Southeastern Arizona’s restaurants are well represented in Arizona Highways’ best restaurants edition. The magazine’s April issue, which is now on newsstands, features 25 of the editors’ favorite places to grab a bite in Arizona.

Four area restaurants made their 2009 list: Bisbee Breakfast Club, Gadsden Hotel, Tanuki and Canela. Last year Dot’s Diner (Bisbee) was featured on the cover, and Cafe Roka (Bisbee), Velvet Elvis Pizza Co. (Patagonia) and the Plaza Restaurant (Willcox) were also among the top 25.

It’s nice to see some local restaurants get kudos from the foodies in Arizona. No matter how much some gripe about the state of restaurants in our neck of the woods, there are some that rightfully deserve praise on this list.

Just the Facts

Bisbee Breakfast Club

(www.bisbeebreakfastclub.com)

Some tourists may fly through Bisbee on a visit and completely miss the great food offered at the Bisbee Breakfast Club in the Lowell District. In 2005, Pat and Heather Grimm opened their restaurant in a newly renovated space on Erie Street. The storefront used to be a Rexall Pharmacy and soda fountain attached to the Waters Department store.

The Grimms turned it, “into a sweet, clutter cafe; now they can’t beat the locals away with a stick,” said Arizona Highways. The magazine also mentions that the restaurant has been featured in the past in Gourmet magazine and “Road Food.”

El Conquistador at the Gadsden Hotel in Douglas

(www.hotelgadsden.com)

The hotel’s dining room has a lot of history, even though the original hotel was damaged in a 1927 fire. The Gadsden features a magnificent white Italian marble staircase and Tiffany stained glass. The dining room itself features a tile mural adorning one wall. If you’re looking for an Old West dining experience the Gadsden offers it. “Its Mexican American menu is mostly old school ... featuring super nachos, burritos, steaks, fried shrimp, baby beef liver and roast turkey with cranberry dressing,” the magazine review states.

Tanuki Sushi Bar & Garden Restaurant in Sierra Vista

Michiko (who everyone knows as Maggie) “drives to Tucson a couple times a week to pick up fresh fish, flown in from Los Angeles, and hires trained Japanese sushi chefs (not Caucasian 20-somethings in samurai headbands) to sweat the details,” Arizona Highways says.

Anyone who loves Japanese food knows this is the place to be, though it can be a bit cramped in the sushi bar for lunch. If you bring a friend along try the “sushi boat,” which is a nice presentation. The wall full of mementos from customers shows how well traveled Maggie’s customers are and how we appreciate the authentic and fresh dishes she offers.

Canela in Sonoita

(www.canelabistro.com)

Canela is a bistro situated in Arizona’s wine country. Its strength is a seasonal menu which “deftly expresses wine-country sensibilities by showcasing locally produced food and wine,” says Arizona Highways. The offerings change to take advantage of in season items and pare well with an extensive wine list. The restaurant is open Thursday through Sunday and reservations are suggested.