations in time for a table but ate at the bar which was just as good. Wine was excellent and he sweet breads were too. Don't be afraid to try them here!! Wish I could eat here more often and will keep it high on my list of places to eat in Tucson next time I'm in town.
(5)Jim S.
The title of this review should be 5 stars for the mussels special and 0 stars for the weird service we received. In the most recent yelp review of The Dish, 4 days earlier, Andrea K said that a "manager type" was "agitated at our presence" , "barely spoke" and it was an "unpleasant experience". Andrea K hit the nail on the head (or the fork in the mouth) since my wife and I experienced this "attitude thing" as well. We arrived at 5:00 and NO ONE was in the tiny bar area. We were met by this agitated server Phillipe with "do you have reservations?" and a scowl. Keep in mind, the place is empty. He comes back (after checking something which I guess was the reservation list ) and says we could sit at the end of the bar. There is never a cordial greeting or any effort to try and be nice to us. We get the wonderful mussels special and basically Phillipe served us in a robotic fashion. I believe we said thank you to him 1/2 dozen times and not once do we get any thanks. We leave an hour later (the bar is still totally empty) content with the wonderful mussels special but wondering how this guy can be working with the public. My guess is that he must be the owners son since I would fire him in 2 seconds. Andrea K was really on target with her yelp review on The Dish.
(5)His T.
Went for the midweek mussels special and was not disappointed. What a great deal! As a marketing ploy it worked perfectly since we also had to get the truffle dessert to compare it with the one at Barrio Grill (Barrio's is better, but this one will not disappoint), and we couldn't help but buy a bottle of wine from RumRunners on the way out.
(4)Roberta L.
A year ago I would have written a glowing review of this restaurant, one of my favorites for years. However, since they have moved, I don't see why they even bother anymore. Better they should have just reopened as a fine wine/liquor store. The restaurant now is even smaller than it used to be and the seating arrangement is much worse which contributes greatly to the uncomfortable ambiance. Sitting behind a column, otherwise open to the store, is not my idea of a nice dining environment. But there are even worse changes. The menu has been greatly pared down and many of my favorites are gone. So is my all time favorite waiter. The service during my recent visit was simply terrible. Steak, ordered by two of the foursome in our party, was served with great confusion about which steak was cooked medium and which was cooked rare. The waiter kept changing his mind. The mussels I ordered were the size of marbles, not those lush pillowy ones I've had in the past. If that was due to a seasonal variation, why have it on the menu? No one came to inquire about our satisfaction with the meal and we were glad to leave. Oh, yes!! NO RESERVATIONS. One might actually wait in line for this. There are many fine choices in Tucson these days so The Dish, in my opinion, is riding on its former reputation. Too bad.
(1)Phil O.
We frequented The Dish at the old address, hadn't been there since the move. Although some of our favorite items are no longer (Vegetable Dish, duck dish, Baramundi) the special tonight was absolutely wonderful. Sole presented beautifully with a spaghetti squash, potato and cream sauce combination. All three of us just loved it. The goat cheese small dish wasn't as good as it used to be, but the leek soup was delicious. Coconut tart for dessert was perfect as well. Service couldn't have been better. Be sure to ask the waiter for the best entree that night, they always know. $12 corkage fee is out of line in my opinion. However, I still would be proud to take out-of-towners to The Dish.
(4)Arissa C.
Wonderful wine selection (hmmmm maybe because they have a wine store next door) and menu ranging from barramundi to veal ...love their fragrant saffron mussels...always a treat to go here....
(5)Jane Y.
for christmas we went to visit the rents for the first time in tucson. we definitely wanted to take them out to a nice, fancy, good eatery since they work so dang hard and NEVER take a break or treat themselves to a nice dinner. so of course, FANTASTIC, LOVING daughter to the rescue! since i wasn't familiar at all w/ the area and no one i knew could give me any pointers, i first searched on yelp (limited reviews of tucson) and then searched online. i had heard rachel ray made a visit here but that doesn't say much since she "oooh's" and "ahhh's" over everything. all in all, this sounded like a decent, upscale place in the area. and as another reviewer mentioned reservations are a MUST! it's a teeny tiny place but cozy and dim. between the 5 of us, we tried everything from SAFFRON MUSSELS, WARM GOAT CHEESE, VEGGIE DISH, DUCK, LAMB, and STEAK! i have to say, for a girl that doesn't like mussels, they were darn good and we were soakin up all the sauce w/ our bread. the lamb was too gamey for me and the steak a bit more cooked than i like but whatever wine that the waiter recommended was superb! the desserts were so not up to jane's standards so was a bit disappointed. overall, the food was decent (3 stars...nothing beats SF food) but the service was TOP NOTCH...thus the 4 stars.
(4)Matt P.
Very small place nested back behing a wine store. The bartender was very friendly and I love their saffron mussels! These are great. The wine selection is great. I wouldn't go here with a large group, probably just a couple of people sice it is so small.
(4)Laurel R.
The best food and the most insulting service I have received in my entire life. From the woman who ran the Rumrunner who actually said, "blah, blah, blah," in the middle of what I had thought was a friendly conversation to the sommelier who referred to my 23% tip as "a trifle" there is no food in the world that could make me return to The Dish.
(1)Gypsy B.
This is a wonderful place to eat in Tucson. The restaurant is located inside the Rumrunner Wine shop. Best to have reservations as only limited number of tables available . We were with a party of 8 adults . The atmosphere was relaxing. The Food was exceptionally good, and we were still talking about it hours later. If I could add more stars, on this place I would. Pick any wine in the store & pay a reasonable uncorking fee, or have house wines & beers. The service was efficient and unobtrusive. The staff were pleasant welcoming & knew the menu and specials. This is a great place for Adults to have a romantic intimate dinner. Great place for groups of adults., So folks leave the kids at home, and let us big kids have a place where we can relax.
(5)Leo B.
Great food. Expensive prices but worth it on a special night out. Excellent wine selection.
(5)H P.
this place is a little hard to find. it is tucked away behind rumrunner, set in from the road, and i passed by it a few times by accident. you must make reservations, as the space only has a few tables and a bar area for dining accommodations. my wife and i had the steamed mussels and beer combo. the mussels are steamed with white wine, garlic, and shallots, and they give you good crusty bread to dip in the broth. best deal in town! the jumbo shrimp dish is also pretty good, if a bit overpriced. i would really recommend sampling a few glasses of wine and pairing them with a bunch of appetizers. the entrees are pretty pricey, so it's better to just sample a few small dishes. i think this place would be better as a tapas / small dish joint. desserts are also yummy.
(4)carol s.
Loved my evening here. Came in as a single diner (business trip) and was just going to check out their wine selection. Saw the cozy bistro and decided to take a seat. Ordered light and loved everything. Salad with nutmeg dressing terrific, the stuffed artichokes were amazing - complimented with a little puck of polenta in the middle - one of the best things I've ever eaten. Wine selection was excellent as well. The only thing missing was my other half!
