Always a pleasant night at Bluefin. The ambiance is always great. The restaurant is tucked back in a historic plaza with great lighting. The oysters Rockefeller are a must. I always have a great entree, whether it be a steak, lobster, crab, or almond crusted trout. Don't forget to order the creme Brule or triple chocolate cake. Bluefin has never let us down.
(5)
Lisa H.
I've been to many seafood places far in Arizona but this is one of the best in Tucson. Superb service and my favorite was the cashew crusted Hawaiian fish - yum!
(5)
Andrea G.
Our "Dining Trio" (mom, husband Gary and I) visited Bluefin for Gary's birthday. We had reservations and, after a slight confusion with the reservation, we were seated in a pleasant booth in the bar. The manager made sure we were happy with our seating -- good attention and professionalism. Normally, I don't enjoy the bar atmosphere for eating dinner, but this one is upbeat and a fun, amiable ambiance. It also includes outdoor seating that connects directly to the bar. They also have an upstairs quieter dining area. We loved our dining experience. Great service, yummy seafood options -- all excellent. I asked our server what he recommended out of a few choices. So I went with -- and very much enjoyed -- the nut-crusted escolar (fish from Hawaii). Birthday boy Gary had bouillabaisse. It's got a hefty price tag, but with reason; he considered it one of the BEST he ever had. It was loaded with great seafood, and the broth (I copped a taste) was delicious! Mom had a grilled salmon that was also perfectly prepared. We enjoyed tasty bread and butter and salads as well. A birthday slice of dessert topped off a positively delightful meal -- a good, 3-fork dessert (as our Dining Trio likes to share!). I hope to come back more often to Bluefin -- for both the excellent service and the quality food!
(5)
Kevin L.
Paying alot of money for horrible service with horrible food is a pretty bad combination. First off. Our waitress was sarcastic, and borderline rude. I'm not sure how many times she has rolled her eyes at us. We spent good money to feel unwelcomed. Off to the food. Butter and bread, nothing special. The lobster for the most part was overcooked. The kitchen did a good job at de-shelling the lobsters, but that was the only positive thing all night, for only two more dollars! The chicken dish was slimy, and the fries were cold. The bouillabaisse was the worst I have ever had. The soup was luke warm, with no flavor. The stock was a complete disappointment. I can taste only the garlic. The scallop was undercooked, and reeked of an ammonia smell. The fish that was in it tasted old and looked mushy. It was simply disgusting. Terrible experience.
(1)
Randy L.
I have to say they do it right at Bluefin! Excellent service Great live Maine Lobster. I took my parents who split a lobster. No split plate charge. They even have sides on the two plates. One more important item. They check ID's on credit cards that say check ID's on the back. Love the place!
(5)
Rachel N.
I went here for lunch with my mom for her birthday. There was no wait and the hostess was extremely friendly and the wait staff was prompt and polite. I order a Long Island Ice Tea and it was the best made drink I've had in a while. My mother and I both order the lobster roll and this is were I went from 5 stars to 4 stars. Being from Massachusetts, having a Lobster Roll served up on a cheap value pack hotdog roll is completely unacceptable. Though the lobster was awesome, the roll was disappointing. I will probably be back to try other items on their menu, also they are 5 mins from my house and have good drinks and good seafood.
(4)
Jamie R.
Not impressed with the "Fat Tuesday" specials. After reading all the reviews from here, my expectations were high. The best part of our meal was the staff who brought out our meals.
(2)
Angela C.
I enjoyed the food very much. We had the sea bass which was cooked perfectly and it had a drizzle of mustard sauce that was superb. Also had the chicken thighs which were served in a bowl with a light broth and were very good. I was disappointed in the service. It was very busy but did not have enough wait staff. We regularly had to flag someone down.
(4)
Jennifer C.
Really great bar atmosphere. A few things I love about blue fin 1. Bar team is awesome really friendly and knows their wine 2. Chowder is the best.. And I am from boston 3. Beautiful local!
(5)
Heather E.
We went well on vacation. Read several reviews which were average. I would agree. We sat outside on the balcony. It was a bit cool. Crab cakes (only 1/$8) & cheesecake were better than main course. Scallops were not flavorful. My friend grilled better ones at the home. Nice atmosphere though.
(3)
Monica F.
I won't be able to write as detailed a review as I normally would, on account of we started with a bottle of wine, and I have, as Shakespeare wrote, "poor unhappy brains for drinking." The wine was definitely a 5-star bottle of wine. Our server was great, super-friendly and helpful. I was a little confused when we came in exactly at the time for which we had made reservations, and the hostess said we'd have to wait for them to prepare the table. But then the owner (I think) came and just gave us one. So that was weird. But the waiter was great. The bread they brought out was unworthy. It was just straight up empty white bread, and it wasn't warm, even though it was billed that way. It was sad, because I usually don't eat wheat, and it was a waste for me. For appetizers, I had blue crab cakes and hubby had oysters Rockefeller. We had a hilarious moment when he dug in, believing the white stuff on the plate was onion (we were sitting outside, with little light besides candles). The server politely explained that cold oysters are always served on ice and hot oysters on rock salt. Hubby politely explained that he grew up on a Kansas dairy farm and had never eaten an oyster before. I don't think he had ever eaten rock salt before either. The oysters were not bad, although they didn't blow me away. Same for the crab cake. It was tasty. I was surprised to enjoy the sauce...typically I don't care for tartar sauce (I think that's what it was?). Ditto the slaw. Both spruced up the dish. Husband had the surf and turf, and I had a steak. I know, I know, it's a seafood restaurant. But that's what looked good. And it was pretty good. My first bite had me wondering why they didn't season the steak, but then I saw that the seasoning was all in the 3 peppercorn sauce, which just hadn't gotten on the end. It was a big cut of meat. Potatoes were good; spinach kind of standard. I had a couple bites of hubby's plate but was not wowed. At some point we finished the wine and got some glasses of some other wine that was not as good: "Like test driving a Corvette after you've owned a Bugati," said hubby. We also had dessert: ginger pear cake and flourless chocolate cake. Both were insanely rich. The chocolate cake was just too much after that meal. Overall, I would say this was a pretty good meal, but nothing really blew me away, even though there were some very nice and careful touches and the portions were big. The service was great, considering this was Valentine's Day and, come to think of it, the food is probably even better when it's not a date-night holiday.
Neighborhood joint. We love it. Tonight we had the mussels, and clam chowder (New England). My wife swears by the mussels. I do not order them with any regularity but she says they are the best in town. And on the happy hour menu for $7.50 just makes them even better. I had the chowder and as usual it was excellent. Wife topped mussels off with a wedge salad, pretty standard. I had the trout. Very nice. Had the special upside down plum tart with cardamom. Marianne Banes can do no wrong in my eyes.
(4)
Chris H.
I have visited several times, but tonight's experience will likely force me to never go again. Consistently, the food has been delicious. I ordered the New England Clam Chowder (which is fantastic) and the Fish and Chips. The batter was delightful. Flaky, light and flavorful. Unfortunately, our main server was horrendous. Her communication with us was very short and abrupt. She was unaware of which dishes were unavailable from the menu. She failed to include a to-go order that we placed with our dinner. She seemed to ignore us throughout the evening. We had to flag her down for takeout boxes and for our check. Overall, we felt disrespected and we felt like unvalued customers. I let the host know of our experience and he let me know that when we visited again, we would definitely not have her as our server. That is not an incentive for us to spend our money there again. In the times that we have visited, we have always had consistent food and inconsistent service.
(2)
Leslie M.
We have eaten at this restaurant multiple times. Food has always been good until this last visit on 4/8/15. We as usual ordered the GRILLED RUBY TROUT ALMONDINE. It was noticeably different upon plating in front of us. The fish which is normally filet for you was not of normal weight and size. With skin attached each piece was so thin that if you took both sides of the fish on the plate and took into account that their was entrails removed, the fish could not have been wider than 1/4 inch. They also left all the bones. We also noted that the fish was also cut in such a way that most of the meat had been removed. The restaurant stated they had a new menu and upon review we noted more trout appetizers and we summarized that they were using most of the trout meat for the appetizer menu, cutting the dinner portion down to minimums and cannibalizing. It would explain their promotion of Happy Hour advertisements, etc.
(1)
Bee C.
Everyone that I was with really liked this place, I was not as big of a fan. We were hungry after our flight, and this place was pretty close to our hotel. The smoked fish appetizer was the highlight of the meal. I ordered the scallops-they were okay. I think the best dish was the cashew crusted fish.
(3)
John B.
I'm giving this place 2 stars because of past experience otherwise 2 is too much Went for brunch on Sunday not so good. Had lobster benidict and blue berry pancakes. The pancakes were brought to the table burnt black, really? When servers bring food like that you gotta wonder. Bathroom was not clean, another indication of trouble. I liked this place in the past what happened? Last two visits disappoint
The new menu does not allow for a selection of vegetables. I despise green beans and my only option was carrots. With an entree of $26.00 there should be other options than carrots. My daughter had the sampler of seafood. The shrimp was so tough she was unable to eat it. With a bill of $159 for two we will not be back.
(3)
Leslie B.
Came here while visiting my Grandma in Tucson and had a wonderful meal. The restaurant is two levels and we sat upstairs which has a very warm ambiance. It was quiet and cozy, perfect for a dinner date where you want to be able to hear each other. We had planned to split a couple salads until we realized we all had our eye on different ones! I had the Fatoosh and loved it. A more complex Greek salad complete with toasted pita and a delicious garlic vinaigrette, this was a great starter. Grandma and Sunny H. both enjoyed their Caesar and mesclun, respectively. For dinner, I ordered cashew crusted mahi-mahi and was not disappointed in the least. The fish was perfectly cooked and the vegetables/rice it came with were very flavorful. My dining companions both enjoyed their salmon and scallops as well. Overall, I can't wait to visit Tucson again and go back to Bluefin! It's a little pricey, but a lovely dinner with a fantastic menu.
(5)
Cynthia G.
My husband and I truly enjoy going there for brunch. They have a charming courtyard patio with a delicious menu. I am devastated that they are closing their doors in May. Try them while you still can; it is a place not to be missed.
(5)
Sally and Ralph T.
We looked forward to eating here with a couple of friends, having had good meals in the past. What a disappointment! The men both ordered lobsters. One of them arrived with rotten, black slimy roe and was returned to the kitchen. How do you even bring that to the table to be served?? The other was dry and overcooked, and tasted "old". The one woman ordered trout almondine which she said was very tasty. My oysters Rockefeller were on the overcooked side. In all a disappointing experience. Won't spend our precious dining out money there again!!
(1)
Jesse B.
Went in for the summer lobster special, started out well. Noticed there was a lobster roll on the menu and asked about getting it as a Hot Buttered style, was told it was fine. Was very clear that I was asking if it was possible for just butter and lobster on a roll. Came back with it loaded with peppers and green onions. Asked him again to take it back for just hot buttered lobster roll. Came back with more peppers on it this time than before, with the waiter smirking as if he'd just had a great laugh in the back. Complained to manager and was told that, unfortunately he was supposed to tell me it would cost extra to have it that way, which he'd never stated, and also never said otherwise to that he'd be able to. Ended up leaving with a comped uneaten meal, and a server who just was so proud of himself as being the worst he could be. Won't be returning.
(1)
G.L. B.
After the place we originally intended to go for lunch was closed, we decided to give Bluefin a try. I ate at Kingfisher several years ago (which I believe is it's sister company, and was pretty good), and so we were looking forward to trying this place. Our server was apathetic. No matter, we proceeded to order because the reviews were so good. We had the following: A bottle of wine Two virgin pina coladas (disgusting - mix poured over ice - no pineapple juice, etc, not even blended with the ice) Fish and Chips (the fries were good, the fish ok albeit a bit bland) Steamed Black Mussels (tasted like white wine that had turned to vinegar) Blue Crab Cakes (tasted like tin can mixed with bread crumbs with a strange, musty aftertaste) Grilled Sea Bass Tostada (very, very dry and bland) After several bites, we decided to go elsewhere and informed the waitress to bring the bill. The chef came out to ask what was wrong, but when we explained to him why we were disappointed, he merely said "well, no one's ever complained before." They offered to comp part of the bill, but we told them "no". We paid the entire bill and tip and left to have lunch elsewhere. Really bummed that this place did not pan out. We go out to eat almost every day, and it would have been nice to have a good seafood restaurant close to home.
(1)
Jeff W.
Fantastic service and quality / variety of the menu was superb. What a shame it's going to close the end of May. A real loss to Tucson.
(5)
Katie K.
Love this restaurant every time we go! My favorite is the trout with the almonds followed by the hawaiian cashew crusted fish. The manager Chris is always extremely nice and always trying to make us feel comfortable. The desserts need some improvement, the chocolate cake is too large of a portion and heavy. Good wine, good appetizers and the bread was changed lately for the better. I would definitely recommend this place, the fish is always fresh and they also have excellent oysters.
(4)
Polly B.
My husband & I had an excellent Valentines Day dinner! The scallops were wonderful & the crab legs were excellent. The wait staff was wonderful. Was an exceptional experience!
(5)
Rob B.
Nice, upscale seafood. Crab cake and crusted Hawaiin fish are ALWAYS great. Nice selection of wines by the glass. Staff needs some training on looking like they want to be there and not like they have to work.
(4)
Cathy L.
Ordered mussels. Frankly they were past their prime. One friend ordered lobster. The taste I had was adequate, not wonderful. The other 2 in our party ordered fish and were happy with the preparations. We were blessed with a very fine waiter, Ryan who also bartended
(3)
Arthur N.
How can you lose with a lobster dinner for $20.13? At Bluefin, it's easy. It took them more than an hour and a half to serve our table (at which point people at other tables who'd arrived after us had finished eating and were long gone). When the lobster finally came, it was undercooked--slimy actually. We complained to the manager more than once, but he didn't do a thing about it; he didn't even say he was sorry for what we were going through. If I were in his position, I would have apologized profusely and comped the entire meal, but he didn't even offer us a free dessert, or a drink while we were waiting. Not only were we charged the full amount but he actually added an 18% tip to our separate checks! I guess they consider what we went through normal, all part of the Bluefin experience. So if that's how you like to be treated, Bluefin is the place for you.
(1)
Ron P.
Was looking for a great seafood restaurant in Tucson and I found it. Seafood was excellent. I had the red snapper and loved it. Great place.
(5)
Jenni L.
