Let me start by first saying that we all know Yelp is a platform where a majority of people flock to when things go awry or only have negative things to say about a business. Sometimes, these situations can lead to unfair and unjust ratings. Such is the case for Kettle Restaurant. Being in town for the Tucson Gem Show, and recovering from a recent illness, I decided to stay in the hotel tonight to rest and continue recuperating. Of course, I got an overwhelming urge to eat--thanks to the unpredictable side effects of the medication I'm taking--and a lack of will to continue my groggy, med induced slumber. I did what most do when traveling, and hit up one of my map apps for nearby eateries. I'm without vehicle, and I'd be damned if I wandered around the area in this frosty climate (keep in mind that I'm Hawaiian, anything below 80 is frigid). Nor did I have specific craving for Mexican food and the dozen or so Mexican restaurants that popped up. Kettle Restaurant was one of two eateries within my capability and desire to walk to. The Yelp reviews gave me a bleak expectation. However, being the adventurer that I am, I said, "screw it," and promptly walked downstairs and into the cold winter night. Running through the door for heat, I was promptly greeted by a friendly waitress. As we walked to my table, I looked around and noticed the buffet. It was ravaged. Not that I minded, since I wasn't very hungry, and had my mind set on just a soup or sandwich. I only really sought to satiate my little bit of hunger and quell the uprising caused by my earlier ingestion of medication. Perusing the menu, I noticed one of my staples--the gyro. I asked my waitress, Luisa, what they were known for. She replied, "the buffet," with a smile. I inquired to the gyro, and she gave me a very truthful, "I love gyros, but not here. Try the buffet." Long convo cut short. I settled on the buffet. Four pieces of chicken thighs, and two robust and tender piece of succulent rib later, she asked me if I would like to try the lamb shank, as it was included with the buffet. Having already eaten a huge portion of food at a speed as if it were the first time I've ever eaten, I nodded my head excitedly. The ribs and chicken from the buffet had stoked my engine, like a shark getting a whiff of that first drop of blood. I was ready for more. My previous expectation of this place swayed by past reviews were shot--I was upset and disappointed that Kettle Restaurant didn't have higher, more true-to-life ratings average. Hence, this review to attempt to right that injustice. Anyway, back to the food! Luisa brought me a plate with a huge piece of lamb shank. "Holy hell," I thought, wondering how I would devour that huge portion. Well, I did...and more. Luisa brought me a plate of the Jordanian jasmine rice the wife of the owner made. My taste buds were dancing in harmony to the mix of perfectly tuned flavors. At this point, thinking of the past reviews I had read was making me more determined to see what I could do to right the injustice of last reviews. I understand that some places could be disappointing, especially when you go in with preconceived notions of five star dining. But c'mon, man. This place is a gem, and a best-kept-secret of Tucson, in my not-so-humble opinion. The lamb is a Jordanian specialty only prepared during the period of the citywide Gem Show. I was lucky enough to just drop in on the final night. There's so much care in the making of the lamb shank (and all the food, mind you), from the freshness to the traditional preparation and blessing of the food, that it's hard to fathom the detail no one but the staff sees. You can taste that extra freshness and deep family history of the recipes that went into the food. The cost of my experience? $15.00. I was lucky enough to meet the owner, Sam, as he worked to personally restock the buffet--which I had mopped up in my two run through--and got to speak to his wife, Sandi. I promised her, and my waitress, Luisa, to leave a thoughtful review in hopes that someone who reads this will disregard past reviews, and all expectations, and really give this place a shot. Having googled and yelped, and read reviews about Kettle Restaurant. I also developed the expectation of an "American Dining," or an experience in "American Food." If you have the opportunity, speak with the waitresses about options--they'll give you the honest lowdown--and take a dive into the true core strength of this gem. Go for the ethnic, cultural experience. I believe they'll do a great job with eggs and waffles, but treat yourself and wander into the unknown. You'll be pleasantly surprised. read more

I don't even know where to start. I ordered eggs Benedict, I got biscuits with couple fried egg's resting on top and covered in milk gravy. Good just not what I ordered but still good! cook didn't know how to poach an egg, service was great they were not busy, good food good price read more

This restaurant is a place you can definitely call a place of comfort just like being at home. The whole staff is very warm and attentive. The food will take you to Grandma's kitchen. Not to mention......the prices are budget friendly. read more

My husband and I have driven by this restaurant several times and have talked about trying it. Saturday we went in for the dinner buffet because that is what attracted us. The waitress was professional and attentive to our needs. But the buffet left much to be desired. Only one full buffet table and the food was not seasoned so it was bland. Some of the food was also burnt unfortunately. It is definitely a family friendly restaurant. Lots of interesting decorations on the walls and clocks telling the time in different parts of the country which was kind of cool. Unfortunately the price was a bit steep for the lack of meeting expectations so we will not be returning read more