(5)Chris S.
Easily the best restaurant I have been to in Tucson. Elegant space, good service by knowledgeable people, delicious food (on the hearty side), and great wine list.
(5)Pam C.
Hadn't been to the Dish for some time ( since the remodel) and was worried it would loose it's charm and intimate atmosphere and fantastic menu No problem. It's still very tiny and the food continues to be amazing. We didn't get reservations in time for a table but ate at the bar which was just as good. Wine was excellent and he sweet breads were too. Don't be afraid to try them here!! Wish I could eat here more often and will keep it high on my list of places to eat in Tucson next time I'm in town.
(5)Scott N.
the look and feel of Dish is much more overwhelming than the actual dishes. i love the concept: small, few tables, limited crowd... the menu sounds unbelievable - but the food doesn't follow up. i will say that the fried lobster tail appetizer and the roasted pork appetizer were great. i highly recommend getting some wine and picking at the apps all night. we ordered the cornmeal dusted fried oysters and they were bad - they were either old or not fresh AT ALL. we each ate half an oyster and no more. we told the server that they weren't fresh and shouldn't be served - he still charged us for it (and actually asked if we wanted to leave them to "nibble on"). sucks for his tip... my brother had the osso bucco, and it tasted like smoke. the dish seemed like it was steeped in liquid smoke b/c that's all you tasted. it could have been chicken osso bucco and you couldn't have told the difference. the veal was completely lost in the overflavoring of the dish. i had the halibut that was nothing special. it was very bland and the dish needed to be drowned in the sauce, of which i only seemed to get a ladle's worth. i wouldn't order it again. overall, i might give dish another shot, probably when they change the menu up. the oyster ordeal sort of put me out with the whole idea of how a fine dining experience SHOULD be, and that's why i don't think you really get one at Dish.
(2)John R.
In short, this is a real find, with food that is as creative and delicious as you will find anywhere. And that's really saying something. However, I'll agree with the gripes that the old location was better. It was more intimate and comfortable. The new location seems too bright and crowded. We sat right next to another couple, and tried hard not to listen to their conversation while they tried hard not to listen to ours. Regardless, without any ambient noise, it was rather awkward. It pains me to do this, but because of the social awkwardness of this new location I have knocked off one star. I have always found the service to be very knowledgeable and friendly. Beyond that, the food is beyond brilliant. The chef, whoever he or she is, is truly incredible. There is no point in mentioning specific dishes because they are all fantastic. Do not miss this place. But make reservations.
(4)Tommy M.
Who would have thought that the best meal I had in Tucson was in a wine/liquor store! The Confit Duck thigh was easily one of the best duck dishes I have ever eaten! Try the Basil Ice Cream!
(5)Matt P.
Very small place nested back behing a wine store. The bartender was very friendly and I love their saffron mussels! These are great. The wine selection is great. I wouldn't go here with a large group, probably just a couple of people sice it is so small.
(4)Laurel R.
The best food and the most insulting service I have received in my entire life. From the woman who ran the Rumrunner who actually said, "blah, blah, blah," in the middle of what I had thought was a friendly conversation to the sommelier who referred to my 23% tip as "a trifle" there is no food in the world that could make me return to The Dish.
(1)Andrew F.
We just moved to TUcson this summer and have been using Yelp to find good restaurants in town. The Yelp reviews of the Dish were good, and we were also told by a co-worker that the Dish was great, so we tried it out for date night. Unfortunately, both my wife and I were unimpressed. The restaurant was quaint, and romantic, but the service staff and food were terrible. We sat at the bar and ate because apparently all the other open tables (just about every table there) were reserved. OK...this must be a great place right? Not so fast... The server behind the bar seemed knowledgable about the wines, but overall he came across pretentious. Even the couple next to us made a joke and it just went over his head. I guess I just prefer wait staff that is more down to earth. The food was mediocre. And what really set me off was the pork loin I ordered. It was served medium rare. When I asked about it I was told this is how its prepared. Well, maybe this food is just too cutting edge for me or something. Oh, and I had the mussels. I love mussels, but these were un-remarkable. The standard buttery/wine sauce. If you want good mussels in Tucson, go to Maynards.
(2)Troy W.
Excellent change of pace from the humdrum in Tucson. I was quite surprised to find something like this in Tucson. Great place to bring out of town guests. Very small so make a RESERVATION. Excellent dining experience.
(5)Daniel H.
My wife and regularly stop in for clams and a glass of wine. May not sound like much, it it's like dying and going to heaven! Amazing clams - it's the broth that takes them over the top. Dinner at the bar with drinks is as good as it gets in Tucson.
(5)Eddy S.
Been coming here for a while now and should have written my raves long ago. It really is a nice quiet place for my business meetings where we can enjoy a nice wine (great selection since you get it at RR) and a bowl of shellfish. Staff has always been very pleasant. The corkage fee seems silly but its not a big deal. I could see this being a nice romantic dinner...If I could get a date :P
(4)H J.
It had been some time since I went to The Dish, a small but intimate restaurant located in the back of a wine shop in Tucson. I recalled it being very good, but that was probably 5 years ago, and I was hesitant since restaurants normally lose their edge over that period of time. Not so with The Dish. I took my wife, a client and his date just last Saturday, and it was fabulous. Two of us had the lamb, which was just perfect, and the mussles were also excellent. My wife had the Amaranth cakes, which she reported were amazing. We got a good bottle of wine from the shop, and just relaxed. They should expand this place because it's too good and too small. Oh, and we had no attitude issues with the staff. They were all very professional. I give it 5 stars because the food was the kind of thing you look for-an experience, not just the same old thing. Keep it up!
(5)Gary C.
Who knew? We walked into a retail wine store and came out having one of the best meals of the year. Visiting Tucson, I wanted a bottle of wine...something decent. I googled "best wine shop tucson" and the result was The RumRunner. We headed over and picked up a bottle of Numanthia but also discovered a tiny little restaurant tucked inside called "The Dish." Four tables and a counter with a nice ambiance. We had a quick look a the menu and it seemed right up our alley. The next night we went back for dinner and were blown away. The chef, Martin Sindells, an Australian living in Tucson, has got something special going on here. As is frequently our preference, we sat at the bar and spoke with Doug, the wine master and our server. Great guy, very knowledgeable and friendly. We started with openers...Baked Miti Crema with marcona almond crumble, heirloom tomato confit and black olive rusks. The Miti is a sheep cheese and I've never been served warm sheep cheese. This was flat out awesome but only to be outdone by the other opener, Pulled Pork and Duck Duet with peppered gyoza, fresh sheep milk cheese, pinot noir braised red grapes and baby french radish insalata. Best opener of the year. A bottle of Numanthia Termes was opened. On a sidebar I should also note that the wine list is literally the entire retail store...grab a bottle and pay only retail price with essentially a twelve dollar corkage fee. Awesome deal. I've never seen anything like this before. Entrees arrived soon. We had a Duck Confit with forbidden rice, matchstick carrots, bok choy, shiitake eggroll and black plum and pomegranate glaze. The other entree was Sicilian Braised Beef Rib with chipotle yam fries, sauteed arugula, orange zest and jus de braiser. Both were spectacular. The yam fries came with a blue cheese aioli. I might have chosen a horseradish version but nonetheless the meal was awesome. We couldn't finish our plates so the dessert menu was just a quick, though thoroughly tempting, read. The fact that this place can flourish in the dessert with a tiny staff, no marketing and no stand-alone location says a lot. The place was packed both times we visited. The folks working here have a bright future whether in Tucson or any place they choose to work. This is restauranting at it's best. Highest recommendation.