I cannot say enough about Bluefin Seafood Bistro, a gem tucked away inside the Casas Adobes plaza. We made a reservation and upon walking into the restaurant we were quickly wisked upstairs to a cozy dining room which overlooked the mountains. The dining room was full and the decor romantic without being overly done up. The wine list was great and even included a great Prosecco which we ordered. We started off the night with some oysters from the Pacific Northwest. I have never experienced such fresh and delicious oysters and I hear these puppies are on the happy hour menu as well (aka I will be back). I ordered the baby spinach salad which was amazing with a light vinaigrette but the star of the salad had to be the warm gorgonzola-honey crostini. I could not believe how amazingly robust that cheese and honey combo was. For an entree I had the cashew encrusted Hawaiian fish which was firm and tender. Perfectly seasoned with a great compliment of a ginger butter sauce. My fish was served with rice and delicate sweet potato chips that were melt-in-your-mouth good. My husband was in between the sea bass and the trout and asked our waitress what she preferred. She said they were both good but thought the sea bass was a little bit more enjoyable. I must say she was right it was great, I may have stolen some from his plate. All in all, this place is phenomenal and I can't believe it's taken us this long to get here. But I can say this will be in the regular rotation.
(5)
Amanda B.
Yay Arizona Restaurant Week! It was girls night out and we decided to check out Bluefin for Restaurant Week. All of the staff was extremely friendly. From the host, busser, waitress, everyone. All four of us ordered off the RW menu so we had three courses for $30. We couldn't decide what wine and our waitress was really able to describe the ones we were debating on and helped us find a great choice. Big plus! I had the crab cake to start, the salmon for an entree, and the turtle cheesecake for dessert. Everything was wonderful. The crab was moist and the tarter sauce served with it was very flavorful The salmon was grilled perfectly and the mango salsa on top was very refreshing. I was a little worried by the black bean bun, as it is hard to be a big "bun" of black beans look appealing, but it really tasted good. I have never had anything like it. The cheesecake, perfection. You just need to try it. Not ready for five stars until I have been back, and I will definitely come back.
(4)
Betsy B.
I've been here several times and always had good food and service. Although I'm a desert resident, I love seafood and this is a god option here to get a good seafood dish. Have always had a fish dinner and never been disappointed. I've eaten a lot of seafood in ocean towns and these dinners were as good as some I've had where you get seafood from the local areas they come from. Service has been prompt and excellent.
(4)
Kristie E.
Was headed to Wildflower to grab a salad and saw this place. We felt underdressed but the host was very kind and seated us on the adorable patio. Ordered a crab cake to start, the fish and chips to finish. The fish was pretty good, the tartar sauce really good and the coleslaw amazing. Friend had the cashew crusted Hawaiian fish....was perfect... Ginger sauce amazing, fish cooked perfect, as was the fresh spinach. Will definitely eat here again.
(4)
Vanessa Y.
I went to bluefin bistro last night with my husband and friend and was EXTREMELY disappointed with the service!!! They took five minutes to realize we needed to be seated (we were then taken to sit on a far corner outside), then we waited another 5 for the menus, about 10 for them to take our order. The food actually came out decently fast but my seabass was overcooked. My husband wasn't amazed by his food (shrimp scampi) and my friend also had the seabass. After dined, the waiter took forever to come give us the check and pick up our cards. Here's the best part... During the time we were waiting for our cards back, because it was really windy, the salt and pepper shakers from the table on the second story came tumbling down and landed on the table that was next to us (a foot or two max away)!!!! The glass shattered and landed all over our table and feet. The worst part was the waiters only asked if we were "okay"... Didn't clean our table up! We had to wait for another 5 mins for our cards. Immediately left. Would NOT repeat. Awful service!!!
(1)
Lakota M.
Lovely lovely lovely! Began with the Pacific Northwest oysters .. ( being from Seattle , I fancy myself a connoisseur ) these were divine! Ordered the mahi mahi.. Also delicious . The bartender (Liz ) was very friendly & funny. To finish off the meal I had the Kingfisher coffee! Wow! Hello booze! Nice way to finish the meal. I recommend cozying up to the bar & prepare yourself for a taste bud sensation!
(5)
Tanya P.
Absolutely an awesome experience. I researched the seafood restaurants in Tucson that offered oysters on the 1/2 shell and as other reviews have said, my friend and I were immediately in love with the atmosphere and charm that surrounds this place. We ordered oysters(our whole reason for the visit) and the mussels - both were delicious and I would order again in a heartbeat. Both of us were feeling a little rundown and not 100% after a hard week, so we had hot tea instead of wine or a cocktail, they had a great selection. The waitress told us about a coconut cream, black bottom tart dessert they had as a special. It was amazing. Great experience, a little higher priced as seafood usually is, but definitely a place to go if you're looking for a higher end, nice, yet laid-back time.
(5)
Jan S.
We enjoyed a beautiful late afternoon dinner on Saturday, March 22, 2014. The service was wonderful from Trevor and including the rest of the help. All three meals we had were great - the ruby trout, crab Louie salad and the yellowtail fish. We are looking forward to future meals there. Compliments to the Chef.
(5)
Jennifer L.
Extremely disappointing seafood. The salmon was far from fresh - so bad in fact my husband had to send it back (and he has never sent back a plate of food in all the years I have known him!). It was graciously replaced with the mahi mahi, which was somewhat better in that it was edible, but still "fishy", dry and rubbery. I ordered the shrimp which were horribly over-cooked. On a positive note, the service was excellent and the manager comped us for the entrees. The wine selection did not disappoint. I would only return for cocktails/appetizers.
(1)
Jonathon G.
Consistently good quality food and service, and a pleasant atmosphere. This is our most-frequented restaurant in Tucson for special occasions.
(4)
C B.
Really good seafood, which is hard to find in Tucson (middle of the desert). The drinks are classics but with a twist (Bloody Mary with jalapeño and lemon) and the food is filling. It's a little pricey but that's because of how hard it is to find fish in the desert. They accept all major credit cards.
(4)
Alicia C.
Great location, amazing service, and delicious oysters!!! Love that place!
(5)
James D.
great oysters! will definitely be back. server was kind enough to reccomend a variety that was not on the menu, along with a great wine pairing!
(4)
Chris W.
A little disapointed - had the cashew crusted hawaiian fish. very average - not impressed enough to go back.
(2)
V F T.
Been there several times now and the food has always been great, every time! However the service is spotty. Sometimes it's good, sometimes not so good. In fact our bartender the other night had actually had some strange and sarcastic attitude, so the gratuity she received from me absolutely reflected that. But then the last time our bartender was totally awesome, with a good personality, interesting to converse with and very intelligent. (I miss that guy!). Our food in the dining room was really terrific, though our server was young, slow and goofed up our wine selection and was slow at best, (It was a Monday night and not that busy, so what's the problem?) Their sister restaurant Kingfisher has much, much better & consistent service, they always have awesome bartenders and just as equally great food. Though Bluefin wins hands down in the ambiance & class dept with such a terrific bar space, patio and the upstairs dining room. Bottom line - For the prices that they charge the food is definitely worth it but the service is expected to be better, you know? So if they can just get it together with their bar and wait staff we have another 5 star operation like Kingfisher. Food - Outstanding! Service - Needs Work! Ambiance - Very Classy Yet Not Stuffy Location - Very Good Parking - Plenty Cost - Pricey But Worth It Wine List - Very Good Happy Hour - Best Deal Around For The Quality
(4)
Anne J.
Uuunnnnngh. Let's see...sat on the patio - nice cool monsoon evening, and the fountain drowns out the road noise so you don't even notice it. Service (Rob) was attentive and helpful - he recommended wines, and all were winners. We were debating between several options, and he proposed that we try them as split portions in a 4-course meal...great idea, delicious, and not rushed at all - we had time in between courses to relax and savor. The oysters were fantastic, the fish special scrumptious, the salad delectable, the bouillabaisse...well, I could have licked the bowl. Too pleasantly full for dessert (but not stuffed) and the bill was reasonable. When can I go back??
(5)
Amanda P.
Food was good, smaller portions however, and it was a bit pricey. went here for a birthday and we got free desserts which was really nice.
(3)
TJ A.
Went recently for a romantic dinner date and was impressed. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because they were out of the first two bottles of wine that I ordered, and for a seafood restaurant I expected a larger selection of nice dry whites. Our server, however, was able to present alternative options and was actually terrific in every way. Top-notch service from beginning to end, thank you Sarah! Food was great, we started with Oysters Rockefeller and the crab cake that came with a delicious green tartar sauce. Both entrees were wonderful as well, I had the snapper and my boyfriend had the steelhead trout that was offered as a special. Unfortunately no room for dessert that night, so I'll have to be sure to return again soon!
(4)
James S.
We had reservations for 6:30 and were immediately seated upstairs. The wait staff were always on top of refills and our food was speedy. Finally, the food is absolutely delicious. I had the special and my wife had the scallops-both were gone almost immediately (after tasting each other's plates, of course)
(5)
W A.
We went for Happy Hour. Not busy at all, however it was a Monday and pouring rain. Good, attentive service. The bar staff was very helpful explaining the differences between different oysters and options. My wife's Mojito was well made (not from a mix) and all of our food was very good. The fried blue cheese olives amazing.
(4)
Paul N.
Good food, nice bar. They do need to get in on the craft beer movement, not a lot of good beer choices.
(4)
Margaret E.
For my birthday my goods friends and my son took me here. We always have a good time wherever we go. The staff made the night great! The food was good, as expected. The downside was that another table was annoyed by our fun and informed the staff that they would not return. WOW! Thank for a fun and memorable 55th birthday!
(5)
Chris S.
Since I've been using Yelp so much to help plan this trip I have coming up, I thought I would "give back" a bit and review a couple of places that I have visited recently. One of those is a favorite of mine, the Bluefin. My wife and I have eaten there for their Brunch, lunch, and dinner now and we have been thoroughly impressed every single time. Our most recent visit was for dinner with my mother-in-law and other family and so that is what I will use as the basis for this review. Service: 4/5 I made reservations through the Opentable website on our way to the restaurant. It was a Saturday night and we were seated promptly as soon as we arrived at the restaurant. I would say it was about two-thirds full that evening. There was one server dedicated to topping off beverages like water and iced tea. No one at our table ever had to ask for a refill. We did not make use of the bar so I cannot comment on the quality of their drinks. Our primary waitress was attentive, but somewhat slow, hence the deduction of one "star," but certainly nothing that left a bad taste in my mouth. Food: 5/5 The food at the Bluefin is, in a word, spectacular. For a seafood restaurant in the middle of the desert, you can't ask for more. We got the house smoked trout as an appetizer for the whole table. It was gone about two minutes after arriving, absolutely delicious. The salads and soups were also very good. I had the baked clams casino and they were to die for. The entrees were just as good, from the lobster roll my wife ordered, to the crab legs, to the fresh fish. Everything was cooked properly, seasoned properly, and served at the appropriate temperature. I really can't say enough about the quality of the food and the preparation. For a community so far from any body of water, you aren't going to find better seafood than what we were served here. Excellent all around. The desserts were a little less impressive, but certainly nothing that overshadowed the quality of the rest of the meal. The house sorbet that my mother-in-law ordered was great, and the cheesecake my wife ordered was good. I was less impressed with the creme brule, but again, a minor complaint on what was otherwise a spectacular meal. Overall Impressions: 4/5 The ambiance at the Bluefin is warm and comforting. The interior decoration is appropriate for the fine, yet casual atmosphere they are aiming for. There is outdoor seating on both levels of the restaurant, which at certain times of the year is great, and at other times is a really bad idea. Eating outdoors in Tucson in July is just not a good plan, no matter how many "misters" you have running. That said, for a cool summer evening, or a mild winter afternoon, it works fairly well. Overall if you are a fan of good, fresh seafood, the Bluefin is a restaurant you definitely should not miss. I can't recommend it highly enough.
(5)
Sarah L.
Just want to preface this review by saying that I'm being generous with the 3-stars for Bluefin. (It's an average from my last two visits). The first one about a month and a half ago was four stars, and my visit today only warranted two stars. My son and I arrived at straight up 3 PM for a late lunch, or brunch (as I was hoping for). I asked the manger, Sara, who seated us if we would be able to order off the brunch menu. I was immediately told, "No, sorry- brunch ends at 3:00." Oh well, we were given the "light plate" bar menu (and no other options), and told we could order from "this menu." Being that it was a sunny afternoon, my son and I got a table outside on the patio. In case you've never been to Bluefin- it's truly a great patio, with marble tables and French bistro chairs, opposite an artistic, artichoke colored fountain- in the shape of a succulent plant. Casas Adobes plaza is a beautiful and unique, rustic burnt adobe brick shopping center designed by Joesler. For all these reasons, and as far as I'm concerned, the patio at Bluefin is one of my favorite patio spots in Tucson. It echoes of its Spanish Colonial architectural past, and is reminiscent of ubiquitous sidewalk cafe's in Europe... It's a great escape, complete with views of the Catalina mountains. I normally would highly recommend Bluefin, and its patio. Unfortunately, all the good at Bluefin was to be found only in the setting today. The service and the food fell far too short... We were seated for about five minutes, when we were approached by the waitress, who literally did not even say hello- did not even ask how we were- did not even tell us her name... Her opening line greeting consisted of, "Are you ready to order?" Ouch!!! That really set the tone for not such a great experience. I ordered the salmon melt ($11), but I didn't want fries. What I thought was a simple request, "Can you please substitute fresh fruit for the fries," drew our waitress into a long drawn out explanation of, "Well, I can see if they can use some of the leftover fruit from brunch for you. Let me go check with the kitchen." When she returned, she said, "They said the fruit would be an up charge of $2." I said, "Well, is there anything that wouldn't be an up charge, because I'm not sure if I want to pay $2 for leftover fruit." She left again, returning two minutes later to tell me that I could choose spinach, rice, or potato. I chose spinach. My son ordered fish and chips ($15.50), and we decided to split a Caesar salad ($7). The Caesar arrived with sourdough bread and butter. It was a great Caesar, one of the best I've had in a long time. When the food arrived, I was surprised that the salmon melt looked like a typical (small) grilled cheese sandwich, but it had sparse quantities of broken pieces of salmon and pesto sauce. It was lackluster, at best, and my side of spinach was drowning in olive oil. Since I was so hungry, I didn't even bother to send my food back, but my son's food was another story. The fish and chips batter was literally orange! This strangely colored batter was covered with visible amounts of sea salt. I tasted it, and nearly gagged. It was soggy, salty, and sopping with oil. Perhaps they'd left the same oil in the fryer all afternoon? Whatever the case, it was clear that the brunch chef had gone home for the day. My poor son ended up eating only french fries and cole slaw, because the fried fish was literally inedible. There's nothing worse than bad fish, and to her credit, the manager offered to bring us a "few pieces of fish, or a dessert," but both my son and I were less than excited about the food at that point...We asked for the check, and the fish and chips was removed from the bill. My last experience at Bluefin (for Sunday brunch) was much better than today. Unfortunately, I left with a bad taste in my mouth (and a stomach ache) from Bluefin this afternoon. I'll eventually give them another try, but probably not very soon. Bluefin tends to be on the pricey side. I'd always thought the food more than made up for the prices, but not today...
(3)
Taylor L.