GREAT service!! The waitress and owner were super attentive and obviously highly invested in their work. The simple gestures of checking in to see how my meal was going was on par with any top tier, fine dining restaurant I've ever been to. Why? Because they simply cared to give me a good experience... read more

Kettle Restaurant - 3 eggs Triple with hashbrowns, wheat toast and corned beef!! Tasted just like it was homemade - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I had business in the area and had three meals at this restaurant and it was really good. Michelle, my server, recommended the Meatball soup which is homemade and I'm glad she did. It was really good. I highly recommend this restaurant if you're in the area. Great home style cooking. They are so friendly and make you feel so welcomed. Thanks Michelle. read more

This restaurant is awesome great buffet for breakfast lunch or dinner great place to enjoy some great food with fam or friends or like my daughter says great place for the cruda! read more

Prologue: My fiancée and I were on our way home at the end of a holiday weekend RV trip and were in the mood to stop somewhere for brunch. There were several good reviews for this restaurant on Yelp so we decided to give it a try. The Plot: We decided to go with breakfast buffet, which included all of the standard items. I had two helpings of biscuits and gravy and my fiancée had some of the items from the griddle along with assorted fruit. A few of the other notable items were Menudo and eggs ordered any way you like from the kitchen. The kitchen will also make tortillas for those who would like to make a breakfast burrito. The Scene: There was plenty of good food, the quality of which was consistent with a restaurant of this type. We were both more than satisfied with our meals and ready to finish the rest of our journey home. The Rest of the Story: The customer service was outstanding and the price can't be beat for what you get on the buffet. Epilogue: I wish we had a breakfast buffet like this closer to home read more

I've become a regular for breakfast on Sunday mornings. The breakfast buffet is absolutely delicious and can't be beat for the price. And the ladies that work the dining area are icing on the cake when it comes to the service they provide. I can't think of a better place for breakfast in Tucson. read more

Dreadful. Just avoid this place. My patty melt was cold and hammered. The fries were like leftover fries that had been microwaved and then cooled off read more

Ate breakfast at 8:30 AM. Buffet served food until someone ate, regardless of how long it stayed there. It probably used to taste better. Maybe if they were busy, making them put fresh offerings on the line, it might be worth another shot. The service was attentive and very friendly. read more

Everything on the buffet was pretty good! The vegetable beef soup was great! Super friendly service too!! They also had sweet tea!!

Buffet was all dried up old looking no selection but they leave the door open for the flies so they have that I wonder how many maggets or fly eggs you eat in one trip here more flies on food than seasoning Run away fast read more

Kettle Restaurant - Inside - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Absolutely disgusting filthy restaurant service is good and I feel sorry for the people that have to work here I left a 10$ tip do yourself a favor and pass on this place read more

I am a chef ‍ graduated from Pima community college Culinary arts associates ‍ best beef ribs best atmosphere ‍ Try it you will not regret it‍ read more

YUCKY!!! The food in the meager, sad buffet looked and tasted like it was all cheap frozen food re-heated many times. There is NO WAY anything is made fresh there. Deep fried frozen things re-heated, frozen tasteless lasagna, ball o' meat things not to be identified, chicken that was a bit scary looking, I could go on... WHY are there good reviews for this terrible, awful place??!! The service is the only good part but they have to try to do something to make up for the really BAD food. read more

I've driven past this place for years, but have never eaten there. I passed by today, and my grandmother had mentioned that she loved eating there. I quickly flipped around and I'm glad I did! The feel is very "Mom & Pop". We were greeted and attended to as soon as we stepped in! Our server explained the specials as soon as we were seated. You could hear the workers joking in the kitchen, but not in a disruptive manner, it was amusingly pleasant. I was under the impression that they were family (perhaps they are). The food was VERY good! It was hard to not finish my plate in under ten minutes! What was pretty wholesome is that even the cook came out from the kitchen to ask how the meal was and did a quick walk-around the restaurant. I felt like a guest in their home. That's a rare quality to have these days! I highly suggest this place! I'll definitely be bringing people here! The affordability of the food is the best part! read more

Food is well made good selection reminds of home cooked meals they serve breakfast lunch and dinner from open to close .good family oriented place they accept individuals all the way up to large groups. Service is good to exelent and again very family oriented. read more

It may not look like much from the outside but the food and the service is beyond compare. We came on Saturday morning for breakfast and it was delicious. Our server was exceptional both in her attentiveness and personality. We went back on Sunday morning and had a different server. She too was amazing. If it looked like our food from the buffet was not fresh she would get us fresh food from the kitchen. She was extraordinarily personable and an absolute pleasure to talk to. My significant other could not stop raving about their pancakes . We would definitely recommend this restaurant if you are ever in Tucson. read more

This place is set up as a buffet, it's your typical buffet food, not the highest quality but edible and plentiful, the staff and owner are fantastic, restaurant was clean and all Covid protocols for the buffet are in place. Met her a couple times and will definitely go back. read more

Food is terrific! Servers were the best. Atmosphere was ok. Loved the clocks from everywhere.