(5)Melinda D.
This restaurant is seriously lacking in customer service! We have dined many times at Dish. We like the food. We made a reservation two weeks ahead for 3 people. When we arrived we were seated at the smallest table in the restaurant which barely fits two people. The table next to us had an extra person added at the end, his back was literally a couple of inches from our table. We asked for a table that would accomdate three people and not involve eating with someone's large back at our very tiny table. We were rudely informed that it was a take or leave it situation. It was very frustrating since we booked this as a special night out weeks earlier. Unfortunately, we are writing this restraurant off our list.
(1)Brian M.
This place is fantastic. Chef Martin has designed an eclectic and satisfying menu filled with surprisingly well crafted dishes. From their signature mussels to the amazingy succulent artichokes stuffed and served over a creamy white polenta to the duck confit there are no disappointments on this menu. The attentive staff and spot on management crew get it it right each and every time. Hats off to The Dish for their unique approach to delectable dining!
(5)Jim S.
The title of this review should be 5 stars for the mussels special and 0 stars for the weird service we received. In the most recent yelp review of The Dish, 4 days earlier, Andrea K said that a "manager type" was "agitated at our presence" , "barely spoke" and it was an "unpleasant experience". Andrea K hit the nail on the head (or the fork in the mouth) since my wife and I experienced this "attitude thing" as well. We arrived at 5:00 and NO ONE was in the tiny bar area. We were met by this agitated server Phillipe with "do you have reservations?" and a scowl. Keep in mind, the place is empty. He comes back (after checking something which I guess was the reservation list ) and says we could sit at the end of the bar. There is never a cordial greeting or any effort to try and be nice to us. We get the wonderful mussels special and basically Phillipe served us in a robotic fashion. I believe we said thank you to him 1/2 dozen times and not once do we get any thanks. We leave an hour later (the bar is still totally empty) content with the wonderful mussels special but wondering how this guy can be working with the public. My guess is that he must be the owners son since I would fire him in 2 seconds. Andrea K was really on target with her yelp review on The Dish.
(5)His T.
Went for the midweek mussels special and was not disappointed. What a great deal! As a marketing ploy it worked perfectly since we also had to get the truffle dessert to compare it with the one at Barrio Grill (Barrio's is better, but this one will not disappoint), and we couldn't help but buy a bottle of wine from RumRunners on the way out.
(4)Chang O.
4 stars. The Dish is a small restaurant tucked away inside a modern wine and cheese shop called the Rum Runner. Although we had the address, it took us a while because we were looking for a big sign that read "The Dish". The setting is modern, intimate and may even feel a bit pretentious. Patron dress ranged from casual to dressy, but all pretty tidy. The ambience is best for couples, the tables are small, much like round bar tables where one might stand, although there are high stools available. The largest table I spotted could accommodate a party of four, rubbing elbows. Since we had kids in tow after a long day out, we decided that it would be more comfortable for us to buy take-out. The food was very tasty, but the portions were not huge. We ordered a chicken dish, a pork dish, but our hands-down favorite were the steamed mussels, which not only tasted heavenly, but were also a phenomenal value, compared to other menu items. What puzzled me was that our waiter was a bit tentative about our take-out order, not being sure if our mussels could be made for take-out since it would be "brothy". Made me wonder if no one else had ordered take-out before. ("Things that make you go "hmm...") Bottom line was that they did have good take-out containers and none of the savory broth was spilled. Just didn't expect "take-out" that to be an issue at an establishment like this. The prices were on the high side, but may be rationalized by the quality of the food. The "jumbo shrimp with serrano ham" was tasty but the size of the portion (and the shrimp) was a bit disappointing. Other than that, everything qualifies for "thumbs up". The complimentary bread was also very good. The wine and cheese section carried a wide variety of wines and spirits. Dining patrons may order wine from the restaurant or pick a bottle from the wine shop but pay corkage. The cheese deli was also very diverse. We bought some very special and delicious fig tapenade, which was a new recipe from one of their chefs. Verdict: best for a romantic night on the town and if money were no object. Wasn't looking for oysters, but the mussels are a must-have.
(4)Karen C.
We celebrated our Anniversary and Ken's birthday at The Dish and have gone there with friends in between. We love the mussels and wine special, but the artichoke heart over polenta has got to be one of the best aps ever! The lemon grass creme brule last night was wonderful. This tiny restaurant reminds us of some of our favorite haunts back east -- small eating spaces in retail shops-- quirky but fun!
(5)Mai G.
Yes, This is THE place Rachel (ehhhh) Ray reviewed for her dinner in Tucson. It is really super food, when it is ever open, that is! The Musts: The Pink Scallops, which are pink because they are served with anise and saffron, and the other (*note - to be honest the atmosphere is really dark, and the place is in a strip mall, but the food is sensational*) is the Ahi tuna...this is the single dish that seafood lovers with gourmet taste buds love in "dry-land" Tucson! Your run down: -It is Romantic -It is Trendy (but I think they prefer patrons over 35? Just my experience, but were never rude to moi!) -They have no view, and it is really too dark inside (hard to read menu) -The food is lavish and yet understated, simple meets decadence -Call before going to be certain they are open and to make reservations, if needed.
(4)Roberta L.
A year ago I would have written a glowing review of this restaurant, one of my favorites for years. However, since they have moved, I don't see why they even bother anymore. Better they should have just reopened as a fine wine/liquor store. The restaurant now is even smaller than it used to be and the seating arrangement is much worse which contributes greatly to the uncomfortable ambiance. Sitting behind a column, otherwise open to the store, is not my idea of a nice dining environment. But there are even worse changes. The menu has been greatly pared down and many of my favorites are gone. So is my all time favorite waiter. The service during my recent visit was simply terrible. Steak, ordered by two of the foursome in our party, was served with great confusion about which steak was cooked medium and which was cooked rare. The waiter kept changing his mind. The mussels I ordered were the size of marbles, not those lush pillowy ones I've had in the past. If that was due to a seasonal variation, why have it on the menu? No one came to inquire about our satisfaction with the meal and we were glad to leave. Oh, yes!! NO RESERVATIONS. One might actually wait in line for this. There are many fine choices in Tucson these days so The Dish, in my opinion, is riding on its former reputation. Too bad.
