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    The Cafe

    4.2 (164 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    The Cafe Photos

    THE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Cafe

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    Garlic/Brie burger and tomato/blue-cheese bisque (both were specials of the day) $15 total 7/2021
    Mike S.

    On a beautifully cloudy, monsoon wknd with Tucson attractions largely hibernating from the July heat/humidity we opted to explore Sonoita's wine country. Wine tasting shouldn't be done on an empty stomach so the first planned stop was The Cafe... I guess as in THE Cafe, Lol. And it lives up to its namesake. We ordered everything listed on the Special-of-the-Day menu which included a grass-fed burger with brie and bacon and a blue-cheese and tomato bisque soup. We got an extra side of sweet potato fries. All portions were decently sized (see pic of burger/soup) and more than filled us up with the requisite protein and complex carbs to sustain us for an afternoon of wine tasting. Service was excellent and attentive. TIP: if you're splitting an entree they will charge $2 to cut it in half and merely bring an extra plate or they'll charge a whopping $5 extra to formally divide the meal and place them on two separate plates before bringing them out to the table. We opted to have neither done and simply shared all of our entrees and sides from the plates they came on (and were charged $0 :) Parking is ample but it's a dirt/gravel lot which can get muddy during monsoons. And they close AT 2pm!

    Chef's monthly feature- basil leaves, mozzarella,  raspberries with balsamic drizzle.
    Deb P.

    Stumbled on this nondescript building a few years ago. In Sonoita there aren't many dining options. Figured a place called the Cafe would be a greasy spoon. Wrongo bongo. More like gourmet burgers with impeccable sides. Always busy & can understand why. Had a beer, burger & side combo. Pleasant staff & service. Great for a Sunday drive.

    Highly suggest whatever homemade dessert they have for the day!
    Can B.

    Super comforting, simple and yummy food! My husband had an emotional flashback with the Apple pie, lol. He said it tasted just like how his grandma used to make it and proceeded to ask if he could buy a whole pie.

    Sauvignon blanc
    Kenya J.

    If y'all go to Sonoita for wine tasting then The Cafe better be the place you go grab lunch or dinner afterwards (or another glass of wine). I came here with my mom right after I finished my wine time at AZ Hops and Vines. I ordered a glass of Sauvignon Blanc cause I needed one more glass of wine to be satisfied and The Hamburger with a side of sweet potato fries. My mom had the Green Chile hamburger. The food was super delicious, as well as the wine I ordered (they have a long list of wine choices). This place is definitely recommended for food and drinks in the Patagonia and Sonoita area!

    Gary H.

    The Cafe in Sonoita, Arizona is one of the Housholder Family Saunterers' favorite places to chow down after a long day out on the Arizona Trail. This place is really "Phat!" To start with, Bryce and I had the "Ape Burger" which changes each day. A half pound of beef cooked to order with Calamari Onion Rings, Coctail Sauce and Bacon loaded with Sweet Potato Fry's. Karolien enjoyed her Reuben with Homemade Broccoli & Gouda Cheese Soup. Ben scarfed down a giant piled high Grilled Green Chili Cheeseburger and Bianka ate up her kids's menu Grilled Cheese! After we were half way done scarfing down our eats the kids asked if we could come back here tomorrow! Super Thanks for the never ending water pitcher at our table we were super thirsty after a long hiking day! We will be back as we segment hike the AZT south of Kentucky Camp!

    Peach pecan cobbler YUM
    Betsy M.

    Came here for lunch after wine tasting in the afternoon. My girlfriend had been here before (don't mix it up with the other "Cafe" a few doors down) and raved about the delicious food. We were not disappointed. Great service; quaint, homey and comfortable decor; and the food was really good. We had a table of four people and ordered various things -- BLT on a croissant, Turkey Green Chili melt, Cheeseburger and finally what they referred to as the APE burger. ALL of it was great... the APE burger is a fun concept. You basically tell them what you like/dislike and the chef comes up with a special burger JUST for you. My husband likes spicy and traditional beef burger patty and basically told them nothing was off limits - just make it delicious. He said it was and it looked huge brimming with lots of toppings. They also carry some local wines here -- one of our favorites being the Fluffer from Hops/Vines so we had a bottle of that as well. I would come back here again for sure, soon.

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Delicious food, pleasant wait staff, good brownies. My table had a particularly good beef burger and veggie burger.

