It pains me to give only one star to any restaurant but it has earned this review. I had certain expectations being that this place is associated with The Marriott Star Pass Resort. A little difficult to make out the actual country club that houses the restaurant. It is surrounded by cookie cutter golf villa's/time shares and nothing about it makes it stand out. The inside of the restaurant has beautiful view's and is embraced by wooden table's and fixures. There were a few entrees order at the table. The Mac and Cheese was plentiful and good. The chicken breast was average. Here is one of two GIANT reason's I low balled this score. The chicken wings were so incredibly bad I still can taste them. I truly believe they were rotten. Not rotten as in just tasted like poo but rotten as in they have gone bad rotten. Not even a whole one was eaten. The table all tried a little bit and everyone agreed they were not eatable. Fries dusted with chili plusn the three incredible sauces on the side is the only thing that kept me at the table. They are a must! Yelp has this wonderful benefit of random time's you check in places you may get a free appetizer etc.... that happened today. Here comes second reason for 1 star:: I pulled it up on my phone to show our server. She physically takes my phone and says she needs to show her manager. Taking my phone is like taking my lungs lol! After a few minutes I had to get up to go retrieve my phone and she came out with it. Extremely inappropriate. You have the manager come to the table and look at it. Service was slow. Only one tabletop other than ours so no real excuse.
(1)
Kat M.
Update! We had a great time. Relaxing, fantastic bartender, Smokey delicious wings traditional with sauce on the side ( seriously, they brine their wings, then smoke them, then season and flash fry) a traditional blue cheese parm wedge salad with real bacon and cherry tomatoes! Lots of laughs and a fantastic view! Eat, live and play with heart! Enjoy
(4)
Bianca A.
Delicious! We decided to venture west this past Sunday for my bf's birthday. Being as it was also Father's Day we chanced it knowing it could be pretty busy. To our surprise we were the only table in there, but we did go at an off hour. Either way we were excited to fill up on some BBQ and we did our best. Our server was very friendly and seemed to be manning the floor by herself. While we were the only ones there eating there were other people in and out picking up food to go or having beers at the bar and she didn't skip a beat. As for the food, everything we tried was really pretty good. We started off with the smoked queso and added brisket - almost a meal on it's own - this was delicious. From there we had garden salads, mac & cheese, brisket, pork shoulder and ribs. I think the brisket and shoulder were the complete winners. These meats were tender and cooked perfectly. I didn't try the ribs but I was told they were good, not great. Kind of a let down. As for the sauces they bring out three different kinds: vinegar, sweet and spicy. I enjoyed mixing the vinegar and the spicy. Salads were normal, mac and cheese was fine, but that brisket ... .. I'll be back for that :)
(4)
Nik D.
I've been meaning to write a review for this restaurant since Restaurant Week (yes, all the way back in September...). But that's how great this place and the service was! That months after, I still remembered having an amazing time. First, I have to give props to our server, I believe his name was James. He did an excellent job of explaining everything and always had a smile on his face. He even hooked us up with the delicious biscuits and some mac n cheese. (I might've asked to take some of those biscuits home). In addition to the humongous plate of nachos, We each got a 2 (or was it 3?) meat platter cause we're hungry hungry hippos. The portion size was incredible- we had leftovers for about two days after (and I'm talking lunch and dinner). Anyways, long story short, if you're in the mood for BBQ, great service, and need leftovers, def check this place out.
(5)
Katie M.
Some of the best BBQ in the city. Very tender meat you can cut with a fork. Like butter. 3 different sauces to choose from. I recommend
(4)
Pete I.
Grabbed some takeout from Catalina BBQ last night and it was delicious. We tried the three meat platter and it was great BBQ, all the meat was super tender. In my own little showdown I ranked them. 1st Place Brisket 2nd Place Pulled Pork Shoulder 3rd Place Pulled Chicken The sauces were really tasty, spicy, vinegar based and a sweeter more traditional sauce. Great BBQ hiding up in the hills near Starr Pass. Definitely recommended.
(5)
V F T.
The best BBQ in town? Yes perhaps, but that's not saying much because all of the BBQ in Tucson is pretty darn bad. And despite the name of this place is actually a full service bar & restaurant rather than a straight-up BBQ joint. The menu has a bit of everything from nachos, burgers, fries, salads as well as BBQ. The big problem here is that the BBQ isn't really fresh, it's obvious that it's been reheated. Every time that I've been there it's always pretty consistent though. Thin but OK smoke ring, decent smoke flavor and some black bark and never too fatty. So you can definitely tell that they're at least smoking the meat correctly. The brisket, yes it is probably the best in town, but it would be much better sliced fresh. Tried an off menu item the last time that I was there, I asked if they had any "Burnt Ends" and they said yes, so why not. They were OK, not true burnt ends if you know what they are, but they didn't. But they were OK just the same. Pulled pork is always pre-shredded and a bit dry. I'd like to catch them on a day that the stuff is fresh off the smoker and have just a whole chunk as-is, not pulled or shredded, I'm sure that it would be a lot better. Ribs are good and better than Famous Dave's for sure. However you'd better pass on the sausage because it's pretty terrible. Every time that I've been there, no complaints from my table or bar mates, plus all of the other things coming out of the kitchen don't look bad at all. Today's visit no one complained about their burger, fries, sides, drinks, etc. But myself I only care about the smoked meats. Very nice looking building right on the Starr Pass golf course, cute bar with some ice cold draft beers on tap as well as a full alcohol selection. So by local standards this is the best BBQ choice by far, but by national standards the 'Q is below average but could be much, much better if sliced & served fresh. But then the prices are rather EXPENSIVE for what you get, but then that's the way it is in this town for BBQ....
(2)
Rick F.
So the wings are a must! Smoked wings are some the best things ever made in my opinion. Beer was good! The portions were a lot and even the kids plates. The BBQ tasted better than a lot of other places I have visited and the chili dusted fries tasted good. The staff was friendly and helpful, and made sure we were all taken care of great! Will definitely visit again. If you staying at the JW Marriott, the shuttle will drop off and pick up, and extra bonus if you are having a few drinks!
(5)
Bruce D.
Wow! What a find. Great food, great service. However, this place is NOT at the Marriott Starr Pass Resort, so don't park there. It's about 1/4 mile before you get to the resort at the Starr Pass Golf Clubhouse. The only reason we went was because we had a groupon since we had never heard of it. But, with or without groupon, we'll be coming back.
(5)
Roberta H.
I've been here about 4 times and the menu is certainly all about BBQ. One suggestion if you just add a few items that aren't BBQ for your health conscious patrons, I for one would be thankful. The BBQ is great and the sauces that accompany the dishes are tasty. Catalina BBQ company is surrounded by sites you will find kind on your eyes. The patio looks right on the golf course and the views of Tucson Mountains are like a painting. The one thing that really needs to be fine tuned is the service. Every time I've been in this restaurant the staff made me feel as if I was lucky enough to be waited on by them. There is no use of please, thank you or anything that would make a patron feel appreciated. The last time I was in there we waited for 5 minutes for menus, wait person never came back to check on us after our food was delivered and we had to get up ask for our check. Sorry to say I'm not exaggerating :-( all the visits were about the same, this last was the worse. It's baffling because this place is part of JW Marriott who is known for there attention to guests needs. My hope is someone with JW reads this review and uses it as a hiring tool It all starts right there. Yes I'll try it again and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the next review will be closer to 5 stars.
(3)
Jim B.
Exceptional. A must hit. John gave awesome service and the food was extremely good. Flavorful, plentiful, and we were full. Thanks for a great meal!
(5)
Morgan L.
Really good, moist barbeque and excellent service. B who is, of course, the barbeque/meat eater in the family was well pleased, declaring it a sort of mixed mid-western style (think Kansas meets St. Louis meets Tucson AZ). We took guests and everyone loved the food, not one dissenting opinion. I had the pulled pork quesadilla and a side of the seasonal veggies, both of which were excellent. The sauces were home made and very tasty. Our group's favorite was the spicy one, but all three were notable.
(5)
Kevin V.
Great location. Great staff. Great food. Also you get so much food for your money. I would suggest getting the appetizer sampler to share only if you have 4 or more people!
(5)
Lil B.
Had the brisket sandwich and chili dusted fries for lunch. Brisket was done well and had just the right amount of smokey flavor. Probably the best brisket I have had in Tucson, which isn't saying a whole lot, but still. Fries were excellent. My buddy enjoyed his pulled pork sandwich. I smoke my own food at home, but I was impressed and I will come back again to see if they nail the other meats. When you take into account it is Bbq AND at a resort, the menu is very fairly priced.
