About This Guide
These listings are a selective, rotating guide to area restaurants. The summaries reflect independent judgments; no fees were paid for inclusion. Price ranges, necessarily somewhat subjective, are: Inexpensive = $ or $20, Moderate = $$ or $21-30, Expensive = $$$ or $31-45, Very Expensive = $$$$ or $45 or up.
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Atria (New American)
Helmed by noted Chef Rochelle Daniel – she served as the executive chef for L’Auberge de Sedona and opened Cress on Oak Creek – Atria aims to showcase the natural bounty of Arizona with seasonal, modern American fare. Inside, the restaurant is contemporary, light-filled and features an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs work. We appreciated the gleaming white bar with lighting underneath that softly glowed within the restaurant. The overall food and drink menu felt upscale, yet approachable. Craft cocktails here are of some note. To kick things off, we ordered The Honey Bee – made with Bombay Sapphire, chamomile-infused honey, chamomile fennel bitters, lemon and egg white – tasted refreshing, frothy and sweet. We paired our drinks with Coal Roasted Beets. Served with whipped ricotta, herb oil, tahini dressing and candied pepitas, each bite was a dynamic mix of spicy and sweet. We appreciated just how Arizona this dish was. The grilled oysters we devoured were fresh and served with a delightful mix of chorizo, lemon, parsley and bread crumbs. We loved how everything was plated – with every detail and accoutrement carefully curated. For one of our entrées, we opted for the Smoked Short Rib. This short rib was tender and seasoned just right. The meat was served with celeriac, roasted onion and a rich and flavorful Bordelaise sauce we couldn’t get enough of. We also enjoyed the Faroe Island Salmon. The fish was paired with peanut potato, leek, smoked salmon roe and a rich, herbaceous Béarnaise sauce. We finished our meal with a decadent Cappuccino Pot de Crème that was complemented by hazelnut and sweet Chantilly cream. Our final course was creamy, flavor-packed and the perfect way to finish a perfect meal. Open Tuesday through Saturday, for dinner. • 103 N. Leroux St. in Flagstaff (928-440-4377) (atriarestaurant.com) ($$ TO $$$)
Shift Kitchen & Bar
Shift Kitchen & Bar is one of the many outstanding destination restaurants that have opened in Flagstaff over the past decade. Located in downtown Flagstaff in a light filled location, the contemporary setting features wood floors, expansive windows, white counters and a royal blue color featured on the doors and on the trim. Pasty chef and owner Dara Wong strives to “challenge locals and travelers alike to look beyond what they might consider typical ‘mountain town’ food,” according to Shift’s website. Her fare is dynamic, locally inspired and beautifully plated. She has earned national recognition for her culinary achievements. We kicked off our meal with Pickled French Fries, which is part of Shift’s Snacks menu. These savory Frites Street fries are marinated in house pickle brine that gives these potatoes an irresistible mouth-puckering taste. Next up, we sank our forks into the Elote Panzanella Salad. The colorful veggie centric dish was a nice mix of sweet corn, heirloom tomatoes, chopped romaine and cotija that was tossed in a spicy tomatillo vinaigrette and topped with crunchy house croutons. This salad is a great example of Dara’s approach: Southwest flavors used to elevate what otherwise would be a simple dish. For our entrees, we opted for the Petite Bavette Steak. We couldn’t get enough of the tender cut topped with charred spring onion chimichurri for a dash of green and spice, hearty pommes aligot and cheddar jus for a rich sauce. Desserts at Shift are a must-order item. They’re always so creative and tasty. The Sesame Espresso Pavlova proved to be a dynamic dessert. The sweet and cool pavlova was tempered by the sesame and espresso woven into the classic Italian sweets. The entire dish was topped with chocolate foam, blackberries and chocolate crunch to finish. To get the full Shift experience, order the Chef’s 4 Course Tasting Menu. Anticipate the unexpected as you watch chefs prepare your food at the counter. No matter what you order, prepare to be wowed. Open daily for dinner only. • 107 N. San Francisco St., #2, in downtown Flagstaff (928-440-5135) (shiftflg.com) ($$$ to $$$$)
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