Fork in the Road American Bistro: Hidden Gem is Sedona's Best

[Editor's Note: Unfortunately, this restaurant is no longer in business as of 2010]

Fork in the Road American Bistro
7000 Highway 179
Sedona, AZ 86351
928.284.9322
Map

One of Sedona's new upstart restaurants is the Fork in the Road American Bistro. This is truly a gem, located in the Village of Oak Creek, nestled within the Tequa Plaza. The decor is tastefully done with fantastic wood work. The main dining area is very open with a clear view of the busy kitchen. The full bar also seems to attract a crowd.

During our several visits to Fork in the Road, live music -- generally 1 to 2 musicians playing jazz -- has been offered. While the atmosphere and ambiance are very lovely, it tends to get a bit loud, making conversation a bit challenging, especially in groups larger than four. Service has always been very friendly, attentive and accurate. Reservations are recommended but most of the time we've been able to get seated immediately without one, even at prime time. But based on the consistently fantastic food, that probably won't be the case for long.

On this particular night, I dined with my wife, Kim, and my in-laws, Bob and Connie, all well traveled and with discerning taste buds. Our table ordered the daily soup special -- Japanese curry -- that was a delicious blend of shredded chicken, apples, bananas (yes, bananas) and veggies, so it was on the sweet side (but not overly so). The vegetables within were fresh and overall had a slight middle eastern influence.

Bob also had the crab cakes, which he's eaten all over the world. In his opinion, the cakes were fantastic -- well spiced, dry yet loose in texture. Crab was fresh but not the lump crab you might find in places such as New Orleans or mid Atlantic. The presentation was wonderful and nicely garnished, complemented with a very dry martini.

For entrees, the table had stuffed roast chicken and a lovely salmon roast, both out of this world.

Let's face it, by and large, chicken isn't very exciting. There's not much you can do it that hasn't already been done. Anthony Hopkins, in the movie, "Meet Joe Black," put it very well: "Lamb sandwich. Not as chewy as roast beef and not as boring as chicken." Despite the preconceived notion of this white meat, the stuffed roast chicken is excellent. Fresh, incredible flavors on the chicken hind-quarters mixed with fresh broccoli and green beans make for a dish that's very satisfying -- and dare I say it, exciting. It's all served over a bed of light mashed potatoes.

The salmon dish ordered by Connie is always a hit at our table. It's perfectly cooked and is complemented by sweet potatoes and rice, which round out a super presentation. The salmon fillet, like all the dishes at Fork in the Road, are well portioned.

The table went with two desserts -- the creme brulee and the New York cheesecake. The brulee was excellent with the perfect thickness and hardness of caramel on the top, which tends to be hard to come by. The cheesecake was incredibly creamy and well presented with fresh berries and whipped cream infused with a raspberry swirl. The crust, thick but flaky, really makes the dessert come together.

I'll say it now: Fork in the Road has now become our favorite restaurant in Sedona, hands down. We would eat there more often if the pocket book weren't an issue. Be prepared to pay between $17 - $24 for most entrees and as high as $32 a plate for the special (tonight's was New York skirt steak).

When it comes to the Fork in the Road American Bistro, the path leads to a gem of an eatery that is quickly becoming recognized as one of Sedona's best.

Mi Casa et Su Casa Bonita

Casa Bonita
164 Coffee Pot Drive
Sedona, AZ 86336
928-282-2731
Map

If you've got a hankering for some reliable Mexican food, look no further than Casa Bonita, located in the Basha's Shopping Center in West Sedona. The decor, down to the colorful wooden chairs and hanging arrangements, give it a true Mexican feel.

We find the shrimp tacos as one of our standards there. They come with chicken or beef, but we special order the shrimp. The sauce they cook them with makes the dish. It's somewhat sweet and complements the rest of the ingredients. The tortilla soup is good, but not out of this world.

The garden burrito with guacamole and cilantro is especially good, as are the pork carnitas. The kids like the full kids menu, which just doesn't include Mexican dishes, but also has chicken tenders and the fries. And of course, the churros.

The food at Casa Bonita is very reasonably priced.

Szechuan Restaurant: Where Culinary Worlds Collide

Szechuan Chinese / Japanese Restaurant
http://www.szechuansedona.com/
1350 W. Highway 89A
Sedona, AZ
928-282-9288

Asian culinary worlds collide at the Szechuan Chinese and Japanese Restaurant in Sedona.

We are frequent visitors of this place, which is snuggled toward the back of the New Frontiers Marketplace along 89A, not far from Ravenheart of Sedona. A number of restaurants have come and gone in this locale, but Szechuan seems to be here to stay, largely due to the popularity of the live music on warm summer nights and the adjacent Martini Bar. There is also the variety. At no other place in Sedona can one order a sashimi, hot saki, California rolls, Moo Shi Shrimp and Chow Mein on the same ticket. See a full menu here.