On our cross country trip from FL to CA, we stopped in Tucson and were starving for some food. Apparently every single restaurant in the town closes on Monday. Seriously. We drove up and down "downtown" and it was a ghost town. Kettle was open! So we decide to get the safest and easiest things to make: sandwiches. I order a club and he gets a grilled cheese. How hard can that be? Great service with really nice people, that I felt bad when I'm handed a sandwich with PINK TURKEY. The cheese, lettuce, meat, and tomatoes were so cold. The toast was toasted though. I literally took apart the sandwich to find someway to eat just the bread or bits and pieces before realizing it was a lost cause. I had this mess on my plate that I felt really bad leaving behind. This was just the beginning of our two days of HORRIBLE food in Tucson. read more

Kettle Restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Buffet is really good and for breakfast there is Menudo EVERY day if that is your thing! My Fiancé' said it was very very good!

I came here for dinner last night and loved the salad with ranch, the sweet rolls, chicken and mashed potatoes all from the buffet. Service was great and the restaurant was clean. Will definitely be back. read more

Went there for breakfast recently and was pleasantly surprised. Usually chain restaurants aren't that good. We ordered off the menu even though they had a buffet. I got the traditional sausage and eggs breakfast and my wife got the pork chop breakfast. They came back in a few minutes and apologize that they were out of pork chops and could they substitute a New York steak for the same price we said sure and glad we did Both were very good the steak was done the way she liked it and my eggs game perfectly as did the toast. We will definitely be back. read more

Kettle Restaurant - The steak breakfast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Good place for a cheap buffet that includes yummy beef ribs and lasagna!! 4 star cause place could be a little more updated. Buffet is 12.99. read more

I rarely comment on a restaurant, but in this case I feel I need to. Had the buffet dinner Monday evening. Chicken, mashed potato's salad and green beans. Pretty simple. The baked chicken overcooked to the point it was grainy and totally tasteless. The mashed potatoes were like wallpaper paste and the gravy I can only describe as bland thick soup. Asked if the cook staff ever tasted the buffet. I was met with a snicker. Nuff said. Dont bother stopping, I will never again and warn others. read more

Been here before in years past as I visit Tucson only once a year and had always liked this place. I was truly disappointed this time around as the service was mediocre and the food itself was barely edible. I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich with fries and a drink; bun seemed stale, chicken was bland and dry and the fries were cold and hard; the busboy/table cleaner was the only saving grave as he could see customers were not getting refills on their drinks but he took it upon himself to handle that. read more

My family and are actors and we were in town shooting "The Righteous Twelve". We stopped by for dinner based on some other great reviews. We absolutely loved the food and this became our dinner spot each night after wrap. My personal FAV was the lasagna. I ate too much each night because it was so good. (This, coming from a New Yorker :)) I also liked that you have a choice of regular menu or their all-u-can-eat buffet. Seriously good food, amazing service and fun friendly staff. Thank you Sam, Sunshine and Aaliyah for a great experience! read more

This place is okay. Dated interior but clean. Had the buffet and wasn't impressed. Good thing I was hungry. This is a poor mans Buffet. The quality of food served is generic/low quality ingredients. The waitstaff was nice and quick, but a little off point. Don't think I'd come back, but if I do I'd order off the menu. read more

The only reason the Kettle Restaurant rates one star instead of zero is because the proprietor and also our server Justin were very friendly and personable. First, the atmosphere was not pleasant; a customer at the table next to us continually dropped f-bombs at the top of his lungs during the entire meal and none of the staff ever asked him to take it down a notch, and a couple of street people with their dog were sprawled on the floor inside the entrance breezeway. So much for the ambiance.... The vegetable soup contained nothing but tomatoes and onions and was absolutely tasteless. Dishwater probably would've had more flavor. There were no hot vegetable side dishes available other than the "soup". The lasagna was ridiculously over-salted, the sliced watermelon was tasteless and mushy, and the slice of apple pie that I attempted to have for dessert was under-baked and I had to spit it out because it felt like I was chewing raw dough. The only other dessert offering was Oreo cookies, all served from inside the same communal bowl...Covid precautions be damned! My husband ordered a soda to drink and he told me it was flat. We both agreed that it was the worst restaurant meal we have ever eaten. We won't be returning to the Kettle Restaurant. read more