(1)Phil O.
We frequented The Dish at the old address, hadn't been there since the move. Although some of our favorite items are no longer (Vegetable Dish, duck dish, Baramundi) the special tonight was absolutely wonderful. Sole presented beautifully with a spaghetti squash, potato and cream sauce combination. All three of us just loved it. The goat cheese small dish wasn't as good as it used to be, but the leek soup was delicious. Coconut tart for dessert was perfect as well. Service couldn't have been better. Be sure to ask the waiter for the best entree that night, they always know. $12 corkage fee is out of line in my opinion. However, I still would be proud to take out-of-towners to The Dish.
(4)Arissa C.
Wonderful wine selection (hmmmm maybe because they have a wine store next door) and menu ranging from barramundi to veal ...love their fragrant saffron mussels...always a treat to go here....
(5)Gypsy B.
This is a wonderful place to eat in Tucson. The restaurant is located inside the Rumrunner Wine shop. Best to have reservations as only limited number of tables available . We were with a party of 8 adults . The atmosphere was relaxing. The Food was exceptionally good, and we were still talking about it hours later. If I could add more stars, on this place I would. Pick any wine in the store & pay a reasonable uncorking fee, or have house wines & beers. The service was efficient and unobtrusive. The staff were pleasant welcoming & knew the menu and specials. This is a great place for Adults to have a romantic intimate dinner. Great place for groups of adults., So folks leave the kids at home, and let us big kids have a place where we can relax.
(5)Leo B.
Great food. Expensive prices but worth it on a special night out. Excellent wine selection.
(5)H P.
this place is a little hard to find. it is tucked away behind rumrunner, set in from the road, and i passed by it a few times by accident. you must make reservations, as the space only has a few tables and a bar area for dining accommodations. my wife and i had the steamed mussels and beer combo. the mussels are steamed with white wine, garlic, and shallots, and they give you good crusty bread to dip in the broth. best deal in town! the jumbo shrimp dish is also pretty good, if a bit overpriced. i would really recommend sampling a few glasses of wine and pairing them with a bunch of appetizers. the entrees are pretty pricey, so it's better to just sample a few small dishes. i think this place would be better as a tapas / small dish joint. desserts are also yummy.
(4)carol s.
Loved my evening here. Came in as a single diner (business trip) and was just going to check out their wine selection. Saw the cozy bistro and decided to take a seat. Ordered light and loved everything. Salad with nutmeg dressing terrific, the stuffed artichokes were amazing - complimented with a little puck of polenta in the middle - one of the best things I've ever eaten. Wine selection was excellent as well. The only thing missing was my other half!
(5)Chris S.
Easily the best restaurant I have been to in Tucson. Elegant space, good service by knowledgeable people, delicious food (on the hearty side), and great wine list.
(5)Jane Y.
for christmas we went to visit the rents for the first time in tucson. we definitely wanted to take them out to a nice, fancy, good eatery since they work so dang hard and NEVER take a break or treat themselves to a nice dinner. so of course, FANTASTIC, LOVING daughter to the rescue! since i wasn't familiar at all w/ the area and no one i knew could give me any pointers, i first searched on yelp (limited reviews of tucson) and then searched online. i had heard rachel ray made a visit here but that doesn't say much since she "oooh's" and "ahhh's" over everything. all in all, this sounded like a decent, upscale place in the area. and as another reviewer mentioned reservations are a MUST! it's a teeny tiny place but cozy and dim. between the 5 of us, we tried everything from SAFFRON MUSSELS, WARM GOAT CHEESE, VEGGIE DISH, DUCK, LAMB, and STEAK! i have to say, for a girl that doesn't like mussels, they were darn good and we were soakin up all the sauce w/ our bread. the lamb was too gamey for me and the steak a bit more cooked than i like but whatever wine that the waiter recommended was superb! the desserts were so not up to jane's standards so was a bit disappointed. overall, the food was decent (3 stars...nothing beats SF food) but the service was TOP NOTCH...thus the 4 stars.
(4)alan m.
This has always been our favorite Tucson restaurant. However, our last two visits have definitely been below standard. Food has been uninspired at best and with some dishes actually poor. What has happened to the cooking here? I will not return until I hear of improvement! What a shame, as we love this place! Reviews, please! Has anyone had the same experience?
(5)Rosalyn W.
Since we don't get to Tucson all that often, I like to make sure we find interesting places to eat when we're there. I did my research and came up with a restaurant called The Dish Bistro, which is located inside The Rum Runner Wine Shop. The wine store is big, the restaurant is tiny, seating only 26, so reservations are a must. The decor is classy and the food is upscale fusion-y American, as cooked by an Australian. A lot of thought has gone into the pairing of dishes with the accompanying sides. For instance, there's an appetizer of Buttermilk Fried Sweetbreads with Marcona almond crumble / heirloom tomato confit / black olive rusks ($9.50). Or Long Stemmed Artichoke Hearts with shitake duxelles / parmesan polenta / truffle oil / almond basil pesto ($11.50). We shared a bowl of Cream of Parsnip Soup ($8.75) garnished with bacon, raisins and apples - it was heavenly. The delicious bread from The Village Bakeshop was served with a spread consisting of four kinds of onions which had been grilled, chopped and then mixed with both browned and regular butter. I've got to try making some at home. We ordered two entrees to share. The first was sesame crusted ahi tuna, pan seared rare (as requested), served on a mash of garbanzo beans along with sauteed green beans, fried spears of eggplant, and a feta cream sauce ($28). I thought the garbanzo mash was a brilliant idea that went beautifully with the fish. The green beans were perfectly cooked. Unfortunately the sauce, while tasty on its own, was overpowered by the fish. The eggplant, again perfectly cooked, was really overkill. Ken felt like it was a dish from Top Chef, trying too hard to stand out. The portion was quite large and I was stuffed and almost dreading the arrival of our second entree, veal cheek ravioli. If you've never had cheek, it's probably the most tender, succulent part of the animal; sadly, it almost never appears on a menu. So I was conflicted when our waiter said there was a misunderstanding and he hadn't put in the order for it. Although it could have been quickly prepared we decided to try dessert instead. There were many fascinating selections, but of course I went with the chocolate cake. Unfortunately it was brought to the table at refrigerator temperature so the flavor of the chocolate didn't shine. Our server said that they had tried serving it a room temperature but the texture of the cake suffered. By the way, our waiter was personable and knowledgeable about both the food and the wine. After telling him what we planned to eat, we asked him to choose our wine (a shared glass), and he picked a delicious pinot noir. If you choose to get a bottle from the vast selection in the store, you'll pay retail plus a $12 corkage fee, which I'm told is a good deal. Because of the mix up with our entrees, we were not charged for dessert. Despite the few small glitches, we were taken with so many aspects of the food and setting that we'll happily go back during our next visit.