The staff is always very friendly, whether being seated or taking out. Parking is usually ample although summer nights can be a bit crowded (but worth the atmosphere). See picture below and click here for Szechuan's image gallery.

On our most recent visit, my wife and I took our two daughters and a friend to dine-in. The kids are big fans of the lettuce wraps, which consist of diced chicken, pine nuts and crunchy noodles that go inside the ice berg lettuce pieces with plum sauce. Very tasty. It's just the right amount to share among several at a table.

The kids also liked the veggie chow mein with the noodles. It offers just the right flavors for kids big and small. The noodles are almost like large spaghetti and are flavored nicely with the chow mein sauce.

On the adult side, we went with the Moo Shi Shrimp with plum sauce. The shrimp have good flavor, are firm and fresh. The Moo Shi mixture is savory with assortment of vegetables, including mushrooms and cabbage. The pancake shells come with their signature plum sauce that you load up with the mixture.

On a separate visit, we've ordered the sesame chicken, which has a great tangy sauce and is sprinkled with sesame seeds. The chicken pieces are tender, however tend to be a bit overly deep-fried. If you are looking for the heart-healthy meal, you may want to consider another item.

The sushi we've ordered in the past is also fresh and tasty, but not surprisingly, doesn't quite compete with the sushi you get in San Francisco or other coastal city. If you have several people at a table, order the Volcano, which comes with a whole platter of goodness, including California rolls, spicy tuna and other varieties.

Pizza Picazzo: Where Pizza is Art

When we're stopped around Sedona by tourists looking for a "good place to get something to eat," we often times point them to Pizza Picazzo. I classify Picazzo's as a high-end pizza place, where the specialty is pizza and everything revolves around pizza. It's a fun environment, although sometimes a bit loud at peak times. If you are looking for an intimate dining experience, we might suggest going next door to Troia's (more on that in another review), but if you are with the family or friends, Picazzos is ideal. Seating is first-come, first-served, so at hungry times you may have a wait.

During the hotter months, there is shaded outdoor seating with sprayers, which tend to do a pretty good job. Evenings on the patio are grand. Inside, there's a main dining room with various sized tables and a full bar which airs sporting events.

Now, on to the pizza. We find crusts tend to pretty thick and tastefully crunchy, although you can special request thin or gluten-free crusts. Quite honestly, if you are going to go for it, best to avoid the gluten-free crust -- but hats off to them for offering it, keeping in mind myriad dietary restrictions these days.

My wife, Kim, is a sucker for the Puttanesca, a veggie style 'za with olive oil and garlic, mozzarella, fresh Roma tomatoes, artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives and French feta topped with fresh basil. If you are veggie-minded, you can't go wrong. My only hesitation on the Puttanesca are the olives, but that's just me. She loves them.

On many occasions we've ordered their signature BBQ Chicken pizza, which is out of this world. Not too much BBQ sauce to overwhelm the dish and tender chicken with just the right amount of red onions. Again, a can't-miss suggestion.

For those who want to spice it up a bit, try the Thai Chicken pizza. But buyer beware: if you aren't prepared with one of their many local brews on tap, bottom-less lemonades or water, the spice may knock your socks off. Don't get me wrong, it's very tasty -- and the spice tolerance reflects my own preference -- so if you love spicy food, order up.

For the kids, there's the classic cheese pizza. (Do they like any other kind?). Actually, that's not entirely true. Our kids request some pineapple be thrown on top and that's never a problem with the friendly staff.

The added bonus at Pizza Picazzo is their salad selection. And we're not talking a dinky house salad. No, a small will easily feed two men and a baby. We order a medium for our family of four -- two adults, two kids. our "usual" is the Gorgonzola and red pear salad, which comes sprinkled with candied walnuts and a wonderful raspberry vinaigrette. Be sure to get it on the side to avoid over application, which tends to overwhelm the dish. One word of caution: The Caesar salad tends to be a bit flat - sometimes a bit light on the dressing, but croutons and cheese are fresh. Large portions of salad will do well for bigger groups and small armies.

A quick word on proportions: Our family tends to eat two medium pizzas and a medium salad, along with various drinks -- and no one's complaining about being hungry for awhile. From a pricing perspective, the mediums tend to run about $20 while the large versions about $25, so it tends to add up (which is probably why we only eat their every so often). While you're waiting for your food, check out the huge mural on the wall of famous people, some locals but mostly well known.

We've never had a problem with service, always friendly and reasonably quick. On one occasion, when the kitchen was pretty backed up, they warned us ahead of time, but the order arrived faster than expected. If you want to experience all the flavor but just don't want to go out, they have great takeout service that's spot-on accurate and always ready when promised.