Best place to have a small party...We had a graduation party and its Very inexpensive and you can bring your own food. They have food warmers and a thing to keep foods cold, ice, a nice bluetooth speaker to have your music so u don't have to pay for a DJ, they have the linens too which they set up for you... its beautiful... The owners are very nice and professional, courteous, they gave my 3 kids ice cream when we were decorating... Only thing is u might want to bring a lamp if u want it a little dark for dancing cause u can't turn the lights down, just off... But other than that it's perfect. Thanks Sam! read more

Kettle Restaurant - Party room - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

We have been coming to Kettle for about 5 years, and with good reason: the food is great. Kettle is the only restaurant I am aware of that offers a choice between all-you-can-eat buffet or ordering food from the menu. And the prices are reasonable, and the servers are friendly and attentive. We know many such as Ibrahim, Joseph, Bea, Kadisha, Andrea and others who know us on a first-name basis and treat us as family when we come. The restaurant also has free WiFi so that when you're full, you can relax and browse the internet while enjoying free refills of your favorite beverage. And Sam, the owner, makes you feel right at home. Often calls regulars "brother" or "sister". Come down and see--you will make this restaurant your favorite, too! read more

Food was very slow coming out; service was poor. I ate the buffet, which was over salted and overcooked; few fresh vegetables offered (although there was a salad section). Others in our party ordered patty melts, but they were barely edible. One in our party did get a taco salad, which was at least decent. We will not be back. . . read more

This is a place that the owner seems to really care about the food and service. We found the dinner buffet to be of a good variety, and decent quality. Great service and friendly staff. Great value, beats the hell out of the awful waffle across the street. Buffets can be a nightmare, but this was clean and the food looked and tasted fresh. read more

Food was so bad, my friends and I work at the gem show and was in desperate need of food. Our boss told us they have a decent variety so we decided to check it out. Instead, we were stuck paying $17 each for endless about of chewy zucchini, and nasty ass food. All I can say is that my friend had diarrhea , exploded all over the bathroom, my other friend felt nauseas. And I threw up all over the quality inn restroom, anyways Love this place read more

OMG scary! Stopped here for Saturday morning breakfast buffet all you can eat for $8.49. I know I wrote a positive review about the dinner buffet and still believe it but this was horrible. The sausage and bacon looked like it had been sitting there for hours at room temperature or perhaps a bit above. It was all crusty and dry. There was some white toast on the buffet line also that was lukewarm and partially burned. Hash brown potatoes same luke warm and all mixed up instead of nice crispy hashed brown.. There was some extremely cheap looking Danish and various Bakery items. The one area that looked pretty good was the fresh fruit with some watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, and strawberries looking very nice. I did notice that the owner Sam was not present and may not be involved in the morning meals. I just hope that this doesn't drag down the entire restaurant that does a very nice job at night. Egads! read more

It was my first time eating at this restaurant and it was very good I had the Santa Fe burger. the cheese was melted in with the green chili which made it very good and a very big burger read more

Don't expect much. Saw an ad for $7.99 dinner buffet at the hotel next door, and went here for dinner with my family because it was the closest dining option. The Kettle chain was founded in 1968, and this location looked like it hadn't been renovated since it opened. If I could describe it in one sentence, it would probably be: "Luby's after it's been on meth for a year." It's pretty sad looking. As for the dinner buffet, you are better off going to Wack Arnold's. For starters, there was a very meager selection of food. Mystery meatloaf, baked chicken, sausage and bell peppers, or spaghetti casserole. There was a very sad looking "salad bar," which is basically a giant bowl of iceberg lettuce, with old looking cherry tomatoes and dressings which look like they had been sitting there for a week. There were two employees working, and both of them had brought their children to work. As a result, no one came by to ask us if our drinks needed to be refilled or if we wanted our check. When we were ready to leave, we stood around waiting to pay for about 5 minutes. Also the advertised buffet price on the flyer is out of date; it is now $8.49 a person. The waitress started berating the manager when we pointed that out to her. Seems like a change in management is sorely needed. Bottom line: Unless your only other dining option is eating a body part, I would stay far away. read more

Great atmosphere. Good energy and family oriented. Food is good and hot. Staff very welcoming and friendly. Attentive and prompt. Definitely a place I will be coming back to for our momma and daughter lunches/dinners read more