My honey brought me here for dinner on Valentine's day. I almost broke my tooth on 2 huge chucks of shell in my oysters rockefeller. Then the lobster came out cold as ice. cold. as. ice. I almost cried. I sent the lobster back twice. I believe it was microwaved. It felt like chewing on a bunched up plastic bag. The bouillabaisse was so bland. Even adding salt didn't help. They finally offered me something else to eat, the salmon was the size of half of my itty bitty fist and the potatoes that were served with it were a double portion and cut into boulder size hunks... unsalted. so dry. If only the salmon was cooked through, I could have eaten it. It was so raw it was still crying blood... like blood from St. Valentine's severed head.
(1)
Karl S.
It's Friday in Lent, so no burgers tonight. We dropped by the Blue Fin. Hadn't been there in years. The place was busy when we walked in. They told us 30mins. We went to the bar and just got our drinks (craft beer on tap) when they called us to a table. We sat outside in the courtyard. Great ambiance. Good service. Great food. Crab cakes. Panko breaded Hawaiian filet for her, scallops for me. Over all, a very pleasant experience. We'll be back.
(4)
Gabi M.
Seafood... yum! The BF and I came across this place late on a Friday night... we were hungry and excited about getting a drink after our drive from Phoenix as well as something to fill our bellies! I actually chose the restaurant based on the name - I was craving fish that night. It was pretty happening when we walked in - live entertainment added to the atmosphere. (We later learned they have live entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays). We chose to sit upstairs as it was still a good energy in the air but not quite as loud as downstairs. They had a nice wine list - we each had a glass. I actually had the Dr Loosen '06 Riesling Mosel, and he went with a suggestion of a red from the waitress. He didn't love it when it came, so she replaced it with something he liked better. As for food, we had to ask, but we were delivered a bread basket. BF ordered the Grilled and Carved Pork Tenderloin, orange-rosemary-horseradish glaze, mashed sweet potatoes, julienne vegetables ($18); I went with the special of the evening which if I remember correctly was a Seabass. I cannot remember the exact preparation, but it was delicious. We were satisfied and decided not to get dessert since nothing jumped out at us from their dessert menu. All in all, we had a nice meal at Bluefin, and I would go back next visit to Tucson. It was a little on the expensive side, so perhaps it may be a nice place to go to celebrate a special occasion. Cheers!
(4)
Nappy H.
The environment is beautiful , the drinks great and the crab cakes awesome! Then came the main dish. My girls' scallops were rubbery and underdone and the boullepaise had zero flavor. I wanted to love this little charming place, but I recommend stopping in for the drinks and appetizers and then beat feet!
(3)
HuaHua H.
This is the place when I really want good sea food, I like to go. They have pertty good wine selection especially for white wine.service always good and pertty knowledged about their food and wine. Pro: food very tasty, fresh. Atmosphere is very nice.wine selection and service are good. Con: per portion is small.
(4)
Jessie N.
My hubby and I went on a little date and happen to find this place tucked away. Our excitement quickly faded after the appetizer. Our dinner arrived and it wasn't cooked very well for either dishes. My scallops were mushy and the seasoning seemed slathered on. The appetizer of crab cakes were much better in my opinion. We left with an expensive doggy bag and all I could think of was that we should have just stayed with our sushi place!
(3)
Andy W.
Excellent meal and wonderful service. Was a bit cool in evening being light jacket to enjoy the fresh air.
(5)
Carol L.
Visited here in early 2013..charming place, nice bar setup, good wine list. A bit on the pricey side but the clam chowder and oysters were very good. I would definitely come back when I'm in the Tucson area again!
(4)
Nicholas N.
Overall I was pretty impressed with this Restaurant. The hostess and Manager was very nice in seating us under the conditions it was New Years Eve and the place was packed. Thank you for the accommodations. AS for the food, this was pretty good as well. The BLUEFIN BOUILLABAISSE was actually cooked 24 hours. Not like those other people who cheat and make it in an hour. The food was very tasty the price was reasonable and the service was excellent given it was new years eve!!
(5)
Craig S.
Food good... Service very poor... I could go on, but it seems to fall into the same category as all the highly rated, pretentious restaurants on here...is there a specific name for these?
(1)
Sarah H.
Good: $1 oysters for happy hour and $2 off drinks. Bad: it is called bluefin and there is NO tuna on the menu. Ceviche is made with COOKED fish. I'll leave it to you. I recommend you get the oysters and go elsewhere for dinner. The service was ok.
(3)
Bob A.
First of all the reservation confirmed by Yelp did not get through to the restaurant...but...we were seated anyway. The food for two people was just ordinary (oysters rockefeller and seared scallops) but way overpriced for such ($65) with only beverages of water and coffee, no desert, etc. I guess in the area it passes for a seafood restaurant but I have had much better on the east and west coasts. the physical place looks like a wearhouse of sorts...exposed piping and the like. We were seated upstairs but not near the window to lookout. A much older crowd was there...so maybe it was fleece the senior citizen night
(2)
Harvey R.
Dinner a few days ago, party of four, but I am only reviewing my meal: calamari: bland fish and chips: soggy fried fish, over-cooked shoestring fries. If you want fish and chips there are MUCH better choices in Tucson. There is even a much better fish and chip meal in the same strip center. There are so many good restaurants in this price range in Tucson. I will not return.
(2)
John D.
Came here for Restaurant Week. The food we ordred was greasy and tasteless. The Hawaiian fish smothered in butter, and still no flavor. The combination platter was fried fish (also flavorless), a bad lobster roll, and a good crab cake. The layer cake and toffee cheesecake were good, but not worth the 85 dollars we spent on two people. Service was excellent. I overheard another server tell her table to order the scallops, and if we ever go back, I'll take that advice. There are so many other good restaurants in town, try Jax Kitchen or the Abbey, or Sushi on Oracle, or el Charro. Except for Frog's Bakery, pretty much just skip everything in that whole plaza.
(2)
Stewart C.
Food is always pretty good... one of those places that you have to know what to order 'cause some stuff can be a real let down. On the other hand some stuff can be a real gem. The oysters, and most servers can help you through it, are pretty awesome. Chowder is always on point and a fish special here or there can be great. I've had a better time at lunch than dinner there. The service is hit or miss. You either get someone who wants to be done for the night or somebody great. Ralph, Harrison, and Dave are guys that I can remember are great to have at the bar and managment is friendly and attentive. Drink list sucks, mojito is great and so is the liquor selection. Bottom line, worth the money. You might have to go a few times to get it down but all and all good. One of the most beautiful spots on the northwest side, kinda has a french quarter look to it with it's two stories. A little to bright inside at night. Can't wait till it cools down to hit the patio all fall!
(3)
Andrea K.
OMG!!!! Oysters and Sangria...oh my.... I loved loved loved this place. My friends and I stopped here for a drink (the best and fruitiest sangria I ever had) and ended up ordering oysters as well. We sat at the outside part of the bar, and I just thought this quaint restaurant was too cute. There was no pretentiousness at all and the service was splendid. The best part was the jazz duo....all I can say is that lady at the piano could sing! When I go back to Tucson, I have to try this place out again...hopefully for dinner. (A little pricey, I am sure...) So happy that I was introduced to Bluefin.
(5)
Bob R.
Excellent service and excellent seafood to match. Nice ambiance in second floor walk-up. Quiet, refined dining.
(5)
Rachael J.
I was a wee bit nervous to try this place given the inconsistent reviews, but there aren't many seafood options in this city so I knew I would have to try Bluefin sooner or later! I took my parents here this week and we were very happy with our experience. We went on a Thursday night so we had no problem getting a table. We were able to sit outside on the patio, but I can imagine as it gets cooler that won't be an option. The bar area is beautiful and there is additional dining upstairs as well. Unlike other Yelper's we had great service. Our waiter took good care of us. Drinks came out quickly and my water was never empty. My father has lots of food issues so I always appreciate a server who is willing to check with the chef regarding ingredients. I thought the food was great! Our party had the pork dumplings, shrimp, ahi, salmon and scallops. Everything tasted very fresh and had great flavors. My only complaint for the entire meal is everything had a little bit too much oil for my liking, but I am a health nut. The scallops came with a butter topping that seemed really unnecessary as their flavor was great to being with. There have been past Yelps complaining about the portion sizes and pricing. I think people in this town really need to put a few things in perspective. This is not an Applebee's or home-style restaurant--this is an upscale dining establishment where portions are never going to be super-sized! Good seafood is always going to be more expensive period. If you are looking for a large and inexpensive meal then don't dine here!
(4)
Greg L.
A local favorite. It is tucked into a cozy courtyard and has a nice ambiance. Great place for fresh oysters! The seafood is excellent. The lobster rolls, crab cakes and chowder are very tasty.
(4)
Kate J.
Service was great, attentive but not invasive. Food was exceptional and creative. The atmosphere is quiet but not stuffy. It is one of the best meals I have had in Tucson. Next time, I want to try the patio. It looked beautiful.
(5)
Kimberly S.
For seafood in Tucson, Bluefin is probably as good as you will get. The atmosphere and set up of the restaurant is nice. The upstairs outdoor seating overlooks the courtyard between Bluefin and a bakery with a slight view of the Catalina Mountains. There is also a piano player downstairs near the bar. The staff is pretty good. We liked our waiter pretty well but, you could tell some of the other staff were not as well received by some of the other customers. We were given good recommendations and were not let down. I had the Halibut and it was the best I have ever had. My partner had the lobster sandwich which she ended up eating the lobster out of. The prices are pretty good for the quality of fish. We used to live in NC and would frequent the coast for seafood. Since moving here this is the best place for seafood so far in Tucson. And as with the other places in Casas Adobes there is more parking on the back side of the building.
(5)
Kris N.
One of my favorites in town, as well as its sister, Kingfisher. I've tried many different menu items, and consistently good. Always have gotten attentive service at the bar. I eat here quite a bit, and spend time in cities with better seafood, so I'm writing of both the land and sea options.
(4)
Girl G.
First visit to Blue Fin, and needless to say my friend and I were very unimpressed. There were a handful of people in there, not busy at all and our server took our order and never came back...literally she never came back. Not to ask how the food was, refill our drinks....NADA. She did however show up to give us the check. The rest of the time we had to ask the water boy for service and one time even summoned the manager. Prices are way too expensive for he class of food they are offering. I'm sorry but when a seafood place has to put Old Bay on their food to make it taste "good" that's a clear sign to run, not walk to the exit. The food was mediocre at best. We order appetizers, shrimp and oysters on the half shell, lobster, steak and none of it save the oysters were very good. How do you mess up lobster! Seriously! We will never be back.
(1)
Spence B.
Should be in San Francisco with architecture and wood interior. I enjoyed the BOUILLABAISSE, lobster, cod, shrimp, scallops, mussels, in a saffron broth. My wife had scallops braised in butter on a polenta bed with spinach and greatly enjoyed her glass of Australian Shiraz. She said it was possibly the best sea scallop dish she had ever eaten. Dessert menu looked was tempting but we were sated. Server was a little off on her timing, but the rest of the service staff brought their A game. They were constantly refilling drinks, bread and generally taking excellent care of us. Outstanding on a busy Friday night.
(4)
Sarah K.
Went here while on vacation in Tuscon. We came directly from visiting the Desert Museum so we were dressed down (clean, but khakis, hiking type footwear, windblown hair). We didn't think it would be that much of a problem at 12 in the afternoon. The look we received from the hostess was downright appalling. She looked me up and down as if my appearance was the most disgusting thing she had ever seen. I looked at her and asked if something was wrong and she just shrugged her shoulders and went to seat us inside. I asked if we could sit on the patio and again she just shrugged her shoulders. If we hadn't been very hungry I would have just turned around and left... The waiter was not much better. Didn't make an effort to refill our water glasses, didn't offer us the wine menu, didn't tell us about any specials. For a restaurant I had looked forward to visiting and would have dressed up for when returning at dinner, it was just a huge disappointment. I'll never be back. The service was appalling and I've had better seafood at home.
(1)
Paul E.
Rating A ++ Or 5 stars out of 5 Everyone has to eat sooner or later, so we might as well talk about it. Agree or disagree, your replies are valued. OK so wu wu! Or I should say Mahi encrusted Mahi! The Blue Fin was the most fun I have had eating a meal out, anywhere, anytime. I do want to say that if you read the postings here, these guys are all over the place. the night I stopped in, it was a great meal. If you are into asking for waiters, you should ask for Sean. If you've never been to the Blue Fin, it sits back in a high end strip of high end stores on Oracle- west side baby! I suggest you gleefully bring your wallet and someone who cares about food. I did. I got the call around 2pm today from the most beautiful girl in the world, who also happens to be my fiancee'. In between her telling me, "I'm heading to a doctor appointment" and my :I gotta go here and there," I asked her out on a date. She stopped talking for just a sec to say yes and smiled. When you've been adventuring and enjoying food together for four years, you don't need an actual app to get that your fiancee' is smiling through the phone. We didn't set out for the Blue Fin. Around 6pm we got it together and left the house to go to that "Caribbean place" over on Oracle, which ended up actually being that "Peruvian Place" on Oracle. All I can say is that the poor Peruvian place tried to exist in the shadow of their neighbor who once served me a really bad meal. So in some twist of raw bizzaro fate, the Peruvian Place had gone out of business instead of the bad Thai place. So we jumped in the car and headed up Oracle on a quest and after blowing by two alternative places we executed a U-turn, spotted Blue Fin. Lets try it. The Blue Fin, tucked away and with a secret upstairs dining room, welcomed us with open arms. We climbed the broad wooden staircase behind our host and walked into a warm inviting dining room and were seated at a table by the window with the Catalina's in the background. Warm and relaxed would be a good way of putting it. My partner in crime had a Cosmo, which was her perfect segue into her Encrusted Mahi. I ordered the Pacific Escaroles with Risotto atop Spinach, as they say, which was one of two "special of the evening" choices. I tried hers, she tried mine- the meals, the imagination, the chef and/or talented line cook was on their game. I seriously enjoyed the meal and the restaurant clearly enjoys the support of their own staff and management. On rare occasions the Chef, the manager, and the owner are able to develop the kind of staff that is running the Blue Fin. Passionate about the food, looking you in the eye and wanting a truthful reply to, "how's your dinner?"; kept the water glass full and if I even thought about maybe wanting or needing something from Sean the waiter, either Sean appeared or one of his several minions. About half way through the meal I realized it's about their passion and if you get a spectacular meal in the process, more power too ya. Hey did I mention the drinks, mine a Captain and Coke, were perfect? We tried a nice little half bottle of white wine, I should probably take notes at these things and we dove head first into a Key Lime and white Chocolate tort for dessert. It was Thursday and the pastry/desert chef was clearly well rested. Light and airy, a beautiful desert and ending. We showed up at sunset, the dining room 1/3 full and the bar pretty easy going. We choose the dining room. If you have ever been there you know there is indoor and outside dining. The same is true for the bar with an indoor/outdoor space. We took it easy, no salads or appetizers, a half bottle of wine, and a couple of cocktails, and the bill was about $100 for two. Considering dining experience and great food- I feel we made out pretty good. At time of writing, I can not tell you if I got lucky or not, which is the true measure of a good meal for most of us adults. A for Effort A for Ambiance A for Service A For the food taste A For the presentation A+ for not somehow screwing it up Everything you need to know is at bluefintucson.com Notes to the restaurant: I do not understand why I can not get steamed oysters in Tucson. We both know that coastal towns are serving oysters flown in from Texas farms. Please, for the sake of all that is sacred and has to do with steamed oysters on the half shell and cocktail sauce with saltine crackers, would you please fix this? Build it, an aw shucks, and I literally mean " aw shucking," we will come.
