Red Planet Diner and other Sedona, AZ Restaurant Reviews

Dedicated to anything cosmic, this diner's outerspace theme is quite amusing, and the kids will love it. The staff wear t-shirts saying "Welcome Earthlings" and the menu has items with names like: Lunar Linguine, Moon Loaf and Mothership Margarita.

The food is simple diner food, and seems to be very busy with locals and tourists alike. The whole restaurant is decorated with a space-theme in mind, and you will find pictures of UFO's under glass on the counter, plus other recognizable space characters, such as a ceramic Mr. Spock face hung on one wall.

Favorite Dish: We ate here a couple of times, and found the service ranged from good to indifferent. Stick to the simple diner items such as burgers, wings, shakes and fries. I did try the Moon (meat) Loaf, but found it salty and greasy, as it appeared to have been previously made, then sliced and fried on a grill -- an explanation of a brown crust on the underside of each slice.

It is, though, worth it just to come once, to take in the cosmic atmosphere.

WARNING: The restaurant seems to be affiliated with a timeshare company. If a super friendly person starts talking to you, especially about your plans in the area, or if you are given a gift certificate for a free picture of yourselves to be put on their restaurant newspaper, run fast and far, it's a ploy to sell you a timeshare for the Los Abrigados Resort. Of course, if you want that sort of thing, enjoy! However, we found it a bit wearing as timeshare salesmen seem to have taken over Sedona.

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Theme: Diner
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 928-282-6070
Address: 1655 W. Highway 89A (in West Sedona)

The Heartline Cafe is touted as an innovative and creative restaurant, and I am sad to say we did not find it as such.

As my husband said, "it just doesn't come all together", and I totally agree -- they seem to try very hard, but somehow, something is missing, and I still can't put my finger on it.

We found the restaurant crowded and dark -- I almost needed a flashlight to see my food -- and extremely busy. From what I could see, the restaurant had pleasant decor. We noticed staff literally speedwalking from table to table. This made our experience a little less enjoyable; though service was very pleasant, and at a nice pace, and water glasses were filled appropriately, the whole atmosphere was not relaxing as it should be.

Parking is also very awkward (Hello! welcome to Sedona!)

Favorite Dish: We were initially served a "vegetable spread" with our bread, which I guess is a healthy concept, and tasted okay, but it had a slimy and cold texture. We sent it back and asked for butter. Their famous smoked chicken dumpling with spicy peanut sauce was a great concept, but I thought that perhaps the dumpling should have been perhaps done up in tradtional steamed/fried asian style, as it was baked, sort of like a cornish pastie, and it was doughy.

Our main dishes were cooked very well, and they sounded innovative, but they tasted just -- and I hate to say it -- ordinary. Perhaps we hit the restaurant on a bad day, but there was nothing here that would bring us back.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 928-282-0785
Address: 1610 W. Highway 89A, West Sedona
Website: www.heartlinecafe.com

Restaurant Name: Sally's Mesquite Grill & BBQ

This place was recommended to us by a local, as "the best ribs" so we thought we would give it a try. It is literally a hole in the wall, located in a hallway dividing two buildings and space is at premium. There is a counter that you order from, that is outdoors save for a small overhanging roof. A few tables are located in a tiny room across the hall (with glass walls and door, otherwise you would be too claustrophobic to eat). No wonder the local told us it would be best to have take-out.

The woman serving us looked like she was used to scowling more than smiling, and verged on being rude. Maybe she was having a bad day, but it appeared that she probably has a lot of bad days, too.

Favorite Dish: Of course, we ordered the ribs, and you get two sides -- we chose coleslaw and fries. The ribs were okay, but we have had much better -- we found them not that tender, and the fries, though being very generous in portions, had been overcooked. The coleslaw was okay. If we had to eat here again for lack of anything else, we would, but I would not go out of my way to eat here again.

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Theme: Barbecue
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: 250 Jordan Road, Sedona
Directions: It is probably easier to sight the restaurant from the main road, Highway 89A, as they ahve a sign there. You can then proceed around the corner and approach the restaurant from the back, on Jordan Rd.
Website: www.sallysmesquitebbq.com

This place is a virtual oasis in Sedona, and it wins hands down as one of our favorite restaurants. The interior is done up gorgeously, and is the perfect romantic date spot, though we noticed all types eating the marvelous food here.

Service was extremely professional and pleasant, even after we walked in with muddy jeans and fleece jackets after a day at the Grand Canyon. Make sure to ask for Reggie as your waiter -- his good humor and grace made our experience extremely pleasant.

Favorite Dish: My husband can't stop singing the praises of the garlic dip and bread, which is automatically brought to the table when you are seated. A type of bagna caulda, it is extra virgin olive oil, lots of finely chopped garlic, strips of basil, and a sprinkling of chile flakes and salt, and is heavenly on the warm, crusty, bread that they give you.

We ate here twice, as we loved it so much, and you can't go wrong with either pasta or main entree dish. if you get a chance, order the Rib Eye steak, probably one of the best restaurant steaks I have ever had. Servings are extremely large, and include a house salad with generous shards of fresh parmigiano reggiano. If you do have room for dessert, go for the key lime pie, you won't be sorry.

To add to the class of this place, they have a pianist or a violinist and guitarist duo playing most nights. Reservations are a must, as this restaurant is very popular.

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Theme: Italian
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 928-282-5219
Address: 2321 W Highway 89 A, West Sedona
Website: http://www.dahl-diluca.com/index.html

This is just the place to drop in for a midday treat. They also serve breakfast and lunch. You order at the counter, then have a seat and the food is brought to you. The day we were there, there was an amazing array of treats -- various cheesecakes, 1 1/2" thick lemon squares, lemon tarts, mouth-watering strawberry tarts, huge slabs of brownies, AND a berry mousse cake stuffed with white chocolate and chunks of cheesecake. Yikes! it was a sugar fanatic's dream come true!

Service was robotic and indifferent, and perhaps because it was late afternoon, near closing time. Later that day, we saw the staff extremely animated at the bar in Dahl and Deluca's, so now we know that their smile muscles work.

Favorite Dish: Since I was getting peckish, I ordered a tuna melt sandwich; it was a bit greasy as they made it like a grilled cheese sandwich, with greens inside. The greens cooked inside the sandwich, making it a little unappetizing, but the sandwich tasted ok. My husband had a personal sausage pizza, which he rated passable. The real focus here is the desserts. We sampled a strawberry tart, lemon tart and brownie, and all were very good, the favorite being the brownie.

Make sure to concentrate only on the baked goods here, and you should come out on a sugar high. Yum.

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Theme: Bakery
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 928-284-4633
Address: 6446 Highway 179, Oak Creek
Directions: In the Village of Oak Creek