(4)Andrea K.
RUDE!!! The "hostess" or the woman behind the store counter was extremely unwelcoming and inhospitable. As we entered the cafe another manager type asked us for our reservations and seemed overly agitated at our presence. There was a palpable air of snottiness. Furthermore our waiter who in the past was kind and fun - barely spoke a word to us and took way too much time just to ask our drink order. The place was not that busy and was practically empty by the time we left. Shame on you Dish for making one of our local businesses an unpleasant experience.
(1)Anne D.
I feel like I have died and gone to heaven when eating here. My loves: the bread and garlic butter, seared tuna small dish, the Ceasar salad, the duck, and the creme brule. And, I can wear blue jeans or my favorite dress and diamonds. It is very intimate, and you always know your food will be delicious. Yes, you end up talking to people next to you, but you have no idea who they are. You could be talking to a CEO or a miltary man, and they are all delightful. There is no discrimination. I love this place.
(5)Sylvian F.
Bistro food and atmosphere. Pick a bottle of wine before you sit down and it's yours for the meal (with a fee attached). Creative meals that are classically delicious. This place is a real Tucson Gem. I am a fan of mussels, but have not tried theirs in quite a long time. When I had previously the quality of the mussels themselves were underwhelming. This may have changed, but I will await further reviews of them here before considering trying them again.
(5)Isabella J.
Nestled inside a wine shop, this spot is super intimate (as in extra cozy) with something thirty seats. The ambiance makes for a perfect date night. Peruse the the shop before dinner, but a bottle and take it to the table with you. The wine selection at the shop (also known as The Rum Runner) is impressively varied and well priced. Their Wine shop/ restaurant concept was one of the first to hit Tucson and they certainly do it well. On the food front, they're Known for their Mussels, a definite must try. We enjoyed a bowl of those tonight. With a Caesar salad, fancy salad and the salmon dish. Everything was flavorful and well portioned, but a bit on the salty side. Wine by the glass is nicely priced. I love that their keep it real with their wine prices. So many restaurants in town mark up their wines to the point of of greed and that's a major turn off. Two servers usually handle the floor an handle it well attentively. The Dish is a solid go-to for locals and visitors alike.
(4)Veneranda A.
1) Plan ahead. Get reservations, and don't invite more than three people to come with you. Calling The Dish "intimate" is a stretch. The place seats very few people. 2) Save yourself for what is some of the best bistro cuisine you've ever eaten in a wine store...or anywhere else for that matter. This place has sentimental value for me, dating back to the old location. In law school, when fine dining was a luxury, my friend and I would call ahead, sit at the bar on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to get the mussel deal. Expertly steamed mussels and a glass of wine for $10. It's now $12.50, but, hey, it's still a good deal. Now I go there with my mother. We always get the same thing, because if it's not broke, don't fix it. We split the artichoke appetizer (artichokes stuffed with mushrooms on a bed of truffle oil infused polenta) and the roasted chicken with cippolini onions and mashed potatoes. The restaurant always accommodates this request and we make up for splitting the meal by ordering wine. And they have great wine. Make sure you try the bread and compound butter. It's a wonderful treat. Dessert, whether on a plate or in a glass, is a great way to round out the evening. This is the kind of place where you can sit long into the night, listen to great music, drink wine, and enjoy your company as much as the food...if your company is really really good.
(5)Janet B.
This used to be my favorite restaurant in Tucson but dinner last night has changed that! The food was overpriced, under seasoned and mediocre while the service was un-attentive. This has made me sad and it will be a long while before I am ready to brave it again!
(2)Stacy W.
I agree with the other reviewers that reservations are necessary. The room is very small, but that adds to the charm. Being in the back of a shop gives it a sort of speakeasy feel. The bartender/waiter was very helpful in describing the wine selection, and we were very happy with the appetizers and dessert that we ordered: the salmon flatbread and artichoke/polenta dish (still thinking about that one) and the black and white (coffee with liqueur and cream) with cookies. The store is fun to look around in, too, and I got some gourmet chocolates there.
(5)Jeanne F.
Literally the best dining experience I've had in Tucson. Beet carpaccio was delicious -- light and interesting. Mussels were really good -- usually Tucson seafood freaks me out -- but no angst here. Arctic char was perfect -- seriously just go. Call make a reservation and stop eating subpar food. Enjoy!
(5)Emily R.
It had been a while since my boyfriend and I were really blown away by a meal at a restaurant....and The Dish did the trick! The Dish is attached to the Rumrunner and is SUPER tiny, which I love...and it means reservations are a must! I loved the atmosphere, very dark and intimite with a modern feel. I started with a glass of their Shiraz Carbernet, and Scott looked like a little boy on Christmas morning when he realized his favorite beer was offered on tap...Kronenbourg. Hardly anyone in Tucson carries that beer. The night was off to a good start.. We split the mussels, which were fantastic. The broth was sooo yummy we practically licked our bowls clean! We also split our entree of Short Ribs with Yam Fries. The short ribs were sooo tender we didn't need a knife to cut it! And the fries were outstanding, it came with a side of bleu cheese aioli for dipping. To end the evening, we split the Panna Cotta with cranberries. Perfect end to a perfect evening!
(5)Steve K.
Reasonably good food. Pretty pricey and a bit pretentious. Would I go again? Probably, but only for a really special occasion plus a different ambience.
(3)Morgan T.
How good is The Dish? As good as it gets. I've been to the "old" Dish, back when it had more space, and I've been to the "new" DIsh, where there are really only 4-5 tables and a big bar. To let Yelpers know, when they renovated the restaurant and the liquor store it is connected to, they had hoped to expand the restaurant out into the parking lot and make it a lot bigger than it was. But then they ran into some obscure Tucson building code that required the restaurant to have a certain number of private parking spaces that couldn't be shared with the liquor store, which makes no sense since they are one in the same! Since the Dish couldn't just buy another parking lot somewhere else, they had to cancel the expansion, and so now it is what it is. But, what is it? It's the best food in Tucson. HANDS DOWN. I've eaten at all the other "nice" restaurants in Tucson, most of which are tacky over-priced conveyor belts of "Southwestern international" blah-food contained within tackier resorts. The Dish creates super creative, richly flavored, top-notch food in a low-key friendly atmosphere. We went there the other night, and while the long-stemmed artichokes with white-corn polenta were delicious, the cane-braised short ribs were jaw-droppingly good. The best think about this place, though, is that it's attached to a good liquor store. You show up 10 minutes before your reservation, you pick out the wine you want to drink, you hand it to the hostess, and then you're seated and your wine is already selected! Corkage is $12, which on most good bottles is a lot less then the normal mark-up you'd pay off of a wine list.
