If you're a fan of chefs who play with their food, this place will satisfy your yen for experimental edibles. The dining space is hip and happening enough to accommodate the adventurous eaters that the restaurant attracts. Taking cues from around the globe, this kitchen puts out interesting and innovative dishes that are well prepared and prettily presented. The menu is divided into creatively named sections: To Entice, Green Stuff, Between Bread. The by-the-glass wine list lets you play around with food and wine pairing.

Just downstairs from the hot new Casanova restaurant is this more casual and less-spendy eatery. Its regional American cuisine has southwestern accents with dishes like Grilled Salmon with a Berry Salsa and Baby Back Ribs with a Prickly Pear Barbecue Sauce, but you will also find a full range of salads, sandwiches, burgers and pastas to suit any taste. The dining room has a southwestern feel too, with subdued desert hues and casual furnishings. Patio dining is also available. On weekends, live jazz adds to your dining experience.

Many Chinese weddings are held here, so you know you're going to be getting some of the most authentic Asian dishes in town, with an awesome mountain view. The large and somewhat formal space also has banquet facilities, which can accommodate up to 450 guests. Chef Iuan Hsieh, a transplant from Hong Kong, works his magic with fresh vegetables, meats, fish and shellfish to put out appetizing and attractively garnished, palate-pleasing plates. A few examples: Lobster with XO Sauce Stir fry; Mongolian Three Delights (shrimp, beef and chicken with vegetables); and Chicken with Garlic and Scallion Sauce. Full bar service is available.

You won't get much closer to a Greek gastronomic experience without a passport! Simply decorated with stark white walls and wooden floors, this Greek cafe is one of Tucson's top choices for Mediterranean meals. The Fourth Avenue shopping and arts district is home to this tavern-type restaurant that offers all of the classic Greek specialties, plus some interesting additions. Among these are the Thalasina Sardorinis seafood platter and Mezethakia (a combination platter of sausage, sweetbreads and pork tenderloin). Dinner entrees are priced from about USD8 to USD20. An interesting list of Greek wines can be had for about USD4-6 a glass. Many bottles are priced below USD20. The cocktail bar is open 5pm to 11pm Monday through Thursday, 5pm to midnight Friday and Saturday.

This unassuming spot within a shopping center has garnered raves from sushi lovers all over the area. The setting is simple, but serene. A long list of sushi and sashimi (including many daily specials) is posted above the sushi bar. Can't decide what to order? At lunch, teriyaki, tempura, sushi or sashimi combinations are great. A few Korean dishes are also on the menu. Full bar service, with Japanese beers and sake, is available. Feel like a few tunes with your tuna? Come by for karaoke on weekends.

This long-time Tucson favorite for German and Eastern European fare is homey, friendly and will satisfy the heartiest appetite. An atrium area with thriving greenery splits the large and comfortable dining room. Service is always sweet and efficient. All of the traditional dishes, Schnitzels, Sauerbraten, Wursts and Spaetzle are on the menu. Every meal is a multi-course marathon that includes soup or salad and dessert. It's nearly impossible to finish what's put before you.

Bratwurst and knockwurst and weisswurst, oh my. If it comes in a casing, you'll find it here. You'll also find a full range of other German and Austrian specialties, each prepared with care in this country kitchen setting. There's even a Wurstsalat, a kind of knockwurst salad and another unusual appetizer called Sulze, which is diced meats suspended in aspic. The German-style potato salad gets raves from guests, as does the Black Forest Cake. German beers are the preferred way to wash down your meal. Polka music will put your toes to tapping.

No to be confused with La Placita Village, which is downtown, this Plaza Palomino Mexican restaurant has been serving sophisticated fare in a stylish setting for over a decade. In contrast to Tucson's many festive family-oriented restaurants, this one offers a more subdued and relaxing atmosphere and a slower service pace. On the menu, fajitas (sizzling meat or shrimp with sautéed vegetables and traditional accompaniments) are one of the favorites. Many enchiladas, burros (the big brother of burritos) and tacos are also offered. The Lomo Adobado Pork is a charming, chile-marinated choice. Most dinner entrees are reasonably priced. Spanish wines from the Rioja region are a good complement to your meal and are available by the glass or by the bottle.

This microbrewery and bistro's dining spaces are airy and comfortable, with light wood and high ceilings. Owned and operated by the same folks who run the Prescott Brewing Company in northern Arizona, this comfortable, contemporary cafe offers a full range of house brews that mesh well with the menu. Soups, salads, sandwiches and poultry, beef and seafood entrees, with fish and chips a house specialty and one of the many British-inspired menu favorites.

In what was once the Geronimo Hotel guest-house, this cozy and comfy college-area cafe serves light fare at equally light prices. The cafe itself is quite serene, with white-trimmed dark green walls, mellow music and umbrella-covered patio tables out front. The menu starts the day with bagels, muffins and specialty coffees and then moves into soups, salads, sandwiches and quiches. The House Club is a satisfying specialty of turkey, bacon and cheese. Beverages include coffees, teas, juices and soft drinks.