Baja Cafe On Campbell Tucson

Stopped by for breakfast while in Tucson on a Wednesday morning based on good reviews and recommendations. The parking is right in front of the restaurant, and there is plenty in the shopping center around if you don't manage to land a spot right out front. As soon as I pulled up, I noticed a nice patio area as an option for outdoor seating. When I walked in, I was quickly and pleasantly greeted by my server and seated near a window. The restaurant has a vibe that feels like a cross between a classic American diner and a sports bar and grill. The atmosphere felt very relaxed and chill back with rasta type beats playing softly overhead. The kitchen is open across a bar, and the staff is very friendly and attractive. Since it was my first visit to the restaurant, my server recommended a Benedict as that is what they are known for. He also informed me that this restaurant is a site of filming for an episode of the show Man vs. Food. Which I discovered was very fitting as the portions are extremely generous! I decided to order the Monsoon Benedict, which is served with a pesto hollandaise sauce topped with arugula and a balsamic reduction. As a fisrt time customer, I was also served a complimentary Snickerdoodle Pancacke! For a beverage option, I did order the macchiato espresso, but that is the only mention it will receive in this review. The Benedict was served with a healthy portion of hashbrowns that are everything you'd want in a classic diner hashbrown. Hot golden and crispy exterior while fluffy on the inside, and not at all greasy. The Benedict itself was the star of the show! By far, the most delicious thing on the plate was the pesto hollandaise sauce! With the grilled tomato, smokey bacon, and avacado combined with the creamy yolk of the perfectly soft poached egg and peppery arugula, it tasted like a blast of California mixed with my favorite classic Italian tomato and basil combo. The balsamic reduction atop the arugula really helped break up the richness of the totem below. Although serving Benedicts on an English muffin is classic, I could have gone without the bread base and ate it with just the hashbrown. At the mention of this, my server advised that they do serve any of the Benedicts over a tamale base, which I would be eager to try next time! The Snickerdoodle pancake was also a very generous size as it covered nearly the entire plate! It was topped with a cinnamon sugar dusting and a vanilla cream cheese glaze. If you are sensitive to sweets, you've been warned! This is enough sugar to transport you back to when you were 10 years old on Halloween night! The pancake itself was absolutely delightful. The interior of the confection was cloud-like and perfectly pillowy. Classic A+ American diner buttermilk pancake, through and through! Overall, I would say that this place is definitely worth a visit, not only once, but multiple times over, to try the different offering on the menu! Thank you Baja Cafe!