(5)
Terri F.
We visited this restaurant on Aug 30th at around 9:00 p.m. We were staying at Starr Pass and, after a long day playing, wanted to enjoy a good neal with our kids and grandkids. The hotel called ahead and shuttled us to the restaurant. We arrived and after waiting, the waiter came out and told us he would get the hostess. After waiting several minutes longer, still no hostess and the waiter seated us. After waiting at our table for several minutes, my daughter went to the hostess stand and retrieved menus for us all. After several minutes passed, we flagged down a waiter who finally came and took our drink order. Approximately 10 minutes passed and finally our drinks came. Another 10 minutes passed and we had to flag down the waiter to take our order. Another 30-45 minutes passed and finally our food came! It was cold! They took my granddaughter's back to reheat and when I told the waiter mine was cold too, he went back to the kitchen and came back with a side plate of shredded chicken heated in the microwave! To rub salt in the wound, a gratuity was already attached... We were absolutely appalled at the lack of service and the cold food from this restaurant! We realized it was late and we had a large party, but that shouldn't have made a difference, especially since the hotel called ahead and we were told we'd be welcome! I will never eat here again.
(1)
Heather C.
This place was awesome! It all started with a fabulous round table which made socializing with the family so easy! The food was amazing. It's hard to please everyone (7 people) but this place did. None of us left hungry. My husband and I split a Blt wedge salad, BBQ chicken nachos, and original smoked chicken wings. All wonderfully amazing. To top it off we were our servers last table and he brought us a tray of free deserts! Which were also all bomb. If you go ask for Pedro he really took care of us. He is a fabulous server. We will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Debbie C.
5 STARS for Service 3 STARS for Food We sat outside on the patio which was lovely. It overlooks the golf course and the beautiful Saguaro-filled mountains. We had excellent service throughout the meal. The waiter explained how the menu worked. We chose the ALL YOU CAN EAT BBQ ($30/per person). Note this is a two person minimum and you both have to order the same thing. Here's our take on the quality of the food: PULLED PORK - very dry. We kept dousing it with the three delicious sauces. BEEF BRISKET - good and tender SWEET SAUSAGE - had a really good flavor We chose 3 sides based on other Yelp reviews thinking it would be great: MAC 'N CHEESE - Loved the large pasta that they used, but overall it was bland, not really that cheesy. BOURBON CREAMED CORN - very watery, not much flavor and the corn was pretty crunchy. FRIES - very good, hot with a bit of crunch. They serve everything in different size skillets - very cute. The dinner plates were small and we found our food spilling off at times. Overall, this restaurant didn't WOW us enough to go back.
(4)
Jason G.
The nachos are out of this world as are the wings, ribs and brisket. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu for that matter, and the service is excellent. Stephanie and Victoria have taken great care of us this week. Dinner at Catalina after a round of golf with our kids is a must stop during our annual spring break from Vermont.
(5)
Emily L.
Great Service and right off the golf course. The place was dead and there was only one other patron there on a Thurs night so the manager had time to stop by and ensure I was having a good experience. Unfortunately, I ordered the two-meats meal which wasn't impressive- the brisket was dry and the pork was average. I was hoping the hyped-up sauces would make up the difference, but they didn't. I'd only come here again for a snack after a round of golf.
(2)
Rich N.
Great place, great food, great service. After an 8 mile hike all day with our 6 year old, this was just the place we were looking for. Burger was really good, chili dusted fries were awesome, Mac and cheese side was out of this world, I didn't even want any, but my wife ordered it and I couldn't stop eating it. Her pulled pork sandwich came with three of their own sauces which all were good. We bought the two of the sauces and their rub on the way out!
(5)
Michael G.
I can't ever imagine a trip to Tucson without a visit to this fantastic little hideaway. It was recommended by a JW employee- so frankly I kept low expectations. My Son & I were so impressed by the quality of the food, attentive service & quiet atmosphere. I think this place helped seal the U of A decision! Even if you're not staying at the JW- well worth the trek up the Pass. Our family's new U of A tradition- Can't wait for Parent Weekend to visit again!
(5)
Amanda B.
This is gonna be long, I want to cover everything ...here goes. Okay, first... this is located at what used to be the Catalina Steakhouse and is located at the Starr Pass Golf Clubhouse, not the hotel. Follow the signs to the clubhouse to get there. There are some signs that still say Catalina Steakhouse, so follow those. There is plenty of self parking right near the clubhouse. Okay, we were seated in the dining room right away. We had an extremely friendly hostess and waitress. The only complaint is that the lighting is fairly dark. It takes awhile to adjust to the lighting to review the menu. The drink menu is large. They have a lot of different beers but only about five on tap. They also have a list of signature cocktails. I ordered the Starr Pass Martini and it was seriously so good. It took all my energy not to slam it. The fresh muddled berries in it totally made the drink. My friend got the Catalina margarita. It too was so smooth and good. So thumbs up to the bartender! We ordered the onion crisps to start. They aren't thick like onion rings; they have a light batter and are thin and seemed to be much less greasy. We all really enjoyed them, and they came with two dipping sauces which were also great. I ordered the one meat entree and chose the pulled pork with garden vegetables. However, since the list of sides all sounded amazing everyone at the group ordered an extra one with their entrees. I ordered a side of mac and cheese as well. My pulled pork was good. It had some good smokiness and was tender. The veggies were good. Still somewhat crisp and not over cooked. The mac and cheese was really, really good. They use large tube pasta with a good blend of cheeses. MMM. My husband ordered the rib sampler with the brisket and had sweet potato fries and the bourbon creamed corn (award winning). In order to write this review I determined I had to try his items as well. I tried one of his ribs and the meat was tender and came off the bone. It had good smokiness and spices without being overpowering. The sweet potato fries were really yummy too. I am not a creamed corn fan, but I tried it and yes, it was flavor full. Our friends ordered two meat entrees with pulled pork and brisket. They said they really like it as well. They got a garden salad, potato salad, and a baked potato for their sides. The baked potato was large and they brought out a side of all the fixins for it. It looked good. I did try the potato salad and enjoyed it. I think it had bacon bits in it and that sells me in my book. They have three types of BBQ sauces on the table. One is hot, one sweet, and one vinegar. I tasted all of them and like them all. The hot one is not that hot. It has a good blend of spices, but not really hot. I like having the option of the vinegar based sauce as well, and enjoyed it. I used the sweet sauce on my pork and really liked it. All the BBQ specialities come with either cornbread or Texas toast. We all got the cornbread. It is a small piece of cornbread and in the shape of a Saguaro. While cute, it was just okay. I would probably get the Texas toast next time. Now, the service. Our waitress was really nice and explained to us how the chef is a pit master, and a competition bbq chef, etc. However, it did take awhile to get the drinks from the bar. The food took a little long to come out as well. In fairness, it seemed that she had most of the tables in the dining room (about seven). When our food came out, three of our extra sides and my cornbread were missing. When we told her, she apologized profusely and brought out the sides. She said then said they were waiting for more cornbread to come out of the oven and brought it right out when available. It also took a little while to get our checks and have them taken and have the cards run. Normally I don't mind hanging around for the ticket, and would have ordered coffee or something while waiting, but it seemed to take awhile to get drinks so I didn't want to chance it. Plus, I was stuffed from all the food. The dessert menu looked good, but we had ate so much food we couldn't imagine eating any more (I am seriously still digesting it while writing this). Overall, the service was good, though a little bit slow. The food was really good. The price was what you expect at Starr Pass. The BBQ specialties run from $12-20. I think sandwich's are somewhat less, and an extra side is $4. I don't mind paying the extra to have a better view and not have the craziness of Famous Daves. I would definitely come back when wanting a nice night out with hubby and craving BBQ.
(4)
John S.
Please do yourself a favor: call before you make the trek to the Catalina Barbeque Company. We didn't and found the place closed on a Thursday night. A large convention staying at the resort shut down the place. Did the hotel let other guests know? Was it mentioned on the web-site? Will I be back? No, no and hecka no.
(1)
Anna W.
One of the very best wings I have ever had. It is so divine. Nice golf course and mounrain views. If the weather is right, have to be outside to enjoy. Decent happy hour. Recommendations and service made me leaving happy happy.
(5)
Yolanda S.
2.5-stars. Only go if you are held hostage at the JW Marriot. The totally awesome patio and ice tea saved this 1-star review. The service was not good. Half of the burnt ends were a disappointment (of the remaining 50% half were good half were really good). The mac and cheese was amazing, but too big. I really would have appreciated 1/2 the serving and a small salad or coleslaw or something "crisp." Execution seems to be an issue here. *Sigh*
(2)
Ben B.
