Best Real Food North Of Ina Road
STAFF PICK: Claire's, 16140 N. Oracle Road, is one of the great institutions out where there ain't a helluva lot besides franchises. In fact, some of the people are franchises. You get to drive through a lot of plastic, clear cuts and other development to get up to Catalina. On your way, you can always check out the Oracle Road side of the Santa Catalina Mountains and note the growing similarity to Montezuma's Castle. But safely within the confines of Claire's, breakfast is served all day, including the best biscuits in town, which weigh in at about a half-pound each. Great specials: SOS pops up once in a while. (That's Shit on a Shingle, chipped or ground beef on toast.) Claire's has some real competition, though, as Dave, Claire's cook for 15 years, has moved up the road to the Lariat Restaurant and Lounge, which has really cleaned up its act. So hang around for dinner and try them both.