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    10 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Wonderful wonderful food and service. Cozy little restaurant with delicious food. A must try.

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    7 years ago

    Fished at Parker canyon lake (caught nothing). Came here after and had an awesome green chili burger. This place is great

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    7 years ago

    Food took forever and was not good at all. The water tasted gross and there was a roach motel in the ladies bathroom.

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    9 years ago

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    12 years ago

    Very tasty food and a good value. The staff is friendly and attentive. We were too full for dessert. Love they offer local wines.

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    10 years ago

    Really good, we were taking a ride. Don't believe the open-sign being off, walk up and enjoy.

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    Cocina La Ley

    Cocina La Ley

    4.7
    (166 reviews)
    28.1 mi
    $

    I travel to Nogales every so often, and when I finally arrive to visit friends, they know that the…read morevery first question out of my mouth is, "Is Cocina La Ley open today?" It's true. I've been going there for about 10 years, and without fail, their seafood is always consistently delicious. Although most of the locals are probably very aware of this small yet mighty restaurant, it's tucked away in an unassuming location - it doesn't look like much from the outside, but as they say, "Don't judge a book by its cover." I always order the large ceviche, which comes with tostadas, and I also get a side of warm tortillas. When I get that large bowl in front of me, I just can't wait to dig in. But first, I absolutely must put a couple of drizzles of their out-of-this-world made-in-house tamarind hot sauce on top of each bite. I can't begin to describe how amazing this sauce is - just a little sweet, but hot enough to burn your face off. What makes it amazing is it's flavor is so unique and complex. One time I visited, and I saw that there wasn't any hot sauce on the table. I asked the server and he said that they were in the middle of making a new batch. After telling him that I came all the way from Florida for their sauce (and ceviche, of course), the owner came by and sold me a couple of jars of the deliciousness. We had a great conversation about their food, their hot sauce, and how much love they put into their 30 year plus establishment. Back to the food - the shrimp in the ceviche is perfectly bite-sized and always tender, in perfect proportion to all of the other ingredients. The liquid is delicious enough to slurp up at the end of the bowl. I also started ordering the fried shrimp tacos the last few times I went to La Ley. A small plate comes with a simple warm tortilla and perfectly breaded fried 2-3 pieces of shrimp. Their sauces and toppings bar has everything you need to complete the taco - pickled onions, cilantro, tomatoes, onion, etc. With some of their creamy sauce and more of the tamarind hot sauce, each bite is a moment in heaven. Like the ceviche, the shrimp is tender, the breading is fluffy, not oily, and when you put together spicy, creamy, salty, sweet, and sour, you've got one of the most satisfying dishes I can think of. Clearly, I love this place. As I sit here writing this over a thousand miles away (having just visited), I wish I was back in Nogales to visit La Ley.

    This place is simple, cool, clean, and very comfortable. The food is absolutely amazing. Yes, when…read moreI first hear about this place I was like: yeah, maybe another "wannabe" good Mexican place. BUT oh god, this place is delicious!!!!!! The service is good, you have to order first at the cashier, and then seat. They also have this salsa bar where you can find the cilantro, diced onion, matcha salsas and other toppings.

    Photos
    A real Mexican Restaurant just this side of the border.
    A real Mexican Restaurant just this side of the border.
    Lengua taco
    Lengua taco
    Pet area!

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    Pet area!
    La Roca

    La Roca

    4.4
    (108 reviews)
    29.7 mi
    $$

    We did a quick little breakfast trip across the border with my girlfriend and my dog and ended up…read moreat La Roca - such a beautiful spot. Walking in honestly feels like stepping into a hacienda. There's a gorgeous fountain in the center and a mix of seating areas - some more loungy if you're just having drinks, others perfect for coffee or a full breakfast. There's even an upper level with a bar-style balcony, which is where we sat, and it was such a great view. They are dog-friendly in the outdoor areas (I had mine in a stroller), and the staff could not have been more accommodating - they even helped me carry her up the stairs. Service overall was amazing. We had multiple servers checking on us, which just shows how well staffed and attentive they are, especially since it was pretty busy with the buffet crowd. We heard their buffet is really good, but we weren't quite that hungry, so we ordered off the menu. I got the huevos rancheros, and I'm not kidding - the beans alone made the whole trip worth it. I don't know what they're doing back there, but they need to keep doing it. The eggs and red sauce were also so good. My girlfriend got the chiles rellenos, and just watching her cut into them with that perfect cheese pull told me everything I needed to know - she confirmed they were delicious. The decor is beautiful and full of Mexican culture, the space feels really inviting, and overall it was just such a great experience. If you're in Nogales and want something nice without going too far into the city, this is literally right across the border and absolutely worth it.