Had a quite a few visits here as it is just up the road from me. Love the views and the laid back feel of the place. Food is incredible. Had various dishes, and none ever disappointed. Try the grilled chicken wings as an appetizer, the taste is amazing. Not sure what spices they use but it made us wish we had just ordered dozens of them as a full meal. Staff is very friendly and make you feel right at home. First visit we had some extra fun since we thought the restaurant was inside the main building at Starr Pass Marriott but it is actually down at the golf pro area. We were going to drive down their and find it ourselves but the staff at the Marriott were quick to offer their concierge shuttle to run us there and back, great service.
(4)
Jacquie N.
What an amazing experience! I was attending a convention at the Marriott up the street and before arriving I had searched restaurant.com for some local eats and then double checked places against reviews here of course! I walked in and made sure to ask if they were accepting the certificates on that particular night. She welcomed us in and seated us near the patio. It was a bit too hot for my taste to sit outside, but we were still able to enjoy a gorgeous view! I ordered a wedge salad to start and they brought it out in record time along with a couple of different breads for us to sample. Our waitress was extremely friendly and knowledgable. She explained the breads and before we ordered we had a couple of questions about the 'burnt edges' brisket. She was more than happy to answer our questions and was very informative. My mother ordered the one meat plate with brisket and mac and cheese as her side. I ordered the one meat plate with chicken and a side of fruit. The chicken was properly cooked. I've been so shocked lately at the amount of undercooked chicken I have received. The smoky flavor was absolutely delicious. The side of fruit was large and had a nice assortment. I was very pleased! My mother seemed to very much enjoy the brisket. As someone else stated...a teeny bit dry, but it gets you to try those tasty sauces on the table! The mac and cheese was a generous portion and boy was it cheesy! Delicious. If I'm in town again I will hit this place coupon or not!
(5)
Andrea H.
Don't be confused if you think that you are walking into a golf course club house-- that's kind of what this place is. Sit on the patio and get the full golf course view for the resort "experience". Sauces on the table enhance the wide varitey of smoked meats. Bear in mind that this place is not a "KC Style BBQ" place, it's meant to be a "Southwest BBQ" experience (my BF's family from New Jersey was confused and didn't care for the food's style). I sure like it! A full bar is also available to complement dinner. Casual attire is appropriate.
(4)
Julie S.
Had the Brisket Rellenos and onion Rings. Onion rings were pretty good ,had a smokey flavor which I was not crazy about .The Brisket Rellenos was 2 brisket stuffed peppers with cheese sitting in BBQ sauce . Not crazy about it sitting in the BBQ sauce because it made it kind of soggy . Not bad though ; ) service was good !!! Waiter friendly and kept up with filling our drinks. Brought the check quickly. Will be back to try the ribs, burger and the Mac n Cheese ; )
(4)
Michelle P.
My husband and i never imagined we would have such amazing BBQ in AZ. Everything we ordered was good. I ordered the pulled pork with mac and cheese as the side. If you enjoy baked mac and cheese I highly recommend it. It was baked in its own cast iron dish. My husband ordered the Bourbon creamed corn. It was very good like the reviews said, but we both agreed the mac and cheese was #1. The pulled pork was so flavorful you could enjoy it without any BBQ sauce. My husband ordered ribs and the meat fell off the bone. We both enjoyed the spicy BBQ sauce the most. Good price for the quality and quantity of food you get.
(5)
Christina C.
"WOW! That was a seating experience" those were my exact words I said after Brett sat us for a Valentine's day dinner. Water was brought to the table right away. Server used our name numerous times. Now I know I gave 5 stars, but there were some complications. My water and tea were never refilled in time. I did get a new tea when we were eating dessert, didn't really need it at that time. Appetizer was not put in right away and arrived after our dinner. Before our dinner arrived we were taken someone else's meal so that was a little awkward. BUT, But even with all of that the food was so good and the service was courteous. Our server Elvia used the last name of the reservation again and again. Because we did not get the scrumptious, crispy, well seasoned wings in time for the pre-meal, they were taken off our bill. Do yourself a favor and GET THE WINGS!!! The dry rub that is placed on them give it so much plavor you can eat it with no dressing. The pulled pork sandwich I had was so good, bread was warm but not hard, meat was shredded nicely and with the dark bbq sauce. Mac n' cheese was creamy with nice big shells. I did not care much for the bbq sauce with the vinegar or the one with chiltepin, I'm more of a honey bbq girl. My boyfriend order the half rack of ribs and he shared one with me, one I said but from that one the meat came right off and was not burnt or undercooked. I was so full, but saved enough room for Bacon and Waffles for dessert. Found it a little interesting eating a mini, fluffy waffle with a strip of well cooked bacon and a vanilla ice cream scoop, but what the heck it was Valentine's Day and it was so good. Even with the misshaps I would go back because the food was so good. Honestly maybe not the best in Tucson, but good enough to pay $12 for my sandwich.
(5)
The T.
There were some good things about this place, the atmosphere is relaxing and the dinning area has a nice view of the golf range and desert surroundings. The appetizer we got the relleno and it was delicious with tender brisket stuffed in the pepper. We both ordered the babyback ribs, the mac and cheese was good and so was my wife's sweet potatoe fries. However the most dissapointibg was the babyback ribs... We were expecting fall off the bone melt in your mouth... After all the babybacks were 34 dollars each plate for the full rack.... Well these were dry and took some muscle and knife to seperate the ribs... For 115 dollar dinner for two, I would expect to leave this place fully satisfied about the main course... For babyback ribs you'd be better ordering at Claim Jumper Or even Chilis
(2)
Shannon C.
Came on a Friday night and got right in. Brisket was excellent as well as the Mac and Cheese. But the real star were the biscuits they served before the meal with honey butter.
(4)
Chantelle P.
Lets call it what it is, a nice view of the Tucson mountains and golf course in your midst and thats all. BBQ for fools....I've been here and hoped for the best now over a handful of times. I've tried the chicken, chicken wings (terrible), brisket, pulled pork and ribs. The chicken is by far the worst, the brisket hella dry, ribs nothing to talk about..only the pulled pork and sweet potato fries are passable.. smokey ranch dressing, good..steer clear of everything else.The prickly pear margaritas provide a heap of pink drink with sugar down the gullet and no bite. I really have no idea how you sabotage BBQ to this level for a resort crowd, but they've certainly managed to do so. I hope they really improve because it has so much potential for the location. Also,careful of the abundance of flies should you venture outside in the summer months.
(3)
Kim B.
I had a great experience at Catalina Barbeque Co. back in January before their grand opening, and was very impressed with the food! Between the four of us I think we managed to sample everything on the menu! Each of their meats was tender and tasty. The onion rings are amazing, very refreshing to be served fresh onion rings instead of the usual freezer-to-fryer rings at most restaurants. The Sonoran dogs were new to me, but after these I don't think I can go back to a regular dog with ketchup! I was also a big fan of the Bourbon Creamed Corn! Their new chef seems to be doing a great job so far! I'd definitely come back again!
(5)
C J.
Nice setting. House wheat beer was excellent. Enjoyed Mac and cheese and sweet potato fries. Pulled pork and brisket had good flavor but too much fat, seemed to be a poor quality meat.
(3)
Amy K.
Not their best night. New York strip tough, stringy and fatty. Service slow and I didn't get the glass of wine I ordered. Bill not calculated right. Too bad we decided to bring clients with us. Good thing they like us anyway.I will give kudos to Sabrina who really tried hard to save the evening. She even went as far as to chase us out to the parking lot because she'd taken the tip off and reran the bill. She's the reason you get a 2 instead of a 1.
(2)
Jennifer S.
We had a great experience here. We had come to the area to play tennis (we were staying at the JW). We could smell the food from the restaurant while we were playing, so went to have lunch there afterwards. Decor was quite bland, but the views of the golf course and mountains were beautiful. Service was slow at first even though we were the only ones in the dining room. Food was delicious! I had a chipotle chicken sandwich with fresh fruit and husband had a brisket sandwich. Meats were perfectly cooked. Bread was fresh. Fruit side was large with good assortment, not just a few shriveled pieces of melon and grapes. We would definitely go back.
(4)
George C.
I have been back twice since my first experience, and I really like the place now. Give the ribs a try....
(4)
Maria L.
