Cottonwood’s The Tavern Grille holds a special place in the city’s dining scene. For starters, the setting is unbeatable. The restaurant is housed inside the former Rialto Theatre. Constructed in 1923, the Rialto supposedly was the longest single-running theater screen in the United States until it burned down in 1998. The Jurisin Group revived this unique space and opened it in 2005. See if you can spot the charred walls in the dining room next time you drop in. We love the décor here. The chandeliers hanging from high ceilings coupled with the plush leather booths and wooden benches make for a casual, yet elegant setting.
Food-wise, expect approachable, eclectic cuisine. We couldn’t resist the crispy house-made Coconut Shrimp appetizer that was served with tangy orange pineapple marmalade. Next, we moved on to the Lavosh, a thin cracker brushed with garlic olive oil. We selected beef, bell peppers, pico de gallo and olives as our four toppings. This proved to be a crispy, irresistible option that we’d order over and over again. We split a Stuffed Meatloaf Sandwich. This hearty handheld option was stuffed with both ham and harvati cheese and served open faced on sourdough bread. The entire sandwich comes with savory mushroom marsala that was the perfect complement to this refreshing spin on a classic American dish. For our main entree, we opted for the Tavern Chicken Pot Pie. We enjoyed cracking the crust of this creation to dig into chicken breast, potatoes, carrots, peas, onions and celery that was in a creamy sauce. This tasted like something your mother would have made. If your mother was a top-notch chef, that is.
Drinks here are a true specialty. The Tavern is well known for its daily happy hour that’s served from 3 to 5 p.m. at the bar. We’re fond of the Prickly Pear Margarita and Ultimate Bloody Mary. They’re both fantastic takes on classic cocktails. Whenever we pull up to the bar and order one or the other, we’re reminded with each and every sip why The Tavern has such a devoted following and are grateful for its presence. − A Cottonwood Foodie
MORE SEDONA FOOD AND DRINK: Sedona’s best sandwiches, Sedona’s best vegetarian meals, Sedona’s best hot dogs, wine cellars 2014, wine tasting rooms, Sedona’s best pizza, pizza in Old Town Cottonwood, happy hours, barbecue restaurants, deserts, local beers, hamburgers, best Sedona cuisine, Sedona bars, clubs and nightlife, gourmet dining, Sedona restaurant listings, Sedona and Cottonwood chefs