See a full menu here

Deal Alert: Try Picazzos lunch special. One slice and salad for between $7-10. My guess is that you won't leave hungry.

Sedona Location
1855 W Highway 89A
Sedona, AZ 86336
928-282-4140
Map

5 total locations in greater Phoenix and Northern Arizona

Ravenheart of Sedona: Smoothies with a Twist

We recently picked up a couple of smoothies and a muffin at the one Sedona's main coffee shops, Ravenheart. Located next to New Frontiers natural foods store along 89A, Ravenheart generally has a lot of foot traffic and coffee sippers throughout the day, great for people watching and connecting with locals here in town.

As for the smoothies, we ordered strawberry, peach and candy apple (seasonal) varieties, all topped with whipping cream. The candy apple was true to its name, including its color (green) and caramel around the inside of the cup, which makes for a nice touch and added flavor. The strawberry and peach flavors are quite good. All are made with ice and a syrup that makes all the types pretty sweet to taste. If you prefer something not quite as sweet, I'd recommend the smoothies at New Frontiers which are made sans syrup and with organic fruit.

Ravenheart muffins tend to be very good as well. Our double-chocolate muffin (chocolate cake with chocolate chips) -- after all muffins are just bald cup cakes. We've also regularly have the raspberry chocolate chip version, which is really tasty.



In an upcoming review, we'll compare and contrast various coffees from shops in Sedona, including Ravenheart, Java Love Cafe, and Starbucks (within Safeway).

Ravenheart of Sedona
Two locations: Uptown and West Sedona
1370 West Highway 89A, Suite 12
Sedona, Arizona 86336
928.282.5777

Moon Dogs Pizza: Fit to be Tried

Last night we needed to bring two pizzas to a pot luck event for my oldest daughter, so Moon Dogs Pizza was the call we made. Moon Dogs is a long-time standard in Sedona, located very unassumingly along 89A (the main drag through town). It's a family-run business and also is a provider to my other daughter's school lunch program. You should know that Moon Dogs is strictly pickup or delivery and not set up for a sit-down dinner and such.

I ordered the Hawaiian (Canadian bacon and pineapple) and the Veggie (every possible, reasonable vegetable was on there). The guy who took my order was friendly and conversational, and when asking for suggestions initially pointed me toward two meat-laden varieties. While not necessarily my bag, they sounded lovely enough if you are going for that kind of order. My pick-up order was ready on time and each pizza was about $20, though a single topping version runs about $15.

Generally speaking, the pizzas were a solid, well-loved choice at the event. The Hawaiian was devoured quickly by the kids, while the waistline-conscious adults ventured more toward the Veggie, which lasted a tad longer but eventually succumbed. Ingredients were fresh, crust fairly thick and overall nicely cooked.

The menu features lots of other items -- in a future review I'll tackle some of their other signature selections.

SFR Bottom Line: Order from Moon Dogs and you'll get a solid, tasty pizza but don't expect anything too out of this world. Definitely a step up from Domino's but shy of a designer pizza you get at a sit-down restaurant.

Moon Dogs Pizza
Sedona, Arizona
2490 Hwy 89A
928-204-2200
(1/4 MILE WEST OF RODEO AVE AND SAFEWAY PLAZA ON HWY 89A)

"What's For Dinner?" and Life's Other Big Questions

Welcome to Sedona Food Review!

It seems every day we're faced with two of the same inevitable questions: What should I wear? and "What should I eat?" (or family-sized, "What should we eat?").

I'll leave the first wardrobe-related query to my wife, Kim - she's a pro, while mine continues to regularly "malfunction." But the second question - "What to eat?" - it remains as persistent as the hunger pang itself. Our constant companion that doesn't necessarily want to be noticed but won't be ignored.

Today, running through today's food and restaurant options sounds more like roll call at the U.N. Chinese? Italian? Thai? American? And it all can be very confusing - especially when hypoglycemia kicks in.

So this blog will attempt to guide you to the best eateries in Sedona, Arizona, in the heart of red rock country, by reviewing as many restaurants as possible. And it's intended for both long-time residents (and have somehow NOT eaten at some of the places I'll be reviewing) and tourists or prospective tourists.

What's different about this food review blog is our multi-review approach. While people never usually get a second chance to make a first impression, we feel local restaurants deserve a fair shake. Amazing food and service one night might not be the same two weeks later, and vice versa. Let's face it - we all have bad nights. With multiple reviews of the same restaurant, this gives you -- the hungry reader -- more time-tested, reliable information about where you want to eat.

If you've come across an experience at a local Sedona restaurant that you want to share, shoot me an email djutilla [at] yahoo [dot] com.

Happy eating!

Dean Jutilla
Sedona, Arizona