I needed a drink so my husband & I looked for a new happy hour spot. In the very beginning we were skeptical...there was nobody at hostess counter to greet us. After 3 minutes we decided to seat ourselves. Kevin, the bartender more than made up for the lack of a proper greeting. It was nothing but good things from there. Service was great, Kevin again did a great job. The ambiance was nice, not too loud and not too quiet. We were also asked whether we wanted to change the TV channel. We ate only appetizers and they were delicious. Great nachos, and I love nachos! The beer selection isn't grand, but they support one of my favorite local breweries,TCB. Would have given them 5 stars if it wasn't for the host/hostess not being at their post. Highly recommend it if you're on the west side.
(4)
Sarah S.
This place is not bad. Their food is pretty good, if not a little overpriced (but what do you expect from a hotel restaurant?) We had ribs, a baked potato, and Mac & Cheese, which were all pretty good. Just a heads up, though, there are not good vegetarian options if you lean that way. I suspect the Mac & cheese even had some kind of meat in it. I decided not to ask since I already had it and was eating it, but I definitely tasted something meaty in there. The drinks are not bad either. Good wine and beer, and the margaritas are decent, but all overpriced, except maybe the beer. Overall, not bad. We came here twice during our stay at the Starr Pass Golf Suites.
(4)
Justin E.
During a business trip to the Star Pass resort and Spa we got to sample this fine little joint. Since most of my visiting staff was from Kansas City the Star Pass hotel thought it appropriate to serve us BBQ the first night. Most of us scoffed at this idea but humored this Tucson attempt at BBQ. The smoked wings were to die for and if I go back to this place I could just eat a plate full of these wings with nothing else. I thought that until I tried the pulled pork Loaded Potato skins and BBQ Flat bread. The flat bread is more pulled pork piled high with sauce and cheese. I wasn't expecting to like a southwest style bbq but this was really freaking good. They raved about their mac and cheese and creamed corn but I liked their onion rings. I'm not even a fan of onion rings and I ate half the plate. Onto the entrees. The chicken was typical smoked chicken which is never very interesting in the realm of bbq. (nothing bad about it!) The Brisket I must admit was a little dry so I had to douse it with their yummy hot sauce which quickly became my favorite of the 3 sauces they had on the table. The Ribs...all I can say is DAAAAAAAAAMN. I was most impressed when they informed us that they had been to the American Royal in KC and placed highly in all categories! Not bad for a little joint down here in Tucson
(4)
Cyn V.
First off, there was a plethora of drunken, loud golfers. That should have been a clue. Not impressed with my first dinner for my first stay at this JW Resort restaurant. My niece spilled water and we used our cloth napkins to clean it up. Our waitress was nowhere to be found so we got fresh napkins from another table. When we finally did track her down, we told her we had spilled and showed her the napkins and asked for more water. She brought the water. Those wet napkins sat on the table the entire meal. Then my pulled pork sandwich arrived with ice cold meat and no barbecue sauce. I've never had pulled pork without barbecue sauce. I never been served one cold either. We had already waited an eternity for our food & couldn't find the waitress, so I ate the coleslaw & chips. A hamburger ordered medium rare was served pretty darn rare. It also took 30 minutes to get a beer while they changed the keg. (Drunken golfers?) Do yourself a favor, go out of the resort for dinner.
(1)
Charley C.
So we ended up at the Star Pass Golf Resort, and decided to test Catalina BBQ on the basis of convenience and location. Are we glad we did? You bet! Top notch everything. Service was constant, and just right. The Cobb Salad Anet had was perfect, just perfect. Everything fresh and crisp and in exactly the right ratio. The Quesadilla was toasted just right and the salsa fresca was fresca! They wanted us to taste their 3 special BBQ sauces and brought samplers of each, all very good, Anet preferred the Carolina base sauce and I preferred the tomato based smoked sauce. Although not on our order we requested to test the Sahuarita Pecans, as we had just come thru pecan country in Texas and wanted to taste these. They come from a grove / area near by and were very nice. All in all this is a wonderful place to eat, even if you don't golf!
(5)
Steven L.
I don't understand what happened but the young man from Philly was gone! Now the service is very bad, The Latin woman ( Elivia ) who served my client and I was very rude and appeared to be intoxicated, she smelled like liquor and used colorful metaphors to express her dislike of her job. I can't believe the Marriott has management who hires such plebeians to serve in a finer Sports Bar. The food was palatable but my complaint to management went unanswered. It is very disappointing that Catalina is going downhill.
(1)
Jill S.
Delicious barbeque but service was poor. Tortilla soup came with no tortilla strips (it was bland chicken soup with avocado) but waitress was nowhere to be found. When paying I asked if there were supposed to be tortilla strips and she said "of course" and offered to bring the soup the right way but we were paying (trying to pay) and full. I say trying to pay as we put our credit card in but she did not come back and we didn't see here anywhere so we switched to cash so we could leave. We were wrapping up lunch at 2 PM on Friday so maybe they were short staffed (??). Barbeque pork on salad was delicious and small cheddar biscuits were great too.
(3)
Brian M.
Never dreamed I would find barbecue this delicious in Tucson. Real pulled pork, fantastic smokey BBQ chicken wings, authentic burnt ends all accompanied by spectacular views and prompt, friendly service. This is a real find at a reasonable price.
(4)
Chad B.
Wow. This place is delicious. We were staying at the JW Marriott for 3 days and visited this place twice. It is mouth watering food. It is hard to grasp that a place is tucked away in a country club in the outskirts of Tucson could be so darn good - but it is. Go for it - get the burnt ends. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Ryan J.
The ribs have the right amount of flavor and the "fall off the bone" tenderness. The brisket and burnt ends were a little too fatty for our taste. The creamed corn was down right decadent. Good BBQ. Now graduate from the country club lobby and get a real location that says BBQ and not argyle socks.
(4)
Mike O.
First - great service! Great waiters! The food, not so much. Brisket was dry, dry, dry. Why don't restaurants keep brisket juicy like we do at home; let them sit in au jus before cutting? I had the pulled pork. Let's just say it was pork. However, their presentation of the three sauces was very nice. Sides? I forget. And the drinks. Absolutely horrible. And that is based on two visits to the bar as well as one dinner in the dining room. That bartender never saw booze that he liked! So he doesn't think we'll like it either. Or else Marriott has put a lock on the liquor cabinet! I've got to quit before I take it to a 2 star!
(3)
Sos A.
Unfortunately this place was a bit dissapointing. The ribs were very salty, the cole slaw was very salty. Our server was MIA on a number of occasions. After eating 75% of our meal we had to ask another server, to track down our server to bring refill our waters. She never came by to ask how everything tasted or if we needed anything. Not impressed.
(2)
Richard G.
The food, drinks and service here were very good. The four leather chairs that one passes on the way into the restaurant are worn and dirty. ....not the ambience I would have expected from a Marriott property.
(4)
Mesia H.
Really good food particularly for a hotel restaurant. Great BBQ and the mac and cheese is on par with Sullivans (my favorite). They had my favorite wings in town, smokey and juicy with tasty accompaniments. However the last two times I've ordered they have been smaller, very dry and this last time over seasoned to almost being inedible! I ordered to go and threw them out! I think maybe since they smoke them they have a shelf life that they are not following? Bring back the old wings or switch to traditional hot wings. Although I'm not sure if I'll be brave enough to order again.
(4)
Glenn K.
My wife and I are staying at the Starr Paz condos this week and on the premises is the Catalina Bar-B-Q restaurant.Although neither of us are big barbecue fans, we were both pleases with our meaals. I had the two meat barbecue which I chose chicken and the spicy sausages. both meats were excellent and liked the fact they supplied three types of sauces. of the three, the only bad one was the Carolina vinegar based sauce. the other two had both a little heat and lots of flavor.
(4)
Susan W.
This restaurant was recommended by a friend for its barbecue, however, it is was very disappointing! We paid a lot of money for poor quality food. The ribs were burned and dried out. It is not worth $26 for half rack ribs plus one side dish. The happy hour well drinks were not a great value either. The say the happy hour well drinks are half price, but they serve half glass of martinee. So, in the end there is no deal!
(3)
Bonnie D.
great atmosphere but i do not eat meat and the menu was not clear about the item i ordered.
(3)
Mike G.
Diamond in the rough; literally it sits on a golf course and is contained in the Tucson Mountain Marriot megaplex. Sure the decor is decidedly hotel lobby, but you are not paying for the decor, you are paying for the delicious BBQ. EC Chris Brown has brought authentic competition style (and quality) BBQ to Tucson. The only down side is that the beer prices are a bit steep. $6 for Dogfish Head IPA and Fat Tire. If you like BBQ then give this place a try
(4)
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Address :3800 W. Starr Pass Boulevard
Tucson, AZ, 85745
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Hezzy B.
