Neighbor Roy and I usually go out to lunch at noon on Fridays, but one week in late March 2022, Roy was having plumbing work done at his home on this particular Friday. So we went to lunch on Saturday. We had earlier decided to go again to the Old Times Kafe on Prince Road. Before we left, I reminded Roy that the last time we were there, he ordered meatloaf, so he couldn’t order the same thing this time.

We arrived and the parking lot was nearly empty. That surprised us since on Fridays, the place is usually packed. We were seated right away and ordered our drinks. Roy ordered his usual hot tea and I ordered my usual iced tea with lemon.

At that point, we notice something odd on the menu. It read:

Old Times Kafe 24 Egg Omelet Challenge
Your choice of 1 meat, 1 veggie, 1 cheese in the omelet, served with a triple order of potatoes and a triple order of toast and a beverage……… Finish in 1 hour, uninterrupted, and it’s free…… don’t make it and it’s $32.00.

Roy said he’d pass. Me too. Way too much food. The two of us together could not eat that much.

So Roy ordered their Fish & Chips and I ordered a Chicken Fried Steak. Both are served with Garlic Toast, Steamed Vegetables, and a Choice of Rice Pilaf or Mashed Potatoes w/Gravy. You can add a cup of soup or a side salad for $1.00.

A few minutes later, our server, a pleasant young lady, returned to our table to announce, “Sorry, but the kitchen is out of fried fish today.” “Bummer”, thought Roy. He took another look at the menu and said, “OK, I have the Hot Roast Beef Sandwich.”

I’ll let Roy tell you about his experience.

“On Saturday we revisited the Old Time Kafe on Prince Road. The restaurant was not full as it usually is on weekdays. We were promptly seated and menus presented. Drink orders were taken–I ordered my usual hot tea and ordered the fish fry. My hot tea arrived with 2 tea bags–a first for any Tucson restaurant. Shortly after ordering, the server and the cook appeared at the table to tell me they were out of fish, and offered apologies–no problem–I ordered the roast beef luncheon. Of note, the menu offers a breakfast special–a belly-busting pile of breakfast meats, potatoes, and cheeses==offering anyone who can finish this mountain of food a free breakfast.
But if you cannot finish, it will cost you $32.00. They have pictures of patrons who did finish this epic pile of food. Both Jim and I passed on this adventure.

The restaurant was a bit cold, it was also not busy. There was a bit of a wait, but eventually lunch arrived. Portions are ample, the food was hot and very good. The veggies were firm, just as I like them.

Overall I would give them 4 saguaros. Note: Old Time Kafe is not fancy, it is a family restaurant, and what they do, they do it well. Where else could you get a roast beef lunch for $9.95?”

My Chicken Fried Steak with Mash Potatoes and Veggies was real good. And my iced tea was refreshing. Of course, I didn’t eat the broccoli. I hate broccoli. I don’t like the smell of it. And the taste is worse. But I won’t deduct that fact from my review. It’s not Old Time’s fault for my dislike of broccoli.

Like Neighbor Roy, I award Old Time Kafe Four Saguaros for its great down-home cooking.

Old Time Kafe

1845 W. Prince Road
Tucson, Arizona