Penca - San Xavier

My husband and I had an unforgettable dining experience on Saturday night. The ambiance was inviting, and we eagerly dove into the menu. We savored every bite of the bone marrow, shrimp ceviche, and a delightful selection of tacos. The pork chop was a standout, perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor. However, we were disappointed when our order of prickly pear never arrived, despite our anticipation.While the service was a bit sluggish, even at the bar, we didn't mind too much as we were enjoying each other's company. But what truly stole the show was the cocktail with beet-infused tequila—it was a revelation! I've never tasted anything quite like it, and I find myself still dreaming about its unique flavor profile.Overall, Penca provided a memorable culinary journey in downtown Tucson. Despite the minor hiccup with the missing side dish, the delicious food and inventive cocktails more than made up for it. We're already looking forward to our next visit to explore more of what this gem of a restaurant has to offer. Dietary restrictions: Easily gluten/ dairy free

Excellent food and cocktails. Artisanal. Great Mescal selection.

We had an interesting experience here. They struggled to manage order timing and we waited a long time for food maybe a new kitchen staff or a large party. Either way, we still enjoyed our meal. Positives: patio atmosphere is exceptional, cocktails were delicious, and entrees were also great (especially the pescado el planca). The staff was super nice and the restaurant comped our meal given the long delays (which we were not expecting).I’m sure they’ll find their groove soon enough and highly recommend.

I loved it! My partner and I ordered the Costillas de Res and Braised Pork Chile Relleno which were both fabulous. The drinks were also amazing and I highly recommend the Diablo cocktail. The side dishes did leave a bit to be desired but my disappointment was overshadowed by their amazing Tres Leches cake. These dishes had the perfect balance of flavors that left me feeling satisfied with every bite.

Great atmosphere and service, food presentation was great, but didn't hit the right notes... Quite bland for Mexican food.