It pains me to give only one star to any restaurant but it has earned this review. I had certain expectations being that this place is associated with The Marriott Star Pass Resort. A little difficult to make out the actual country club that houses the restaurant. It is surrounded by cookie cutter golf villa's/time shares and nothing about it makes it stand out. The inside of the restaurant has beautiful view's and is embraced by wooden table's and fixures. There were a few entrees order at the table. The Mac and Cheese was plentiful and good. The chicken breast was average. Here is one of two GIANT reason's I low balled this score. The chicken wings were so incredibly bad I still can taste them. I truly believe they were rotten. Not rotten as in just tasted like poo but rotten as in they have gone bad rotten. Not even a whole one was eaten. The table all tried a little bit and everyone agreed they were not eatable. Fries dusted with chili plusn the three incredible sauces on the side is the only thing that kept me at the table. They are a must! Yelp has this wonderful benefit of random time's you check in places you may get a free appetizer etc.... that happened today. Here comes second reason for 1 star:: I pulled it up on my phone to show our server. She physically takes my phone and says she needs to show her manager. Taking my phone is like taking my lungs lol! After a few minutes I had to get up to go retrieve my phone and she came out with it. Extremely inappropriate. You have the manager come to the table and look at it. Service was slow. Only one tabletop other than ours so no real excuse.
(1)Kat M.
Update! We had a great time. Relaxing, fantastic bartender, Smokey delicious wings traditional with sauce on the side ( seriously, they brine their wings, then smoke them, then season and flash fry) a traditional blue cheese parm wedge salad with real bacon and cherry tomatoes! Lots of laughs and a fantastic view! Eat, live and play with heart! Enjoy
(4)Bianca A.
Delicious! We decided to venture west this past Sunday for my bf's birthday. Being as it was also Father's Day we chanced it knowing it could be pretty busy. To our surprise we were the only table in there, but we did go at an off hour. Either way we were excited to fill up on some BBQ and we did our best. Our server was very friendly and seemed to be manning the floor by herself. While we were the only ones there eating there were other people in and out picking up food to go or having beers at the bar and she didn't skip a beat. As for the food, everything we tried was really pretty good. We started off with the smoked queso and added brisket - almost a meal on it's own - this was delicious. From there we had garden salads, mac & cheese, brisket, pork shoulder and ribs. I think the brisket and shoulder were the complete winners. These meats were tender and cooked perfectly. I didn't try the ribs but I was told they were good, not great. Kind of a let down. As for the sauces they bring out three different kinds: vinegar, sweet and spicy. I enjoyed mixing the vinegar and the spicy. Salads were normal, mac and cheese was fine, but that brisket ... .. I'll be back for that :)
(4)Nik D.
I've been meaning to write a review for this restaurant since Restaurant Week (yes, all the way back in September...). But that's how great this place and the service was! That months after, I still remembered having an amazing time. First, I have to give props to our server, I believe his name was James. He did an excellent job of explaining everything and always had a smile on his face. He even hooked us up with the delicious biscuits and some mac n cheese. (I might've asked to take some of those biscuits home). In addition to the humongous plate of nachos, We each got a 2 (or was it 3?) meat platter cause we're hungry hungry hippos. The portion size was incredible- we had leftovers for about two days after (and I'm talking lunch and dinner). Anyways, long story short, if you're in the mood for BBQ, great service, and need leftovers, def check this place out.
(5)Katie M.
Some of the best BBQ in the city. Very tender meat you can cut with a fork. Like butter. 3 different sauces to choose from. I recommend
(4)Pete I.
Grabbed some takeout from Catalina BBQ last night and it was delicious. We tried the three meat platter and it was great BBQ, all the meat was super tender. In my own little showdown I ranked them. 1st Place Brisket 2nd Place Pulled Pork Shoulder 3rd Place Pulled Chicken The sauces were really tasty, spicy, vinegar based and a sweeter more traditional sauce. Great BBQ hiding up in the hills near Starr Pass. Definitely recommended.
(5)V F T.
The best BBQ in town? Yes perhaps, but that's not saying much because all of the BBQ in Tucson is pretty darn bad. And despite the name of this place is actually a full service bar & restaurant rather than a straight-up BBQ joint. The menu has a bit of everything from nachos, burgers, fries, salads as well as BBQ. The big problem here is that the BBQ isn't really fresh, it's obvious that it's been reheated. Every time that I've been there it's always pretty consistent though. Thin but OK smoke ring, decent smoke flavor and some black bark and never too fatty. So you can definitely tell that they're at least smoking the meat correctly. The brisket, yes it is probably the best in town, but it would be much better sliced fresh. Tried an off menu item the last time that I was there, I asked if they had any "Burnt Ends" and they said yes, so why not. They were OK, not true burnt ends if you know what they are, but they didn't. But they were OK just the same. Pulled pork is always pre-shredded and a bit dry. I'd like to catch them on a day that the stuff is fresh off the smoker and have just a whole chunk as-is, not pulled or shredded, I'm sure that it would be a lot better. Ribs are good and better than Famous Dave's for sure. However you'd better pass on the sausage because it's pretty terrible. Every time that I've been there, no complaints from my table or bar mates, plus all of the other things coming out of the kitchen don't look bad at all. Today's visit no one complained about their burger, fries, sides, drinks, etc. But myself I only care about the smoked meats. Very nice looking building right on the Starr Pass golf course, cute bar with some ice cold draft beers on tap as well as a full alcohol selection. So by local standards this is the best BBQ choice by far, but by national standards the 'Q is below average but could be much, much better if sliced & served fresh. But then the prices are rather EXPENSIVE for what you get, but then that's the way it is in this town for BBQ....
(2)Rick F.
So the wings are a must! Smoked wings are some the best things ever made in my opinion. Beer was good! The portions were a lot and even the kids plates. The BBQ tasted better than a lot of other places I have visited and the chili dusted fries tasted good. The staff was friendly and helpful, and made sure we were all taken care of great! Will definitely visit again. If you staying at the JW Marriott, the shuttle will drop off and pick up, and extra bonus if you are having a few drinks!
(5)Bruce D.
Wow! What a find. Great food, great service. However, this place is NOT at the Marriott Starr Pass Resort, so don't park there. It's about 1/4 mile before you get to the resort at the Starr Pass Golf Clubhouse. The only reason we went was because we had a groupon since we had never heard of it. But, with or without groupon, we'll be coming back.
(5)Roberta H.
I've been here about 4 times and the menu is certainly all about BBQ. One suggestion if you just add a few items that aren't BBQ for your health conscious patrons, I for one would be thankful. The BBQ is great and the sauces that accompany the dishes are tasty. Catalina BBQ company is surrounded by sites you will find kind on your eyes. The patio looks right on the golf course and the views of Tucson Mountains are like a painting. The one thing that really needs to be fine tuned is the service. Every time I've been in this restaurant the staff made me feel as if I was lucky enough to be waited on by them. There is no use of please, thank you or anything that would make a patron feel appreciated. The last time I was in there we waited for 5 minutes for menus, wait person never came back to check on us after our food was delivered and we had to get up ask for our check. Sorry to say I'm not exaggerating :-( all the visits were about the same, this last was the worse. It's baffling because this place is part of JW Marriott who is known for there attention to guests needs. My hope is someone with JW reads this review and uses it as a hiring tool It all starts right there. Yes I'll try it again and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the next review will be closer to 5 stars.
(3)Jim B.
Exceptional. A must hit. John gave awesome service and the food was extremely good. Flavorful, plentiful, and we were full. Thanks for a great meal!
(5)Morgan L.
Really good, moist barbeque and excellent service. B who is, of course, the barbeque/meat eater in the family was well pleased, declaring it a sort of mixed mid-western style (think Kansas meets St. Louis meets Tucson AZ). We took guests and everyone loved the food, not one dissenting opinion. I had the pulled pork quesadilla and a side of the seasonal veggies, both of which were excellent. The sauces were home made and very tasty. Our group's favorite was the spicy one, but all three were notable.
(5)Kevin V.
Great location. Great staff. Great food. Also you get so much food for your money. I would suggest getting the appetizer sampler to share only if you have 4 or more people!
(5)Lil B.
Had the brisket sandwich and chili dusted fries for lunch. Brisket was done well and had just the right amount of smokey flavor. Probably the best brisket I have had in Tucson, which isn't saying a whole lot, but still. Fries were excellent. My buddy enjoyed his pulled pork sandwich. I smoke my own food at home, but I was impressed and I will come back again to see if they nail the other meats. When you take into account it is Bbq AND at a resort, the menu is very fairly priced.