(5)
Shannon O.
I have visited Bluefin 3 times now and the each time the food has been consistently decent. The New England clam chowder wasn't as creamy as I would like and seemed to be limited on the clams. The Ahi was good and prepared medium rare the way I like it. The restaurant was nice and clean. There is an upstairs, downstairs and an outside patio. All in all the service was good. The server was nice and the water person was very attentive, it was hot and I was drinking a lot. One of the bussers dropped a tray next to our table and the manager was at our side promptly making sure we weren't upset or startled. We didn't stay for dessert because we wanted to walk a few stores down for gelato at Frost.
(3)
Leslie G.
My friend and I used to go to Blue Fin every Wednesday for oysters and martinis but stopped after about six weeks because the food each visit got worse and worse. I don't know if it was because we were the last sitting but every meal I ordered looked as if it was just thrown on the plate and usually lukewarm. I don't understand the accolades this place gets. The owner really needs to up his game. Very overpriced for mediocre quality.
(2)
Sal K.
This place is awesome! They have great steamed mussels (so does King fisher) and oysters. The waitstaff are all so friendly and the patio area is nice. Oh and their music is great. Especially for Happy Hour from 4-6:30, there are $1 oysters and half-off steamed mussels! I've been there many times and always left happy and buzzed. Sometimes drunk. They make a good martini and have stella on draft. I like how they have monthly specials... like crab legs, lobster, etc. Their Bouillabaisse is huge so it's perfect for two. Scallops, fish, lobster, and all are mouthwatering orgasms. They just have such great deals, considering that it's seafood in Tucson! Oh and don't get confused with bluePOINT. It's not the same. Sure they have $1 oysters too on certain days/4-7, but it's just not the same.
(5)
Annie V.
Have only been once, but it was the best meal I've had in Tucson so far (only been here 3 months). The prices are high, but all the food I had, from appetizers to desert were scrumptious. I'm definitely going again when I have a reason to celebrate.
(5)
Nida K.
Terrible service + mediocre food = won't be returning. The restaurant had terrible service. We had made plans to sit on a patio with a dog when we called in earlier that day. It had rained that day, but by the time we arrived, it was already pretty clear. The wait staff and hostess said they were surprised that we showed up and weren't expecting us. They were rude while we waited for them to set up a place for us to sit, even though we had reservations. The food was also unimpressive. If you're looking for good seafood, I would recommend their sister restaurant, Kingfisher.
(2)
Julian S.
Ate at Bluefin for the first time the other night and really enjoyed it. I had the Swordfish special, which was delicious. The Blue Crab Cake appetizer was really good too. I was with a large group of people and everyone was really happy with what they ordered. I'll definitely be back to this place whenever I'm in Tucson again.
(4)
Paul G.
Excellent seafood house. I had the bouillabaisse and it was loaded with fish and shellfish including a half of a lobster. The servers were very friendly and accommodating and the ambiance is very nice as well. Overall, a great experience and we'll be back.
(4)
Lisannette R.
This was a fabulous seafood experience in Tucson. The atmosphere was relaxed and casual but you wouldn't feel out of place glamming it up a bit either. We were there for lunch and I ordered the Grilled Salmon Melt; what sold me was the Swiss and Basil Pesto combo. The salmon was moist and the bread, so crisp and buttery! They went light on the pesto but it's faint taste really accented the salmon's light lemony taste. My boyfriend and I ordered the Skewered Mozzarella as a starter and that was delightfully simple, in presentation and flavor. I was looking for something a little more pungent as there was Tapenade involved but, to my surprise it's simple flavor was mild but complex... I also got to try the fish and chips. The fish was a little dry and the batter was way too crispy. One bite and it kinda shattered in your mouth. The melt also came with chips (fries) and there wasn't anything special there. They were shoestring style, a little limp and flavor less. Both dishes came with the cole slaw and while I'm not a big fan of cole slaw in general, I thoroughly enjoyed it. They went VERY light on the mayo/cream thing and I swear I could taste berries and/or canteloupe. They used red cabbage, which I prefer over the regular stuff any day. For dessert we ordered the Toffee Crunch Cheesecake (not sure of the exact name) and the Vanilla Creme Brulee. Both were decadent and delicious but nothing extra special. Over all, it was a great seafood and service experience. While I rated this 5 stars, it's not really a GO-TO place because it's a little our of our price range for weeknight restaurant run.
(5)
Eric G.
Not a bad place to get seafood in a desert. We got there early for an anniversary dinner on a Friday night, 6.30. Plenty of seats available, although we did have a reservation. We asked to be seated on the balcony which was wonderful with the setting sun lighting up the Catalinas. Really beautiful backdrop to the start of a delicious meal. Service was prompt and attentive. We started with wine chosen from their modest but respectable list (service comes by the bottle, but also by the 1/2 bottle or glass for some selections) and an appetizer of fresh oysters on the half shell. Not the best I've had, but certainly fresh and tasty. For entrees, I ordered the "Bluefin Bouillabaisse" and the wife ordered the cashew crusted mahi mahi. Both were delicious. Surprisingly to me, the lobster was the blandest part of the bouillabaisse. Still good, just not great. The broth however, was divine. This clearly must be a signature plate here (and not just because of the name), as I saw many others ordering the same thing. It was quite delicious. And messy fun to eat! While dinner was filling enough, I knew that I had to try one of their deserts--a Heath bar cheesecake with caramel sauce. WARNING--a single serving is big enough for two people. Easily! Service was exceptional for us. We had multiple people attending to us at all times. The only time it came close to intrusive however was the insistent refills on our waters (stay hydrated now!). Meh. Still, our main waiter was very professional in offering a taste of the wine before committing to the bottle, and apparently even heard me toying with the idea of getting a single malt as seemingly out of nowhere, a menu of single malt options was laid on the table. Excellent service! As we left, at about 8.30, the place was filling up nicely, but still tables remained. Seeing more of the clientele, I started to feel a little underdressed, but again, was never treated second class by anyone. My only complaint--the hideous purple neon sign that watches over the parking lot to the shopping area where Bluefin is located. But that clearly is not enough to stop me from heading back when I need a little taste of elegance and the ocean in this dusty desert town.
(4)
Sallie R.
Unbelievable experience, the chefs of the King Fisher and the Bluefin are amazing! Best Seafood in town!
(5)
Debra D.
Arrived at restaurant at 5:30 pm with great expectations. As in the previous review the service was substandard. When greated at the door noticed only a two people at the patio bar. The hostess snarled at us if we had a reservation, we quietly responded not. She snarled again that we should have made a reservation. We were seated upstairs and noticed only another couple were seated. The server was also snarling throughout our service. We were not rude, we were just a group of people looking forward to a great dinner. The food was ok, even Red Lobster has a more inventive and flavorful faire. I was disappointed that this Bistro is one of the Tucson Originals as it was not on the same par as the others.
(2)
Dave J.
Wow! We had only been there for brunch, but they do a great job for dinner too. The ambiance is great, with options for up or downstairs and outside too. The mussels are delicious. Even if you don't like mussels, you should order these. Fantastic. I had the scallops as a main course and they were great. Even the wine selections were good. We'll definitely be back again!
Bluefin is one of our favorite restaurants in Tucson. Its meals are consistently delicious. Seafood is fresh and prepared beautifully. The waitstaff is professional--knowledgable, courteous, and prompt Outside dining is a delight. We return again and again and are never disappointed.
(5)
Kookie D.
Went here for my birthday last year. Food is good, not great. Very small portions that are very expensive. The romaine lettuce in my Cesar salad was not dark green, but very light which looked more the color of iceberg lettuce. I left hungry. :(
(2)
Carter M.
always great food and service.
(5)
Debbie B.
Wonderful service without it being pushy. Some of the best seabass I have ever had and I love seabass! This was the last night of Restaurant Week and my man tried that... liked everything except the lobster roll... he said it could have had more lobster. We both enjoyed the crab cake... delish and full of crab. The spinach/apple/nut salad was very good. I loved the bread pudding.... yum! Great service and great food!!
(4)
Gary S.
I have only had apps here. Everything was cook perfectly. We sat at the bar on both occasions. Bartender was very friendly and attentive. Great outside seating.
(5)
Ross S.
Went there for cocktails and appetizers on 02JAN10. Almost everything about our experience was marginal. I asked for a table where my biz associate and I could review a presentation... and they seated us in the dining area. The manager asked if we wanted drinks and I asked for two Anchor Steams. The waiter then brought us two Anchor Porters... the waiter and/or manager should have ASKED whether we wanted porters or the traditional ales. If he didn't know the difference.... well you get the picture. We ordered the crab cakes appetizer. And they were actually quite good. So the food may be decent here, but the service is terrible. Won't be going there again...
(1)
Becki G.
There's a piano and drum duo that plays here every Friday night from 8 to 11 -- a combo of blues, boogie-woogie and ragtime. They are so fun to listen to -- so much so that we keep going back even though we're not wild about the food. Every once in a while a couple gets up to dance, but it never catches on. It's more of a dance-in-your-seat and keep-the-conversation-going sort of crowd. There's live music on Saturday night too, and I'm sure those acts have their fans as well, but we love Friday nights at Bluefin. Just so we're clear though, I'm not recommending the full-on fish dinners (thus no 5 stars) -- find some appetizers to share -- and sit downstairs in the bar area. Don't sit upstairs, order fish and then pretend you weren't warned.
(3)
Jane A.
I am relieved to see that the average is three stars, because I really thought maybe other people might see things that I didn't. The place is hidden in the usual mall. We went on NYE, and to be honest, we thought we were going to a different restaurant (Bluepoint), right up the street. There were a lot of people there. The drinks were just okay, and the food was bland. I had the Mahi Mahi, and it had no real taste. My GF had a pasta seafood dish, which was just okay as well. I would have to say the coffee was the best part of the meal....if I could take another point off for the annoying guy at the next table I would, but that wouldn't be fair to the restaurant. I would not go back, but I would go to Bluepoint again, I really liked that place a couple of years ago.
(3)
J J.
Great food. Outstanding bartenders! Ralph and Sean are the best professional bartenders in Tucson. Excellent wine recommendations. Try the Kingfisher Martini. Vodka martini with an anchovy wrapped shrimp garnish.
(4)
Malachi C.
r.u.b.b.i.s.h.
(1)
Kali R.
The food was really good. I had the seafood mac and cheese which was awesome and we all shared a calamari appetizer which was also really good. They have really good and strong mojitos. We were there on an especially hot night and unfortunately it was also hot inside the restaurant. When we asked if they could turn up the air we were told the ac was on the fritz. This made for a sweaty meal, we had to actually ask for extra napkins to sit on since we were all wearing dresses and sticking to the seats. Our waiter was very nice about it and brought us free dessert to compensate for the ac, but it was not a pleasant dinning experience. Oh and one of the other waiters was walking around passing gas loudly, which was strange and gross.
(3)
perry w.
I liked the ability to make reservations online and there was plenty of parking spaces available. Had the mussels for appetizer and the boulliabaise. The mussels were a bit undercooked but edible. Nothing extraordinary or special about the food. Service was wonderful. wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, unless yer on a date or something.
(3)
Carol S.
We took our daughter there for dinner. It was our first time there. She had the blue crab cake appetizer and the bluefin bouillabaise, which had been highly recommended and looked and tasted wonderful. It was also very filling. My husband had a spinach salad and the lobster roll platter, and I had steamed little neck clams and the lobster roll platter. Drinks before dinner, but no wine. Everything was excellent (especially the bouillabaise and the steamers) -- way above average -- with one exception: the lobster roll was simply too salty -- as if someone had salted it three times. It also had a bit more filling than lobster. Next time I'll ask for a small sample first. Probably good to remember that Maine lobster is best prepared and ordered in Maine, not in Arizona. Not sure why restaurants outside Maine try to create a variation on lobster roll, but some can surely mess it up. But everything else was so good, it was hard to complain. Service was prompt and excellent!
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Max F.
Always a pleasant night at Bluefin. The ambiance is always great. The restaurant is tucked back in a historic plaza with great lighting. The oysters Rockefeller are a must. I always have a great entree, whether it be a steak, lobster, crab, or almond crusted trout. Don't forget to order the creme Brule or triple chocolate cake. Bluefin has never let us down.
(5)Lisa H.
I've been to many seafood places far in Arizona but this is one of the best in Tucson. Superb service and my favorite was the cashew crusted Hawaiian fish - yum!
(5)Andrea G.
Our "Dining Trio" (mom, husband Gary and I) visited Bluefin for Gary's birthday. We had reservations and, after a slight confusion with the reservation, we were seated in a pleasant booth in the bar. The manager made sure we were happy with our seating -- good attention and professionalism. Normally, I don't enjoy the bar atmosphere for eating dinner, but this one is upbeat and a fun, amiable ambiance. It also includes outdoor seating that connects directly to the bar. They also have an upstairs quieter dining area. We loved our dining experience. Great service, yummy seafood options -- all excellent. I asked our server what he recommended out of a few choices. So I went with -- and very much enjoyed -- the nut-crusted escolar (fish from Hawaii). Birthday boy Gary had bouillabaisse. It's got a hefty price tag, but with reason; he considered it one of the BEST he ever had. It was loaded with great seafood, and the broth (I copped a taste) was delicious! Mom had a grilled salmon that was also perfectly prepared. We enjoyed tasty bread and butter and salads as well. A birthday slice of dessert topped off a positively delightful meal -- a good, 3-fork dessert (as our Dining Trio likes to share!). I hope to come back more often to Bluefin -- for both the excellent service and the quality food!
(5)Kevin L.
Paying alot of money for horrible service with horrible food is a pretty bad combination. First off. Our waitress was sarcastic, and borderline rude. I'm not sure how many times she has rolled her eyes at us. We spent good money to feel unwelcomed. Off to the food. Butter and bread, nothing special. The lobster for the most part was overcooked. The kitchen did a good job at de-shelling the lobsters, but that was the only positive thing all night, for only two more dollars! The chicken dish was slimy, and the fries were cold. The bouillabaisse was the worst I have ever had. The soup was luke warm, with no flavor. The stock was a complete disappointment. I can taste only the garlic. The scallop was undercooked, and reeked of an ammonia smell. The fish that was in it tasted old and looked mushy. It was simply disgusting. Terrible experience.