(5)Ty F.
Decent food (I had a huge pork chop) in a wine store, how can this be bad? The Friday night the bf and I went, it was not crowded -- one table sat empty for about 30 minutes. It's small and we had reservations and they were able to seat us early because we were pretty hungry. The paella puck thingy was good too. The food was good, not great by any stretch. You can buy any bottle of wine in the store to have with dinner for a $12 corkage which seems a bit high to me considering. Seems like a good place to try once.
(3)Laura R.
We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary at the Dish. We made reservations and told them it was our anniversary and the waiters took special care of us from the moment we walked in the door! Perfect wine advice phenomenal food excellent service and they even gave us a small anniversary gift. The atmosphere is intimate and adorable and I can't say enough about the food and service! If you are in Tucson be sure to go it was our best dining experience by far on our vacation!
(5)Adam P.
I would definitely go back. Been wanting to try this place for years and finally got a chance. And they didn't disappoint. I found the service to be very pleasant, helpful, attentive but not intrusive. All of the staff was courteous and pleasant. Ambience was wonderful for a date night, great atmosphere in the wine shop with an urban feel but also felt like we could have been in Sonoma or Napa. Was fun to be able to 'shop' for our dinner bottle in the store with lots of reasonably priced selections to choose from and added to the experience. And was a smooth process too, not clumsy like other places with the same setup. Just grabbed off the shelf and took it to our table and server was there promptly to serve. The bread had a fun butter which is always an appreciated touch. The starter salads spinach and the fancy were fabulous, great flavors and much more than just an after thought on the menu. Really kicked off the dinner nicely. Chicken was well prepared as was the ahi. Both dishes were well seasoned and had multiple components that really worked well together. The celery on the Ahi was just enough to add some needed crunch and texture and the avocado tempura was a creative, and tasty, touch that rounded out the dish nicely. Portion sizes were just right. Courses were served and cleared at a perfect pace. Overall great dining experience. The menu left lots to look forward to so plenty of excuses to go back. Definitely need to go back for the mussels. It is small so I would only go with reservations although it does look like they do their best to accommodate. But I saw a lot of negative comments on here that I think was a result of friction with patrons, and the need for the restaurant to manage tables and turn them over. I think you need to respect the restaurant's need to turnover tables especially at such a small place. After all, with such good food we want everyone to enjoy and want them to stay in business! That said we were there for ~90 minutes and never felt rushed, check came without having to ask and at the appropriate time. Thanks dish!
(5)Gina M.
I am truly in love the The Dish. Went there for my second time in a month. The QUIET atmosphere, friendly service and delicious food hard to beat. The spinach salad was outstanding as was the potato soup for starters. My husband & I had the chicken and I don't know how they do it - moist, flavorful, perfect temperature and the mashed potatoes and vegetables just as perfect. One of our friends had the tuna and another the lobster. There was not a bite left on their plates. For dessert we split a creme brulee and a chocolate cake with a cherry sauce. No bites left on either of those plates either. Over all experience simply delightful. What a great way to celebrate my birthday. Can't wait to return.
(5)Richa S.
$12 mussels and a glass of wine. The mussles are buttery and tender. Friend ordered a Fancy Salad. It was actually a Simple salad with Fancy pricing. Thumbs down. Stick to the mussles and wine deal.
(4)Cristina R.
Had my first dinner in Tucson for my birthday here, I had just moved to the city and my husband took me here to celebrate. It was incredible! I had the special of the day which was fish and it was a stunning dish! My husband had duck raviolis and they were out of this world!! Make sure you have a reservation in advance since the place is tiny!! Will definitely return for another special occasion!
(5)Nicholas Q.
I met with a small group here recently to celebrate the birthday of one of our friends. We all sat at the bar and I would say that we were there on a good night because the service was pretty good, the atmosphere was nice a cozy, and the food was excellent. My friend and I ordered the steamed mussels in saffron broth with diced tomato, garlic, and fresh oregano. Approximately seven other diners were at the bat during the time we were there and they all started with this dish, which should give you a clear idea of how popular it is. The portion size was plenty for two people, the mussels were cooked just right, and the broth was really yummy. I would say this is perhaps the best deal on the menu. We also ordered pan-roasted Chicken with brandied creminis, cipollini onions, grilled asparagus, and mashed potatoes layered over a sage & butter pan sauce. What impressed me most was how well the chicken was cooked. I suspect they brine it prior to cooking, because it was very moist and juicy and cooked evenly all the way through with no pink or dryness anywhere. All the veggies were cooked just right and the sauce was a great accompaniment. Our dining companions were also please with all of there selections. Overall it was a great evening and a truly nice place to visit for a special occasion.
(5)Kelli M.
Traveling in Tucson for work and I found The Dish Bistro on yelp. Don't let the parking lot and wine store front fool you. There is a tiny bar and restaurant to the right when you walk in. I came solo on a Wednesday night at 7:30 and had to wait for a spot. Based on the other reviews, in retrospect I was lucky to even get a seat without a reservation! The service at the bar was fairly good and the food was just okay. I had the salmon.
(3)Andy S.
It was great to get back to the Dish again, and the experience was every bit as good as we remembered. The special was tempting (a big bowl of Saffron Mussels with a glass of wine for $11.50), but having just had mussels a night or two before, I opted instead for the Moulard Duck (peppercorn crust, braised red cabbage, crispy potato and blackberry sauce), which was excellent, as was my girlfriend's roasted chicken. So far, every meal we've had at the Dish has been great.
(5)Gyasi K.
All the food was good. the steak here was cooked perfectly; it was fantastic. And I am definitely going to recreated the onion compound butter at home. If you want a cozy restaurant experience definitely recommend.
(5)Brian Z.
The Dish... A place so good that you almost want to tell NO ONE about it just to keep it all to yourself. 1) atmosphere: This has to be the hands down, most amazing atmosphere I have ever seen. It is intimate, dark, cozy and more amazingly, can barely seat 20 people, creating a one of a kind experience with the food, chef, and the significant other that is sure to be impressed. This creates a one of a kind experience that makes it feel that you have discovered something grand that no one else is even aware of, like your own secret Oasis away from the hurry and noise in most restaurants. 5 stars 2) taste: Some of the best craftsmanship in Tucson, started off with the mussels as an appetizer, The mussels were fresh and delicious, sauce creamy, and seasoned perfectly without overpowering the mussels. After we had the pan roasted chicken and the ahi tuna. The ahi was just as expected in a fine dining restaurant, fresh and delicious, but the chicken? my oh my, a glazed honey chicken that melted in your mouth, mash potatoes that reminded you of childhood, and cipollini onions. A combination that will tear your taste buds apart piece by piece like a roided out WWE wrestler with a machete and a taste for nerd. After dinner we were too full for dessert, but fortunately not for a drink to go. we picked up a bottle of wine and went home to finish off the night. The restaurant in all its ambiance will be greatly remembered.
