When we travel, we always hope to find someplace to dine that combines beautiful scenery with the cuisine of that region. Writer Elizabeth Rose found that winning pairing when she visited Amara Resort and Spa and its restaurant, Salt Rock Southwest Kitchen, one of the preferred places to eat in Sedona. 

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Places to Eat in Sedona: Southwest Cuisine with a Red Rock View

During the hot Arizona summers, those who live in the desert, look for getaways to the cooler high country. One of the favorite destinations is Sedona. And, it’s not just the Red Rock scenery that draws visitors. The food there is excellent.

You can try the well-respected cuisine of Chef Lisa Dahl which runs from pizza and burgers to high-end Latin food at Mariposa, served up with a red rock view. Or, check out some of the lesser-known venues and find a new favorite. It was during a visit to the Amara Resort and Spa, that I was invited to try the offerings of their on-site restaurant.

Sedona views from Schnebly Hill Road are worth the bumpy jeep ride.

Surprising Cuisine at SaltRock Southwest Kitchen

One of the high points of my two-day visit turned out to be the cuisine, service, and view at the SaltRock Southwest Kitchen. The first evening I was there, I was happy to stay and rest up at the resort once I saw their patio dining area with that great Red Rock view. I was seated next to a water feature and was happy to see that the whole patio was shaded by 5pm. It was refreshing… something I certainly couldn’t have in the Phoenix area which was experiencing long runs of temperatures over 110 degrees.

The wait staff was attentive and knew the menu well. I slowed the process by having trouble selecting a Margarita from the four craft cocktails listed on the menu. They all looked so interesting! I was to find out that the restaurant prides itself on creative cocktails. I almost fell for the West Fork Margarita (named after Oak Creek which runs by the resort) made with house-infused Jalapeno El Jimador Blanco, Vida Mezcal, lime, agave and house-made bitters. But decided on the simpler El Classic Margarita made with El Jimador Blanco, lime and agave. It was excellent… a most refreshing drink to have after a day of driving and photographing the scenery from dusty trails.

The El Classic craft Margarita and shimmering water feature were refreshing.

I wanted a light meal so opted for the chicken Tinga tacos (after all, it was Taco Tuesday). I wasn’t prepared for how delicious and fresh they were… soft white corn tortillas, light cotija cheese, spicy pulled chicken, and fresh veggies. Excellent!

The Chicken Tinga Tacos took advantage of the fresh bounty of the Verde Valley.

The second night, it was a bit hotter out when my early dinner time rolled around but I noticed a soft breeze on the patio and asked to be seated out there. Wayne, my excellent server, said he’d be happy to serve me outside. We were both happy to see that it cooled down quickly and I enjoyed a glass of Arizona red blend wine from Chateau Tumbleweed in nearby Clarkdale. I made a mental note to go visit the tasting room on a future trip.

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Wayne was helpful in explaining the wines and how the salmon would be prepared, a real pro. I was determined to sample the best that SaltRock Kitchen could offer so I selected an unusual (to me) pan seared salmon dish served with compressed grilled pineapple, fennel slaw, Fresno chiles, pineapple vinaigrette, and lime orzo pasta. Different, right? But what I discovered was the best salmon dish I had experienced in a long while. The salmon was perfectly cooked – crusty on the outside and moist and flaky on the inside. The orzo was amazing and the pops of flavor throughout the dish including little pieces of curled pancetta, fresh cilantro, and petitely diced chiles kept my palate dancing. I savored the dish down to the last bit of orzo. I passed on the dessert offerings, not because they were not enticing sounding, but I was actually full! Chef Lo’s Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich would have to wait for another time.

The wild-caught salmon dish with compressed pineapple hit the spot on a warm summer evening.

Places to Eat in Sedona: Things to know when you go to SaltRock Southwest Kitchen in the Amara Resort and Spa:

If you love creative Southwest cuisine with fresh local ingredients, you’ll want to try SaltRock Southwest Kitchen. They source ingredients from the lush Verde Valley whenever possible. All the chefs are very involved in the creations and take pride in their offerings.

Valet parking is available. Just pull up to the front door of the resort.

The restaurant is a great respite from the noisy Uptown Sedona bustle and the view is stunning. Both the Amara Resort and the adjacent L’Auberge de Sedona are ideal places to stay where you can walk to your meal or relax with a cocktail on the patio and watch the sunset.

Visit Amara’s website to learn more.

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