The place has been a fixture of Tucson’s restaurant landscape for 60 years. It’s a classic diner with a counter and booths. And pies.
Yup, pies. I thought I had left good pies behind in Dallas with Humble Pies. But I soon discovered that those 60 years of experrience amount to something when it comes to pie.
Until this Christmas (when I began craving a good pie for the holiday spread) I hadn’t been to Gus Balon’s. While it has spent most of it’s life on 22nd Street in the 6000 block, I had never darkened their door–even though it only a few blocks from my childhood home. Now run by the founders’ granddaughter, it is a living example of a family owned-and-operated business. With its row of stools and booths plus waitresses that may have been my high school classmates, it holds up well (and kind of reminds me of Mamas Daughters Diner back in Dallas).
The day I stopped in was on a whim. I was on my way to get Sal from the groomer and saw the place. A quick U-turn and I quickly found myself ordering pies for Christmas dinner. Fortunately I was able to order them before they closed for the holiday, so I had to come back the next morning to pick them up. It was worth it–apple crumble and a chocolate silk.
Did I say yum?
So the next time you find yourself on East 22nd Street, stop into Gus’ for a meal or a pie.
Relentless
