The building has a great vibe which transcends into the bar and the restaurant. We had the heartbreaker appetizer which was excellent, especially with our great red wine, Angeline Pinot Noir. Out of the three of us, one entree was really good. The half a chicken had a great flavor and sauce but was just half a chicken, no veggies or potatoes. I had one of their specials which were a bunch of roasted vegetables with a tomato sauce. For $16 it really wasn't worth it. However, the scallops and crap "enchilada" was GREAT! Next time that's what I am ordering. Overall, a place I will frequent again. read more

Had breakfast with my wife today. I had the 3 egg omelet with guyuere cheese, spinach, mushrooms and turkey chorizo. It was delicious and huge. I didn't care for the home potatoes though. They weren't crispy or crunchy. Wife had blueberry pancakes with eggs and bacon. It was also very good. Our service was very good. This is between a 4-5 star rating but gave it 5 for the combination of food, ambiance and service. Bon appetite! read more

My favorite breakfast spot in Tucson. You can tell they use quality ingredients with all their food. The coffee is also very delicious. Can't go wrong with build your own omelette. Lunch and dinner is also on point. Definitely a must place to eat in Tucson. read more

We had occasion to be at the Congress Hotel recently and we had breakfast the morning we left. As always, a delight. I had their "lox" (while not NY style was still very good) & my companion had eggs, vegan sausage, hash browns which she raved about. The coffee was good & fresh. Really a very well crafted effort for a meal that, at a diner, would have been (or could have been) far less inventive or well executed. I always enjoy meals at the Cup Cafe where they worry more about the quality & execution than being hip (which, ironically, makes it that much more cool). And the service has always been top notch, straddling that fine line between over hovering & leaving you alone. Always a balanced dining experience (IMHO) no matter which meal you're eating. Can't wait to go back. read more

Great food with an inventive, southwest flair. The heartbreaker appetizer is great: roasted garlic, brie, artichoke hearts, marinated cherries and toast is a wonderful starter. `Enjoyed the duck ravioli, the chicken tacos, and the steak salad. Everything was well prepared, great service, and relatively inexpensive pricing. When downtown Tucson, this is the place to go. read more

So sad. Been coming to The Cup since the early '90s. Up until recent changes it was the easy going, Tucson vibe, consistently strong menu/reliably delicious food and friendly, unpretentious service place to go for any reason, most any time of day. Now, since the place has been affected by the new chef across the steet at Maynard's, the menu is ridiculously rigid (the chef FORBIDS any modifications to his Croque sandwiches) and the menu is limited and unnecessarliy fussy. Maynard's has had a problem with pretention - creep, with the menu lurching to more and more precious descriptions that only another chef even cares about. Now it seems The Cup is going that way too. The new young chef is likely quite talented, and everyone likes ambition and change in a menu. However, the rigidity is pretty unwelcome, particularly for diners who are not interested in eating red meat, or pork. Even substituting one liquor for another is verboten. Apparently it messes up the inventory. The staff are reliably sweet and hardworking. I never have a bad service experience even when service is slow because they are slammed. The stars about are strictly for the servers, and the bartenders. The food has declined in appeal in many ways. I don't care how tasty it is because I have no taste for the weird pretention and lack of choice now present at The Cup. I will vote with my feet and my dollar. read more

Full disclosure: I am Cuban, and love Cuban food, even when there is a twist to the traditional recipe. So I had to try the cubano sandwich on the lunch menu. This is nice restaurant with many yummy items on the menu. But the cubano is not one of them. I was so excited to try ít. Imagine a Cuban sandwich at a nice place this far west of Miami! I had goosebumps just ordering it. I ignored the nontraditional items in the description. Oh boy was that a mistake! I should have taken note where it said "braised pork". That was strange. But the kicker was the jalapeño peppers and chipotle mayo. Really? Not only is that not in a Cuban sandwich, they are items never used in Cuban cooking. The peppers overtook the pickles and cilantro. And a Cubano should have a buttery, olive oil and garlic taste, not spicy jalapeño. And then there was the choice of cheese! Sure, Gruyère is good, but a Cuban sandwich has Swiss which can not be substituted by Gruyère and expected to taste right. I suppose if they had modified the name to match the modified recipe, it would be ok (cubamexican sandwich?). Since I expected a Cuban sandwich I couldn't help but be disappointed. But, hey... They got the pressed bread right, even though it was on a bakery roll instead of French bread. Maybe if I wasn't Cuban, I would have loved it. read more

