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 $10, Moderate = $$ or $11-20, Expensive = $$$ or $20-30, Very Expensive = $$$$ or $30 or up.
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Cottonwood
Blazin’ M Ranch (American)
Cottonwood’s Blazin’ M Ranch is a true Western experience that offers dinner and a show. Gates open at 5 p.m., and guests can stroll around a recreated Western town and the ranch before dinner. Pop into a few shops, check out a museum, watch as staff members perform ropes tricks, and even take a tractor ride to check out the ranch’s animals. Starting at 6:30 p.m., guests can enjoy a chuckwagon dinner featuring chicken and ribs, a foil-wrapped potato, cowboy beans, signature prickly pear coleslaw, flying biscuits and a homemade caramel apple crisp with ice cream for dessert. Mozy up to the saloon bar if you’d like drinks. Following dinner, the Blazin’ M Cowboys will take the stage and perform a one-hour show featuring cowboy poetry and humor. Open Wednesday through Saturday, 5 to 9 p.m. • 1875 Mabery Ranch Road in Cottonwood (928-634-0334) ($$$$)
Crema Craft Kitchen & Bar (Brunch)
Crema Craft Kitchen & Bar is our go-to brunch spot in Northern Arizona. For starters, the setting is quaint. The centerpiece of the outdoor courtyard is a bright orange shipping container bar where you can order drinks and food. The interior features Edison light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, dark wood tables and the coffee counter where pastries are displayed under glass domes. The diverse menu has something to offer everyone. Order hot or “Griddle” items like red velvet waffles and fried chicken or decadent Bread Pudding French Toast or heartier options like burritos or benedicts. We’re big fans of breakfast tacos, and the ones on this menu from the “Trademarks” section rule. These tasty tacos feature scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, potato, cheddar, chives, pico de gallo and Sriarchi aioli for a nice, spicy “kick.” The menu is rounded out by lighter fare like salads, oatmeal and sandwiches. Like any good brunch spot, Crema also features cocktails, beer and wine. We’d recommend the Ultimate Mimosa made with Crema’s fresh orange juice. Speaking of fresh, Crema is named after the base used to make gelato, and the house-made gelato here is always worth ordering. Flavors rotate with the seasons. Open daily, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., for breakfast, lunch and brunch. Walk-up window open until 3 p.m. daily for pastries and coffee. • 917 N. Main St. in Old Town Cottonwood (928-649-5785) ($ TO $$)
Eden (Southwestern and Seafood)
Find a plethora of seafood and Southwestern dishes at Eden. This restaurant is from the folks behind the catering company Rosalie’s of Sedona and has been open since 2012. Kick off your meal with oversized Bangkok Shrimp that’s tossed in-house seasoning and sweet chili sauce. Signature dishes include Seafood Scampi, Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb served with Southwest chimichurri and Mamma E’s Famous Chicken Tortilla Soup. The menu is rounded out by salad, steaks, burgers, chicken and pasta. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., for lunch and dinner. • 1750 E. Villa Drive in Cottonwood (928-649-2675) ($$$$)
Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria (Modern American) 
There is simply no other place like Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria in all of Arizona. Located on a hilltop overlooking Old Town Cottonwood and the Verde Valley, Merkin’s outpost features stunning views, an expansive patio and a modern restaurant with a striking bar and high ceilings. Merkin Vineyards is owned by Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan, and you can expect to find Merkin’s wine on the menu. Menus change with the seasons, but we’d recommend trying the signature “pink” pasta or the Merkin Mac & Cheese. The prickly pear-infused pasta with pancetta-mascarpone cream sauce, dusted with beet powder, is tasty, sweet and savory, and an only-in-Arizona dish that makes us swoon every time we order it. Service is first come, first served. Reservations are only accepted for parties of eight or larger. Open daily, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday), for lunch and dinner. • 770 N. Verde Heights Drive in Cottonwood (928-639-1001) ($$ TO $$$)
Pizzeria Bocce (Italian)
When she decided to open a pizzeria, Bocce executive chef Michelle Jurisin traveled to Naples, Italy to become certified in how to make pizza from the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, and you can taste just how fresh and crisp the pizza is in every bite. Besides the pies, you also can order salads and panini. Our favorite seat in this contemporary Italian restaurant is at the gleaming marble bar so we can watch pies cooking in the wood-fired oven. You also can have your meal alfresco on the bustling outdoor patio. Try classic pizzas like Margherita or creative options like Shrimp & Hot Peppers and Pesto Chicken. Appetizer highlights include the must-try Bocce Balls – the chef’s chicken and sausage meatballs in a spicy marinara served with garlic bread and topped with hand-stretched mozzarella. Delight in dipping Bocce’s fresh bread into the restaurant’s signature blend of European cheeses if you order the Fondue. Cap off your meal with the decadent Chocolate Chip Cookie Skillet with Vanilla Gelato. Open Monday to Thursday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., for dinner. The bar is open until 11 p.m. Open Saturday, noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m., for lunch and dinner. • 1060 N. Main Street in Old Town Cottonwood (928-202-3597) ($ TO $$)
The Tavern Grille (American)
Cottonwood’s The Tavern Grille holds a special place in the city’s dining scene. 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. 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 a 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. Drinks here are a another 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. Whenever we pull up to the bar and order one, we’re reminded with each and every sip why The Tavern has such a devoted following and are grateful for its presence. Open daily, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., for lunch and dinner. • 914 N. Main St., in Old Town Cottonwood (928-634-6669) ($$ TO $$$)
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