I have to say, I was so surprised with how much I loved this place! I ended up here quite by accident, as my dance company was performing and I hadn't considered packing a lunch. Half a dozen of our dancers descended on the place and they were already deep into the lunch crowd (around 11:30 a.m.) on a Sunday. This lovely employee offered to take care of us and showed us to a table that was able to accommodate all of us. She then proceeded to kindly answer questions, take our orders, and followed up with us to make sure we had everything we needed. I wish I'd gotten her name but I did not, so hopefully whoever sees this can pass along compliments to management (I'm writing this on the same day as the visit)! As for the food and beverages, there were so many more options than I would have imagined at a smaller location like this. I got the horchata which was delicious, and then ordered a yogurt parfait from the breakfast menu and the Sonoran dog from the lunch menu. Thankfully they sell both breakfast and lunch menu items all day! The yogurt parfait was perfect, the yogurt was tasty and not too sweet, and the blueberries were plentiful along with a smattering of strawberries and great granola. The Sonoran dog came with chips and was appropriately topped, with plenty on it yet not so messy that I couldn't eat it. Of course you could not ask for a better environment in which to enjoy your food and drink, because what's more beautiful than the botanical gardens! It's really nice to have a quality restaurant inside a place like this because a lot of times it can be hard to find good food at a place where that's not the main attraction. If you are visiting the botanical gardens you should definitely check out Edna's Eatery! Next time I plan on trying the frozen fruit pops.... read more

Gorgeous cafe tucked inside the Tucson Botanical Gardens, but unfortunately the coffee doesn't live up to the setting. I love starting my mornings in a garden right when it opens, so I was excited to grab a coffee to begin my visit. Sadly, my iced coffee was not drinkable. The flavor was bitter, and the cream separated immediately, leaving it tasting and looking unappealing. It's disappointing to encounter something like this in such a beautiful location, especially after paying $5 for the drink. A garden this lovely deserves beverages that match the experience, and I hope they make an effort to significantly improve. read more

Edna's Eatery - Gorgeous setting and outdoor seating area. - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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What a wonderful cafe, in the middle of a garden! Had lunch here the other day and was very pleasantly surprised to find such a welcoming and delicious spot, with great service and ambiance. Lots of comfortable outdoor seating with plenty of shade supplied by umbrellas. Some indoor seating as well for those who prefer that. Enjoyed the iced coffee + coconut horchata, soup of the day (corn/leek chowder, I believe?), and pulled pork BBQ platter. All seemed freshly made with high-quality ingredients. Highly recommend a stop during your botanical garden visit! read more

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Delicious chicken sandwich and pulled pork sandwich. Ambiance is so peaceful with birds chirping and breeze blowing. Service was wonderful by Hopie read more

Edna's Eatery - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Great food experience tucked away in tucson botanical gardens . You enjoy your meal while being serenaded by the garden wildlife. Higher price point , but the presentation , service & location are on point . You will have to pay for botanical gardens ticket to access Edna's . Pro tip : They open at 8:30am BE THERE @ opening read more

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Tasty brunch and lunch options, fast service and lovely space. We had the green chile brisket sandwich, BBQ Sonoran dog, and coconut horchata by itself and in cold brew. All was tasty, and brisket portion was generous! read more

Edna's Eatery - BBQ Sonoran dog - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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I miss when Gallery of Food was at the gardens. The food was fresh, inventive, more refined, and felt like the perfect fit for dining in the garden. The newest takeover is lackluster in comparison to Gallery of Food. The burrito was generous in size but tasted like it had been in a warmer all morning long. It was so hot it never really cooled down while I was eating it. The flour tortilla was not very good, it tasted like Alejandro's tortillas to me. My husband ordered the green chile potato hash. He was said it was a-ok. We were looking forward to trying this eatery out. You don't know until you try but we wont be rushing back to dine here again. read more

Such a cute place. Inside the botanical gardens. Just a small little gem in a cute little house with a few seats inside and a great outdoor patio area to enjoy some food in the beautiful gardens. We had just a snack and chips and salsa and some great fresh made iced tea. The service was great. They serve lunch and brunch as well. The food looked great and can't wait to come back and try more choices for lunch. read more

Edna's Eatery - Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I had a great impromptu breakfast at the new Edna's Eatery by Charley's Grill! Fresh, delicious avocado toast with plenty of greens and tomatoes! Paired with a Jamaica agua fresca, it was a great way to start the day in the always gorgeous Tucson Botanical Gardens. It was nice to meet Carlos, and I can't wait to see what's ahead! And my server Czarina was the best!! Thank you! read more