Great customer service! They treat everyone like they want them there! Awesome vibe and great food- the perfect salad on a hot day is the Depot Salad, cheaper during lunch! Great pies and cake, paired with wine- yum! read more

Best place for breakfast in Tucson. Great atmosphere, wonderful service, and have yet to eat something I didn't completely enjoy. If you're in Tucson visiting it should be your first choice for breakfast. My favorites the brave heart. read more

I absolutely LOVE it here!!! The food is delicious and the staff is really nice. I definitely recommend trying this place out if you haven't already. You'll be hooked and recommending it to everyone you know! read more

I've never eaten a meal here that I did not enjoy. The food is flavorful, creative and the menu refreshing in its options. Unfortunately, the servers are often too laid back in a manner that can be annoying if one is in a rush. I've been late to two concerts at the Fox due to taking a long time to check out. The last time, the manager comped the meal, which though spot on, did not entirely mitigate the fact that he should have been out on the floor rather than in the back room. I will definitely return, but if you are in a time constraint, you might want to consider eating somewhere else. read more

We love the cup cafe for breakfast. Such great selection. We love sitting in the patio and listening to live music on the weekends. I'm fan!

Basic, and a fine breakfast. My friend recommends the pancakes, I am more of an eggs and bacon kinda girl. In the center of town, and when the weather is right, you might want to eat outside. read more

The lettuce wraps at The Cup were unbelievably delicious. They are gluten free. It's a lovely combination of chickpea falafel, pickled vegetables and smoked cashews. It's an amazing pairing of flavors. read more

love this place! amazing food! lindsey y is the best part of this cafe!! ask for lindsey!!!

Manager tells us it's OK to order to go then he leaves and the snobby host tells us they don't take to go's when there's a wait how's does that make sense in a business stand point really turned off by the attitude of your host. Maynards across the street is a way better option friendlier people read more

Don't waste your time. After not finding our reservation for Easter they were of little help in getting us seated. Indicated twice that they thought they would due to others not showing, but they seemed more than comfortable in leaving us stranded. Can't descirbe the food, however, if you can't handle reservations and the hostess is rude and unresponsive I would have little faith in the chef. read more

Mimosas on a Sunday morning, what's not to like. The bartender made them perfectly and garnished them nicely, albeit they were a bit pricey. Brunch was yummy, french toast to die for. Congress is a great atmosphere, quirky and fun. read more

What a surprise, I have been to Tucson many times but this is the first time at Congress Hotel. GREAT FOOD, Great Happy Hour Specialty drinks and great service. We had Crab Cakes and Baked Brie appetizer, Fish and Chips, Chicken, Fish Tacos and for desert Tres Liche Cake and choc moose cake......everything was exceptional. I cant think of a negative thing to say.. love it and will be back the next time I am in Tucson. read more

I've been here for lunch and had great food and service, but last night I took my wife before seeing a Broadway show at the U of A and had the best experience there ever. The branzino was so perfectly cooked and not greasy in any way while the hearty orzo and fish balanced the delicacy, lightness, and brightness of the lemon sauce and capers. My wife's beef bourguignon was robust and tender with a burgundy wine demi glace that did not overpower, but perfectly highlighted, the the beef cutlets, which comfortably occupied a scintillating starring role on the plate. The service staff was incredibly attentive without being at all overbearing. While slipping past another table to get into my seat, I accidentally bumped the elbow of a gentleman taking a drink of beer and spilled it. I apologized and asked our server if he could get another, on me, over the gentleman's kind protest. After I insisted the second beer came out and at the end of the night the server had given the beer free of charge. It was such a kind gesture and I thanked him after bringing the omission of the charge to his attention and he affirmed that it was on him. This is the level of class, value, and talented cooking that I've come to experience each visit and you will too if you're blessed enough to step through their door with an appetite and an expectation of extremely high performance!!! read more

