Penca

Name: Penca
Address: 50 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson, AZ, United States, 85701
Telephone: (520) 203-7681
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.3

4.3

68 Reviews

$30 and under

Mexican

50 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85701

About this restaurant

Penca is a Mexican restaurant located inside an immaculately restored building from the 1920s. Much of the architecture and original wood was repurposed for the renovation of the restaurant giving the whole building a sense of history and nostalgia that is almost palpable. Penca perfectly blends old world Mexican charm with a modern sheen and a contemporary menu. Penca's menu focuses on the cuisine of central Mexico, which is a type of regional cuisine that is distinct from the rest of the country. This is best showcased through Penca's seafood, such as the griddle-seared fresh trout filets, served with a cilantro mint sauce, seared squash, spring onion, pickled nopales and Chamoy de Jamaica. Beyond the unique entrees, the bar also offers over 30 varieties of mezcal, a type of liquor that originated from deep in the heart of Mexico.

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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Mexican, Contemporary Mexican, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
Hours of operation
Tuesday- Thursday : 11am- 10pm Friday: 11am- 11pm Saturday: 10am- 11pm Sunday: 10am- 8pm Happy Hour Tuesday- Saturday: 3pm- 5pm Saturday and Sunday Desayuno: 8am- 3pm
Phone number
(520) 203-7681
Website
http://pencarestaurante.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Marialine Bennen

Location
50 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85701
Neighborhood
Downtown Tucson
Cross street
Scott Avenue
Parking details
Downtown Parking information at http://tdot.tucsonaz.gov/park-tucson
Public transit
Penca is located right on the SunLink streetcar route downtown. The closest stop is Broadway at Stone.
Additional
Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Counter Seating, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wine

Palabrita$11.00
mezcal joven, lime juice, genepy liqueur, maraschino liqueur
Diablo$8.00
ginger-infused blanco tequila, homemade creme de cassis, lime juice, seltzer water
Boca del Rio$10.00
reposado tequila, angostura bitters, benedictine, cynar, lime
Sonoran Gimlet$10.00
bacanora, cocchi americano, house lime cordial, blanco tequila
Bourbon and Tepache$9.00
bourbon whiskey, house pineapple beer, Italian vermouth, velvet falernum, pineapple vinegar
Heiress$10.00
mexcal joven, oloroso sherry, Italian vermouth, walnut liqueur, absinthe, abbot's bitters
Chente$10.00
rye whiskey, chamomile grappa, benedictine
Jicaro$10.00
elote-infused mezcal, chiltepin-macerated aguamiel, lime, orange bitters

Teapache

House Pineapple Beer
- 12oz$6.00
- 16oz$7.00
- 24oz$10.00

Sangria

Grenache

Red Wine
- Glass$8.00
- Jar$24.00
Spinach Brandy
- Glass$8.00
- Jar$24.00
Amontillado Sherry
- Glass$8.00
- Jar$24.00
Grapefruit Cordial
- Glass$8.00
- Jar$24.00
Cinnamon
- Glass$8.00
- Jar$24.00
Lemon
- Glass$8.00
- Jar$24.00

Rose

Pisco
- Glass$8.00
- Jar$24.00
Herbs De Provence
- Glass$8.00
- Jar$24.00
Macerated Rose Wine
- Glass$8.00
- Jar$24.00
Chardonnay Reduction
- Glass$8.00
- Jar$24.00
Grapefruit Cordial
- Glass$8.00
- Jar$24.00
Lemon
- Glass$8.00
- Jar$24.00

Blanc

Honey
- Glass$8.00
- Jar$24.00
Mirepoix Shrubb
- Glass$8.00
- Jar$24.00
Pennyroyal Infusied Pisco
- Glass$8.00
- Jar$24.00
Grapefruit Cordial
- Glass$8.00
- Jar$24.00
White Wine
- Glass$8.00
- Jar$24.00
Lemon
- Glass$8.00
- Jar$24.00

Agave Tasting Flights

Three one-ounce pours

Age Flight$20.00
Olmecas Altos Plata Tequila; Ocho Reposado; Don Julio Anejo
Species Flight$18.00
Del Maguey Vida Joven Mezcal (espadin); Olmecas Altos Plata Tequila; Cielo Rojo Bacanora (pacifica)
Mezcal de Oaxaca Flight$25.00
Nuestra Soledad; Alipus San Juan del Rio; Del Maguey Tobala
House Flight$24.00
Siete Leguas Blanco Tequila; Ocho Reposado Tequila; Ilegal Mezcal Anejo

Beer

Draught

Modelo-Especial
- 12oz$4.00
- 16oz$5.00
- 24oz$8.00
Rotating American Craft Brew
- 12oz$5.00
- 16oz$6.00
- 24oz$9.00

Bottles

Indio$4.00
Estrella Daura$5.00
Samuel Smith Taddy Porter$6.00
Victoria$4.00
Schneider Weiss$6.00
Bell's Two Hearted IPA$6.00
Bohemia$5.00

