NORTH - TUCSON, AZ

I was prepared to dislike this restaurant because it is "hoity-toity", its one of Tucson's "in'' restaurants that serves the 'beautiful' desert dweller people, it's expensive, it proclaims its innovative fusion foods and is advertised as a modern eatery (i  regard this word with much reservation, similar to the words ristorante, bistro, and  caffe.

However, i was pleasantly surprised at the deliciousness of my lunch. I had a chicken salad panini though the sandwich was not served on grilled pressed focaccia bread. Loads of tender and moist chicken was piled on a wonderfully tasty bun which itself was light and didn't overpower the poultry. On top of the chicken was  herbed aioli (another word that i regard dubiously), melted provolone or was it brie? and finely chopped kalamata olives. It was a fantastic combination. My side was crispy potatoes (instead of asparagus) and they were superb; and yes, very crispy with a light dusting of parmesan cheese. Bread was brought to the table with sundried tomato butter. This was $9.

The restaurant is mostly  glass and metal and not much in the way of a themed decoration; unless the cold atmosphere is necessary to coordinate with the name of the restaurant. The tables are very very close together which wasn't a problem for lunch as the place was only 1/3'd full but they were so close i could reach out my hand to easily snatch bread from the next table.

The hostess and waitress, especially the former, were fawning and pretentious and haughtily submissive. The hostess greeted us and led us to our table as if we were being granted an audience with the Queen Mother or Elton John. The waitress also checked in with us asking for any requests and wanting to get our opinion on the food much too frequently.

 i will be going north again, however,  but only for lunch.