Old World charm at new The Coronet cafe

Sitting on the corner of Tucson, Arizona… at The Coronet café , on the SE corner of 4^th Avenue and E. 9^th Street.

It’s a lovely new restaurant (just opened on Palm Sunday, April, 13, 2014 at 402 E. 9^th St.), with a lot of European charm. Almost makes you think you’re in Paris or the Provence.

I stopped by for lunch this week and ate on their charming outdoor patio which seats 44 people.  The choices are online at the website, and I chose a Leafy green salad (with roasted tomato & garlic, cucumbers with lemon oil) and a cup of the day’s soup (meatball & lentil).  Both were delicious  and refreshing. The soup came with carrots/onions/spinach as well, with Sumac pita bread slices, and the salad was fresh and tasty, with a refined tomato taste.  They also offer Tartines and a Ploughman’s lunch, with other salad choices. See online menus here: http://cafecoronet.com/

Inside seating (décor is black/green) is 18 on tables with carved black wicker chairs, and 8 seats at the bar. Notice the stained glass highlights and antique furnishings look when you drop by to eat or drink.

The owners stopped by my table to say hello and I spoke with Gregor Kretschmann and Sally Kane, both Americans who come from European backgrounds.  Gregor is German/Scot and Sally is Polish.  The name of the restaurant The Coronet symbolizes  the “lesser crown of a nobleman” and also represents the Coronado Hotel (which the restaurant is located in) since coronado in Spanish means “the crowned one”.

This new café is at a perfect location, on a corner as I mentioned on  busy 4^th Avenue. While sitting outside I watched people stroll by on 4^th Avenue to/fro the underpass to downtown Tucson, as well as the Sun Link modern streetcar passing by smoothly (currently in the testing stage, to start operations on July 25).

The Coronet is open right now daily from 7 a.m. to 10 or 11 p.m., except Mondays 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on weekends they serve a brunch buffet from 8 a.m. to “late”. Call ahead if you desire definite reservations at 520-222-9889.

Photo below courtesy of Gregor,  of some of their fabulous creations:

L: Saucission en Brioche (Swedish potato salad/herbed aioli – leafy salad), C: Ploughman’s lunch (meat,cheese,veggies w/ all the usual drag & tackle), R: Ratatouille baked eggs (Chevre/spinach/spuds – leafy salad).  All these dishes sound wonderful and I hope to drop by again for another lunch of dinner. On their dinner menu I noticed “Tilapia en paillote” (fennel, peas, spinach & cardomon crème, black lentils, sauce verte). How ingenious and interesting.

Check out more photos on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CoronetTucson

Remember The Coronet when you’re looking for a new brasserie-style café to experience Old World charm, in the Old Pueblo.