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Now open (may 2024) Ambiance: great, you're under the canopy of a tree. Food: brisket was dry, the green chile was thin... , the only vegetarian offerings were with cheese. Most of all, I question the management, because staff seemed not happy: bad management makes for unhappy workers. Too bad, this should be a great place. read more

Edna's Eatery - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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For some reason the waitress was unbelievably rude. We seated outside waiting for her to take the order but she never came. So my husband went inside to order. This lady came to my table asking "oh are you here to have food? " , with no smile, a harsh tone. When she came with utensils she banged it on the table ‍ Ordered breakfast Chilaquiles Rojos. To my understanding this dish is typically salty. But the one they offered is extremely salty, everything was covered in thick red sauce with no spicy tone, only salty. I have never had such a bad experience in any of the Tucson restaurants or breakfast places. I wish no tip was an option. read more

My family and I vacation in Tucson from Central Ohio every April. This year, in particular, we planned to visit the Tucson Botanical Garden. When we planned our itinerary, we discovered that within the Botanical Garden was a cafe called Edna's Eatery and that Edna's was run by none other than Chef Carlos Guerrero. We met Chef Carlos at the JW Marriott Resort a number of years ago, when we first fell in love with the Tucson area. Today we visited the Botanical Garden and, of course, had lunch at Edna's. Chef Carlos and his staff did not disappoint! The food, the service... all 1000% top-shelf! Chef, as an aspiring pit master, your brisket is what I strive for! Chef Carlos was even gracious enough to visit our table to say hello. To our server Destiny... thanks so much for being an ambassador! Tim Galena, Ohio read more

We loved this cute little cafe located in the Tucson Botanical Garden. They had the perfect menu for a small bite & refreshing drinks. The fruit salad & caprese salad were just what we needed & the agua fresca really hit the spot. They keep fruit infused water on the patio for refreshment as well. It's very small & only appeared to be one person up front, one in back, but didn't have to wait long at all. We hit it at a good time. It was a nice break midway through our exploring. read more

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Such a fabulous little Tucson gem located in the beautiful Tucson Botanical gardens! My mother and I spent the afternoon walking the gardens and really appreciated having the chance to sit down in their gorgeous patio and have some small bites! Their prickly pear iced tea was really refreshing, plus, their menu has numerous choices, from vegetarian to burgers. They use fresh ingredients and my ceviche was just what I wanted, full of shrimp. Plus, the homemade chips were delicious. The portion was a big small but, it was an appetizer (fit for one person) so next time, I'm hoping to order a full lunch. My mom ordered the danish and it came wrapped in plastic, it was tasty however. Next time we both agree to order larger meals. I do believe you need to pay admission to gardens in order to enjoy the eatery but, it's well worth an afternoon in the gardens! read more

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Mocha review - $8 regret one sip and went to trash can i don't like to throw away food but it was just that bad tasted like hot chocolate mix with old coffee read more

Arrived early at the garden so I went for a bite to eat. I missed it on my first round but found it on my way back, It really was to hard to find, I just missed a turn. If you don't already know, this spot is located inside the Botanical Gardens. Not a big selection but holy cow the Huevos Rancheros is killer. Very flavorful, served hot and the price was good. Good thing I had an hour to kill, it took me almost that long to eat all of it. Portion size was perfect. Plenty of places to sit inside and out. Only one server and she was wonderful. Will try them again on my next trip to the garden. read more

Edna's Eatery - The popular dish, ranch eggs. - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Where to eat in a Monday when many places are closed or they are serving yesterday's leftovers? THIS is the place! Under and next to gorgeous shading trees and other cooling plants, my friend and I enjoyed great service, reasonable prices and generous portions (enough to take some home). All our choices were beyond delicious. I have to confess I made a swooning sound with that first bite. Go, go enjoy yourself. And take a friend or two or three. (You can eat inside in air conditioned comfort if you like.) read more

Left confused. Beautiful ambience really wanted to enjoy a meal here, self seating according to signs, but no server came out so I went into the building where the kitchen is and there's no way to get someone's attention. Waited about 15-20 minutes, not busy at all around 10 am. Wish I could've tried the food, not knocking the place but suggesting a better way to serve people. read more

