Most people would agree that dining in 2018 is equal parts ambience and cuisine. At SaltRock Southwest Kitchen and Craft Margaritas at Kimpton Amara Resort and Spa, the dining room has a modern-meets-Mid-Century-meets-Southwest feel, from the adorned cow skull above the bar to the potted succulents to the wall of 214 painted spoons. When the weather warms up, the patio is one of the best places to dine in Sedona. Grab a seat under the strings of white lights and enjoy views of Snoopy Rock, the banks of Oak Creek and flickering fire pits. Weekend evenings usually boast live music to boot.
As the name implies, margaritas are the specialty at SaltRock. We’ve jumped onboard the mezcal train, so we recommend the West Fork, which features house-infused jalapeno El Jimador Blanco tequila, Vida mezcal, lime, agave and house-made bitters. We love the smokiness of the mezcal in this cocktail. For dinner, we started with Executive Chef Logan Stephenson’s grilled corn in a spicy aioli topped with lime and cotija and ordered a side of tortilla chips for scooping up the corn. The consensus on the entrées was that the Braised Osso Buco and Roasted Salmon were hands-down favorites. The osso buco showcases a 6-hour-braised pork shank in a chorizo and white-bean cassoulet with heirloom carrots. You could eat this hearty, earthy dish with a spoon, it’s just that tender. The Roasted Salmon features an enormous salmon fillet on top of roasted fingerling potatoes, chorizo, blistered tomatoes (the star of the dish) and salsa Amarillo. Those of us with lighter appetites couldn’t finish this dish – SaltRock doesn’t skimp on its salmon portions. It left us feeling virtuous and satisfied all at once.
In keeping with our smoky theme, we ordered the Chocolate Chili Cake for dessert. The cake was topped with rum cream, raspberry compote and smoked sea salt, which accentuated the rich chocolatey flavor. As for the chili part, the cake left a warming sensation in the backs of our throats, but by no means was it spicy. Even the most cautious of palates shouldn’t hesitate to order it, especially if there’s a chill in that spring evening air.– Erika Ayn Finch. Photo courtesy of Kimpton Amara Resort and Spa.
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