What 68 people are saying

Penca reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

4.3

4.3 based on all time ratings

4.3Food
4.3Service
4.4Ambience
3.9Value

Noise • Moderate

68 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco1 review
5.0
Dined on March 20, 2016
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing experience! I've never been happier with a restaurant and our family has never had a better time together over incredible food, coupled with fantastic service. By far, the best little gem in Tucson. Thank you, Penca!
Is this helpful?
F
Franklin
Houston29 reviews
4.0
Dined on March 20, 2016
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Our party had a very enjoyable meal at Penca. The food was delicious, especially the homemade corn tortillas. Everything we tried was very tasty, and the sangria was different, but interesting and enjoyable. check it out.
Is this helpful?
D
Dapco
Phoenix10 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 20, 2016
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Dinner was delicious. Service fantastic. What more could a patron want?
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Palm Springs3 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 16, 2016
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We spent too few days of our long driving trip in Tucson. Penca was a dining highlight. This place has a stellar menu, delicious food, really perfect atmosphere, and friendly service. Good, good, good place.
Is this helpful?
F
Foodie VIP
Phoenix71 reviews
2.0
Dined on March 10, 2016
1. Overall 2
2. Food 1
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 4
We have enjoyed Penca in the past and suggested we go there last Wednesday with another couple who had not been there. The Wednesday 3-course prix fixe was still advertised on the website, and we've enjoyed that dinner. Although we were seated at a delightfully cozy corner table in the back room and had a personable waitperson, we soon learned the chef has very recently moved on. There is no Wednesday prix fixe dinner. We rallied, and started with guacamole which was fine. Mixed lettuce salads were better than fine. The menu looked great, the problem was our main courses-- three of us had very overcooked, dried out fish (2 ordered grouper and the third, swordfish.) My husband ordered a meat entree and said it was quite poor. Service was also extremely slow (over 2 hours.) We hope the food can be improved to equal what it was under the former chef!
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A
Abuelita
Phoenix83 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 29, 2016
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
We went back to Penca and once again an amazing dinner.
Is this helpful?
MH
MichaelH
Phoenix3 reviews
4.0
Dined on February 29, 2016
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Excellent food, excellent service. Group of four were all happy with the experience. Definitely a sophisticated, adult venue.
Is this helpful?
DE
DonE
Milwaukee6 reviews
4.0
Dined on February 28, 2016
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Good food, okay at best service and found reservation system questionable. Tried to increase reservation from two to three and they told us they couldn't do it, totally full. We sat in a room with several open tables all during dinner.
Is this helpful?
MH
MattH
Tucson22 reviews
3.0
Dined on February 26, 2016
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Booked for Thurs night at 8:30. Place was crowded as a big party was anticipated in back room. Fairly short wait for drinks and 1st course. Very long wait for main meal. Overall food was just ok. Really liked the ambiance of the place just wish the food was better. Mushrooms accompanying fish dish were swimming in grease, sadly unedible!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Phoenix1 review
4.0
Dined on February 25, 2016
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
A nice change from the usual. BUT, for a restaurant that purports to represent such a rich cuisine, the menu is limited. The item I ordered, chile en nogada, was delicious. Drink menu targets younger crowd.
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FAQs

Penca offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (520) 203-7681.

Penca is rated 4.3 stars by 68 OpenTable diners.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable booking network. To check availability, please contact them directly.

Is this your restaurant?

Claim this listing

50 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85701

Additional information

Cross street
Scott Avenue
Neighborhood
Downtown Tucson
Hours of operation
Tuesday- Thursday : 11am- 10pm Friday: 11am- 11pm Saturday: 10am- 11pm Sunday: 10am- 8pm Happy Hour Tuesday- Saturday: 3pm- 5pm Saturday and Sunday Desayuno: 8am- 3pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Mexican, Contemporary Mexican, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Downtown Parking information at http://tdot.tucsonaz.gov/park-tucson
Public transit
Penca is located right on the SunLink streetcar route downtown. The closest stop is Broadway at Stone.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Marialine Bennen
Additional
Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Counter Seating, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wine

Website
http://pencarestaurante.com/
Phone number
(520) 203-7681

Penca

About this restaurant

Not available on OpenTable

There’s more to explore

Additional information

Cocktails

Palabrita$11.00

Diablo$8.00

Boca del Rio$10.00

Sonoran Gimlet$10.00

Bourbon and Tepache$9.00

Heiress$10.00

Chente$10.00

Jicaro$10.00

Teapache

House Pineapple Beer

Sangria

Grenache

Red Wine

Spinach Brandy

Amontillado Sherry

Grapefruit Cordial

Cinnamon

Lemon

Rose

Pisco

Herbs De Provence

Macerated Rose Wine

Chardonnay Reduction

Grapefruit Cordial

Lemon

Blanc

Honey

Mirepoix Shrubb

Pennyroyal Infusied Pisco

Grapefruit Cordial

White Wine

Lemon

Agave Tasting Flights

Age Flight$20.00

Species Flight$18.00

Mezcal de Oaxaca Flight$25.00

House Flight$24.00

Beer

Draught

Modelo-Especial

Rotating American Craft Brew

Bottles

Indio$4.00

Estrella Daura$5.00

Samuel Smith Taddy Porter$6.00

Victoria$4.00

Schneider Weiss$6.00

Bell's Two Hearted IPA$6.00

Bohemia$5.00

Overall ratings and reviews

FAQs

Does Penca offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Penca restaurant rated?

Not available on OpenTable

Additional information