Sedona might be best known for its awe-inspiring red rocks, an abundance of crystal shops, and a plethora of outdoor activities — from the natural water slide at Slide Rock to the daring Devil’s Bridge hike — but it’s also a hotspot for great dining with high-end hotel restaurants, hole-in-the-wall eateries, and of course, all the restaurants that encompass Sedona-based and nationally recognized Dahl Restaurant Group. With so many options, it’s hard to go wrong, but here are our must-try picks from around the town.
Wildly popular Elote Cafe moved into the heart of Sedona with chef and owner Jeff Smedstad’s menu culled from 20-plus years of travel across Oaxaca, Veracruz, Puebla, and his native Arizona. Lamb adobo with an ancho chile sauce, Niman Ranch skirt steak with pasilla chile sauce, smoked pork cheeks with cascabel chile sauce, smoked brisket enchiladas, and buffalo mole poblano create a meal to remember.
Tii Gavo means “gathering place,” and this restaurant, with an outdoor terrace and fire pits overlooking the red rocks of Sedona, sits inside the Enchantment Resort. Casual fare ranges from chicken flautas and carne asada tortas to black truffled grilled cheese with sundried tomato and truffle guacamole.
The Cowboy Club’s long history started in 1946 when it opened as a saloon and pool hall that attracted Hollywood’s western stars from Burt Lancaster and John Wayne to Donna Reed and Joan Crawford while they filmed in the red rocks of Sedona. The restaurant offers a must-try pecan-smoked prime rib on weekends.
Over the past 20 years, chef Lisa Dahl created a restaurant empire in Sedona. In 2015, she opened Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill, with dishes from Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay guiding her menu. A filet mignon comes with a Gorgonzola chipotle sauce, while the seafood options include the jumbo grilled tiger shrimp and diver sea scallops. House specialties include pollo rustico with charred corn and roasted potatoes, and a steelhead salmon finished with roasted mushrooms and farro pilaf. The only thing that might outdo the food is the view.
Creekside American Bistro brings comfort foods such as braised short rib, shrimp and grits, and lamb adobo, as well as chicken wings, ahi tuna nachos, and a crabcake for more casual fare. Two patios boast views of Oak Creek. The daily breakfast menu features huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, and French toast.
Chef Lisa Dahl serves Italian dishes from her childhood at Dahl & Di Luca Ristorante Italiano. Dahl makes her grandmother’s tortellini with prosciutto and green peas in an alfredo sauce, vegetarian portobello mushroom grilled in a house marinade, and salmon with a Neapolitan limoncello reduction sauce. Live jazz and a deep wine list round out the restaurant.
