It took 20 mins to get the drinks we ordered, 45 mins from the time we sat to the time we were able to order main entrees. Two of the menu items they were out of so had to settle on 2nd choice. The steak was way over cooked as well. I'm pretty easy going but wow, there might be off nights but they missed this experience by a mile. I guess thats what you get for a $200 dinner now days?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 1
Tiffany Turner
Servers are great. The ambiance is great. The food is also delicious depending on what you order and your palate for a culinary experience. It was a nice date night. Vegan, veggie options are on the menu which is a plus.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Martin Jimenez
Had dinner at the bar while visiting Tucson, nothing spectacular, just ok.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Parag Jain
RAN OUT OF SALSA!! What mexican restaurant doesnt have salsa. The food was tasteless. The fish was undercooked. Appetizer came after the main course. what a disaster of a restaurant
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Ericka J
The food, service and ambiance were fantastic. Matt was a wonderful and enjoyable server; attentive but not lingering. We had the market fish which was barramundi and it was perfect. Fish tacos (which likely was also barramundi) far exceeded our expectations. The homemade corn tortillas were the best I've ever had. Try the tepache!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ivan Luna
It was my first time here, loved it. Great service Great atmosphere
If you haven’t been I recommend it
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dr.Ignacio Serrano
Great location but the food is not good and the service is not that great. My wife said the bathroom stall was so small that her knees were touching the wall. This place has potential but can't make the cut.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Tim Harry
Very dimly lit inside. The staff were very friendly though. The appetizers and cocktails were solid but didn't blow me away. The queso fundido was a bit too greasy for me. The Esquites is good. Unfortunately they were out of nopales and beef cheek tacos, so your mileage may vary on things you want to try bring available. The tacos were the star of the things we ordered though. Id come to just eat the chips and salsa and tacos.
A pleasant surprise. I had the NYE tasting menu, and was blown away. For the price point, this is a can't miss. The black cod was one of the best fish courses i have had this year.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Mark P
Really cool place, drinks were on point, and we got most of the tacos that they offer and everything delivered. The pickled vegetables were really good, and they pulled off random meats like beef cheek and turkey. It seems like a given, but the tortilla chips were above average.
Innovative options like the cactus and bone marrow. The sour taste of prickly pear pairs well with main dishes.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Dixie DeArmand Clinkenbeard
A few things. Penca is great. Penca also used to have a pork chop dish that was one of the best I’ve ever had last January (2024) their new pork dish misses the mark completely. I’ve put a pic of the old pork chop in the last photo (wink wink) if you ever want to revert to that recipe again Penca because it was BOMB. Anyways we had a lovely dinner. The esquitos corn dish is amazing, ceviche prettty good and cheese dish good too but super stringy. As mentioned the pork loin was unremarkable, especially considering the last recipe was literally to die for. Service great. Dessert: Très leches is a 10/10, by far my favorite. Old picture, but this time even better. Cocktails: Diablo was amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mason Martinez (Tucson Realtor)
My wife and I chose Penca in downtown Tucson for her birthday dinner, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable evenings we’ve had in years. We’d seen a few online photos beforehand, but honestly, they didn’t do the place justice at all—the reality was so much warmer, more intimate, and infinitely more charming than any snapshot could capture.
From the moment we stepped inside this beautifully restored 1920s building on Broadway Boulevard, the atmosphere enveloped us like a perfect embrace. It’s dark and romantic, with flickering candlelight dancing across the exposed brick walls, rich wooden accents, and cozy seating that feels both elegant and inviting. Soft lighting from vintage-inspired fixtures created just the right amount of shadow and glow, making it the ideal spot for a nice, candle-lit dinner where you can focus entirely on each other without the world intruding. The subtle hum of conversation blended with tasteful music, giving it a sophisticated yet relaxed vibe that’s hard to find—truly the perfect romantic escape in the heart of downtown.
The service was nothing short of superb. Our server (Mathew?) was attentive without being overbearing, offering thoughtful recommendations and checking in at just the right moments. He guided us through the extensive agave spirits list and made sure every detail, from timely refills to pacing the courses perfectly, contributed to a seamless experience. The entire staff radiated genuine warmth and professionalism, making us feel like honored guests rather than just another table.
Penca exceeded every expectation and made my wife’s birthday feel extra special. It was intimate, delicious, and utterly romantic—the kind of place you’ll reminisce about long after. We can’t wait to return soon to explore more of that incredible menu. If you’re looking for upscale Mexican dining with soul in Tucson, this is it. Highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
hailey cutler
traveling from Scottsdale to Tucson wanted to take some cute pictures outside of the restaurant before having dinner and the “head” chef came outside and yelled at us to not take photos in front of their restaurant on the public side walk. They weren’t opening for the next hour and were giving us dirty looks from the inside and were disrespectful. Obviously we decided not to eat there because of the bad environment. Spoke to someone walking by and they said the food was terrible anyway.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Simone Asque-Favia
Had a really great time, just had some mishaps - like broken bowl of chips that had to be replaced, mixed up order for two people of the small group, didn't bring out appetizer plates and then appetizers had to be reheated, etc. They were very apologetic and worked to resolve the issues, and overall I would go back. Just an off night or because we were a group of 6 on the back?
