Vadim, my coach and trainer at Body Basics where I get my once-a-week physical therapy, recommended Ermanos on 4th Avenue. So on the last day of April, 2022, Neighbor Roy and I had lunch there.
The Ermanos brothers’ website reads, “Brothers Mark and Eric Erman continue to stretch the limits of expansive mindset and dream state to guide their quest, which most recently developed into a Portal to another dimension. Cheers! ” Well, OK!
First noticed, was the parking issue. Not much there. Since I can’t walk much, I asked Roy to let me out and park my car while I went in the restaurant to have a seat. This he did, but not without a few problems, not least of which was having to back into a side street parking space, perpendicular to the sidewalk. Try it some time. You’ll hate doing this.
Once I got inside, however, all was forgiven. The renovated space was mostly brick walls, a pleasant bar area, and leather seating along the wall that ran the length of the big room. I could see they have a patio out back but I didn’t want to walk out there to check it out.
I waited for Roy to arrive from parking my car, and simply ordered a margarita while I waited. When he arrived, our server, a very pleasant young lady, took Roy’s drink order. Naturally, he ordered his usual hot tea, and just as naturally, they didn’t have any. So he ordered a Sprite instead, commenting that this oversight will cost them one saguaro on his rating of them.
We ordered, Roy ordering Fish & Chips, this was beer-battered Alaskan Pollack, house fries, slaw, and tartar sauce ($20). I ordered the Zip Burger, 7oz Angus beef, French onions, lettuce, tomato, mayo, on a brioche bun ($14) Add cheese +1.5 Add house-cured bacon +3. Add lobster +8. I ordered mine with cheddar cheese and bacon.
I’ll let Neighbor Roy tell you about his experience.
“Today we dined at a new (to me) restaurant on 4th Ave called ERMANOS. As soon as I opened the door I had a positive feeling about the restaurant. It clearly had been a renovated space, extremely well done–with leather-backed seating running along the entire right side. Later I wandered back to see the patio. Nothing special here. Returning to our table, and just inside the back patio, on my right side was a darkened room, for those intimate dining experiences, I guess.
I had ordered the fish and chips. They have no hot tea, but offered iced tea which I declined in favor of sprite.
What came was a large platter, with 5 pieces of fried fish, a mountain of French fries and purple cabbage slaw–ala German style. The portions are man-sized, the food was well prepared well and the service was exceptional. For instance, when my sprite glass was empty, the waitress brought me a second glass–free. I might add the drinks came with a bamboo straw, recyclable–a first for Tucson. I cannot recommend this dining experience highly enough. Based on food, ambiance and service, I give them a 4 saguaro rating. Try it you will love it.”
My cheeseburger was so good, that I rate it among the best in town. In fact, I’m going to add Ermanos to our List of the Best Burgers in Tucson on this website. By the way, the fries were great, but I couldn’t eat them all so plentiful were they.
Like Neighbor Roy, I rate Ermanos four saguaros. And that’s considering the poor parking issue. If they had decent parking, this place would be a Tucson gem for sure. Of course, you can always ride the streetcar.
Ermanos Bar
220 North Fourth Avenue
Tucson, Arizona
(520) 445-6625
Sunday: 11am – 10pm
Mon – Thurs: 12pm – 10pm
Friday: 12am – 12am
HAPPY HOUR
M-F  noon – 6pm