(5)roy g.
first visit with my wife and friends,excellent and unique menu, the soup of the day for me was butternut squash with watermelon squares...wonderful.. the mussels are over the top ...great service. didn't buy wine buy the glass, bought a nice red at the rum runner 12.00 corkage fee...all and all a very pleasant evening . great find....
(5)Amanda B.
Okay, so I went here two weeks ago for dinner on a Saturday night. I did call the day before and make reservations. And thanks to Yelp, knew what to expect when walking in to the Rum Runner. We were seated right away. I love the intimate atmosphere this place has. There are maybe 8 tables and a bar. Our server explained we could pick a bottle of wine from the Rum Runner and would be charged the $12 corking fee. I am totally okay with that because it still wasn't as much markup as other restaurants charge. So, ordered an appetizer and went and picked a bottle of wine and brought it back to our table. So, my date and I split everything... so here is what we ordered. We started with the steamed mussels. They brought out the order split for us, and it was huge! I couldn't imagine eating that whole thing by myself. And yes, the server brought extra bread and said it was needed to get up all the good broth. He was right. We then split the Fancy Salad. I love goat cheese and pancetta, so it was a winner in my book. Again, they brought it out split. So good. For our main course we had the bacon wrapped pork medallions. The bacon that was wrapped around the perfectly cooked pork was awesome. And the edamame were so perfect with it. For dessert we had the peanut butter heart. It is like a silky smooth peanut butter cup. It was a perfect ending to the meal. I was so happy with the service and all the courses. I will definitely tell anyone to go here and will be back myself.
(5)Monica E.
What a wonderful place! Love the Dish, and Rum Runner. Excellent selection of wine, cheeses, oils, chocolate and all sorts of other wonderful things! ...although, goodness! It would be so wonderful and much more inviting if one particular person would knock down the pretentious behavior even for a half day! Anyway, moving on. The bistro is lovely. Don't let the small size fool you. And the employees know their wine and will do their best to help you find a good match for mere sipping or for a good pairing. This place is great for a social with friends, an informal date night or a little getaway to the bar. For certain, try the steamed mussels. I have yet to find much better.
(4)Saba B.
We had the secret password as we'd called ahead, which is essential at Dish because the hidey hole dining room is so teeny that you hardly have room to change your mind. The wine list is tremendously varied, and some excellent offerings by the glass are much less pricey here than elsewhere (Cake, Trefethen, and Rockus Bockus all under $10). The Mosel riesling hit it out of the park alongside the mussels in saffron sauce with big tomato and garlic chunks. The menu is a creative bistro mosh which includes crispy duck, pureed soups, and several decadent salads which all dovetail nicely with the outstanding wine list. The staff is articulate in describing the wines and I've never had poor service here. They gave us a heads up when we were dallying and the entire restaurant was ordering so that we'd not be left out. They'd earn a 4th star if we had more room at the bar to spread out as we wound up buried in all of those extraneous plates, glasses, and cutlery with our wee little space. Delicioso!
(4)Angela B.
The Dish Bistro is a hidden gem! Reservations are necessary because the dining area is very small and intimate. We arrived slightly before our reservation and found ourselves waiting about twenty five minutes before we were actually seated. Since the restaurant is actually attached to a wine shop, it was not hard to keep myself entertained by perusing the yummy wine and food selection. Unfortunately, I was starving upon our arrival so the wait keeps me from giving 5 stars. Next time I go, I'll make sure that I am not ravenous and will be prepared in case there is a wait. For an appetizer, the man and I shared the Goat Cheese Brûlée. My trainer would probably force me to do thirty extra sets if he knew how much of this I consumed. It was amazingly indulgent and I loved every bite!! I also had the Fancy Salad (tomato, more goat cheese *hanging my head in shame*, pancetta and a sherry-nutmeg dressing) which was good but I'm not sure that I would order it again. For our meals, I had the Celery Soup and hubs had the Ribeye. My soup was the 'soup of the day' and it was delicious. Hub's steak and Gruyere 'tots' were amazingly tasty as well. Honestly, pretty much every single morsel of food from The Dish that night was perfection. Our server was warm, welcoming and attentive as well. The next time I return, I HAVE to try the mussels. Someone at the table next to us ordered them and when they arrived, they smelled and looked amazing.
(4)Lee P.
I took an out-of-town visitor to the Dish for dinner on a Friday night. My friend lives in NYC, and I was looking for a foodie-friendly spot where we could catch up. While the food only got about an 8 out of 10, the atmosphere was lovely. We sat at a high-top basically in the wine shop. It was quiet, warm, and cozy. We had the beet terrine appetizer, which was delicious. My friend got the lamb, which had a great sauce, but was a little too chewy. I had the mussels - overall pretty good, but too briny/salty for my taste. We finished with the ancho chile chocolate pot....DELICIOUS! Dessert + prosecco were definitely our favorite part of the meal. And, we bought a bottle of the red wine we'd had by the glass to take home. I would definitely go back with my husband on a date to the Dish. Probably best for parties of 2 - this is definitely a cozy, intimate spot so I don't think I'd go with a group.
(4)Melinda D.
Took my mom here for her birthday dinner, and it was amazing. The mussels, which I had read so much about, were everything I had hoped for. In fact, the broth was so delicate and delicious that the mussels were almost incidental. Goat cheese brûlée was also excellent. Tiny, intimate restaurant, beautiful art on the walls, this is a great place to take someone on a special night.
(5)Jennifer B.
The Dish is lovely! Definitely make a reservation before you go, as seating is very limited, if not inconspicuous. This gives the restaurant a certain sense of intimacy with the black and gold decor. Food at the Dish is fantastic. The four of us loved our meals: soft shell crab in a cornmeal crust with green risotto, chicken with asparagus and mashed potatoes, the soup of the day, and the bowl of mussels (me!). The mussels were flavored with saffron and lemon and tomato. I was so in love with this dish I had to pause throughout the meal to reminiscence on how good it was. Oh, and I really enjoyed my glass of Malbec and Todd liked his dry rose. The service did not knock my socks off, but really, the food was delicious, so I'll just figure it was an off night for the Dish and service will improve when we go back :) :)
(5)Peter P.
The Dish is a little hidden gem in the desert. Its joined to a wine/spirits market (Rum Runner), and the staff is exceptional. The place has very limited seating so call ahead or get there early and peruse their market. They have a steamed mussels in saffron broth dish that blows my mind (This is Tucson after all.). Their chef prepares some pretty amazing specials, they had a tenderloin with balsamic glaze and mashed sweet potatoes once, which is my wife's favorite. The ambiance is great, elegant without feeling pretentious. They have a winning combination there, the food is fantastic, without being overly priced, a great staff, and the location can't be beat. Right in the center of town. Makes for a great starter to a date night.