Is Cup Cafe losing it? After my grim experience at Thanksgiving brunch, I decided to go there for Christmas breakfast. It was not my first choice -- very little is open in Tucson on Christmas morning (which I feel is a good thing, even if it comes at my expense -- I'd rather have the wait staff at home with family). Cup Cafe was open and evidently so busy that they couldn't seat me inside, even though half the tables were empty. I sat outside on a chilly morning, asking only that they light the patio heater. They didn't. Only when I began fiddling with it myself to turn it on did someone run over and do it. Adding to the so-so service, I had 2 waiters rather than 1, neither of whom seemed to know about the other. I tried to tell Waiter #2, but he just seemed puzzled. Trust me, 2 waiters are not better than 1. Topping it off, the coffee was burnt. I don't mean Starbucks over-roasted-beans burnt, I mean this coffee tasted as though made in a pot that had burnt coffee residue in the bottom. So why 3 stars rather than 1? Because despite the woeful service, the Braveheart breakfast was excellent. Unlike the smoked whitefish at Thanksgiving that had no smoke to it, the brisket was smokier than any barbecue I've ever had. They smoke it there, the smoker is on one end of the patio. The brisket was on top of crisp toast, and top of the brisket were 2 perfectly poached eggs. Over all that was a light brown gravy. The gravy was mild in flavor, a good thing because it didn't compete with the smokiness of the brisket. So 3 stars for the food, flavorful and hearty. In closing, I have to say that the servers cop an attitude and it's not just with me. They just aren't the kind of friendly people we tend to find in Tucson eateries. When I see a collective attitude like that, I have to wonder about management. read more

Delicious food ate there today for the first time and everything was Pretty amazing! Wok definitely be going back soon

The quiche of the day was artfully prepared and very very good! The cappuccino was delicious and the atmosphere was lovely. oh, and the service was good as well. I would come here again! read more

I just had my first meal at the Cup Café and everything about the experience was outstanding. The ambiance is great, with an interesting historic locale, exceeded only by the outstanding food and the way-above-and-beyond service from Matthew! Everybody loved their dishes (vegan Queer Steer, Fish 'n Chips, Cauliflower Tacos and Tuna Melt). The food was fresh, interesting, thoughtfully composed and beyond delicious. I don't usually photograph my food but I wish I had. Among the highlights was server Matthew locating a monumental coconut pie in the kitchen - exactly what one of our party was craving. It was an experience I would recommend to diners of any preference (it was suggested because I'm a vegan and I appreciated the many choices). I hope to repeat the experience next time I'm in Tucson. read more

Brunch was awesome! The place was slammed and still ran smoothly and didn't take too long either! Great spot!

Great place for brunch. Mimosas bloody marys. Live music, for food braveheartband the cubano sandwich are great as it is most of the staff on the menu. Good enought service wich is reasonable for how bussy they are all the time . I love this. Place. read more

Been here a few times but never left a review. Other than the service sometimes being a little slow, it's good. You can always count on them for a good cocktail. On the food side, I always try something new, and I always like it. I once had mashed potatoes here so good that I was literally licking the sides of the bowl. Only regret is I'm always too full to try the tempting desserts swirling around on the glass enclosed display carousel. One day though... :) read more

Two hostesses and shortage of servers at 1 pm on Saturday! No manager visible. Took 20 minutes+ to be seated with five+ empty tables outside. Saw server initially and at end when server brought the check. Hostesses walked by numerous times seating new customers without offering service or even making eye contact. Our water glasses were empty with no offer to refill. Saving grace was that food WAS good. My first time there and probably the last! read more

The Bloody Mary is fantastic! The mixer is nice and flavorful , but not too spicy. An excellent choice is the one with artichoke, avocado and blue cheese crumbles. read more

Really cute place with outdoor seating and a decent Bloody Mary but waited 40 minutes for food. Unacceptable and had to ask the waitress about it. Food was good but service is NOT. Honestly the waitress said there were kitchen issues but had to confirm our order. She ruined the experience. read more

The baked eggs have serious flavor and sopping up that leaky-hammy cream sauce with rye toast is one of the most perfect flavor combos I've experienced. The Creole breakfast, biscuits and gravy with andouille sausage, sounded good in concept, but I thought it was too salty. I've had other items that were good, but not necessarily memorable. But absolutely go for the baked eggs, you won't regret it. And sitting outside on a cool morning has the right feel to it downtown. I plan to return to this place. read more

Decent food, hip location, and the service is alright. They have good drinks and interesting entree selections. A word of advice though, enter from the outside and avoid walking through the hotel lobby. For some reason, on my last 3 or 4 visits, the lobby of the Congress smells like a mens restroom. read more

Even though lots of splashy new restaurants have opened downtown in recent years, I think The Cup is still the best. The atmosphere (tucked inside Congress Hotel) is charming and the food is consistently good. There are lots of great breakfast options and for lunch or dinner, the burger or Depot Salad are always tasty. read more

Cup Cafe is great. Especially for tourists, but you don't have to be a tourist to love it. Great service. Everything is good, but the PIE is awesome. read more

Hotel steak. This cafe is somehow popular. You have wait. Service is OK.

