Well I'm not sure I'm the best judge on this one because we only came for drinks, but I wasn't all that impressed. All of the servers there seemed very "stuck up", if you will. I guess maybe I should have expected that since it's a wine bar and since it's in the Foothills, but it didn't provide the most welcoming feeling. The two bartenders that night thought they were hotshots too. I wasn't really amused.
My husband is more of a beer drinker than a wine drinker, and that particular day wanted a beer. We were surprised to find out that they didn't have ANY beers on tap. I figured any type of bar would have at least a few on tap. I was wrong. They did have a variety of bottle beers, but kind of looked at him funny for ordering one. Not everyone digs wine, sorry. I got a glass of cabernet and I was pleased, but the atmosphere was so stuffy that I wasn't enticed to stay for another. Their prices were more than I expected as well, with not a lot of variety unless you were willing to pay a reasonable amount more.
The biggest thing that intrigued me while I was there were all of the couches that you could gather around, especially if you have a larger group. I assume that would make for a more relaxed and laid back experience. Unfortunately all of them were taken when we got there, so we just sat at the bar. Maybe one of these days I'll give this place another try and maybe order food too, but I can tell you that I won't go out of my way to do so!
I've been here 6 or 7 times over the past year. The food is mostly "C" grade. The waitresses vary, with some being very good while others are snippy. I commented about their really lousy Pinot Grigio and got a "so what" response. After being in the wine business for many years, I know wines. I expect any establishment that calls itself a wine bar to not only know wines but to carry an informed selection. They appear  to have neither. Some of their wines are good however but I get the feeling that the good ones are there due to serendipity rather than the buyer knowing what they are doing. I would volunteer my help regarding their wines should they ask.
Review Source:Whenever I want a casual-yet-classy atmosphere and a great happy hour, there's no question -- Armitage it is. I've never had a bad glass of wine or a bad meal here. The menu changes often enough to stay fresh and seasonal, but they keep the classics available: the spinach and artichoke dip and the ahi tuna sliders are standouts of deliciousness.
The service is friendly and non-obtrusive, the bartenders are cheerful, and I've noticed a lot of the same faces working here over the years, which to me speaks of a well-run establishment. The ambiance is chatty, relaxed, and with good seating options -- long tables for groups, regular tables, and some too-comfortable huge leather sofas.
Armitage is a wine bar, so the real test is in the wine list, which is stellar and reasonably priced. I've seen the same wines across the street at Fleming's for at least $2 more by the glass. Armitage always chooses a good New Zealand Marlborough region sauvignon blanc by the glass, which I love.
Sundays are a great time to go, as there's live music at 8 and happy hour starting from 4pm onwards... and before you know it, you've been sitting there drinking and talking and eating for hours on end.
Highly recommended.
It's so really hard to give  a full review of a Restaurant when you just dine at the Happy Hour.  Albeit,  we did order one of their lip smacking items from the list. of sandwiches.  We got the trip tip roast sandwich on a warm crusty ciabatta bread oozing  with carmelized onions.  It comes with either soup of the day, chips or salad.  We chose the salad with fresh greens, gooey good tasting pecans in a light vinegarette dressing. Very fresh and yummy.  They kindly split the sandwich for us.  Also ordered the toasted ravioli with a pretty decent tomato sauce. This was from the Happy Hour menu.  The ambiance is very chic and tasteful.  It was a Saturday night at about 6.00PM and with the hot summer ascending upon us desert rats the place was pretty quiet.  The snow birds have once again went to cooler places.  They were having a local band perform at 10.00PM when the young un's start to arrive. When us from the older group are soundly asleep.
Review Source:I haven't actually ate here unless you include the Bloody Mary I had while waiting on my family. It was a scrumptious Bloody Mary, quite the kick of horseradish, good flavors and topped with Salami, Shrimp, Cheese, Olives, Asparagus and Celery.
I highly recommend you try one of these! But only one, or you won't be able to finish your brunch. It was half priced during brunch, but still came in 8 bucks. And I have to say it was worthi t.
