Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article failed to attribute a number of direct quotes to the Arizona Daily Star. The error has been corrected.
Among the abundance of fast food and delivery pizza options available to UA students, there is one restaurant taking the art of pizza to a whole new level.
Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink has only been around for one year, but it’s already offering options leagues above your regular Saturday night Papa John’s fare.
Located at the corner of Pennington Street and Scott Avenue, Reilly Craft is just a short distance from campus and would make the perfect start to a girl’s night out or a dinner and a movie date downtown. Its prices are slightly higher than your average pizza joint’s, but the money goes to pay for fresh, high-quality ingredients like truffle cheese, fried sage and fennel pollen. And with dessert concoctions like fried dough with cinnamon sugar and Nutella hot chocolate for only six bucks, Reilly Craft is definitely worth the extra cash.
Owners and brothers Tyler and Zack Fenton have turned the restaurant into a perfect place for students to come and experience luxury comfort food, said General Manager Sara Shicoff.
“Our menu is about elevating comfort food,” Shicoff said. “The staff genuinely enjoys taking care of people … and we have fun! We enjoy what we do, and it shows.”
Zack Fenton, a graduate of the UA Eller College of Management, had hopes that Reilly Craft might make exploring downtown worthwhile, and said he has high hopes for his business.
“I think we’re going to be a destination restaurant,” he he told the Arizona Daily Star. “We’re giving people an excuse to come off Congress Street.”
The vibe and atmosphere of Reilly’s seem to reflect both the downtown and college life aspects of Tucson.
“Reilly is a stunning, fun and urban environment with great energy,” said Courtney Fenton, event director and manager for the restaurant. “It’s a place you want to bring people to. It’s perfect for date nights, large group dinners, watching the U of A game while enjoying a quality drink, and everything in between.”
There are even more additions in the works that will expand what Reilly Craft has to offer the over-21 crowd, Courtney Fenton said.
“In the fall we are opening the beer garden, which will have 40 beers on tap and wine and will be the perfect place to socialize with friends,” she added.
With its combination of downtown class and charm and college-town energy, students looking to wander off campus for more than just street food will find a worthwhile destination in Reilly Craft.