(1)Randy L.
I have to say they do it right at Bluefin! Excellent service Great live Maine Lobster. I took my parents who split a lobster. No split plate charge. They even have sides on the two plates. One more important item. They check ID's on credit cards that say check ID's on the back. Love the place!
(5)Rachel N.
I went here for lunch with my mom for her birthday. There was no wait and the hostess was extremely friendly and the wait staff was prompt and polite. I order a Long Island Ice Tea and it was the best made drink I've had in a while. My mother and I both order the lobster roll and this is were I went from 5 stars to 4 stars. Being from Massachusetts, having a Lobster Roll served up on a cheap value pack hotdog roll is completely unacceptable. Though the lobster was awesome, the roll was disappointing. I will probably be back to try other items on their menu, also they are 5 mins from my house and have good drinks and good seafood.
(4)Jamie R.
Not impressed with the "Fat Tuesday" specials. After reading all the reviews from here, my expectations were high. The best part of our meal was the staff who brought out our meals.
(2)Angela C.
I enjoyed the food very much. We had the sea bass which was cooked perfectly and it had a drizzle of mustard sauce that was superb. Also had the chicken thighs which were served in a bowl with a light broth and were very good. I was disappointed in the service. It was very busy but did not have enough wait staff. We regularly had to flag someone down.
(4)Jennifer C.
Really great bar atmosphere. A few things I love about blue fin 1. Bar team is awesome really friendly and knows their wine 2. Chowder is the best.. And I am from boston 3. Beautiful local!
(5)Heather E.
We went well on vacation. Read several reviews which were average. I would agree. We sat outside on the balcony. It was a bit cool. Crab cakes (only 1/$8) & cheesecake were better than main course. Scallops were not flavorful. My friend grilled better ones at the home. Nice atmosphere though.
(3)Monica F.
I won't be able to write as detailed a review as I normally would, on account of we started with a bottle of wine, and I have, as Shakespeare wrote, "poor unhappy brains for drinking." The wine was definitely a 5-star bottle of wine. Our server was great, super-friendly and helpful. I was a little confused when we came in exactly at the time for which we had made reservations, and the hostess said we'd have to wait for them to prepare the table. But then the owner (I think) came and just gave us one. So that was weird. But the waiter was great. The bread they brought out was unworthy. It was just straight up empty white bread, and it wasn't warm, even though it was billed that way. It was sad, because I usually don't eat wheat, and it was a waste for me. For appetizers, I had blue crab cakes and hubby had oysters Rockefeller. We had a hilarious moment when he dug in, believing the white stuff on the plate was onion (we were sitting outside, with little light besides candles). The server politely explained that cold oysters are always served on ice and hot oysters on rock salt. Hubby politely explained that he grew up on a Kansas dairy farm and had never eaten an oyster before. I don't think he had ever eaten rock salt before either. The oysters were not bad, although they didn't blow me away. Same for the crab cake. It was tasty. I was surprised to enjoy the sauce...typically I don't care for tartar sauce (I think that's what it was?). Ditto the slaw. Both spruced up the dish. Husband had the surf and turf, and I had a steak. I know, I know, it's a seafood restaurant. But that's what looked good. And it was pretty good. My first bite had me wondering why they didn't season the steak, but then I saw that the seasoning was all in the 3 peppercorn sauce, which just hadn't gotten on the end. It was a big cut of meat. Potatoes were good; spinach kind of standard. I had a couple bites of hubby's plate but was not wowed. At some point we finished the wine and got some glasses of some other wine that was not as good: "Like test driving a Corvette after you've owned a Bugati," said hubby. We also had dessert: ginger pear cake and flourless chocolate cake. Both were insanely rich. The chocolate cake was just too much after that meal. Overall, I would say this was a pretty good meal, but nothing really blew me away, even though there were some very nice and careful touches and the portions were big. The service was great, considering this was Valentine's Day and, come to think of it, the food is probably even better when it's not a date-night holiday.
(3)Jose F.
Second time here. It was very much, just ok. We ordered a bottle of wine, which they didn't have. For a seafood restaurant they have no plain Rosé asam option?! Then we ordered oysters, they were out of the ones we ordered. We also ordered ceviche, which never came. The waiter was nowhere to be found so I had to drink my friends water since mine was not refilled. The food was ok, very bland and lacking flavor. Glad i tried it, but don't think I'll be back.
(2)Frank O.
Nice oysters.
(3)James T.
Neighborhood joint. We love it. Tonight we had the mussels, and clam chowder (New England). My wife swears by the mussels. I do not order them with any regularity but she says they are the best in town. And on the happy hour menu for $7.50 just makes them even better. I had the chowder and as usual it was excellent. Wife topped mussels off with a wedge salad, pretty standard. I had the trout. Very nice. Had the special upside down plum tart with cardamom. Marianne Banes can do no wrong in my eyes.
(4)Chris H.
I have visited several times, but tonight's experience will likely force me to never go again. Consistently, the food has been delicious. I ordered the New England Clam Chowder (which is fantastic) and the Fish and Chips. The batter was delightful. Flaky, light and flavorful. Unfortunately, our main server was horrendous. Her communication with us was very short and abrupt. She was unaware of which dishes were unavailable from the menu. She failed to include a to-go order that we placed with our dinner. She seemed to ignore us throughout the evening. We had to flag her down for takeout boxes and for our check. Overall, we felt disrespected and we felt like unvalued customers. I let the host know of our experience and he let me know that when we visited again, we would definitely not have her as our server. That is not an incentive for us to spend our money there again. In the times that we have visited, we have always had consistent food and inconsistent service.
(2)Leslie M.
We have eaten at this restaurant multiple times. Food has always been good until this last visit on 4/8/15. We as usual ordered the GRILLED RUBY TROUT ALMONDINE. It was noticeably different upon plating in front of us. The fish which is normally filet for you was not of normal weight and size. With skin attached each piece was so thin that if you took both sides of the fish on the plate and took into account that their was entrails removed, the fish could not have been wider than 1/4 inch. They also left all the bones. We also noted that the fish was also cut in such a way that most of the meat had been removed. The restaurant stated they had a new menu and upon review we noted more trout appetizers and we summarized that they were using most of the trout meat for the appetizer menu, cutting the dinner portion down to minimums and cannibalizing. It would explain their promotion of Happy Hour advertisements, etc.
(1)Bee C.
Everyone that I was with really liked this place, I was not as big of a fan. We were hungry after our flight, and this place was pretty close to our hotel. The smoked fish appetizer was the highlight of the meal. I ordered the scallops-they were okay. I think the best dish was the cashew crusted fish.
(3)John B.
I'm giving this place 2 stars because of past experience otherwise 2 is too much Went for brunch on Sunday not so good. Had lobster benidict and blue berry pancakes. The pancakes were brought to the table burnt black, really? When servers bring food like that you gotta wonder. Bathroom was not clean, another indication of trouble. I liked this place in the past what happened? Last two visits disappoint
(2)Nikky P.
I've been here a few times after hearing great reviews... unfortunately, I have not been super impressed. I keep going back though trying to get a really good meal- I still have hope! We went for brunch and the menu was fine, limited compared to the full menu, which is to be expected. I ordered the BLUE CRAB CAKES, spicy green tartar sauce, mesclun green salad. 15 which were super tasty, but extremely small. I usually take home half my meals anyways, but this wasn't even enough to fill me up! Very nice flavor though. We also had the CASHEW CRUSTED HAWAIIAN FISH, ginger butter, Texmati rice, sautéed spinach, sweet potato chips. 15. which to be honest, was just alright. I was hoping that a seafood place would have something more exciting than Mahi mahi on its menu. Both of these options were on the brunch menu, but for some reason we were told that they were not available for brunch...in the end the server brought them to us with no explanation... Our table also had the MAINE LOBSTER ROLL, caper mayonnaise, red pepper, celery, scallion, coleslaw, handcut fries. 16, which looked good, but the person eating it didn't comment.They also ordered TRADITIONAL EGGS BENEDICT, English muffin, Canadian bacon, poached eggs, béarnaise. 9.5..which they didn't like (I thought it looked good..) We tried both the FRESH PACIFIC NORTHWEST OYSTERS and the GULF OF MEXICO OYSTERS. I enjoyed them quite a lot. I had a cocktail, but the server had never made it before and she seemed very confused about putting it together, and was even more surprised when I told her that it was actually very good! After we finished our meal, we were all so hungry that we each ordered a dessert (we usually do not eat desserts)..when they came, we were shocked! they were massive! We had to box them up to take home and ended up sharing only one between the 4 of us. I thought this a bit strange considering the portion sizes of the mains to be so small..the deserts were all excellent-I had some bread pudding/run concoction- amazing. The next time we came was for Happy Hour (Daily 4:30-6:30). We entered the restaurant and the host looked at us like we were someplace we shouldn't have been and asked what we wanted!!! um...We want to sit down and eat!!!? We ordered the STEAMED BLACK MUSSELS (7), as did most everyone else around us, but we were really, really surprised to see that they arrived with the cling film still on them, and the bowl really hot- this obviously came out of the microwave! The clams and muscles (we got a mix portion) were all overcooked and rubbery! What a disappointment. The oysters, which were great on our previous visit, were all shucked incorrectly! Each and every oyster had bits of shell in. We attempted to get the attention of the bar staff, but there were so busy that it was impossible. We couldn't even get bread from bar staff/or servers...in the end we had to grab a bus boy who ended up serving us. To be fair, they were really busy on this day, but I felt really let down by the quality of the food. I did enjoy the Happy Hour vibe- there were tons of people there...and the patio is a great place to sit. I will give this place one more try...I am determined to like it....I hope they impress us a bit more the next time.
(2)Elaine H.
The new menu does not allow for a selection of vegetables. I despise green beans and my only option was carrots. With an entree of $26.00 there should be other options than carrots. My daughter had the sampler of seafood. The shrimp was so tough she was unable to eat it. With a bill of $159 for two we will not be back.
(3)Leslie B.
Came here while visiting my Grandma in Tucson and had a wonderful meal. The restaurant is two levels and we sat upstairs which has a very warm ambiance. It was quiet and cozy, perfect for a dinner date where you want to be able to hear each other. We had planned to split a couple salads until we realized we all had our eye on different ones! I had the Fatoosh and loved it. A more complex Greek salad complete with toasted pita and a delicious garlic vinaigrette, this was a great starter. Grandma and Sunny H. both enjoyed their Caesar and mesclun, respectively. For dinner, I ordered cashew crusted mahi-mahi and was not disappointed in the least. The fish was perfectly cooked and the vegetables/rice it came with were very flavorful. My dining companions both enjoyed their salmon and scallops as well. Overall, I can't wait to visit Tucson again and go back to Bluefin! It's a little pricey, but a lovely dinner with a fantastic menu.
(5)Cynthia G.
My husband and I truly enjoy going there for brunch. They have a charming courtyard patio with a delicious menu. I am devastated that they are closing their doors in May. Try them while you still can; it is a place not to be missed.
(5)Sally and Ralph T.
We looked forward to eating here with a couple of friends, having had good meals in the past. What a disappointment! The men both ordered lobsters. One of them arrived with rotten, black slimy roe and was returned to the kitchen. How do you even bring that to the table to be served?? The other was dry and overcooked, and tasted "old". The one woman ordered trout almondine which she said was very tasty. My oysters Rockefeller were on the overcooked side. In all a disappointing experience. Won't spend our precious dining out money there again!!
(1)Jesse B.
Went in for the summer lobster special, started out well. Noticed there was a lobster roll on the menu and asked about getting it as a Hot Buttered style, was told it was fine. Was very clear that I was asking if it was possible for just butter and lobster on a roll. Came back with it loaded with peppers and green onions. Asked him again to take it back for just hot buttered lobster roll. Came back with more peppers on it this time than before, with the waiter smirking as if he'd just had a great laugh in the back. Complained to manager and was told that, unfortunately he was supposed to tell me it would cost extra to have it that way, which he'd never stated, and also never said otherwise to that he'd be able to. Ended up leaving with a comped uneaten meal, and a server who just was so proud of himself as being the worst he could be. Won't be returning.
(1)G.L. B.
After the place we originally intended to go for lunch was closed, we decided to give Bluefin a try. I ate at Kingfisher several years ago (which I believe is it's sister company, and was pretty good), and so we were looking forward to trying this place. Our server was apathetic. No matter, we proceeded to order because the reviews were so good. We had the following: A bottle of wine Two virgin pina coladas (disgusting - mix poured over ice - no pineapple juice, etc, not even blended with the ice) Fish and Chips (the fries were good, the fish ok albeit a bit bland) Steamed Black Mussels (tasted like white wine that had turned to vinegar) Blue Crab Cakes (tasted like tin can mixed with bread crumbs with a strange, musty aftertaste) Grilled Sea Bass Tostada (very, very dry and bland) After several bites, we decided to go elsewhere and informed the waitress to bring the bill. The chef came out to ask what was wrong, but when we explained to him why we were disappointed, he merely said "well, no one's ever complained before." They offered to comp part of the bill, but we told them "no". We paid the entire bill and tip and left to have lunch elsewhere. Really bummed that this place did not pan out. We go out to eat almost every day, and it would have been nice to have a good seafood restaurant close to home.
(1)Jeff W.
Fantastic service and quality / variety of the menu was superb. What a shame it's going to close the end of May. A real loss to Tucson.
(5)Katie K.
Love this restaurant every time we go! My favorite is the trout with the almonds followed by the hawaiian cashew crusted fish. The manager Chris is always extremely nice and always trying to make us feel comfortable. The desserts need some improvement, the chocolate cake is too large of a portion and heavy. Good wine, good appetizers and the bread was changed lately for the better. I would definitely recommend this place, the fish is always fresh and they also have excellent oysters.
(4)Polly B.
My husband & I had an excellent Valentines Day dinner! The scallops were wonderful & the crab legs were excellent. The wait staff was wonderful. Was an exceptional experience!
(5)Rob B.
Nice, upscale seafood. Crab cake and crusted Hawaiin fish are ALWAYS great. Nice selection of wines by the glass. Staff needs some training on looking like they want to be there and not like they have to work.
(4)Cathy L.
Ordered mussels. Frankly they were past their prime. One friend ordered lobster. The taste I had was adequate, not wonderful. The other 2 in our party ordered fish and were happy with the preparations. We were blessed with a very fine waiter, Ryan who also bartended
(3)Arthur N.
How can you lose with a lobster dinner for $20.13? At Bluefin, it's easy. It took them more than an hour and a half to serve our table (at which point people at other tables who'd arrived after us had finished eating and were long gone). When the lobster finally came, it was undercooked--slimy actually. We complained to the manager more than once, but he didn't do a thing about it; he didn't even say he was sorry for what we were going through. If I were in his position, I would have apologized profusely and comped the entire meal, but he didn't even offer us a free dessert, or a drink while we were waiting. Not only were we charged the full amount but he actually added an 18% tip to our separate checks! I guess they consider what we went through normal, all part of the Bluefin experience. So if that's how you like to be treated, Bluefin is the place for you.