Great atmosphere, nice staff, nice happy hour specials and a patio. Can't ask for much more. Located at La Encantada shopping mall, plenty of parking and you can always valet up top if you prefer. My menu favs are the wine flights and the meat and cheese plates, both have multiple options. I definitely recommend this place.
Review Source:Love, Love, Love this place! Â The best place to be is out on the patio especially this time of year when the weather is so beautiful. Â Great waitstaff and environment and during certain times they have half off bottles of wine which is really nice! Â I always enjoy my time here, definitely recommend it!
Review Source:I used to go to Armitage twice a week and then the waiter somehow lost my credit card and when the manager Kim was told of the situation he accused one of my friends of stealing the card. He wouldn't even comp my glass of wine. I will never return. There are too many great restaurants in Tucson who don't steal your credit cards.
Review Source:I'm a huge fan of Armitage. Â I've been coming here for years and definitely recommend this place on a Sunday night for good music and a good atmosphere. Â To be honest i've never actually had an entree from here, as I'm always picking items from their small fares and appetizer menu. Â If I had any suggestions for a low key, romantic night, it would be a bottle of wine (I personally love Decoy) and a cheese board on the patio of Armitage. Â The caprese salad is also amazing here and I have yet to find another restaurant in Tucson with a better one. Â The service is friendly, knowledgable, and fun. Â PLUS- the patio is doggie friendly!
Review Source:You can't beat a place that offers a special like 1/2 off the entire menu (including alcohol!) from 7-10 pm on Monday nights! I can't believe I'm advertising it....I should just squirrel it away...but I can't hide this great deal. We went out on a Monday night and ordered a beer, a 3 wine tasting flight, a 2 meat/3 cheese antipasto tray, a bowl of butternut squash soup, prime rib sliders, and a lamb sirloin. Add up all of that and add on the 18% tip (c'mon, don't want the waitstaff to get stiffed on Monday nights!) and our bill came to $53! Unbelievable. Overall, everything was really yummy, with the lamb being my favorite. You can expect a bit of wait unless you get there right at 7 or right before 7, and you might even share a long table with another party. Can't wait to grab the girls and go back to check it out again!
Review Source:Well....happy hour wasn't so happy last night. I'll start with the good....V and myself ordered a bottle of the Red Wine "Crusher" and that was awesome. It was the second time I have had that, and I really enjoy it. The human Pokedex had the toasted ravioli and had no complaints, and finished it all, so I can assume it was better than he lets on. Our food on the other hand.....was less than average. We ordered a few items off the "happy hour" menu, and the Eggplant sandwich to split for dinner. The kettle chips were about the only thing we could agree on that was good....and I'll go out on a limb and say they came out of a bag. We had ordered olives....and could have found better at a Circle K. The Caprese Salad was just okay...the tomatos were not ripe and there wasn't enough dressing. I love eggplant...and can be a bit of a snob about it...the eggplant we were served was not cooked properly....very spongey. The roasted red pepper sauce that came with the sandwich was very good though. The creamy tomato soup on the other hand....well lets just say I have taken V out to 100 dinners or more...she has a difficult time saying un-nice things about restaurants.....in her words....the soup "sucked". I couldn't agree more, there was little to no taste unless you ate a piece of the fresh basil they put in there. The service was very good, and the gent took the olives off the bill which was the right thing to do. Overall I wasn't impressed, you guys are better than that.
Review Source:Yes! Â New location for girls night!
Atmosphere: Check! Â Trendy without feeling overdone. Â We sat on the patio, with great services and comfortable vibe.
Food: Check! Â Appetizers were tasty and cheap during happy hour. Â The fries, typically a safe choice, were crisp and satisfying. Â The cheese board was also a perfect addition to the wine.
Drink: Semi-Check! Â They were out of our first choice bottle, but the second choice was no slouch. Â Good recommendation by the waitstaff.
Happy Hour, here I come!
Armitage is one of those places that I dont think of as a restaurant, actually I really dont think of it at all because you cant really see it when driving around the La Encantada Mall. But when someone says wine lounge, I say Armitage. It may appear to be upscale, but dont be intimidated. They're just in a nice area but are very welcoming to casual night. Me and some of my coworkers would come here for a late evening vent session. Its a great place to relax and enjoy good company with good wine. Our server (cant remember his name) has always given us great recommendations. I love how they know their wines. Check out their specials/happy hour that they have daily.
