Saltrock
www.saltrock.com
This extension Kimpton's Amara resort in Sedona..........................................
November 14, 2017
www.saltrock.com
This extension Kimpton's Amara resort in Sedona..........................................
November 14, 2017
Wedged two major sections of the hotel and overlooking a nice valley below the majestic red rock vistas sits the Saltrock restaurant. The restaurant has two main sections in addition to a small bar area, one inside and a much larger section outdoors. While I felt the inside space was trying too hard for a modern vibe with a few western accents, the outdoor space was expansive and included a moderate-sized fire pit and generous outdoor heating. In season, the outdoor space is where you want to be. Perched on a small rise, this Latin inspired steak and seafood grill has a modern western feel and plenty of different venues to fit almost every need. The restaurant has several outdoor and indoor/outdoor spaces that have heat lamps, making it almost year round seating under the stars (and there are plenty of stars). Inside, the dinning rooms sport generously sized tables, which were well spaced under at least 25' ceilings. The decor had a modern western feel which was at the same time elegant. The vibe gave off a night club feel, without the loud music. And regarding the noise, what noise? Even when almost full, we found the noise level quite low.
The service was very knowledgeable and smart, with good opinions on the food and specials. The waiter gave us a generous tasting of the wines he thought would pair well with the food we were thinking about. We were not rushed, which gave us time to observe what we concluded was an organized staff and a well run restaurant.
We started with the beef empanata and the octopus. The beef empanata was zesty and nicely complemented with ceviche. The octopus was well prepared and tender, accented with spicy sauce and a smoky garbanzo purée, fire-roasted artichoke and fennel slaw. My wife thought it was absolutely yummy! We also had the Veggie Nirvana which was a fire roasted, poblano pepper stuffed with quinoa, black beans, jack cheese in a spicy, roasted pepper sauce. This dish was so flavorful and delicious that it would make the most hardened meat eater consider vegetarianism. As a main dish, I had the trio of meat special. It came with a filet mignon, 2 rack of lamb, a special chorizo sausage and a side of gratin potatoes. All meat dishes were very tender and accented with flavorful sauces. The Lamb was of good sized and had a nice, gamey flavor that was balanced by a rich sauce. The filet was tender and had a zesty cilantro sauce, which I thought I would never say since I am not normally a fan of cilantro. The chorizo was spicy and had a sizable southwest addition in its mix, what a finish! It was a fabulous meal!
Rating:5 "Excellent"
While Arizona does not allow outside wine in restaurants, we found the wine list to be very complete and reasonably priced.
The service was very knowledgeable and smart, with good opinions on the food and specials. The waiter gave us a generous tasting of the wines he thought would pair well with the food we were thinking about. We were not rushed, which gave us time to observe what we concluded was an organized staff and a well run restaurant.
We started with the beef empanata and the octopus. The beef empanata was zesty and nicely complemented with ceviche. The octopus was well prepared and tender, accented with spicy sauce and a smoky garbanzo purée, fire-roasted artichoke and fennel slaw. My wife thought it was absolutely yummy! We also had the Veggie Nirvana which was a fire roasted, poblano pepper stuffed with quinoa, black beans, jack cheese in a spicy, roasted pepper sauce. This dish was so flavorful and delicious that it would make the most hardened meat eater consider vegetarianism. As a main dish, I had the trio of meat special. It came with a filet mignon, 2 rack of lamb, a special chorizo sausage and a side of gratin potatoes. All meat dishes were very tender and accented with flavorful sauces. The Lamb was of good sized and had a nice, gamey flavor that was balanced by a rich sauce. The filet was tender and had a zesty cilantro sauce, which I thought I would never say since I am not normally a fan of cilantro. The chorizo was spicy and had a sizable southwest addition in its mix, what a finish! It was a fabulous meal!
Rating:5 "Excellent"
While Arizona does not allow outside wine in restaurants, we found the wine list to be very complete and reasonably priced.