Tucked throughout the fashionable Amara Resort within the coronary heart of downtown Sedona, SaltRock Kitchen is greater than only a resort restaurant—it’s a culinary vacation spot that fuses daring Southwest flavors with recent Verde Valley components and a craft cocktail program that might rival any metropolitan bar.
A Trendy Arrival: First Impressions at Amara Resort
From the second you step into Amara Resort, the journey begins. The expansive foyer, flooded with pure mild and adorned with desert-chic décor, invitations you to linger. Fashionable but grounded within the pure environment, it looks like a curated gallery of Southwest consolation—low-slung couches, eclectic artwork, and alluring communal areas. As you meander previous the inviting lounge space, SaltRock Kitchen opens to your left, whereas to your proper, the SaltRock bar glows with a backlit salt rock wall—a heat, golden beacon that units the tone for the expertise to come back.
The out of doors patio at SaltRock Kitchen is one thing out of a journey journal. With hearth pits crackling, soothing water options trickling, and a straight-on view of Sedona’s iconic purple rocks—together with a particular butte that dominates the skyline—the setting alone makes the meal unforgettable. However fortunately, the foods and drinks match the view in each method.
Sipping in Model: Elevated Cocktails That Dazzle the Palate
We started our night with two of SaltRock’s handcrafted standouts. The Flor de Hibisco arrived first, shimmering in a glass rimmed with hibiscus sugar salt. A concord of Reposado tequila, Pasilla chili liqueur, lime, and pomegranate-hibiscus syrup, it danced between floral sweetness and a delicate smoky warmth. Refreshing but layered.
Then got here the Cactus Chicken—their ever-changing clarified milk punch. A uncommon discover in most bars, this clarified concoction makes use of curdled milk (sure, actually) to realize a easy, translucent drink with extraordinary complexity. This rotating seasonal drink is for the adventurous cocktail lover, and it doesn’t disappoint—it’s easy, nuanced, and as photogenic as it’s fascinating.
A Symphony of Starters: Artfully Composed Small Plates with Huge Taste
The Ahi Tuna Tostadas got here out subsequent: delicate chucks of ruby-red tuna atop crisp tostadas, punched up with Vietnamese chile, salsa verde, and sesame, then brightened with a flourish of domestically grown cilantro. It’s a globally impressed chew that doesn’t draw back from boldness.
The Black Cod was one other favourite—frivolously battered in cerveza and mezcal, delivering a young inside and completely crisp exterior. It’s topped with a crunchy cucumber and radish slaw and drizzled with habanero crema that hits you with a whisper of warmth moderately than a roar.
And the Pear & Arugula salad was something however an afterthought. The steadiness of candy and savory was chic—butter-browned chipotle almonds, tangy goat cheese, dried cranberries, and a lime-agave French dressing that tied all of it collectively. It’s brilliant, recent, and filled with texture.
Essential Course Pivot: When the Menu Conjures up Culinary Curiosity
Initially, we had our sights set on the Duet of Pork—an opulent pairing of mole dulce pork tenderloin and pork stomach lechón, however we had been knowledgeable it had lately rotated off the menu. Our backup plan was the Branzino al Pastor, a seafood play on the basic Mexican preparation with pineapple salsa, carrot cardamom purée, and recent maize tortillas. However with the starters being surprisingly beneficiant (and satisfying), we made a game-time determination to skip the entree and save room for dessert. A smart transfer.
A Candy Finale at SaltRock Kitchen
The Heat Fig & Brie Empanada was the right nearer—crispy on the surface, heat and gooey inside with preserved fig compote and triple cream Brie, dusted with cinnamon and sugar, and completed with a sizzling honey drizzle. The scoops of vanilla ice cream added that ultimate creamy observe. Candy, savory, buttery, and indulgent—a real dessert for grown-ups.
Whether or not you’re staying at Amara or simply stopping by means of Sedona, SaltRock Kitchen is a should. With a chef-driven menu that creatively interprets Southwest traditions, an environment that showcases Sedona’s pure magnificence, and cocktails that push the envelope of mixology, this place has firmly earned its fame.
SaltRock Kitchen Contact Data:
Reservations are really helpful—particularly if you would like that coveted patio seat with the view. Belief me, it’s price it. When you’ve got any questions on visiting SaltRock Kitchen in Sedona, please depart a remark beneath. So, till subsequent time, we’ll see ya on the street…