My favorite restaurant in Tucson so far. Amazing food, especially for brunch! Service is always friendly knowledgeable and efficient and the atmosphere on the patio is lovely. read more

This restaurant is on our "most wanted" list. If the Cup Cafe was in operation in the '30's, it's no wonder John Dillinger holed up there. We were downtown anyway, on our way to the Smokey Robinson concert at Casino del Sol, had heard a lot about the great restaurant in the Hotel Congress and decided to try it. The food, service and prices make it worth being rousted by the Feds. We did make reservations the day before and those were politely reconfirmed by telephone. Greeted by name, we were immediately seated and a server appeared before we knew it. Service was impeccable but very friendly (and we were addressed by name more than once by different waitstaff). The food was exquisite. My husband had the Real Thing -- it is criminal to call this delight a hamburger. Accompanied by Papas Fritas, possibly the best french fries ever to pass our lips, we almost arm-wrestled over this plate. Fortunately, the Chicken & Gnocchi I ordered were equally delicious so we just split both plates (we didn't want to start a ruckus and cause the Feds to return). I had one of their speciality cocktails, a Hurricane -- OK, I had two -- which made the 104-degree weather outside a distant memory. Parking is plentiful in an underground, guarded structure across the street, there is lovely outside seating when it's not 8 bazillion degrees (or even when it is), and the prices are more than fair for the fabulous food. There are vegan offerings. Frequented by well-heeled ex-hippies and vibrant young people sporting lots of ink, the vibe is kitschy, Bohemian, non-formal and yet quietly dignified. We loved it and plan to return with friends in tow. At this cafe, their "Cup runneth over." read more

I hadn't been to the Cup in a while but my friend and I decided to try it for lunch today to check out the new vegan options on their menu. The good: several vegan choices such as tortilla soup, chickpea lettuce wraps, and the beyond burger, plus some salads that I think would be vegan without cheese. Prices are reasonable, servers generally nice, and it has a relaxed vibe. We ordered a burger to split with soup as a side, and the lettuce wraps as our appetizer. The bad: We sat there for what seemed like a really long time, despite the restaurant not being that busy, and then all of our food was served at once. Lettuce wraps were an appetizer and definitely should have been served first. Instead, everything came out at once and was all served hot so we had to let some food get cold while eating other food. Also, while it was nice that they grill the beyond burger, apparently the chef thought it required tons of salt (because they think vegan food is bland I guess?) and that's really all we could taste. I'd go back for the soup and the burger, just no salt next time. The lettuce wraps were ok but too greasy for my liking. read more

Although I'm giving this review 4 stars it's only because the food is always great and the vibe at the Hotel Congress is so Tucson - can't beat it. BUT that being said you all need a big heads up. We met some friends there for happy hour drinks and dinner on a Tuesday night - and the service was TERRIBLE. I've been there on weekend mornings when it's packed, and during the many downtown events when you wait forever for a table and the service has always been first rate. Not tonight. We were one of 3 tables in the whole place (not counting maybe 2 outside) and we were hard pressed to get drinks or order food. My mixed drink came 5 minutes after my husband's draft beer, and being across from the bar I could tell that flirting with the young girls was taking precedent. Our waitress disappeared for 30 - 40 minutes at a time. I had to stand up and wave my arms like a runway flagger to get a second drink. If this had been my first time at The Cup I would have written it off and rated it as "Meh". There are too many great alternatives in Tucson to return if this is your only experience. BUT, I'm hoping this was an anomaly, and I'll give you some time to get your house in order... before I come back. It's kind of sad that the kitchen is putting out such superlative work, only to have the dining experience be so second rate. read more

holy shit! the cast iron baked eggs are one of the very best brunch/breakfast meals i have ever had! this is a perfect dish, very memorable and so unbelievably tasty. i was a tad concerned that it would be too rich because of the cream but that was not the case. the sauce was creamy-delicious without being heavy. i will be spending lot of time trying to recreate this baby at home. absolutely divine. also, the bloody marys are pretty good here. they use local hot sauce (two kinds) that add a unique flavor to the savory drink. read more