I'm not a big fan of the food. Maybe because I've came on a bad night or very late when the kitchen is closing. Besides appetizers/antipasta I cant say their food is that great. Whatever it was I once ordered, the fish was dry and flavorless and the noodles were overcooked, flavorless as well. And since then, I never ordered food again. (Bad of me, must give them another chance)
This was the first place I tried a cigar. Even though I dont smoke, I'm always open to try everything once. I couldnt understand how you puff it without inhaling it, but with help from a friend I was able to enjoy the flavors of a good cigar and sip a complimenting wine. Loved it :)
Great place to come to unwind after a stressful day at work with the co-workers. Fair prices, frequent specials, good selection of wine and beer (however, I wish they had a tap system, but oh well), and their appetizers always seem to do the trick, especially the hummus and spin-art dip.
I really love posting up on their patio and the wait staff is awesome and super personable. It's a little small, but it's a really nice place, with a sweet decor. I also love that they have a cigar list. I tend to always recommend this place to a friend in the CatFoot area looking to unwind with a few drinks and some food.
Armitage is the perfect balance between restaurant and bar without being too much of either. Â Most of the dining menu consists of appetizers, finger foods, or small portioned meals, which is perfect if you want to chill with a date or some friends while having a few glasses of wine. Â If you just want to eat until you get fat, go somewhere else. Â While I personally think their bar could use a little more substance and mixology, the wine list is pretty extensive and can accommodate most wine snobs and alcoholics alike.
I'm a big fan of any place with a patio, and Armitage does indeed have a patio. Â Unfortunately it faces the parking lot, but there are misters to keep you cool, people-watching to keep you entertained, and the servers never let you sit with an empty glass for long.
I have been twice now, never to return. The first thing I noticed both times when I walked in was an un-attentive bartender with his hat on backwards. Not a great first impression for a nice restaurant.
Our first time we sat at the bar. He was more interested in watching the baseball game than he was in providing service. The drinks were good and the baked brie was OK.
The 2nd time we sat at a table and it was worse. We went on a Monday night when they have 50% off everything. Sounds great but it's not!! I agree with a previous post that Mondays come with 50% of the service and quality. We told the server in the beginning that we would need separate checks but at the end, he asked us what we had again so he could separate the check. The first round of drinks took about 20 minutes. We then all ordered food, I had the beef medallions, medium rare. The waiter delivered everyone's entrees one at a time over a span of 5 to 7 minutes. We couldn't have eaten together if we wanted to have a warm meal. We ordered a 2nd round and it took another 20 minutes. The medallions were cooked to well and lacked much flavor.
To top it all off when the check came it had an added gratuity of 36%!!!
Great restaurant for foodies,culinologists and mixologists alike. Get there early for discounted appetizers and drinks. Great selection of Martinis and appetizers. We had the margharita pizza as an appetizer. My wife had the pineapple upside down martini while I had the regular martini with stuffed olives. Try the vegetable ravioli in a light sherry cream sauce. My wife said it was the best meal she'd ever eaten. Quite a compliment.  I had the baked halibut which was very good. Next time I'll try the lamb. Too  many great foods and not enough appetite. Next time will definitely try the Bruschetta 3-way. Too many great choices. Too bad I live so far away. Definitely need one of these on the east coast.
Review Source:Great wine, delicious appetizer, rustic ambiance, comfy couches, and great company make for a lovely date night at Armitage. Â
My partner had glasses of Malbec by a name I don't remember and I had the Duckhorn "Migration" Pinot Noir. Â We were so pleased. Â I really loved the tomato, cucumber, kalamata olives, and feta topped hummus. Â It was delicious! Â Best part was the dim lit room with brown leather couches to sit in. Â Didn't have a chance to see the patio but I bet it was lovely as well on a beautiful night. Â I was happy with the service as well. Â If you can make it for either of the Happy Hours (Mon-Sun) 4-7pm and 10pm-close, they have appetizer specials from $4-7 and certain wine by the glass for $5 a glass. Â So happy to have been introduced to Armitage!
