How we’ve visited Tucson so many times and never dined at El Charro Cafe is beyond me. It is the oldest, continuously running, family-owned restaurant in the United States. The original location (where we had dinner) used to be the family home, part of which became the cafe way back in 1922.
Calling ahead to make reservations is how I discovered the Nowait app. The cafe only takes reservations a day in advance, but technology hasn’t eluded this place. I suppose it may be because U of A is merely blocks away, and many of their employees are college students. El Charro guests can stake their place in line using the Nowait app, then follow along to see how many parties are ahead of them, conveniently arriving at the restaurant just in time to be seated. How cool is that?! I hope to find many of the more popular local eateries along our way use this app as well.
Back to El Charro. I had to try one of their specialties, even though I had a feeling it wasn’t going to become a crave-worthy dish: Carne Seca. See the menu pic below for a description. I wasn’t a fan, but at least I now know how the caballeros survived in the Wild West. I was a little disappointed my meal was served differently than described since I love guacamole, and was looking forward to eating calabacitas – I happen to enjoy squash and corn. Oh well, maybe next time. On a positive note, the chile relleno was delicious. Steve said the beef and chicken fajitas were the best he’s ever tasted. He’s pretty particular, so I take him at his word if he’s raving about food.
Carne seca platter, minus the guacamole and calabacitas
Beef and chicken fajitas
Charro beans and Sonoran rice
We were seated at a table near the entrance, and wanted to see the rest of the “house”. This place has many rooms, an enclosed front patio (where we were seated), an open air patio, and a cramped but lively bar in another building. After our meal our server gave us a tour of the place, complete with a little history. What a great way to end our first day on the road!
The basket where they dry the beef for the carne seca
Hats the original family cowboys wore
Molcajetes used by previous generations
Museum quality items fill all the rooms
The breezeway between buildings
The original living room
The woman in red is a family descendant now running El Charro Café
Keep looking up!