Kartchner Caverns/Benson AZ outing

[kazer4]

We are headed to Katchner Caverns and looking for lunch and dinner places along the way. Any suggestions. Katchner Caverns is located out of Benson AZ

[janetofreno]

Sierra Vista is the closest place to eat. But, whatever you do...DON'T go the the Caverns without food. There are a couple of tours you'll enjoy, with lunch in between (make tour reservations in advance). Don't make the mistake I did: I went there alone and without food....thinking foolishly that there would be a place to buy food there for lunch. WRONG! I was forced to eat a candy bar from the vending machines for lunch. That was literally the only lunch option.....There are nice picnic tables, so I would take a nice picnic.

[Rockaway]

We drove through Benson a couple of weeks ago while traveling from Bisbee to Tucson on vacation. We stopped at Reb's in Benson, which is a funky kind-of-redneck breakfast/lunch place -- lot's of anti-big government brochures and photos of John Wayne and old cars for sale. Was the food incredible? Not particularly, just decent roadfood grub, but it did offer a fun and cheap slice of local life. BTW, be sure to read the specials board before you sit down, as our waitress didn't mention any specials.

[Tillman]

Ruiz's Mexican has been our Benson standby for decades. It's on the main drag, near the Ocotillo Rd exit. Nothing fancy, but good and reasonably-priced standard Ariz-Sonoran food. Try the green chile.

Their old place had more character, but it burnt down. The new bldg has much nicer bathrooms.

Incidentally, the Singing Wind bookshop, on a ranch a few miles N of Benson, is well-worth checking out. Google for details.

Cheers, Pete Tillman

[jasonaz]

l just went to Kartchner last weekend--what a great experience! Regarding restaurants, I didn't see anything of interest in Benson or the surrounding area. If you are heading further down to Bisbee, I can offer some recommendations for that area.

[Claudette]

I agree. We popped into Feast before heading to Kartchner Caverns.

[kazer4]

Hi again,
I think I just responded to u about restuarants in Tucson?! Never been S of Tucson before. Where is Feast. Any suggestions for a day trip down there. Our reservations aren't until 3PM. I see there is a festival at the Holy Trinity Moastery. Also wondered about the gardens at the monastery as they brag about them on their website. Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks again,

[Claudette]

Feast is on the central-east side of Tucson, and not really on the "road" to Benson, but it's our favorite restaurant on that side of town, and the closest to/from the Benson Hwy. Don't let the "take out" menu fool you - the restaurant is really cute inside, and just expanded recently to twice its old size. http://www.eatatfeast.com/feast/

[silverbear]

Last time I visited Kartchner Caverns, I didn't see much of interest in Benson itself. We drove 20 miles south to Sierra Vista and had reasonably good Mexican food at La Casita:

La Casita Mexican Restaurant
465 E Fry Blvd, Sierra Vista, AZ
[phone]

[werewolf]

Nearby Sierra Vista has some very good restaurants. I know of a good Korean place and a good BBQ place and a good steak house.

[susancinsf]

and the names of these places are?