Thoroughly enjoyed my experience here, I'm far from a wine expert i wanted to sample white wines ... so with the help of our friendly and accommodating waiter I was able to decide on the "Worldly Whites" Flight sampler which was perfect parings for my bruschetta appetizer (fig mint and chèvre, proccuitto sundried tomatoes and chèvre,  and mozzarella basil an tomatoes) delightful !
Service food and lighting all made for a decent girls night out...
Armitage is one of my favorite neighborhood wine bars/restaurants in Tucson. I enjoy the atmosphere here. The smaller size is a refreshing change, compared with many of the cavernous Fox (and Fox inspired) chain restaurants in Tucson. At Armitage, you'll find a setting that resembles a Napa or Sonoma wine bar, complete with oak barrels incorporated as part of the decor. On warm evenings, the patio is a beautiful place to sip and savor the beauty of Tucson. If you time it right, you can get here for happy hour, enjoy a glass of great wine, and watch the sunset too. Â
Let me start by saying that the best time to go (if you want to save some cash) is happy hour... They have a wonderful happy hour, with many glasses of wine that are normally up to $11 for $5 or $6. They also have $5 appetizers during happy hour, and I suggest the spinach/artichoke dip, which comes with a delightful French bread & pita bread. I also suggest the highly flavorful hummus that also comes with pita bread. I've had the Brushetta too, but it's a small serving. Happy hour is Monday through Saturday from 4-7 PM (in the bar area & also on the outdoor patio).
The dining room is on the small size, and I believe that the majority of people come here for the bar & appetizers, not so much for the dining room. My teenagers and I had dinner here last night. We enjoyed it because the kids weren't that hungry- so they ordered smaller portions. Sliders, $14.50 with cheese & caramelized onions (they charge $2 extra for cheese & .50 extra for the caramelized onions), and Mac & Cheese (a small portion that comes with bread for $10). I had the vegetarian ravioli, which was flavorful, and tossed in a light cream sauce, but was, however a bit undercooked for $16. The service is prompt and efficient. Our waiter knew the menu very well, and made some great suggestions.
If you like full bodied red wine, I highly recommend their Petit Sirrah, "The Crusher," which is regularly $11, but it's $6 at happy hour. Our check came to $75 with tax and tip. A bit pricey for the small portions, and two of the three people in our party drank soda, not wine. But like I said- if you are cost conscious, try their happy hour. I guarantee that this place will grow on you!
I love Armitage and here's why. The wines are reasonably price and the food is delicious and on Tuesdays if you buy $10 worth of food you are invited to a complimentary wine tasting. The waiters and waitresses are always on point and seem to be there when you need them but not overly so. I had the Bruschetta board, which was okay, I've had better. But the hummus and the warm spinach dip were delicious.
Tuesday is definitely the night to go to Armitage!
Ive been here a few times and enjoyed my time. The wines are superb and there are some great selections on the happy hour menu as well. For food, Ive only sampled the happy hour menu but can tell you that the toasted ravioli and the spinach artichoke dip are fantastic.
Ambiance is great, perfect amount of lighting and the patio is intimate as well. The last few times Ive been there, they have had live music. Usually soft jazz or acoustic guitar. Service was friendly and knowledgeable. Great for a date or a group outing.
The good: Great atmosphere, great waitstaff, my brother said his halibut dish was great. Another plus, great spinach salad.
Minuses: My Panini sandwich wasn't even grilled on a panini press, in fact, it was soft - but it did taste pretty good. My coffee was stale.
I agree with one of the other reviewers, It may have just been a bad night and I will go back again for another try...
I'm not a huge fan of La Encantada mall. I find it expensive and I strongly dislike the fake grass. BUT I AM DEFINITELY going back to Armitage. I had such a great time. The appetizers were fantastic. The cheese platter was the most beautiful display I had ever seen, and on top of that delicious! the ravioli was tasty. I also recommend the fries! The wine was especially good, I recommend their flights!