Nice little place but pricey and kind of precious. The wait staff are pleasant and fast. The food sounds better than the execution. The biggest thing for me is the lively setting and comfy patio. read more

Edna's Eatery - Nice patio. - Cafes Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

A "must"place to visit and enjoy! The fact that you are eating in beautiful gardens is a plus, but the good and service is EXCEPTIONAL! Highly recommend the avocado toast! The presentation alone is like no other. The mix of fresh herbs, and vegetables, balsamic and olive oil adds so much to the flavors. The hint of fresh mint to it is a mind blower. The service from Destinee is exceptional! Personable and fun with a great sunny attitude! One of the best cafes to open in Tucson!!! read more

Edna's has great foods and coffee, but doesn't always adhere to their hours of operation. Be prepared to wait for them to open. Bring a snack! read more

I only tried it once and never again. I eat out just about everyday and this ranked the lowest of meals in Tucson for me. I ordered a Caesar salad, with shrimp. Instead of dark greens, It was mostly chopped romaine stems the center of the head. Bottled Caesar dressing the parmesan was nicely sliced thin curls. Nothing special. The shrimp were overcooked and rubbery like an eraser. With such a nice location, and as a supporting member of the gardens. I find this totally disappointing. The price point is way off, for the same price at the Bistro at Tohono chul gardens one is served amazing food or even a better meal at Chipotle or other mom and pop establishments. read more

My mom and I had a half day off together and decided to go to the Tucson Botanical Gardens as a nice outside activity. We'd heard about the new restaurant, so we were excited to try Edna's Eatery. The menu was on the TBG website so we knew prices ahead of time and the type of food served. We had a lovely time! We haven't dined in a restaurant in a year, so it was so nice to have a nice dining experience outdoors with socially distanced and umbrella-d tables. The structure of the restaurant is outdoor tables with wait staff, and then you pay in the little building where the kitchen is. It wasn't the fastest service, but it was also not slow, honestly it was a nice level of relaxed. We weren't in a rush, so sitting a bit was fine. I think being seated to paying and leaving was about 35 minutes. My mom got a panini and I got a spinach salad with goat cheese. Our food was scrumptious, but not a heavy meal. Definitely perfect for a lightish lunch. They have a variety of teas and unique beverages. Their menu also has vegan, vegetarian, and children's options. We were there for lunch, but breakfast is also served earlier in the day. We thought the prices were very reasonable. Total for two meals and a drink (I had water) was $30 + $5 tip. We will go again! read more

The setting is really lovely, of course, and proved to be the highlight of our lunch. I had reviewed the menu from home, before deciding on Edna's as our lunchtime destination. The menu descriptions are sufficiently enticing, though the food we were served did not quite match what I had read. The panini I ordered was said to include a compote with pear and pomegranate, though I saw no such thing. The portions were really quite meager as well. My lunch companion ordered the Caesar salad with chicken added, and we were both unsure what the salad would have amounted to without the chicken. As I say, quite meager. Our server seemed unhappy and appeared to be the only person scheduled to wait all of the tables. I wanted to love my lunch, but I'm not sure that I'll be back. read more

First, the pro: the setting is lovely. You have to already pay for/enter the Tucson Botanical Gardens, which are worth it and this is a lovely spot inside of that. Now the cons: -wait staff was unresponsive (took us ten minutes to get someone's attention in the kitchen to confirm we could sit down as we were trying to respect the multiple signs that said wait to be seated) and untrained on basics (wasn't comfortable with the tablet and spent an awkward amount of time at our table figuring it out). When we were done we were simply told what the cost of the meal was, and asked for payment on the spot. No itemized ticket, nothing to review. -menu was limited which is fine but the meals looked like everything was put together from cans/bags. Just prepared on site with very little actual cooking. Huevos rancheros had cold/unmelted cheese on top and the flavor overall was impressively bland. Zero attention to detail - half the cilantro as garnish was wilted and shriveled up. -pricing was odd. Ordered an 8ounce latte, was delivered a very full 16 ouch to go cup of absolutely undrinkable swill. The menu said the prices were $3/$5 for small/large. I was charged $4. -overall a really disappointing experience for such a lovely location. I hope they can improve or a better group can come in. read more

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The staff was less than welcoming. The waitress was very rude. Essentially, they all looked like they hated their job!

Had lunch there in the spring. Food was excellent, reasonably priced and the service was efficient and friendly.