(1)Ron P.
Was looking for a great seafood restaurant in Tucson and I found it. Seafood was excellent. I had the red snapper and loved it. Great place.
(5)Jenni L.
I cannot say enough about Bluefin Seafood Bistro, a gem tucked away inside the Casas Adobes plaza. We made a reservation and upon walking into the restaurant we were quickly wisked upstairs to a cozy dining room which overlooked the mountains. The dining room was full and the decor romantic without being overly done up. The wine list was great and even included a great Prosecco which we ordered. We started off the night with some oysters from the Pacific Northwest. I have never experienced such fresh and delicious oysters and I hear these puppies are on the happy hour menu as well (aka I will be back). I ordered the baby spinach salad which was amazing with a light vinaigrette but the star of the salad had to be the warm gorgonzola-honey crostini. I could not believe how amazingly robust that cheese and honey combo was. For an entree I had the cashew encrusted Hawaiian fish which was firm and tender. Perfectly seasoned with a great compliment of a ginger butter sauce. My fish was served with rice and delicate sweet potato chips that were melt-in-your-mouth good. My husband was in between the sea bass and the trout and asked our waitress what she preferred. She said they were both good but thought the sea bass was a little bit more enjoyable. I must say she was right it was great, I may have stolen some from his plate. All in all, this place is phenomenal and I can't believe it's taken us this long to get here. But I can say this will be in the regular rotation.
(5)Amanda B.
Yay Arizona Restaurant Week! It was girls night out and we decided to check out Bluefin for Restaurant Week. All of the staff was extremely friendly. From the host, busser, waitress, everyone. All four of us ordered off the RW menu so we had three courses for $30. We couldn't decide what wine and our waitress was really able to describe the ones we were debating on and helped us find a great choice. Big plus! I had the crab cake to start, the salmon for an entree, and the turtle cheesecake for dessert. Everything was wonderful. The crab was moist and the tarter sauce served with it was very flavorful The salmon was grilled perfectly and the mango salsa on top was very refreshing. I was a little worried by the black bean bun, as it is hard to be a big "bun" of black beans look appealing, but it really tasted good. I have never had anything like it. The cheesecake, perfection. You just need to try it. Not ready for five stars until I have been back, and I will definitely come back.
(4)Betsy B.
I've been here several times and always had good food and service. Although I'm a desert resident, I love seafood and this is a god option here to get a good seafood dish. Have always had a fish dinner and never been disappointed. I've eaten a lot of seafood in ocean towns and these dinners were as good as some I've had where you get seafood from the local areas they come from. Service has been prompt and excellent.
(4)Kristie E.
Was headed to Wildflower to grab a salad and saw this place. We felt underdressed but the host was very kind and seated us on the adorable patio. Ordered a crab cake to start, the fish and chips to finish. The fish was pretty good, the tartar sauce really good and the coleslaw amazing. Friend had the cashew crusted Hawaiian fish....was perfect... Ginger sauce amazing, fish cooked perfect, as was the fresh spinach. Will definitely eat here again.
(4)Vanessa Y.
I went to bluefin bistro last night with my husband and friend and was EXTREMELY disappointed with the service!!! They took five minutes to realize we needed to be seated (we were then taken to sit on a far corner outside), then we waited another 5 for the menus, about 10 for them to take our order. The food actually came out decently fast but my seabass was overcooked. My husband wasn't amazed by his food (shrimp scampi) and my friend also had the seabass. After dined, the waiter took forever to come give us the check and pick up our cards. Here's the best part... During the time we were waiting for our cards back, because it was really windy, the salt and pepper shakers from the table on the second story came tumbling down and landed on the table that was next to us (a foot or two max away)!!!! The glass shattered and landed all over our table and feet. The worst part was the waiters only asked if we were "okay"... Didn't clean our table up! We had to wait for another 5 mins for our cards. Immediately left. Would NOT repeat. Awful service!!!
(1)Lakota M.
Lovely lovely lovely! Began with the Pacific Northwest oysters .. ( being from Seattle , I fancy myself a connoisseur ) these were divine! Ordered the mahi mahi.. Also delicious . The bartender (Liz ) was very friendly & funny. To finish off the meal I had the Kingfisher coffee! Wow! Hello booze! Nice way to finish the meal. I recommend cozying up to the bar & prepare yourself for a taste bud sensation!
(5)Tanya P.
Absolutely an awesome experience. I researched the seafood restaurants in Tucson that offered oysters on the 1/2 shell and as other reviews have said, my friend and I were immediately in love with the atmosphere and charm that surrounds this place. We ordered oysters(our whole reason for the visit) and the mussels - both were delicious and I would order again in a heartbeat. Both of us were feeling a little rundown and not 100% after a hard week, so we had hot tea instead of wine or a cocktail, they had a great selection. The waitress told us about a coconut cream, black bottom tart dessert they had as a special. It was amazing. Great experience, a little higher priced as seafood usually is, but definitely a place to go if you're looking for a higher end, nice, yet laid-back time.
(5)Jan S.
We enjoyed a beautiful late afternoon dinner on Saturday, March 22, 2014. The service was wonderful from Trevor and including the rest of the help. All three meals we had were great - the ruby trout, crab Louie salad and the yellowtail fish. We are looking forward to future meals there. Compliments to the Chef.
(5)Jennifer L.
Extremely disappointing seafood. The salmon was far from fresh - so bad in fact my husband had to send it back (and he has never sent back a plate of food in all the years I have known him!). It was graciously replaced with the mahi mahi, which was somewhat better in that it was edible, but still "fishy", dry and rubbery. I ordered the shrimp which were horribly over-cooked. On a positive note, the service was excellent and the manager comped us for the entrees. The wine selection did not disappoint. I would only return for cocktails/appetizers.
(1)Jonathon G.
Consistently good quality food and service, and a pleasant atmosphere. This is our most-frequented restaurant in Tucson for special occasions.
(4)C B.
Really good seafood, which is hard to find in Tucson (middle of the desert). The drinks are classics but with a twist (Bloody Mary with jalapeño and lemon) and the food is filling. It's a little pricey but that's because of how hard it is to find fish in the desert. They accept all major credit cards.
(4)Alicia C.
Great location, amazing service, and delicious oysters!!! Love that place!
(5)James D.
great oysters! will definitely be back. server was kind enough to reccomend a variety that was not on the menu, along with a great wine pairing!
(4)Chris W.
A little disapointed - had the cashew crusted hawaiian fish. very average - not impressed enough to go back.
(2)V F T.
Been there several times now and the food has always been great, every time! However the service is spotty. Sometimes it's good, sometimes not so good. In fact our bartender the other night had actually had some strange and sarcastic attitude, so the gratuity she received from me absolutely reflected that. But then the last time our bartender was totally awesome, with a good personality, interesting to converse with and very intelligent. (I miss that guy!). Our food in the dining room was really terrific, though our server was young, slow and goofed up our wine selection and was slow at best, (It was a Monday night and not that busy, so what's the problem?) Their sister restaurant Kingfisher has much, much better & consistent service, they always have awesome bartenders and just as equally great food. Though Bluefin wins hands down in the ambiance & class dept with such a terrific bar space, patio and the upstairs dining room. Bottom line - For the prices that they charge the food is definitely worth it but the service is expected to be better, you know? So if they can just get it together with their bar and wait staff we have another 5 star operation like Kingfisher. Food - Outstanding! Service - Needs Work! Ambiance - Very Classy Yet Not Stuffy Location - Very Good Parking - Plenty Cost - Pricey But Worth It Wine List - Very Good Happy Hour - Best Deal Around For The Quality
(4)Anne J.
Uuunnnnngh. Let's see...sat on the patio - nice cool monsoon evening, and the fountain drowns out the road noise so you don't even notice it. Service (Rob) was attentive and helpful - he recommended wines, and all were winners. We were debating between several options, and he proposed that we try them as split portions in a 4-course meal...great idea, delicious, and not rushed at all - we had time in between courses to relax and savor. The oysters were fantastic, the fish special scrumptious, the salad delectable, the bouillabaisse...well, I could have licked the bowl. Too pleasantly full for dessert (but not stuffed) and the bill was reasonable. When can I go back??
(5)Amanda P.
Food was good, smaller portions however, and it was a bit pricey. went here for a birthday and we got free desserts which was really nice.
(3)TJ A.
Went recently for a romantic dinner date and was impressed. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because they were out of the first two bottles of wine that I ordered, and for a seafood restaurant I expected a larger selection of nice dry whites. Our server, however, was able to present alternative options and was actually terrific in every way. Top-notch service from beginning to end, thank you Sarah! Food was great, we started with Oysters Rockefeller and the crab cake that came with a delicious green tartar sauce. Both entrees were wonderful as well, I had the snapper and my boyfriend had the steelhead trout that was offered as a special. Unfortunately no room for dessert that night, so I'll have to be sure to return again soon!
(4)James S.
We had reservations for 6:30 and were immediately seated upstairs. The wait staff were always on top of refills and our food was speedy. Finally, the food is absolutely delicious. I had the special and my wife had the scallops-both were gone almost immediately (after tasting each other's plates, of course)
(5)W A.
We went for Happy Hour. Not busy at all, however it was a Monday and pouring rain. Good, attentive service. The bar staff was very helpful explaining the differences between different oysters and options. My wife's Mojito was well made (not from a mix) and all of our food was very good. The fried blue cheese olives amazing.
(4)Paul N.
Good food, nice bar. They do need to get in on the craft beer movement, not a lot of good beer choices.
(4)Margaret E.
For my birthday my goods friends and my son took me here. We always have a good time wherever we go. The staff made the night great! The food was good, as expected. The downside was that another table was annoyed by our fun and informed the staff that they would not return. WOW! Thank for a fun and memorable 55th birthday!
(5)Chris S.
Since I've been using Yelp so much to help plan this trip I have coming up, I thought I would "give back" a bit and review a couple of places that I have visited recently. One of those is a favorite of mine, the Bluefin. My wife and I have eaten there for their Brunch, lunch, and dinner now and we have been thoroughly impressed every single time. Our most recent visit was for dinner with my mother-in-law and other family and so that is what I will use as the basis for this review. Service: 4/5 I made reservations through the Opentable website on our way to the restaurant. It was a Saturday night and we were seated promptly as soon as we arrived at the restaurant. I would say it was about two-thirds full that evening. There was one server dedicated to topping off beverages like water and iced tea. No one at our table ever had to ask for a refill. We did not make use of the bar so I cannot comment on the quality of their drinks. Our primary waitress was attentive, but somewhat slow, hence the deduction of one "star," but certainly nothing that left a bad taste in my mouth. Food: 5/5 The food at the Bluefin is, in a word, spectacular. For a seafood restaurant in the middle of the desert, you can't ask for more. We got the house smoked trout as an appetizer for the whole table. It was gone about two minutes after arriving, absolutely delicious. The salads and soups were also very good. I had the baked clams casino and they were to die for. The entrees were just as good, from the lobster roll my wife ordered, to the crab legs, to the fresh fish. Everything was cooked properly, seasoned properly, and served at the appropriate temperature. I really can't say enough about the quality of the food and the preparation. For a community so far from any body of water, you aren't going to find better seafood than what we were served here. Excellent all around. The desserts were a little less impressive, but certainly nothing that overshadowed the quality of the rest of the meal. The house sorbet that my mother-in-law ordered was great, and the cheesecake my wife ordered was good. I was less impressed with the creme brule, but again, a minor complaint on what was otherwise a spectacular meal. Overall Impressions: 4/5 The ambiance at the Bluefin is warm and comforting. The interior decoration is appropriate for the fine, yet casual atmosphere they are aiming for. There is outdoor seating on both levels of the restaurant, which at certain times of the year is great, and at other times is a really bad idea. Eating outdoors in Tucson in July is just not a good plan, no matter how many "misters" you have running. That said, for a cool summer evening, or a mild winter afternoon, it works fairly well. Overall if you are a fan of good, fresh seafood, the Bluefin is a restaurant you definitely should not miss. I can't recommend it highly enough.
(5)Sarah L.
Just want to preface this review by saying that I'm being generous with the 3-stars for Bluefin. (It's an average from my last two visits). The first one about a month and a half ago was four stars, and my visit today only warranted two stars. My son and I arrived at straight up 3 PM for a late lunch, or brunch (as I was hoping for). I asked the manger, Sara, who seated us if we would be able to order off the brunch menu. I was immediately told, "No, sorry- brunch ends at 3:00." Oh well, we were given the "light plate" bar menu (and no other options), and told we could order from "this menu." Being that it was a sunny afternoon, my son and I got a table outside on the patio. In case you've never been to Bluefin- it's truly a great patio, with marble tables and French bistro chairs, opposite an artistic, artichoke colored fountain- in the shape of a succulent plant. Casas Adobes plaza is a beautiful and unique, rustic burnt adobe brick shopping center designed by Joesler. For all these reasons, and as far as I'm concerned, the patio at Bluefin is one of my favorite patio spots in Tucson. It echoes of its Spanish Colonial architectural past, and is reminiscent of ubiquitous sidewalk cafe's in Europe... It's a great escape, complete with views of the Catalina mountains. I normally would highly recommend Bluefin, and its patio. Unfortunately, all the good at Bluefin was to be found only in the setting today. The service and the food fell far too short... We were seated for about five minutes, when we were approached by the waitress, who literally did not even say hello- did not even ask how we were- did not even tell us her name... Her opening line greeting consisted of, "Are you ready to order?" Ouch!!! That really set the tone for not such a great experience. I ordered the salmon melt ($11), but I didn't want fries. What I thought was a simple request, "Can you please substitute fresh fruit for the fries," drew our waitress into a long drawn out explanation of, "Well, I can see if they can use some of the leftover fruit from brunch for you. Let me go check with the kitchen." When she returned, she said, "They said the fruit would be an up charge of $2." I said, "Well, is there anything that wouldn't be an up charge, because I'm not sure if I want to pay $2 for leftover fruit." She left again, returning two minutes later to tell me that I could choose spinach, rice, or potato. I chose spinach. My son ordered fish and chips ($15.50), and we decided to split a Caesar salad ($7). The Caesar arrived with sourdough bread and butter. It was a great Caesar, one of the best I've had in a long time. When the food arrived, I was surprised that the salmon melt looked like a typical (small) grilled cheese sandwich, but it had sparse quantities of broken pieces of salmon and pesto sauce. It was lackluster, at best, and my side of spinach was drowning in olive oil. Since I was so hungry, I didn't even bother to send my food back, but my son's food was another story. The fish and chips batter was literally orange! This strangely colored batter was covered with visible amounts of sea salt. I tasted it, and nearly gagged. It was soggy, salty, and sopping with oil. Perhaps they'd left the same oil in the fryer all afternoon? Whatever the case, it was clear that the brunch chef had gone home for the day. My poor son ended up eating only french fries and cole slaw, because the fried fish was literally inedible. There's nothing worse than bad fish, and to her credit, the manager offered to bring us a "few pieces of fish, or a dessert," but both my son and I were less than excited about the food at that point...We asked for the check, and the fish and chips was removed from the bill. My last experience at Bluefin (for Sunday brunch) was much better than today. Unfortunately, I left with a bad taste in my mouth (and a stomach ache) from Bluefin this afternoon. I'll eventually give them another try, but probably not very soon. Bluefin tends to be on the pricey side. I'd always thought the food more than made up for the prices, but not today...
