When I walked into Red’s Smokehouse & Tavern, I was amazed by the size of the restaurant.
I had expected the place to be much smaller than it actually was. The restaurant felt ginormous, especially with the open-air bar and natural lighting. The ambiance of the restaurant suited itself very well: modern decor, large bar area and background music.
I soon learned that the restaurant prides itself on its emphasis on local cuisine. Red’s Smokehouse & Tavern receives all their ingredients locally in Tucson. In addition, the restaurant claims that each dish has, at least, one hint of a local Tucson ingredient, whether it is cumin, citrus, chipotle or agave.
However, when I tasted the food I was shocked by the multitude of delicious and smokey flavors. My favorite entrée was the brisket. It was cooked perfectly and the meat was very tender. It is recommended to dip the brisket in the house-made ranch sauce, which was so deliciously creamy. Speaking of sauces, the restaurant has various homemade sauces for any Barbecue lover. Customers may request the horseradish, tangy vinaigrette, or sweet sauce.
Photo by Caroline Solomon
Another favorite was the house-made potato salad. Its fresh taste allowed the dish to not be too creamy or heavy. I definitely could taste the various Tucson “inspired” ingredients.
Photo by Caroline Solomon
Everything I tasted was absolutely amazing and each had its own unique flavors.The whole chicken had tender white meat and the rub was sweet with a hint of chipotle. An appetizer that I recommend as a must-try was the torpedoes, which are jalapeños filled with cream cheese and wrapped with bacon. In addition, the torpedoes had a nice kick of spice to it, which brought out the whole smokey taste.
Photo by Caroline Solomon
Overall, I am really excited about this restaurant and how close it is to campus! It is a great place for a nice casual meal or to sit at the bar and watch sports. Also, at the restaurant, one can buy an array of local beers, which is unique to this area!