Rene is one of Sedona’s most storied restaurants. Established in 1978, Rene is a fine dining institution that Sedona residents and visitors alike have visited for its charming atmosphere (that makes for a romantic date night spot) and haute cuisine. Rene was taken over by Mercer Mohr in early 2022, and we were thrilled to find out Rene is being overseen by one of the city’s top chefs.
We’ll never tire of dining at the outdoor patio with the fountain babbling, light-wrapped tree and gardens nearby. We started our meal with a Mediterranean Octopus accompanied by fingerling potatoes, confit baby tomatoes, caper, Kalamata olive power and paprika oil and Escargot served with garlic-parsley butter, preserved lemon and a grilled baguette, a flavorful starter we’ve been ordering for years that always delivers. Rene’s award-winning wine list is easily one of the best ones in town. With more than 100 different options, there’s bound to be a wine you’ll fall for. Being a special occasion, we opted for a glass of 2018 Bila-Haut Cotes du Roussillon from Michel Chapoutier. This deep red-colored wine was rich and almost spicy.
The refreshed menu includes many of Rene’s stand-out French options with a few Mediterranean plates thrown in for good measure. For our main courses, we tried the Chilean Sea Bass and Colorado Rack of Lamb. The sea bass was wrapped in panko-fennel pollen crust that gave the light, flaky fish a nice crunch. The tomato-saffron sauce added a warm, hearty touch that was ideal for a chilly winter’s night. The dish was completed with well-seasoned warm potato kale. We couldn’t pass up the lamb. The hearty pan-roasted lamb was served with a creamy Kalamata olive yogurt, light couscous with dates and figs and served with charred eggplant puree. Dessert at Rene has always been a show. We’ll never tire of the classic sweet and savory French dessert Crepes Suzette. These are prepared tableside and flambéed for a literally fiery finish. But no matter what you order at this iconic restaurant, you can never go wrong with Rene. − A Sedona Foodie
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