(3)Taylor L.
My honey brought me here for dinner on Valentine's day. I almost broke my tooth on 2 huge chucks of shell in my oysters rockefeller. Then the lobster came out cold as ice. cold. as. ice. I almost cried. I sent the lobster back twice. I believe it was microwaved. It felt like chewing on a bunched up plastic bag. The bouillabaisse was so bland. Even adding salt didn't help. They finally offered me something else to eat, the salmon was the size of half of my itty bitty fist and the potatoes that were served with it were a double portion and cut into boulder size hunks... unsalted. so dry. If only the salmon was cooked through, I could have eaten it. It was so raw it was still crying blood... like blood from St. Valentine's severed head.
(1)Karl S.
It's Friday in Lent, so no burgers tonight. We dropped by the Blue Fin. Hadn't been there in years. The place was busy when we walked in. They told us 30mins. We went to the bar and just got our drinks (craft beer on tap) when they called us to a table. We sat outside in the courtyard. Great ambiance. Good service. Great food. Crab cakes. Panko breaded Hawaiian filet for her, scallops for me. Over all, a very pleasant experience. We'll be back.
(4)Gabi M.
Seafood... yum! The BF and I came across this place late on a Friday night... we were hungry and excited about getting a drink after our drive from Phoenix as well as something to fill our bellies! I actually chose the restaurant based on the name - I was craving fish that night. It was pretty happening when we walked in - live entertainment added to the atmosphere. (We later learned they have live entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays). We chose to sit upstairs as it was still a good energy in the air but not quite as loud as downstairs. They had a nice wine list - we each had a glass. I actually had the Dr Loosen '06 Riesling Mosel, and he went with a suggestion of a red from the waitress. He didn't love it when it came, so she replaced it with something he liked better. As for food, we had to ask, but we were delivered a bread basket. BF ordered the Grilled and Carved Pork Tenderloin, orange-rosemary-horseradish glaze, mashed sweet potatoes, julienne vegetables ($18); I went with the special of the evening which if I remember correctly was a Seabass. I cannot remember the exact preparation, but it was delicious. We were satisfied and decided not to get dessert since nothing jumped out at us from their dessert menu. All in all, we had a nice meal at Bluefin, and I would go back next visit to Tucson. It was a little on the expensive side, so perhaps it may be a nice place to go to celebrate a special occasion. Cheers!
(4)Nappy H.
The environment is beautiful , the drinks great and the crab cakes awesome! Then came the main dish. My girls' scallops were rubbery and underdone and the boullepaise had zero flavor. I wanted to love this little charming place, but I recommend stopping in for the drinks and appetizers and then beat feet!
(3)HuaHua H.
This is the place when I really want good sea food, I like to go. They have pertty good wine selection especially for white wine.service always good and pertty knowledged about their food and wine. Pro: food very tasty, fresh. Atmosphere is very nice.wine selection and service are good. Con: per portion is small.
(4)Jessie N.
My hubby and I went on a little date and happen to find this place tucked away. Our excitement quickly faded after the appetizer. Our dinner arrived and it wasn't cooked very well for either dishes. My scallops were mushy and the seasoning seemed slathered on. The appetizer of crab cakes were much better in my opinion. We left with an expensive doggy bag and all I could think of was that we should have just stayed with our sushi place!
(3)Andy W.
Excellent meal and wonderful service. Was a bit cool in evening being light jacket to enjoy the fresh air.
(5)Carol L.
Visited here in early 2013..charming place, nice bar setup, good wine list. A bit on the pricey side but the clam chowder and oysters were very good. I would definitely come back when I'm in the Tucson area again!
(4)Nicholas N.
Overall I was pretty impressed with this Restaurant. The hostess and Manager was very nice in seating us under the conditions it was New Years Eve and the place was packed. Thank you for the accommodations. AS for the food, this was pretty good as well. The BLUEFIN BOUILLABAISSE was actually cooked 24 hours. Not like those other people who cheat and make it in an hour. The food was very tasty the price was reasonable and the service was excellent given it was new years eve!!
(5)Craig S.
Food good... Service very poor... I could go on, but it seems to fall into the same category as all the highly rated, pretentious restaurants on here...is there a specific name for these?
(1)Sarah H.
Good: $1 oysters for happy hour and $2 off drinks. Bad: it is called bluefin and there is NO tuna on the menu. Ceviche is made with COOKED fish. I'll leave it to you. I recommend you get the oysters and go elsewhere for dinner. The service was ok.
(3)Bob A.
First of all the reservation confirmed by Yelp did not get through to the restaurant...but...we were seated anyway. The food for two people was just ordinary (oysters rockefeller and seared scallops) but way overpriced for such ($65) with only beverages of water and coffee, no desert, etc. I guess in the area it passes for a seafood restaurant but I have had much better on the east and west coasts. the physical place looks like a wearhouse of sorts...exposed piping and the like. We were seated upstairs but not near the window to lookout. A much older crowd was there...so maybe it was fleece the senior citizen night
(2)Harvey R.
Dinner a few days ago, party of four, but I am only reviewing my meal: calamari: bland fish and chips: soggy fried fish, over-cooked shoestring fries. If you want fish and chips there are MUCH better choices in Tucson. There is even a much better fish and chip meal in the same strip center. There are so many good restaurants in this price range in Tucson. I will not return.
(2)John D.
Came here for Restaurant Week. The food we ordred was greasy and tasteless. The Hawaiian fish smothered in butter, and still no flavor. The combination platter was fried fish (also flavorless), a bad lobster roll, and a good crab cake. The layer cake and toffee cheesecake were good, but not worth the 85 dollars we spent on two people. Service was excellent. I overheard another server tell her table to order the scallops, and if we ever go back, I'll take that advice. There are so many other good restaurants in town, try Jax Kitchen or the Abbey, or Sushi on Oracle, or el Charro. Except for Frog's Bakery, pretty much just skip everything in that whole plaza.
(2)Stewart C.
Food is always pretty good... one of those places that you have to know what to order 'cause some stuff can be a real let down. On the other hand some stuff can be a real gem. The oysters, and most servers can help you through it, are pretty awesome. Chowder is always on point and a fish special here or there can be great. I've had a better time at lunch than dinner there. The service is hit or miss. You either get someone who wants to be done for the night or somebody great. Ralph, Harrison, and Dave are guys that I can remember are great to have at the bar and managment is friendly and attentive. Drink list sucks, mojito is great and so is the liquor selection. Bottom line, worth the money. You might have to go a few times to get it down but all and all good. One of the most beautiful spots on the northwest side, kinda has a french quarter look to it with it's two stories. A little to bright inside at night. Can't wait till it cools down to hit the patio all fall!
(3)Andrea K.
OMG!!!! Oysters and Sangria...oh my.... I loved loved loved this place. My friends and I stopped here for a drink (the best and fruitiest sangria I ever had) and ended up ordering oysters as well. We sat at the outside part of the bar, and I just thought this quaint restaurant was too cute. There was no pretentiousness at all and the service was splendid. The best part was the jazz duo....all I can say is that lady at the piano could sing! When I go back to Tucson, I have to try this place out again...hopefully for dinner. (A little pricey, I am sure...) So happy that I was introduced to Bluefin.
(5)Bob R.
Excellent service and excellent seafood to match. Nice ambiance in second floor walk-up. Quiet, refined dining.
(5)Rachael J.
I was a wee bit nervous to try this place given the inconsistent reviews, but there aren't many seafood options in this city so I knew I would have to try Bluefin sooner or later! I took my parents here this week and we were very happy with our experience. We went on a Thursday night so we had no problem getting a table. We were able to sit outside on the patio, but I can imagine as it gets cooler that won't be an option. The bar area is beautiful and there is additional dining upstairs as well. Unlike other Yelper's we had great service. Our waiter took good care of us. Drinks came out quickly and my water was never empty. My father has lots of food issues so I always appreciate a server who is willing to check with the chef regarding ingredients. I thought the food was great! Our party had the pork dumplings, shrimp, ahi, salmon and scallops. Everything tasted very fresh and had great flavors. My only complaint for the entire meal is everything had a little bit too much oil for my liking, but I am a health nut. The scallops came with a butter topping that seemed really unnecessary as their flavor was great to being with. There have been past Yelps complaining about the portion sizes and pricing. I think people in this town really need to put a few things in perspective. This is not an Applebee's or home-style restaurant--this is an upscale dining establishment where portions are never going to be super-sized! Good seafood is always going to be more expensive period. If you are looking for a large and inexpensive meal then don't dine here!
(4)Greg L.
A local favorite. It is tucked into a cozy courtyard and has a nice ambiance. Great place for fresh oysters! The seafood is excellent. The lobster rolls, crab cakes and chowder are very tasty.
(4)Kate J.
Service was great, attentive but not invasive. Food was exceptional and creative. The atmosphere is quiet but not stuffy. It is one of the best meals I have had in Tucson. Next time, I want to try the patio. It looked beautiful.
(5)Kimberly S.
For seafood in Tucson, Bluefin is probably as good as you will get. The atmosphere and set up of the restaurant is nice. The upstairs outdoor seating overlooks the courtyard between Bluefin and a bakery with a slight view of the Catalina Mountains. There is also a piano player downstairs near the bar. The staff is pretty good. We liked our waiter pretty well but, you could tell some of the other staff were not as well received by some of the other customers. We were given good recommendations and were not let down. I had the Halibut and it was the best I have ever had. My partner had the lobster sandwich which she ended up eating the lobster out of. The prices are pretty good for the quality of fish. We used to live in NC and would frequent the coast for seafood. Since moving here this is the best place for seafood so far in Tucson. And as with the other places in Casas Adobes there is more parking on the back side of the building.
(5)Kris N.
One of my favorites in town, as well as its sister, Kingfisher. I've tried many different menu items, and consistently good. Always have gotten attentive service at the bar. I eat here quite a bit, and spend time in cities with better seafood, so I'm writing of both the land and sea options.
(4)Girl G.
First visit to Blue Fin, and needless to say my friend and I were very unimpressed. There were a handful of people in there, not busy at all and our server took our order and never came back...literally she never came back. Not to ask how the food was, refill our drinks....NADA. She did however show up to give us the check. The rest of the time we had to ask the water boy for service and one time even summoned the manager. Prices are way too expensive for he class of food they are offering. I'm sorry but when a seafood place has to put Old Bay on their food to make it taste "good" that's a clear sign to run, not walk to the exit. The food was mediocre at best. We order appetizers, shrimp and oysters on the half shell, lobster, steak and none of it save the oysters were very good. How do you mess up lobster! Seriously! We will never be back.
(1)Spence B.
Should be in San Francisco with architecture and wood interior. I enjoyed the BOUILLABAISSE, lobster, cod, shrimp, scallops, mussels, in a saffron broth. My wife had scallops braised in butter on a polenta bed with spinach and greatly enjoyed her glass of Australian Shiraz. She said it was possibly the best sea scallop dish she had ever eaten. Dessert menu looked was tempting but we were sated. Server was a little off on her timing, but the rest of the service staff brought their A game. They were constantly refilling drinks, bread and generally taking excellent care of us. Outstanding on a busy Friday night.
(4)Sarah K.
Went here while on vacation in Tuscon. We came directly from visiting the Desert Museum so we were dressed down (clean, but khakis, hiking type footwear, windblown hair). We didn't think it would be that much of a problem at 12 in the afternoon. The look we received from the hostess was downright appalling. She looked me up and down as if my appearance was the most disgusting thing she had ever seen. I looked at her and asked if something was wrong and she just shrugged her shoulders and went to seat us inside. I asked if we could sit on the patio and again she just shrugged her shoulders. If we hadn't been very hungry I would have just turned around and left... The waiter was not much better. Didn't make an effort to refill our water glasses, didn't offer us the wine menu, didn't tell us about any specials. For a restaurant I had looked forward to visiting and would have dressed up for when returning at dinner, it was just a huge disappointment. I'll never be back. The service was appalling and I've had better seafood at home.
(1)Paul E.
Rating A ++ Or 5 stars out of 5 Everyone has to eat sooner or later, so we might as well talk about it. Agree or disagree, your replies are valued. OK so wu wu! Or I should say Mahi encrusted Mahi! The Blue Fin was the most fun I have had eating a meal out, anywhere, anytime. I do want to say that if you read the postings here, these guys are all over the place. the night I stopped in, it was a great meal. If you are into asking for waiters, you should ask for Sean. If you've never been to the Blue Fin, it sits back in a high end strip of high end stores on Oracle- west side baby! I suggest you gleefully bring your wallet and someone who cares about food. I did. I got the call around 2pm today from the most beautiful girl in the world, who also happens to be my fiancee'. In between her telling me, "I'm heading to a doctor appointment" and my :I gotta go here and there," I asked her out on a date. She stopped talking for just a sec to say yes and smiled. When you've been adventuring and enjoying food together for four years, you don't need an actual app to get that your fiancee' is smiling through the phone. We didn't set out for the Blue Fin. Around 6pm we got it together and left the house to go to that "Caribbean place" over on Oracle, which ended up actually being that "Peruvian Place" on Oracle. All I can say is that the poor Peruvian place tried to exist in the shadow of their neighbor who once served me a really bad meal. So in some twist of raw bizzaro fate, the Peruvian Place had gone out of business instead of the bad Thai place. So we jumped in the car and headed up Oracle on a quest and after blowing by two alternative places we executed a U-turn, spotted Blue Fin. Lets try it. The Blue Fin, tucked away and with a secret upstairs dining room, welcomed us with open arms. We climbed the broad wooden staircase behind our host and walked into a warm inviting dining room and were seated at a table by the window with the Catalina's in the background. Warm and relaxed would be a good way of putting it. My partner in crime had a Cosmo, which was her perfect segue into her Encrusted Mahi. I ordered the Pacific Escaroles with Risotto atop Spinach, as they say, which was one of two "special of the evening" choices. I tried hers, she tried mine- the meals, the imagination, the chef and/or talented line cook was on their game. I seriously enjoyed the meal and the restaurant clearly enjoys the support of their own staff and management. On rare occasions the Chef, the manager, and the owner are able to develop the kind of staff that is running the Blue Fin. Passionate about the food, looking you in the eye and wanting a truthful reply to, "how's your dinner?"; kept the water glass full and if I even thought about maybe wanting or needing something from Sean the waiter, either Sean appeared or one of his several minions. About half way through the meal I realized it's about their passion and if you get a spectacular meal in the process, more power too ya. Hey did I mention the drinks, mine a Captain and Coke, were perfect? We tried a nice little half bottle of white wine, I should probably take notes at these things and we dove head first into a Key Lime and white Chocolate tort for dessert. It was Thursday and the pastry/desert chef was clearly well rested. Light and airy, a beautiful desert and ending. We showed up at sunset, the dining room 1/3 full and the bar pretty easy going. We choose the dining room. If you have ever been there you know there is indoor and outside dining. The same is true for the bar with an indoor/outdoor space. We took it easy, no salads or appetizers, a half bottle of wine, and a couple of cocktails, and the bill was about $100 for two. Considering dining experience and great food- I feel we made out pretty good. At time of writing, I can not tell you if I got lucky or not, which is the true measure of a good meal for most of us adults. A for Effort A for Ambiance A for Service A For the food taste A For the presentation A+ for not somehow screwing it up Everything you need to know is at bluefintucson.com Notes to the restaurant: I do not understand why I can not get steamed oysters in Tucson. We both know that coastal towns are serving oysters flown in from Texas farms. Please, for the sake of all that is sacred and has to do with steamed oysters on the half shell and cocktail sauce with saltine crackers, would you please fix this? Build it, an aw shucks, and I literally mean " aw shucking," we will come.