(5)Terri F.
We visited this restaurant on Aug 30th at around 9:00 p.m. We were staying at Starr Pass and, after a long day playing, wanted to enjoy a good neal with our kids and grandkids. The hotel called ahead and shuttled us to the restaurant. We arrived and after waiting, the waiter came out and told us he would get the hostess. After waiting several minutes longer, still no hostess and the waiter seated us. After waiting at our table for several minutes, my daughter went to the hostess stand and retrieved menus for us all. After several minutes passed, we flagged down a waiter who finally came and took our drink order. Approximately 10 minutes passed and finally our drinks came. Another 10 minutes passed and we had to flag down the waiter to take our order. Another 30-45 minutes passed and finally our food came! It was cold! They took my granddaughter's back to reheat and when I told the waiter mine was cold too, he went back to the kitchen and came back with a side plate of shredded chicken heated in the microwave! To rub salt in the wound, a gratuity was already attached... We were absolutely appalled at the lack of service and the cold food from this restaurant! We realized it was late and we had a large party, but that shouldn't have made a difference, especially since the hotel called ahead and we were told we'd be welcome! I will never eat here again.
(1)Heather C.
This place was awesome! It all started with a fabulous round table which made socializing with the family so easy! The food was amazing. It's hard to please everyone (7 people) but this place did. None of us left hungry. My husband and I split a Blt wedge salad, BBQ chicken nachos, and original smoked chicken wings. All wonderfully amazing. To top it off we were our servers last table and he brought us a tray of free deserts! Which were also all bomb. If you go ask for Pedro he really took care of us. He is a fabulous server. We will definitely be coming back!
(5)Debbie C.
5 STARS for Service 3 STARS for Food We sat outside on the patio which was lovely. It overlooks the golf course and the beautiful Saguaro-filled mountains. We had excellent service throughout the meal. The waiter explained how the menu worked. We chose the ALL YOU CAN EAT BBQ ($30/per person). Note this is a two person minimum and you both have to order the same thing. Here's our take on the quality of the food: PULLED PORK - very dry. We kept dousing it with the three delicious sauces. BEEF BRISKET - good and tender SWEET SAUSAGE - had a really good flavor We chose 3 sides based on other Yelp reviews thinking it would be great: MAC 'N CHEESE - Loved the large pasta that they used, but overall it was bland, not really that cheesy. BOURBON CREAMED CORN - very watery, not much flavor and the corn was pretty crunchy. FRIES - very good, hot with a bit of crunch. They serve everything in different size skillets - very cute. The dinner plates were small and we found our food spilling off at times. Overall, this restaurant didn't WOW us enough to go back.
(4)Jason G.
The nachos are out of this world as are the wings, ribs and brisket. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu for that matter, and the service is excellent. Stephanie and Victoria have taken great care of us this week. Dinner at Catalina after a round of golf with our kids is a must stop during our annual spring break from Vermont.
(5)Emily L.
Great Service and right off the golf course. The place was dead and there was only one other patron there on a Thurs night so the manager had time to stop by and ensure I was having a good experience. Unfortunately, I ordered the two-meats meal which wasn't impressive- the brisket was dry and the pork was average. I was hoping the hyped-up sauces would make up the difference, but they didn't. I'd only come here again for a snack after a round of golf.
(2)Rich N.
Great place, great food, great service. After an 8 mile hike all day with our 6 year old, this was just the place we were looking for. Burger was really good, chili dusted fries were awesome, Mac and cheese side was out of this world, I didn't even want any, but my wife ordered it and I couldn't stop eating it. Her pulled pork sandwich came with three of their own sauces which all were good. We bought the two of the sauces and their rub on the way out!
(5)Michael G.
I can't ever imagine a trip to Tucson without a visit to this fantastic little hideaway. It was recommended by a JW employee- so frankly I kept low expectations. My Son & I were so impressed by the quality of the food, attentive service & quiet atmosphere. I think this place helped seal the U of A decision! Even if you're not staying at the JW- well worth the trek up the Pass. Our family's new U of A tradition- Can't wait for Parent Weekend to visit again!
(5)Amanda B.
This is gonna be long, I want to cover everything ...here goes. Okay, first... this is located at what used to be the Catalina Steakhouse and is located at the Starr Pass Golf Clubhouse, not the hotel. Follow the signs to the clubhouse to get there. There are some signs that still say Catalina Steakhouse, so follow those. There is plenty of self parking right near the clubhouse. Okay, we were seated in the dining room right away. We had an extremely friendly hostess and waitress. The only complaint is that the lighting is fairly dark. It takes awhile to adjust to the lighting to review the menu. The drink menu is large. They have a lot of different beers but only about five on tap. They also have a list of signature cocktails. I ordered the Starr Pass Martini and it was seriously so good. It took all my energy not to slam it. The fresh muddled berries in it totally made the drink. My friend got the Catalina margarita. It too was so smooth and good. So thumbs up to the bartender! We ordered the onion crisps to start. They aren't thick like onion rings; they have a light batter and are thin and seemed to be much less greasy. We all really enjoyed them, and they came with two dipping sauces which were also great. I ordered the one meat entree and chose the pulled pork with garden vegetables. However, since the list of sides all sounded amazing everyone at the group ordered an extra one with their entrees. I ordered a side of mac and cheese as well. My pulled pork was good. It had some good smokiness and was tender. The veggies were good. Still somewhat crisp and not over cooked. The mac and cheese was really, really good. They use large tube pasta with a good blend of cheeses. MMM. My husband ordered the rib sampler with the brisket and had sweet potato fries and the bourbon creamed corn (award winning). In order to write this review I determined I had to try his items as well. I tried one of his ribs and the meat was tender and came off the bone. It had good smokiness and spices without being overpowering. The sweet potato fries were really yummy too. I am not a creamed corn fan, but I tried it and yes, it was flavor full. Our friends ordered two meat entrees with pulled pork and brisket. They said they really like it as well. They got a garden salad, potato salad, and a baked potato for their sides. The baked potato was large and they brought out a side of all the fixins for it. It looked good. I did try the potato salad and enjoyed it. I think it had bacon bits in it and that sells me in my book. They have three types of BBQ sauces on the table. One is hot, one sweet, and one vinegar. I tasted all of them and like them all. The hot one is not that hot. It has a good blend of spices, but not really hot. I like having the option of the vinegar based sauce as well, and enjoyed it. I used the sweet sauce on my pork and really liked it. All the BBQ specialities come with either cornbread or Texas toast. We all got the cornbread. It is a small piece of cornbread and in the shape of a Saguaro. While cute, it was just okay. I would probably get the Texas toast next time. Now, the service. Our waitress was really nice and explained to us how the chef is a pit master, and a competition bbq chef, etc. However, it did take awhile to get the drinks from the bar. The food took a little long to come out as well. In fairness, it seemed that she had most of the tables in the dining room (about seven). When our food came out, three of our extra sides and my cornbread were missing. When we told her, she apologized profusely and brought out the sides. She said then said they were waiting for more cornbread to come out of the oven and brought it right out when available. It also took a little while to get our checks and have them taken and have the cards run. Normally I don't mind hanging around for the ticket, and would have ordered coffee or something while waiting, but it seemed to take awhile to get drinks so I didn't want to chance it. Plus, I was stuffed from all the food. The dessert menu looked good, but we had ate so much food we couldn't imagine eating any more (I am seriously still digesting it while writing this). Overall, the service was good, though a little bit slow. The food was really good. The price was what you expect at Starr Pass. The BBQ specialties run from $12-20. I think sandwich's are somewhat less, and an extra side is $4. I don't mind paying the extra to have a better view and not have the craziness of Famous Daves. I would definitely come back when wanting a nice night out with hubby and craving BBQ.
(4)John S.
Please do yourself a favor: call before you make the trek to the Catalina Barbeque Company. We didn't and found the place closed on a Thursday night. A large convention staying at the resort shut down the place. Did the hotel let other guests know? Was it mentioned on the web-site? Will I be back? No, no and hecka no.
(1)Anna W.
One of the very best wings I have ever had. It is so divine. Nice golf course and mounrain views. If the weather is right, have to be outside to enjoy. Decent happy hour. Recommendations and service made me leaving happy happy.
(5)Yolanda S.
