Phoenix and Tuscon recommendations

I'll be passing through Phoenix and Tuscon on a fishing and birdwatching road trip; I'd like to find some good mid-priced places that feature regional dishes. As food and wine are not the focus of the trip, we will not be able to make reservations, and don't yet know whether we will be in either city for lunch or dinner. I'm also not looking for an extensive wine list, but would love something by the glass, on the advice of my server, that complements our meal
TIA

Can't (unfortunately) give any reccos on restaurants and such, but curious of you'll be heading down towards Sonoita or Patagonia for birding?

We are going to Madera and Florida Canyons near Green Valley; I'm taking my wife to places I first saw last year in a field ornithology class. I'm not familiar with the places you mentioned; what is the birding like?

I'm not a birder so I can't say from first-hand experience, but the area is known for this. My parents lived in Patagonia up until a couple of years ago and are now in Green Valley (we'll be there in a few weeks). If you have the time, I can highly recommend the Patagonia-Sonoita area for beautiful scenery (and maybe birds). There's also a very good winery near Sonoita called Callaghan Vineyards. If you get out that way, be sure and stop in. Kent (the owner-winemaker) always enjoys talking wine with those who know more about it than just "it gets me tipsy".

[Jenise]

Jim, I haven't been there myself, but if I found myself in Phoenix tomorrow one of the first places I'd look up is Pizzeria Bianco. 'Bianco' is the owner/chef's last name, and the pizzas are made with a fanatical attention to detail with all home grown, home-made ingredients including the herbs and cheeses. Vogue magazine food editor Jeffrey Steingarten called it the best pizza he's ever had, and it constantly ends up on other best-in-America lists.

Jim, While on an RV trip to seven western states, we spent time in Tuscon AZ. We had dinner at Acacia Restaurant
http://www.acaciatucson.com/
and one day for lunch at
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GZAZ_enUS251US251&q=Tucson+AZ%2c+Vivace+restaurant

We usually like to eat light while traveling , so at Vivace I ordered the most amazing antipasto lunch platter, which included: herbed goat cheese, sweet red roasted peppers, grilled asparagus dressed with oil, balsamic and salt, marinated artichokes drizzled with their house lemon vinaigrette, spinach sautéed in butter and garlic with a smoky flavor, some sort of olives, and some angle cut baguette slices, lightly toasted. I think they called it Tuscon Salad.
I rated both meals as excellent in my travel diary.

Richardson's - great southwestern food with a strong New Mexico influence.