    I feel as though I was here years ago... the rock walls triggering that memory. We were down here…read morehunting for the best bolillo in AZ but needed sustenance first. Easy walk from the border, like super easy. It was a weekday at around 1ish, so the restaurant was not busy at all. It is HUGE, tons of seating but given time of day we were put into the main dining room by the window and it is really truly colorful and lovely in here. I just love how the restaurant has one entire side that is the rock they built it into. The staff here are absolutely welcoming and gracious, taking great care of you. We ordered a couple of cocktails, some guac and our entrees. They brought some pico, limes and chips right away. The chips south of the border always taste different to me, not in a good or bad way. They brought the guac out fast, it was a huge portion really and was fantastic. My husband got a steak that came with a chile rellano, I of course opted for the Chilaquiles once I spotted it on the menu. The plates here are loaded, very hearty portions. My husband enjoyed his steak which was perfectly prepared, I was cool with my chilaquiles. What I mean by that is, they do the thing where they just pour the sauce over chips (which I am not a fan of)... but given the sauce was so flavorful I will give them a pass. You have the option of getting carne with the chilaquiles but I opted for plain. All in all our meal was excellent, as was the service and the prices. This is simply just a fun, historic, nice restaurant to treat yourself to when in the area. The mariachis here, by the way, are excellent. It was a pair of gentlemen, and their voices were beautiful.

    Photos
    Outdoor lounge vibes
    Outdoor lounge vibes
    Chile rellenos with rice and beans
    Chile rellenos with rice and beans
    Better than water...

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    Better than water...
    CRUDA Mariscos & Oyster Bar

    CRUDA Mariscos & Oyster Bar

    4.2
    (462 reviews)
    41.9 mi
    $$

    Amazing! Everything was fresh and delicious. The molcajete mixto was so flavorful and had a nice…read morespicy kick, as it should. The oysters and green agua chile were the stars of the torre marisquera, a nice way to try a variety of the options. I was blown away by the oysters rockellefer, the chorizo bits were a flavorful and unexpected spin. The raw oysters were fresh and were combined perfectly with the accompanying home made salsa. As most Mexican marisco restaurants have, there's a basket filled with a wide variety of salsa bottles and saltine crackers. The food was so fresh and flavorful, it wasn't needed They have a nice selection of Mexican beers on tap or by the bottle. They also have a great mixed drink menu, which we didn't try. If you're from the Baja region of Mexico, you accompany your sea food with a Pacifico, as I did. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable of the wide menu options. I can't wait to be back on my next trip to Tucson.

    CRUDA is located down one of the quieter streets off of one of the more active streets here in…read moreTucson downtown. Nestled a bit further down from Cobra Arcade at the front corner of the street it's on, just walk a bit further and you'll find CRUDA. Not a huge place, maybe about 8 or so actual tables, it's a quaint little spot that's surrounded by many other places that are a bit larger but not necessarily better since the other spots are just so crowded particularly at night. If you want a nicer spot to kick back and unwind, you definitely want to try out this spot first. The night we were there they had live music playing too, and since he spot is smaller but had decently taller ceiling, the sounds and acoustics in there actually wasn't bad. Nice to have someone jamming while you have a bite and a drink. The drinks here were sort of hit or miss for me. The drink I got wasn't bad, the drink my friend got was not good. A couple of drinks others got were also hit or miss. I think the cocktails here are just mediocre. The shots here were a bit pricey, but beggars can't be choosers perhaps. Food here was pretty good. Personal favorite, especially for the drinking crowd, that calamari basket was amazing. Came out piping hot and oh so tasty and perfectly fried. Compared to that hot mess of a fried calamari I had at JA Curry Ramen before, this was leaps and bounds ahead. Just a nice spot to be in if you're looking for more lowkey spots here, and one that isn't awful just because it's quieter for, different reasons. Would recommend.

    Photos
    CRUDA Mariscos & Oyster Bar
    Ahi tostadas (2 separate orders at $15 ea) 5/2024
    Ahi tostadas (2 separate orders at $15 ea) 5/2024
    Classic Mezcalita

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    Classic Mezcalita

    The Cafe - burgers - Updated July 2026

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