GREEK HOUSE - TUCSON

We were so glad to see this place still open after our months on the road. Its located in the University district; speedway near campbell. Parking is several buildings down; near Bentley coffee house and a tattoo place.

The food is excellent. Counter ordering. Its got lots of silver tables; no booths. The large TV is always blaring a sports game. Service is prompt and friendly. The only options for silverware is plastic which I don't care for and which caused some  difficulty with cutting  the sausage.

That's what bill and i had; greek sausages. Very flavorful and spiced but not hot. We also shared a Greek salad which is almost bounding over the plate with green peppers, tomatoes, kalamata olives, cucumbers, and a thick scattering of feta cheese. We got the creamy mediterranean garlic feta dressing which is absolutely delicious; i could almost drink it.

Of course i overdid it; dipping not only my veggies in it but also the pita bread and the sausage. Beware: LOTS of garlic is contained therein.

Not sure if it was the garlic or all the tomatoes I ate but i had to treat my gut's petulance at what i was putting in it. Was the dinner worth some gas, bloat and having to take a Tagamet and a Pepcid AC? Hell, Yes!!!!!!!!!

THE OINK CAFE - TUCSON, AZ

This restaurant is on Broadway and Kolb in a location vacated by the excellent Heist pizza place. Oink is open for breakfast and lunch and their culinary hook is 8 different varieties of bacon; sugar cured, honey, apple smoked, jalapeno, etc.

Unfortunately, the bacon that came with my breakfast  was disappointing and i couldn't even finish it. it was also greasy and almost cold which could have been due to the subzero air conditioning in the restaurant. The bacon came with 2 scrambled eggs, tasteless and only lukewarm home fries that, by the way, were supposed to contain sauteed onions and red and green peppers; the peppers must have been on vacation and i saw one onion; and a biscuit (there was a choice of toast, english muffin, fruit or maybe cottage cheese) which was good; nice and warm.

Jean's pork sausage link was delicious and if by a far far stretch of the imagination i was to come back here, i would order that and stay away from the bacon. Oink! Oink!

FRANKIE'S SOUTH PHILLY CHEESESTEAKS - TUCSON, AZ

Last time here for us. though since we are moving to the east side we will be quite a distance away from this restaurant anyway.

This most recent visit and the one before (between road trip 1 and 2) were highly disappointing.

Finding gristle in the meat; hardly finding any onions; deprived of the right amount of gooey white american cheese; and a bun which is not crispy on the exterior and soft on the inside. They advertise that they still get their bread from Philly but its gone down in quality; tastes like a slightly stale subway roll.

and their french fries are not good.

So there!!