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Dining
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Coffee
Pot Restaurant |
Sedona's
Coffee Pot Restaurant
By A.M. Melfa
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Sedona.biz
(Sedona, Arizona) - Reading over the notes of my recent interview with Marius Daher,
Manager of Sedona's Coffee Pot Restaurant, is having a decidedly
Pavlovian effect upon me. I begin to salivate as my brain's
gratification center recalls my last meal there.
Visions of 101 Omelets, overstuffed and savory, dance through my
head. With a superb pot of Columbia coffee close at hand,
accompanied by the best grits I've had since I migrated from my
childhood home just south of the Mason-Dixon line, my stomach sings
an aria to the memory.
Emile and Patricia Daher purchased the Coffee Pot sixteen years ago
when moving from L.A. to Sedona. The Daher's, like many who come to
visit Sedona, contracted "red rock fever" and decided to
relocate from the big city insanity to small town safety.
What motivates the Daher family to continue delivering
great food at great prices to Sedona all these years? "Plain and
simply," says Marius Daher, "the local support of the Sedonan
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101
Omelettes |
Community." Face alighting with a charming smile, Marius adds "You
just can't put a price tag on good will."
This stream of good will apparently flows both ways at the Coffee
Pot. Marius, his parents Emile and Patricia and his brother, André,
are all avid supporters of community causes, donating over one
hundred meals per month to the Sedona Community Center's Meals on Wheels project alone. I
would provide a listing of local and national recipients of both
financial and food donations, however the list is quite literally as
long as my arm.
The Coffee Pot's philanthropy further manifests in annual
scholarships of one thousand dollars each to the three Latin
American students maintaining the highest grade point averages in
area high schools. Latin American employees make up a large portion
of the Coffee Pot's staff, thus the Daher's created these
scholarships to demonstrate appreciation for their solid work ethic
and educational achievements.
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Inside
the Coffee
Pot Restaurant |
Sedona responds to the Daher's generosity in kind by spreading the
word about the Coffee Pot to friends, family and visitors alike. It
says a lot about a restaurant when 99% of the advertising is
accomplished through word of mouth.
With a focus on repeat business, the sheer volume of food stocked
allows the Coffee Pot to pass along these savings to their
customers, explaining the outstanding values.
Daily bargains
include numerous Early Bird Breakfast Specials offered from 6am to
9am for as little as $3.75 a plate. Lunch Specials also run daily
between noon and the 2:15pm closing time starting at $5.25.
And don't forget to order a tasty Mimosa or Bloody Mary from the
full service bar while you lounge comfortably on the outside patio,
gazing at Coffee Pot Rock, the local point of interest which gave
the restaurant its name.
Any restaurant patron will appreciate the high quality of service
provided by the Coffee Pot's accomplished wait staff. These people
have become adept in the near magical talent of appearing precisely
when needed; no more, no less.
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Marius
Daher, Manager |
I questioned Marius about the skill of his staff. He proudly reveals
that with paid vacations and an employee profit sharing program,
there is very little turn over at the Coffee Pot. No one present
working the floor that day had been employed there for less than
three years. Quite an accomplishment in an industry historically
plagued with a high employee turn over rate.
So let's see, we have happy owners, happy patrons and a happy wait
staff. What have we missed? Oh yes, happy celebrities!
The "Wall of Fame" as I like to call it, prominently displayed
behind the cash register attests to the fact that many celebrities
find the Coffee Pot Restaurant to be a Sedona hot spot.
Marius tells a story of Nora Jones who raved about her meal of
Huevos Rancheros at the Coffee Pot during her concert a few years
ago at the old Sedona Cultural Park. Naturally, the very next day
they could barely keep up with the orders for Nora's favorite dish.
The winning smile surfaces once again as Marius relates the reaction
of the female waitresses in response to the sudden appearance of
actor Matt LeBlanc. "How you doin'?" Swooning and weak
knees were apparently on the menu that day.
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It's
namesake |
As you make your way towards the exit, comfortably sated from your
excellent meal, don't forgo a browse through the Coffee Pot's
eclectic Gift Shop.
Patricia Daher has gathered arts and crafts from world wide sources
to add spice to the samplings provided by local artisans. As your
wallet is none the lighter from your dining experience, there is no
need to pass up the various bargains provided the Gift Shop.
As good food, good prices and good times await both locals and
visitors alike at the Coffee Pot Restaurant don't fail to stop by
next time you are in West Sedona to see what's brewing. It's a
Sedona experience not to be missed.
The Coffee Pot Restaurant, located at 2050 W. Hwy. 89A (928)
282-6626, is open every day of the year (save Christmas Day) from
6am to 2:15pm.
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