(5)Shannon O.
I have visited Bluefin 3 times now and the each time the food has been consistently decent. The New England clam chowder wasn't as creamy as I would like and seemed to be limited on the clams. The Ahi was good and prepared medium rare the way I like it. The restaurant was nice and clean. There is an upstairs, downstairs and an outside patio. All in all the service was good. The server was nice and the water person was very attentive, it was hot and I was drinking a lot. One of the bussers dropped a tray next to our table and the manager was at our side promptly making sure we weren't upset or startled. We didn't stay for dessert because we wanted to walk a few stores down for gelato at Frost.
(3)Leslie G.
My friend and I used to go to Blue Fin every Wednesday for oysters and martinis but stopped after about six weeks because the food each visit got worse and worse. I don't know if it was because we were the last sitting but every meal I ordered looked as if it was just thrown on the plate and usually lukewarm. I don't understand the accolades this place gets. The owner really needs to up his game. Very overpriced for mediocre quality.
(2)Sal K.
This place is awesome! They have great steamed mussels (so does King fisher) and oysters. The waitstaff are all so friendly and the patio area is nice. Oh and their music is great. Especially for Happy Hour from 4-6:30, there are $1 oysters and half-off steamed mussels! I've been there many times and always left happy and buzzed. Sometimes drunk. They make a good martini and have stella on draft. I like how they have monthly specials... like crab legs, lobster, etc. Their Bouillabaisse is huge so it's perfect for two. Scallops, fish, lobster, and all are mouthwatering orgasms. They just have such great deals, considering that it's seafood in Tucson! Oh and don't get confused with bluePOINT. It's not the same. Sure they have $1 oysters too on certain days/4-7, but it's just not the same.
(5)Annie V.
Have only been once, but it was the best meal I've had in Tucson so far (only been here 3 months). The prices are high, but all the food I had, from appetizers to desert were scrumptious. I'm definitely going again when I have a reason to celebrate.
(5)Nida K.
Terrible service + mediocre food = won't be returning. The restaurant had terrible service. We had made plans to sit on a patio with a dog when we called in earlier that day. It had rained that day, but by the time we arrived, it was already pretty clear. The wait staff and hostess said they were surprised that we showed up and weren't expecting us. They were rude while we waited for them to set up a place for us to sit, even though we had reservations. The food was also unimpressive. If you're looking for good seafood, I would recommend their sister restaurant, Kingfisher.
(2)Julian S.
Ate at Bluefin for the first time the other night and really enjoyed it. I had the Swordfish special, which was delicious. The Blue Crab Cake appetizer was really good too. I was with a large group of people and everyone was really happy with what they ordered. I'll definitely be back to this place whenever I'm in Tucson again.
(4)Paul G.
Excellent seafood house. I had the bouillabaisse and it was loaded with fish and shellfish including a half of a lobster. The servers were very friendly and accommodating and the ambiance is very nice as well. Overall, a great experience and we'll be back.
(4)Lisannette R.
This was a fabulous seafood experience in Tucson. The atmosphere was relaxed and casual but you wouldn't feel out of place glamming it up a bit either. We were there for lunch and I ordered the Grilled Salmon Melt; what sold me was the Swiss and Basil Pesto combo. The salmon was moist and the bread, so crisp and buttery! They went light on the pesto but it's faint taste really accented the salmon's light lemony taste. My boyfriend and I ordered the Skewered Mozzarella as a starter and that was delightfully simple, in presentation and flavor. I was looking for something a little more pungent as there was Tapenade involved but, to my surprise it's simple flavor was mild but complex... I also got to try the fish and chips. The fish was a little dry and the batter was way too crispy. One bite and it kinda shattered in your mouth. The melt also came with chips (fries) and there wasn't anything special there. They were shoestring style, a little limp and flavor less. Both dishes came with the cole slaw and while I'm not a big fan of cole slaw in general, I thoroughly enjoyed it. They went VERY light on the mayo/cream thing and I swear I could taste berries and/or canteloupe. They used red cabbage, which I prefer over the regular stuff any day. For dessert we ordered the Toffee Crunch Cheesecake (not sure of the exact name) and the Vanilla Creme Brulee. Both were decadent and delicious but nothing extra special. Over all, it was a great seafood and service experience. While I rated this 5 stars, it's not really a GO-TO place because it's a little our of our price range for weeknight restaurant run.
(5)Eric G.
Not a bad place to get seafood in a desert. We got there early for an anniversary dinner on a Friday night, 6.30. Plenty of seats available, although we did have a reservation. We asked to be seated on the balcony which was wonderful with the setting sun lighting up the Catalinas. Really beautiful backdrop to the start of a delicious meal. Service was prompt and attentive. We started with wine chosen from their modest but respectable list (service comes by the bottle, but also by the 1/2 bottle or glass for some selections) and an appetizer of fresh oysters on the half shell. Not the best I've had, but certainly fresh and tasty. For entrees, I ordered the "Bluefin Bouillabaisse" and the wife ordered the cashew crusted mahi mahi. Both were delicious. Surprisingly to me, the lobster was the blandest part of the bouillabaisse. Still good, just not great. The broth however, was divine. This clearly must be a signature plate here (and not just because of the name), as I saw many others ordering the same thing. It was quite delicious. And messy fun to eat! While dinner was filling enough, I knew that I had to try one of their deserts--a Heath bar cheesecake with caramel sauce. WARNING--a single serving is big enough for two people. Easily! Service was exceptional for us. We had multiple people attending to us at all times. The only time it came close to intrusive however was the insistent refills on our waters (stay hydrated now!). Meh. Still, our main waiter was very professional in offering a taste of the wine before committing to the bottle, and apparently even heard me toying with the idea of getting a single malt as seemingly out of nowhere, a menu of single malt options was laid on the table. Excellent service! As we left, at about 8.30, the place was filling up nicely, but still tables remained. Seeing more of the clientele, I started to feel a little underdressed, but again, was never treated second class by anyone. My only complaint--the hideous purple neon sign that watches over the parking lot to the shopping area where Bluefin is located. But that clearly is not enough to stop me from heading back when I need a little taste of elegance and the ocean in this dusty desert town.
(4)Sallie R.
Unbelievable experience, the chefs of the King Fisher and the Bluefin are amazing! Best Seafood in town!
(5)Debra D.
Arrived at restaurant at 5:30 pm with great expectations. As in the previous review the service was substandard. When greated at the door noticed only a two people at the patio bar. The hostess snarled at us if we had a reservation, we quietly responded not. She snarled again that we should have made a reservation. We were seated upstairs and noticed only another couple were seated. The server was also snarling throughout our service. We were not rude, we were just a group of people looking forward to a great dinner. The food was ok, even Red Lobster has a more inventive and flavorful faire. I was disappointed that this Bistro is one of the Tucson Originals as it was not on the same par as the others.
(2)Dave J.
Wow! We had only been there for brunch, but they do a great job for dinner too. The ambiance is great, with options for up or downstairs and outside too. The mussels are delicious. Even if you don't like mussels, you should order these. Fantastic. I had the scallops as a main course and they were great. Even the wine selections were good. We'll definitely be back again!
(5)H and K.
Bluefin is a great restaurant, if you don't mind having squishy poo. We went on a Sunday to hit the brunch menu and had BLUEBERRY BUTTERMILK RICOTTA PANCAKES (w/ maple syrup. $8.50). They were well executed: moist and cake-like, the right number of blueberries, and served hot off the griddle. We also had the POACHED LOBSTER "BENEDICT" (English muffin, poached eggs, sauce béarnaise with roasted tomato. $13). It was decent, but a bit ordinary considering the ingredients. It's rare to find a lobster concoction that's either superior to other variants of the same dish or straight lobster, and the benedict was no different. For dessert we had vanilla bean crème brulee (w/ lemon butter cookies. $8), which was good, but not $8-dessert caliber. The ambiance was hip and modern, we sat on a balcony overlooking the courtyard, and the wait staff was friendly and attentive. After lunch we both got sick. We wouldn't give a good restaurant 2 starts had we thrown the dice on raw oysters, but pancakes and lobster should be pretty safe. We spoke to another couple who ate at Bluefin and had a similar experience, and so as far as we know everyone who eats there ends up with the screaming meanies. Maybe it's an anomaly, but we didn't go back to find out. If you're looking for great pancakes at a seafood restaurant Bluefin would be a good choice. If you want seafood you may be better off at their sister restaurant, Kingfisher. Why 2 Stars? Quality: 3 Stars We got sick: -3 Stars Ambiance: +1 The guilt of giving a well-intentioned locally owned restaurant 1 star: +1
(2)William S.
Bluefin is one of our favorite restaurants in Tucson. Its meals are consistently delicious. Seafood is fresh and prepared beautifully. The waitstaff is professional--knowledgable, courteous, and prompt Outside dining is a delight. We return again and again and are never disappointed.
(5)Kookie D.
Went here for my birthday last year. Food is good, not great. Very small portions that are very expensive. The romaine lettuce in my Cesar salad was not dark green, but very light which looked more the color of iceberg lettuce. I left hungry. :(
(2)Carter M.
always great food and service.
(5)Debbie B.
Wonderful service without it being pushy. Some of the best seabass I have ever had and I love seabass! This was the last night of Restaurant Week and my man tried that... liked everything except the lobster roll... he said it could have had more lobster. We both enjoyed the crab cake... delish and full of crab. The spinach/apple/nut salad was very good. I loved the bread pudding.... yum! Great service and great food!!
(4)Gary S.
I have only had apps here. Everything was cook perfectly. We sat at the bar on both occasions. Bartender was very friendly and attentive. Great outside seating.
(5)Ross S.
Went there for cocktails and appetizers on 02JAN10. Almost everything about our experience was marginal. I asked for a table where my biz associate and I could review a presentation... and they seated us in the dining area. The manager asked if we wanted drinks and I asked for two Anchor Steams. The waiter then brought us two Anchor Porters... the waiter and/or manager should have ASKED whether we wanted porters or the traditional ales. If he didn't know the difference.... well you get the picture. We ordered the crab cakes appetizer. And they were actually quite good. So the food may be decent here, but the service is terrible. Won't be going there again...
(1)Becki G.
There's a piano and drum duo that plays here every Friday night from 8 to 11 -- a combo of blues, boogie-woogie and ragtime. They are so fun to listen to -- so much so that we keep going back even though we're not wild about the food. Every once in a while a couple gets up to dance, but it never catches on. It's more of a dance-in-your-seat and keep-the-conversation-going sort of crowd. There's live music on Saturday night too, and I'm sure those acts have their fans as well, but we love Friday nights at Bluefin. Just so we're clear though, I'm not recommending the full-on fish dinners (thus no 5 stars) -- find some appetizers to share -- and sit downstairs in the bar area. Don't sit upstairs, order fish and then pretend you weren't warned.
(3)Jane A.
I am relieved to see that the average is three stars, because I really thought maybe other people might see things that I didn't. The place is hidden in the usual mall. We went on NYE, and to be honest, we thought we were going to a different restaurant (Bluepoint), right up the street. There were a lot of people there. The drinks were just okay, and the food was bland. I had the Mahi Mahi, and it had no real taste. My GF had a pasta seafood dish, which was just okay as well. I would have to say the coffee was the best part of the meal....if I could take another point off for the annoying guy at the next table I would, but that wouldn't be fair to the restaurant. I would not go back, but I would go to Bluepoint again, I really liked that place a couple of years ago.
(3)J J.
Great food. Outstanding bartenders! Ralph and Sean are the best professional bartenders in Tucson. Excellent wine recommendations. Try the Kingfisher Martini. Vodka martini with an anchovy wrapped shrimp garnish.
(4)Malachi C.
r.u.b.b.i.s.h.
(1)Kali R.
The food was really good. I had the seafood mac and cheese which was awesome and we all shared a calamari appetizer which was also really good. They have really good and strong mojitos. We were there on an especially hot night and unfortunately it was also hot inside the restaurant. When we asked if they could turn up the air we were told the ac was on the fritz. This made for a sweaty meal, we had to actually ask for extra napkins to sit on since we were all wearing dresses and sticking to the seats. Our waiter was very nice about it and brought us free dessert to compensate for the ac, but it was not a pleasant dinning experience. Oh and one of the other waiters was walking around passing gas loudly, which was strange and gross.
(3)perry w.
I liked the ability to make reservations online and there was plenty of parking spaces available. Had the mussels for appetizer and the boulliabaise. The mussels were a bit undercooked but edible. Nothing extraordinary or special about the food. Service was wonderful. wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, unless yer on a date or something.
(3)Carol S.
We took our daughter there for dinner. It was our first time there. She had the blue crab cake appetizer and the bluefin bouillabaise, which had been highly recommended and looked and tasted wonderful. It was also very filling. My husband had a spinach salad and the lobster roll platter, and I had steamed little neck clams and the lobster roll platter. Drinks before dinner, but no wine. Everything was excellent (especially the bouillabaise and the steamers) -- way above average -- with one exception: the lobster roll was simply too salty -- as if someone had salted it three times. It also had a bit more filling than lobster. Next time I'll ask for a small sample first. Probably good to remember that Maine lobster is best prepared and ordered in Maine, not in Arizona. Not sure why restaurants outside Maine try to create a variation on lobster roll, but some can surely mess it up. But everything else was so good, it was hard to complain. Service was prompt and excellent!
(4)