2.5-stars. Only go if you are held hostage at the JW Marriot. The totally awesome patio and ice tea saved this 1-star review. The service was not good. Half of the burnt ends were a disappointment (of the remaining 50% half were good half were really good). The mac and cheese was amazing, but too big. I really would have appreciated 1/2 the serving and a small salad or coleslaw or something "crisp." Execution seems to be an issue here. *Sigh*
(2)Ben B.
Had a quite a few visits here as it is just up the road from me. Love the views and the laid back feel of the place. Food is incredible. Had various dishes, and none ever disappointed. Try the grilled chicken wings as an appetizer, the taste is amazing. Not sure what spices they use but it made us wish we had just ordered dozens of them as a full meal. Staff is very friendly and make you feel right at home. First visit we had some extra fun since we thought the restaurant was inside the main building at Starr Pass Marriott but it is actually down at the golf pro area. We were going to drive down their and find it ourselves but the staff at the Marriott were quick to offer their concierge shuttle to run us there and back, great service.
(4)Jacquie N.
What an amazing experience! I was attending a convention at the Marriott up the street and before arriving I had searched restaurant.com for some local eats and then double checked places against reviews here of course! I walked in and made sure to ask if they were accepting the certificates on that particular night. She welcomed us in and seated us near the patio. It was a bit too hot for my taste to sit outside, but we were still able to enjoy a gorgeous view! I ordered a wedge salad to start and they brought it out in record time along with a couple of different breads for us to sample. Our waitress was extremely friendly and knowledgable. She explained the breads and before we ordered we had a couple of questions about the 'burnt edges' brisket. She was more than happy to answer our questions and was very informative. My mother ordered the one meat plate with brisket and mac and cheese as her side. I ordered the one meat plate with chicken and a side of fruit. The chicken was properly cooked. I've been so shocked lately at the amount of undercooked chicken I have received. The smoky flavor was absolutely delicious. The side of fruit was large and had a nice assortment. I was very pleased! My mother seemed to very much enjoy the brisket. As someone else stated...a teeny bit dry, but it gets you to try those tasty sauces on the table! The mac and cheese was a generous portion and boy was it cheesy! Delicious. If I'm in town again I will hit this place coupon or not!
(5)Andrea H.
Don't be confused if you think that you are walking into a golf course club house-- that's kind of what this place is. Sit on the patio and get the full golf course view for the resort "experience". Sauces on the table enhance the wide varitey of smoked meats. Bear in mind that this place is not a "KC Style BBQ" place, it's meant to be a "Southwest BBQ" experience (my BF's family from New Jersey was confused and didn't care for the food's style). I sure like it! A full bar is also available to complement dinner. Casual attire is appropriate.
(4)Julie S.
Had the Brisket Rellenos and onion Rings. Onion rings were pretty good ,had a smokey flavor which I was not crazy about .The Brisket Rellenos was 2 brisket stuffed peppers with cheese sitting in BBQ sauce . Not crazy about it sitting in the BBQ sauce because it made it kind of soggy . Not bad though ; ) service was good !!! Waiter friendly and kept up with filling our drinks. Brought the check quickly. Will be back to try the ribs, burger and the Mac n Cheese ; )
(4)Michelle P.
My husband and i never imagined we would have such amazing BBQ in AZ. Everything we ordered was good. I ordered the pulled pork with mac and cheese as the side. If you enjoy baked mac and cheese I highly recommend it. It was baked in its own cast iron dish. My husband ordered the Bourbon creamed corn. It was very good like the reviews said, but we both agreed the mac and cheese was #1. The pulled pork was so flavorful you could enjoy it without any BBQ sauce. My husband ordered ribs and the meat fell off the bone. We both enjoyed the spicy BBQ sauce the most. Good price for the quality and quantity of food you get.
(5)Christina C.
"WOW! That was a seating experience" those were my exact words I said after Brett sat us for a Valentine's day dinner. Water was brought to the table right away. Server used our name numerous times. Now I know I gave 5 stars, but there were some complications. My water and tea were never refilled in time. I did get a new tea when we were eating dessert, didn't really need it at that time. Appetizer was not put in right away and arrived after our dinner. Before our dinner arrived we were taken someone else's meal so that was a little awkward. BUT, But even with all of that the food was so good and the service was courteous. Our server Elvia used the last name of the reservation again and again. Because we did not get the scrumptious, crispy, well seasoned wings in time for the pre-meal, they were taken off our bill. Do yourself a favor and GET THE WINGS!!! The dry rub that is placed on them give it so much plavor you can eat it with no dressing. The pulled pork sandwich I had was so good, bread was warm but not hard, meat was shredded nicely and with the dark bbq sauce. Mac n' cheese was creamy with nice big shells. I did not care much for the bbq sauce with the vinegar or the one with chiltepin, I'm more of a honey bbq girl. My boyfriend order the half rack of ribs and he shared one with me, one I said but from that one the meat came right off and was not burnt or undercooked. I was so full, but saved enough room for Bacon and Waffles for dessert. Found it a little interesting eating a mini, fluffy waffle with a strip of well cooked bacon and a vanilla ice cream scoop, but what the heck it was Valentine's Day and it was so good. Even with the misshaps I would go back because the food was so good. Honestly maybe not the best in Tucson, but good enough to pay $12 for my sandwich.
(5)The T.
There were some good things about this place, the atmosphere is relaxing and the dinning area has a nice view of the golf range and desert surroundings. The appetizer we got the relleno and it was delicious with tender brisket stuffed in the pepper. We both ordered the babyback ribs, the mac and cheese was good and so was my wife's sweet potatoe fries. However the most dissapointibg was the babyback ribs... We were expecting fall off the bone melt in your mouth... After all the babybacks were 34 dollars each plate for the full rack.... Well these were dry and took some muscle and knife to seperate the ribs... For 115 dollar dinner for two, I would expect to leave this place fully satisfied about the main course... For babyback ribs you'd be better ordering at Claim Jumper Or even Chilis
(2)Shannon C.
Came on a Friday night and got right in. Brisket was excellent as well as the Mac and Cheese. But the real star were the biscuits they served before the meal with honey butter.
(4)Chantelle P.
Lets call it what it is, a nice view of the Tucson mountains and golf course in your midst and thats all. BBQ for fools....I've been here and hoped for the best now over a handful of times. I've tried the chicken, chicken wings (terrible), brisket, pulled pork and ribs. The chicken is by far the worst, the brisket hella dry, ribs nothing to talk about..only the pulled pork and sweet potato fries are passable.. smokey ranch dressing, good..steer clear of everything else.The prickly pear margaritas provide a heap of pink drink with sugar down the gullet and no bite. I really have no idea how you sabotage BBQ to this level for a resort crowd, but they've certainly managed to do so. I hope they really improve because it has so much potential for the location. Also,careful of the abundance of flies should you venture outside in the summer months.
(3)Kim B.
I had a great experience at Catalina Barbeque Co. back in January before their grand opening, and was very impressed with the food! Between the four of us I think we managed to sample everything on the menu! Each of their meats was tender and tasty. The onion rings are amazing, very refreshing to be served fresh onion rings instead of the usual freezer-to-fryer rings at most restaurants. The Sonoran dogs were new to me, but after these I don't think I can go back to a regular dog with ketchup! I was also a big fan of the Bourbon Creamed Corn! Their new chef seems to be doing a great job so far! I'd definitely come back again!
(5)C J.
Nice setting. House wheat beer was excellent. Enjoyed Mac and cheese and sweet potato fries. Pulled pork and brisket had good flavor but too much fat, seemed to be a poor quality meat.
(3)Amy K.
Not their best night. New York strip tough, stringy and fatty. Service slow and I didn't get the glass of wine I ordered. Bill not calculated right. Too bad we decided to bring clients with us. Good thing they like us anyway.I will give kudos to Sabrina who really tried hard to save the evening. She even went as far as to chase us out to the parking lot because she'd taken the tip off and reran the bill. She's the reason you get a 2 instead of a 1.
(2)Jennifer S.
We had a great experience here. We had come to the area to play tennis (we were staying at the JW). We could smell the food from the restaurant while we were playing, so went to have lunch there afterwards. Decor was quite bland, but the views of the golf course and mountains were beautiful. Service was slow at first even though we were the only ones in the dining room. Food was delicious! I had a chipotle chicken sandwich with fresh fruit and husband had a brisket sandwich. Meats were perfectly cooked. Bread was fresh. Fruit side was large with good assortment, not just a few shriveled pieces of melon and grapes. We would definitely go back.
(4)George C.
I have been back twice since my first experience, and I really like the place now. Give the ribs a try....
(4)Maria L.
