Vegetarians beware: Zinburger is simply not the restaurant for you. Specializing in gourmet hamburgers, Sam Fox’s recent addition to the Tucson culinary scene has a limited menu, and meat is the main course.
As is expected with a new Fox restaurant (his others include Sauce and North), the décor at Zinburger is hip, minimal and perfect. The inside is full of mirrors and a very sassy looking bar, while the small, quaint patio overlooks the awful traffic on East River Road. The small size of Zinburger is noticeable, which makes the customer feel a little less overwhelmed.
The menu, though limited, is precise and deliberate. It offers a decent selection of wine and beer, as well as a list of about six different shakes and floats. I ordered the 50/50 float ($6), a yummy mixture of orange cream soda and vanilla ice cream, and was not disappointed.
For my entrée I had to try the aptly named Zinburger ($10), which was a delicious mix of cheese and caramelized onions. While it sounds simple, it is their signature burger for a reason; it’s really freaking good. On the side, I had the sweet potato chips ($3) that arrived with a yogurt dipping sauce, and it was heavenly. I would go back to Zinburger just for those.
Also available are about five other burger choices, including a non-menu “”Burger of the week,”” a variety of salads and a small selection of gourmet fries, which includes everything from your run-of-the-mill French fry to zucchini fries, all with special dipping sauces.
The burgers are large and the fries are served in a decent-sized basket, so for about $15, you receive a lot of food. While that may sound a bit expensive for a burger and fries, let me clarify that these are gourmet, legitimate restaurant burgers and fries. It tastes expensive.
Zinburger also offers a classy atmosphere. Unlike NoRTH and its other counterparts, the restaurant doesn’t feel stuffy and doesn’t require you to be super dressed up. It’s a bit more casual and laidback. The wait staff was great and very knowledgeable about both the food and drinks. Food was out in 20 minutes, which was a nice surprise for a crowded restaurant.
All in all, Zinburger is a fun place to eat some decently priced and very delicious food. But remember: Burgers can be very messy, so think twice before bringing your next date here. Zinburger, 1865 E. River Road, is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