The hummus was very creamy and mucho garlic. yum.
I didn't give it 5 stars because i thought the service was a bit slow and our waitress took a while to get me from wine glass to wine glass.
THE BATHROOM:
one word. immaculate.
There are 2 private stalls, each has its own regular full size door, like with a door knob (as opposed to the stalls that are side by side and expose a foot and a half off the ground revealing your neighbors toes)
The sink was a horse trough style and the lighting around the mirrors were dimmed.
So this is probably a 3.5, but was closer to 4 so I went that way.
Met up with friends for dinner around 7 on a Friday. Â The place was packed. Â It was seat yourself, but luckily we found a table. Â
Service was good, though just a hint slow - but they were busy so I will give them a break. Â Food good, but not spectacular. Â Had an antipasto app that was yummy. Â Everyone at the table enjoyed their entrees. Â Maybe it was because we were enjoying lots of wine :)
My big con is that it was super loud in there that night.
Overall it is a decent solid happy hour get together place. Â I will more than likely be back.
A gem for Tucson! My best friends and I came here for one last hoorah in Tucson and I will forever remember the warm fuzzy feelings of happiness that this place (and the wine) left me with. The happy hour rocks with $5 appetizers* and $20 bottles of wine. The fries, which you order for the "gourmet sauces" are your average crinkles fries and the sauces are just okay. The spinach dip was pretty standard too, but the caprese salad was awesomely fresh as the basil, tomato, mozzarella, and dressing all complimented each other wonderfully. We also ordered bottles of Moscato, Reisling, and Chardonnay, though I tend to only like Moscato.
I love this place for its lounge-esque feel and attentive service. This is a great go-to place if you're looking for a casual but elegant night out and want to spend time chatting, eating, and drinking the night away until close. I will definitely be visiting the Scottsdale location!
Thanks for a wonderful experience!
* = Okay, so there's cheaper out there, but the portions were decent and you're there for the wine anyway. Drink up!
This is a great place to come and enjoy a quiet glass of wine during the week. Â I have been here in the weekends and it can get really loud! Â
My favorite thing about Armitage is the happy hour! Â My husband and I can have a whole meal under $25 considering we split the burger that only costs $7. Â
The staff is great quick to get to you as soon as you walk in the door.
As far as wine bars go, I've been to better.
On the plus side, the wine selection is pretty good. Â The food is good, too, though I do find the selection small and it doesn't vary much. Â It's a great location to just relax in the middle of a day of shopping. Â The atmosphere is open and bright, and they have a nice patio to sit on.
The biggest downside is that it's pretty pricey for what you get.
I want to like Armitage but I can't. The atmosphere is nice and it seems like a nice place to relax but the prices are so expensive that you really can't get over it enough to enjoy the wine. We had 3 glasses of wine and the total was $36. Should have bought a bottle, right? No. The bottles that are the least expensive are $36. The wine is not really that special. You can find these at cost plus and save some cash.
Servers are not very nice or attentive.
I've been to far better wine bars, but Armitage was still nice.
Armitage's decor is very modern and trendy, while still maintaining a traditional winery look. They have a good selection of wines and champagnes, but their prices are pretty high. Still, the wines were great, but I have to say that their happy hour prices were basically the same as everything else on their menu. One glass of wine (again, at happy hour) was $17! Most wine bars serve all their wines within a small range of prices, like $6 to $10 per glass.
However, their staff were very attentive, so I can't complain there. But for a Friday night, the place was not happening. We showed up around 10:30 and the place had just under a dozen people inside. If I'm back in town, I'll look for other places to try, but Armitage wasn't bad, so I might head there again if I stay nearby.
Armitage is one of the new places in La Encantada.
The atmosphere is very nice with both indoor and outdoor seating. A nice extensive wine list by the glass or the bottle. They also have some nice flights of wine and a limited food menu. They were playing ambient chill music which was nice. You could easily have a conversation and enjoy your wine.
Our server was knowledgeable and attentive. Armitage would be a great place for happy hour or after dinner drinks. A nice new addition for Tucson.