I needed a drink so my husband & I looked for a new happy hour spot. In the very beginning we were skeptical...there was nobody at hostess counter to greet us. After 3 minutes we decided to seat ourselves. Kevin, the bartender more than made up for the lack of a proper greeting. It was nothing but good things from there. Service was great, Kevin again did a great job. The ambiance was nice, not too loud and not too quiet. We were also asked whether we wanted to change the TV channel. We ate only appetizers and they were delicious. Great nachos, and I love nachos! The beer selection isn't grand, but they support one of my favorite local breweries,TCB. Would have given them 5 stars if it wasn't for the host/hostess not being at their post. Highly recommend it if you're on the west side.
(4)Sarah S.
This place is not bad. Their food is pretty good, if not a little overpriced (but what do you expect from a hotel restaurant?) We had ribs, a baked potato, and Mac & Cheese, which were all pretty good. Just a heads up, though, there are not good vegetarian options if you lean that way. I suspect the Mac & cheese even had some kind of meat in it. I decided not to ask since I already had it and was eating it, but I definitely tasted something meaty in there. The drinks are not bad either. Good wine and beer, and the margaritas are decent, but all overpriced, except maybe the beer. Overall, not bad. We came here twice during our stay at the Starr Pass Golf Suites.
(4)Justin E.
During a business trip to the Star Pass resort and Spa we got to sample this fine little joint. Since most of my visiting staff was from Kansas City the Star Pass hotel thought it appropriate to serve us BBQ the first night. Most of us scoffed at this idea but humored this Tucson attempt at BBQ. The smoked wings were to die for and if I go back to this place I could just eat a plate full of these wings with nothing else. I thought that until I tried the pulled pork Loaded Potato skins and BBQ Flat bread. The flat bread is more pulled pork piled high with sauce and cheese. I wasn't expecting to like a southwest style bbq but this was really freaking good. They raved about their mac and cheese and creamed corn but I liked their onion rings. I'm not even a fan of onion rings and I ate half the plate. Onto the entrees. The chicken was typical smoked chicken which is never very interesting in the realm of bbq. (nothing bad about it!) The Brisket I must admit was a little dry so I had to douse it with their yummy hot sauce which quickly became my favorite of the 3 sauces they had on the table. The Ribs...all I can say is DAAAAAAAAAMN. I was most impressed when they informed us that they had been to the American Royal in KC and placed highly in all categories! Not bad for a little joint down here in Tucson
(4)Cyn V.
First off, there was a plethora of drunken, loud golfers. That should have been a clue. Not impressed with my first dinner for my first stay at this JW Resort restaurant. My niece spilled water and we used our cloth napkins to clean it up. Our waitress was nowhere to be found so we got fresh napkins from another table. When we finally did track her down, we told her we had spilled and showed her the napkins and asked for more water. She brought the water. Those wet napkins sat on the table the entire meal. Then my pulled pork sandwich arrived with ice cold meat and no barbecue sauce. I've never had pulled pork without barbecue sauce. I never been served one cold either. We had already waited an eternity for our food & couldn't find the waitress, so I ate the coleslaw & chips. A hamburger ordered medium rare was served pretty darn rare. It also took 30 minutes to get a beer while they changed the keg. (Drunken golfers?) Do yourself a favor, go out of the resort for dinner.
(1)Charley C.
So we ended up at the Star Pass Golf Resort, and decided to test Catalina BBQ on the basis of convenience and location. Are we glad we did? You bet! Top notch everything. Service was constant, and just right. The Cobb Salad Anet had was perfect, just perfect. Everything fresh and crisp and in exactly the right ratio. The Quesadilla was toasted just right and the salsa fresca was fresca! They wanted us to taste their 3 special BBQ sauces and brought samplers of each, all very good, Anet preferred the Carolina base sauce and I preferred the tomato based smoked sauce. Although not on our order we requested to test the Sahuarita Pecans, as we had just come thru pecan country in Texas and wanted to taste these. They come from a grove / area near by and were very nice. All in all this is a wonderful place to eat, even if you don't golf!
(5)Steven L.
I don't understand what happened but the young man from Philly was gone! Now the service is very bad, The Latin woman ( Elivia ) who served my client and I was very rude and appeared to be intoxicated, she smelled like liquor and used colorful metaphors to express her dislike of her job. I can't believe the Marriott has management who hires such plebeians to serve in a finer Sports Bar. The food was palatable but my complaint to management went unanswered. It is very disappointing that Catalina is going downhill.
(1)Jill S.
Delicious barbeque but service was poor. Tortilla soup came with no tortilla strips (it was bland chicken soup with avocado) but waitress was nowhere to be found. When paying I asked if there were supposed to be tortilla strips and she said "of course" and offered to bring the soup the right way but we were paying (trying to pay) and full. I say trying to pay as we put our credit card in but she did not come back and we didn't see here anywhere so we switched to cash so we could leave. We were wrapping up lunch at 2 PM on Friday so maybe they were short staffed (??). Barbeque pork on salad was delicious and small cheddar biscuits were great too.
(3)Brian M.
Never dreamed I would find barbecue this delicious in Tucson. Real pulled pork, fantastic smokey BBQ chicken wings, authentic burnt ends all accompanied by spectacular views and prompt, friendly service. This is a real find at a reasonable price.
(4)Chad B.
Wow. This place is delicious. We were staying at the JW Marriott for 3 days and visited this place twice. It is mouth watering food. It is hard to grasp that a place is tucked away in a country club in the outskirts of Tucson could be so darn good - but it is. Go for it - get the burnt ends. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Ryan J.
The ribs have the right amount of flavor and the "fall off the bone" tenderness. The brisket and burnt ends were a little too fatty for our taste. The creamed corn was down right decadent. Good BBQ. Now graduate from the country club lobby and get a real location that says BBQ and not argyle socks.
(4)Mike O.
First - great service! Great waiters! The food, not so much. Brisket was dry, dry, dry. Why don't restaurants keep brisket juicy like we do at home; let them sit in au jus before cutting? I had the pulled pork. Let's just say it was pork. However, their presentation of the three sauces was very nice. Sides? I forget. And the drinks. Absolutely horrible. And that is based on two visits to the bar as well as one dinner in the dining room. That bartender never saw booze that he liked! So he doesn't think we'll like it either. Or else Marriott has put a lock on the liquor cabinet! I've got to quit before I take it to a 2 star!
(3)Sos A.
Unfortunately this place was a bit dissapointing. The ribs were very salty, the cole slaw was very salty. Our server was MIA on a number of occasions. After eating 75% of our meal we had to ask another server, to track down our server to bring refill our waters. She never came by to ask how everything tasted or if we needed anything. Not impressed.
(2)Richard G.
The food, drinks and service here were very good. The four leather chairs that one passes on the way into the restaurant are worn and dirty. ....not the ambience I would have expected from a Marriott property.
(4)Mesia H.
Really good food particularly for a hotel restaurant. Great BBQ and the mac and cheese is on par with Sullivans (my favorite). They had my favorite wings in town, smokey and juicy with tasty accompaniments. However the last two times I've ordered they have been smaller, very dry and this last time over seasoned to almost being inedible! I ordered to go and threw them out! I think maybe since they smoke them they have a shelf life that they are not following? Bring back the old wings or switch to traditional hot wings. Although I'm not sure if I'll be brave enough to order again.
(4)Glenn K.
My wife and I are staying at the Starr Paz condos this week and on the premises is the Catalina Bar-B-Q restaurant.Although neither of us are big barbecue fans, we were both pleases with our meaals. I had the two meat barbecue which I chose chicken and the spicy sausages. both meats were excellent and liked the fact they supplied three types of sauces. of the three, the only bad one was the Carolina vinegar based sauce. the other two had both a little heat and lots of flavor.
(4)Susan W.
This restaurant was recommended by a friend for its barbecue, however, it is was very disappointing! We paid a lot of money for poor quality food. The ribs were burned and dried out. It is not worth $26 for half rack ribs plus one side dish. The happy hour well drinks were not a great value either. The say the happy hour well drinks are half price, but they serve half glass of martinee. So, in the end there is no deal!
(3)Bonnie D.
great atmosphere but i do not eat meat and the menu was not clear about the item i ordered.
(3)Mike G.
Diamond in the rough; literally it sits on a golf course and is contained in the Tucson Mountain Marriot megaplex. Sure the decor is decidedly hotel lobby, but you are not paying for the decor, you are paying for the delicious BBQ. EC Chris Brown has brought authentic competition style (and quality) BBQ to Tucson. The only down side is that the beer prices are a bit steep. $6 for Dogfish Head IPA and Fat Tire. If you like BBQ then give this place a try
(4)