(5)Lauren A.
I was driving across country with my Dad and we stopped in Tucson and found this place on Yelp. I chose it because the vegetarian entree was something that I actually wanted to eat rather than a pasta dish. The Wild Mushroom Amaranth Cakes were unlike anything I had ever had eaten and were so delicious. My dad and I shared the Long-stem Artichoke Hearts which were also unbelievably delicious. The staff was very nice and the wine shop is great too! I can't recommend this place enough.
(5)Sheldon A.
We were two couples who were looking forward to celebrating two birthdays at The Dish Bistro. We enjoy fine dining, had heard many complimentary remarks about this restaurant, and were very excited about the evening ahead. Knowing that the restaurant was small, we made reservations. We were seated without a wait exactly on time at a comfortable table for four. Our server was very pleasant and very professional. The restaurant is very intimate, quite appealingly appointed, and inviting. The specialty for the evening was trout with bacon wrapped risotto and an apple slaw. As soon as the server mentioned trout, one of the gentlemen who is especially fond of this fish, raised a sparkling eye and gave a slight nod of acknowledged pleasure. The two gentlemen of our group ordered the trout and both commented as to how very pleased they were with both qualtiy and flavor. The risotto was perfectly creamy with a hint of smokiness from the bacon. The trout delectably moist with a delicate flavor. The prestentation was quite eye-appealing as well. As for the duck breast, ordered by both ladies . . .another story altogether. The duck was ordered medium rare. It was complimented with a red cabbage, crispy homemade potato chips, and a blackberry sauce. Sounds delicious, doesn't it! Alas, the duck breast was tough and the red cabbage was so-so. The blackberry sauce was excellent. We thought that perhaps it was just the one order of duck that was tough, but no, it was both. Highly disappointing! As this was a celebratory evening out, we didn't want to create any discomfort for the birthday gentlemen. We did mention to the server that either the quality of the duck or the preparation was problematic. The presentation could be improved as well. There were approximately ten dinner entres on the menu. To me this is usually a very good indication of quality and expertise in preparation. The menu also appeared to be very thoughtfully created with serious creative consideration given to the entire plate. How very unfortunate that both orders of duck were frankly poor. It is somewhat understandable if one dinner is unsatisfactorily prepared but not both. We all wanted this restaurant to be at the top of our favorites list but we cannot say that it is. We may try The Dish Bistro again, however, because we do understand that at times a singular menu item may not be completely representative of the entire menu.
(2)Jackie T.
A big bowl o' saffrony mussels and a nice glass of wine for $11.50. My favorite seafood deal in Tucson. And the deli has manchego cheese! Yessss.
(4)Maribeth S.
We love this place. We have dinner here each time we are in Tucson....which has been three times in 2009...all the way from New Jersey. Great concept, with exceptional wine store connected to intimate restaurant. All three times we sat at the bar. We love Doug, the bartender/bar waiter and thoroughly enjoyed talking to Tom, one of the owners, during our first meal. Other guests always have been friendly and everyone seems to appreciate this gem. We sure do.
(4)David S.
After reading the wonderful reviews about this place from fellow Yelpers I decided to give it a go.... ....and.... It lived up to your great reviews. Step 1: Make reservations - Highly recommend as there are only seven tables and eight seats at the bar to dine at. Asked to be seated inside the restaurant area as two tables are located in the adjoining Rumrunner liquor store. Might make for a weird dining experience with shopping patrons walking about. Step 2: Review the menu online - Get an idea of what you might be interested in. This way you can select a bottle of wine to enjoy with dinner from the adjoining Rumrunner liquor store. Step 3: Arrive 10 minutes early - Select your wine. Retail price of wine + $12 to enjoy with dinner. Step 4: Enjoy! Our entrees: Shared the Baby Spinach Salad / sliced pear / crumbled blue / slivered almonds / roasted shallot vinaigrette [$8.50] **** Four Stars - Great combinations for flavors and texture. Cane Sugar Short Ribs / haricots verts / parsnip crisps / jus de braiser [$24.00] *** Three Stars - Really didn't impress me. Was like a small chunk of tender pot roast. The following replaced the Herb-steeped Beef Tenderloin on the menu. NY Strip Steak / Greens / mashed parsnip [$34.00] ***** Five Stars - Wonderful cut of aged meat, flavorful and tender. Mashed parsnip was very good but I think a type of parsnip pancake (baked of fried) would have been better choice for this dish. The above was enjoyed with a bottle of Cain Cuvée NV6. Being I knew we were going with a red meat dish (unless the chef's special was too good to pass up) I selected this wine from the adjoining Rumrunner liquor store being it was a blend of 49% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. It was a great choice as the wine danced on our palate and was not too dry. It is plush with a supple base that had a complex aromatic ambiance. Really went well with the meat dishes. Our waiter complemented us on our choice being this was one of the few wines the restaurant sells by the glass (after all that purusing - go figure).
(4)Chich S.
Great food and with a cozy ambiance that's nice for date night. :)
(4)Gidge D.
Place was loud, and Tucson is trending 3 years behind the world. Menu was well put together. HOW do you mess up Tri tip?? I will try again.
(2)Mike L.
What's with all the hype...it wasn't very good. After all the good reviews and word of mouth, I was expecting alot more then what we experienced. Decor. Very quaint and romantic. But very small. There's about 7 tables with bar seating for about 8 people. Service- very friendly and professional. I had heard that they did not take reservations, so we took a chance and was seated immediately. But I guess they changed there policy and they now take reservations. Food- Now this is were all the problems happened. Our first course was the fancy salad. It was just ok, nothing special. My wife had the short ribs. While the beef was nicely cooked and tender. The sauce was overly sweet and tasted of fennel, which was not listed in the menu. My main dish was the duck breast with beans and sausage. The beans were a little under done and crunchy and the sausage was bland. The biggest problem was the duck breast, it was completely over cooked. So it differently did not live up to the hype.
(2)Dina L.
This is one of Tucson's best kept secrets! I first found out about this place from Rachel Ray's $40 a day. It was hidden behind the wine and cheese place that it is attached too called the Rum Runner. When they were at their old location, it was very small but very cozy. The decor was very relaxing and was perfect for an intimate date night. Now that they've moved, you lose (in my opinion) the date-night feel, but I still enjoy the food and the company. Plus, if you love wine...you can pick your wine right then and there since some of the tables are located in the Rum Runner. The mussells are to die for...I love mussels and the savory broth is one of my favorites and the best I've had in Tucson. The homemade butter is declious and always love to get a second helping. I've loved everything I've tasted - The pork belly, the rock lobster, the shrimp, the baby spinach salad, the halibut and NY strip! I've never had a complaint. One of my faves!
(5)