Cafe a la C'Art is a true Tucson pleasure. Nestled amongst the concrete arms of the Tucson Museum of Art, Cafe a la C'Art has served Tucson's business community delicious lunchtime fare for many a year now.
But the secret pleasure of Cafe a la C'Art is the chance to eat lunch backwards.
Cafe is half service. You order at a counter, pick up your drink, sit at a table with a number and wait for a server to bring your food. Simple enough. Simple enough if it weren't for the six feet of ridiculous desserts you must walk by to order your food.
Piles of chocolate cake buried in frosting. Tarts. More tarts. Cookies. Whatever your brand of "Death By _______," you'll find it here. It's hard to get by without rationalizing a purchase. You know, "I'll have half and eat half later. I'll bring some home for my wife." Sure thing, pal. But then, after you order your food and sit down, there you are. Hungry. At your table. Waiting for your food. With a cookie staring you right in the face. And not just a cookie. A ridiculous cookie, more walnut and chocolate bar than pastry. What to do?
A quick glance around the room will tell you. Eat the cookie. This is probably the only place in Tucson you'll see adults eating dessert before dinner. It's a relaxing moment. An indulgent moment. Especially in the midst of a workday.
The cookie? I couldn't stop eating it. And I actually went off on a weird sugar high for a few minutes. Have you ever looked at your hands? I mean really looked at your hands?
The actual food? They hit all the notes a successful cafe should. Straight-forward food served without pretension in a style that might only be described as dashing. Hanker for a hearty salad? Covered. A burger that's not an embarrassment to be seen eating? Ditto. A nice soup. That's here too. And a salmon or brisket sandwich that satisfies.
There's a lot to be said for consistency. Consistent food is a fine thing. To consistently offer not only a meal, but a moment, is a great thing. Cafe a la C'Art delivers that.
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