The boutique hotel Lodge on the Desert, which is currently in the final stages of a $15 million expansion, has closed its restaurant for the remainder of the summer. The closure will allow for some physical improvements to be made to the space as well as a concept change to be planned for when it reopens.

While the restaurant is closed, hotel guests will have access to coffee and fresh fruit each morning in the lobby.

When completed, the expansion will increase the number of rooms at the Lodge on the Desert from 35 to 103.

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• Lodge on the Desert, 306 N. Alvernon Way. — www.lodgeonthedesert.com/ — (520) 320-2000. 

Krispy Kreme is back

After an abrupt shutdown in August 2006 that left Tucson without a Krispy Kreme Doughnut store, those who crave the  pieces of fried dough can now have their fill again. New franchisee Dan Brinton has opened a location in Marana. Over the past two years he has opened six others in the Phoenix area and says he’s planning to open more, including more in the Tucson region.

Unlike the previous Krispy Kreme locations built with full-scale doughnut-making machinery, Brinton’s new outlets are called neighborhood stores and receive fresh doughnuts delivered three times daily from a factory location in Mesa.

• Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, 8260 N. Cortaro Farms Road, Marana — www.krispykreme.com/ .

More $20.09

Continuing my weekly rundown of the $20.09 summer specials being offered by member restaurants of Tucson Originals through Labor Day. This week, not be un-American but for a change of pace from what you might find at your Fourth of July backyard barbecue, these are three restaurants offering cuisines from other countries.

• El Parador, 2744 E. Broadway — www.elparadortucson.com/ — (520) 881-2744. A house Margarita or imported, a Casa Juan Mexican combo plate consisting of a chile relleno, cheese enchilada, green corn tamale, rice, beens and chips and salsa, along with a dessert of a traditional flan with burnt caramel sauce.

• Lotus Garden Restaurant, 5975 E. Speedway — www.lotusgarden.com/ — (520) 298-4553. A prix fixe meal for one (dine-in only) of a beverage, a cup of soup, a “starter” and an entree plus hot tea and an almond cookie.

• Neo of Malaka, 1765 E. River Road in Joesler Village — www.neomelaka.com/ — (520) 299-7815. Any salmon entree, a side of sauteed vegetables and soup. 

Contact Michael Luria at mjluria@gmail.com. Meals & Entertainment is a weekly feature of Inside Tucson Business.