It took 20 mins to get the drinks we ordered, 45 mins from the time we sat to the time we were able to order main entrees. Two of the menu items they were out of so had to settle on 2nd choice. The steak was way over cooked as well. I'm pretty easy going but wow, there might be off nights but they missed this experience by a mile. I guess thats what you get for a $200 dinner now days?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 1
Servers are great. The ambiance is great. The food is also delicious depending on what you order and your palate for a culinary experience. It was a nice date night. Vegan, veggie options are on the menu which is a plus.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Had dinner at the bar while visiting Tucson, nothing spectacular, just ok.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
RAN OUT OF SALSA!! What mexican restaurant doesnt have salsa. The food was tasteless. The fish was undercooked. Appetizer came after the main course. what a disaster of a restaurant
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
The food, service and ambiance were fantastic. Matt was a wonderful and enjoyable server; attentive but not lingering. We had the market fish which was barramundi and it was perfect. Fish tacos (which likely was also barramundi) far exceeded our expectations. The homemade corn tortillas were the best I've ever had. Try the tepache!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It was my first time here, loved it.
Great service
Great atmosphere
If you haven’t been I recommend it
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great location but the food is not good and the service is not that great. My wife said the bathroom stall was so small that her knees were touching the wall. This place has potential but can't make the cut.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Very dimly lit inside. The staff were very friendly though. The appetizers and cocktails were solid but didn't blow me away. The queso fundido was a bit too greasy for me. The Esquites is good. Unfortunately they were out of nopales and beef cheek tacos, so your mileage may vary on things you want to try bring available. The tacos were the star of the things we ordered though. Id come to just eat the chips and salsa and tacos.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fresh Tacos, Carne Asada, Carnitas
A pleasant surprise. I had the NYE tasting menu, and was blown away. For the price point, this is a can't miss. The black cod was one of the best fish courses i have had this year.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Really cool place, drinks were on point, and we got most of the tacos that they offer and everything delivered. The pickled vegetables were really good, and they pulled off random meats like beef cheek and turkey. It seems like a given, but the tortilla chips were above average.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Innovative options like the cactus and bone marrow. The sour taste of prickly pear pairs well with main dishes.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
A few things. Penca is great. Penca also used to have a pork chop dish that was one of the best I’ve ever had last January (2024) their new pork dish misses the mark completely. I’ve put a pic of the old pork chop in the last photo (wink wink) if you ever want to revert to that recipe again Penca because it was BOMB. Anyways we had a lovely dinner. The esquitos corn dish is amazing, ceviche prettty good and cheese dish good too but super stringy. As mentioned the pork loin was unremarkable, especially considering the last recipe was literally to die for. Service great.
Dessert: Très leches is a 10/10, by far my favorite. Old picture, but this time even better. Cocktails: Diablo was amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My wife and I chose Penca in downtown Tucson for her birthday dinner, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable evenings we’ve had in years. We’d seen a few online photos beforehand, but honestly, they didn’t do the place justice at all—the reality was so much warmer, more intimate, and infinitely more charming than any snapshot could capture.
From the moment we stepped inside this beautifully restored 1920s building on Broadway Boulevard, the atmosphere enveloped us like a perfect embrace. It’s dark and romantic, with flickering candlelight dancing across the exposed brick walls, rich wooden accents, and cozy seating that feels both elegant and inviting. Soft lighting from vintage-inspired fixtures created just the right amount of shadow and glow, making it the ideal spot for a nice, candle-lit dinner where you can focus entirely on each other without the world intruding. The subtle hum of conversation blended with tasteful music, giving it a sophisticated yet relaxed vibe that’s hard to find—truly the perfect romantic escape in the heart of downtown.
The service was nothing short of superb. Our server (Mathew?) was attentive without being overbearing, offering thoughtful recommendations and checking in at just the right moments. He guided us through the extensive agave spirits list and made sure every detail, from timely refills to pacing the courses perfectly, contributed to a seamless experience. The entire staff radiated genuine warmth and professionalism, making us feel like honored guests rather than just another table.
Penca exceeded every expectation and made my wife’s birthday feel extra special. It was intimate, delicious, and utterly romantic—the kind of place you’ll reminisce about long after. We can’t wait to return soon to explore more of that incredible menu. If you’re looking for upscale Mexican dining with soul in Tucson, this is it. Highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
traveling from Scottsdale to Tucson wanted to take some cute pictures outside of the restaurant before having dinner and the “head” chef came outside and yelled at us to not take photos in front of their restaurant on the public side walk. They weren’t opening for the next hour and were giving us dirty looks from the inside and were disrespectful. Obviously we decided not to eat there because of the bad environment. Spoke to someone walking by and they said the food was terrible anyway.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Had a really great time, just had some mishaps - like broken bowl of chips that had to be replaced, mixed up order for two people of the small group, didn't bring out appetizer plates and then appetizers had to be reheated, etc. They were very apologetic and worked to resolve the issues, and overall I would go back. Just an off night or because we were a group of 6 on the back?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
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