SEDONA FOOD REVIEW

Fork in the Road American Bistro: Hidden Gem is Sedona's Best

by Dean Jutilla

SEDONA, AZ - One of Sedona's new upstart restaurants is the Fork in the Road American Bistro. This is truly a gem, located in the Village of Oak Creek, nestled within the Tequa Plaza. The decor is tastefully done with fantastic wood work. The main dining area is very open with a clear view of the busy kitchen.  The full bar also seems to attract a crowd.

During our several visits to Fork in the Road, live music -- generally 1 to 2 musicians playing jazz -- has been offered. While the atmosphere and ambiance are very lovely, it tends to get a bit loud, making conversation a bit challenging, especially in groups larger than four. Service has always been very friendly, attentive and accurate. Reservations are recommended but most of the time we've been able to get seated immediately without one, even at prime time. But based on the consistently fantastic food, that probably won't be the case for long.

On this particular night, I dined with my wife, Kim, and my in-laws, Bob and Connie, all well traveled and with discerning taste buds. Our table ordered the daily soup special -- Japanese curry -- that was a delicious blend of shredded chicken, apples, bananas (yes, bananas) and veggies, so it was on the sweet side (but not overly so). The vegetables within were fresh and overall had a slight middle eastern influence.

Bob also had the crab cakes, which he's eaten all over the world. In his opinion, the cakes were fantastic -- well spiced, dry yet loose in texture. Crab was fresh but not the lump crab you might find in places such as New Orleans or mid Atlantic. The presentation was wonderful and nicely garnished, complemented with a very dry martini.

For entrees, the table had stuffed roast chicken and a lovely salmon roast, both out of this world.

Let's face it, by and large, chicken isn't very exciting. There's not much you can do it that hasn't already been done. Anthony Hopkins, in the movie, "Meet Joe Black," put it very well: "Lamb sandwich. Not as chewy as roast beef and not as boring as chicken." Despite the preconceived notion of this white meat, the stuffed roast chicken is excellent. Fresh, incredible flavors on the chicken hind-quarters mixed with fresh broccoli and green beans make for a dish that's very satisfying -- and dare I say it, exciting. It's all served over a bed of light mashed potatoes.

The salmon dish ordered by Connie is always a hit at our table. It's perfectly cooked and is complemented by sweet potatoes and rice, which round out a super presentation. The salmon fillet, like all the dishes at Fork in the Road, are well portioned.

The table went with two desserts -- the creme brulee and the New York cheesecake. The brulee was excellent with the perfect thickness and hardness of caramel on the top, which tends to be hard to come by. The cheesecake was incredibly creamy and well presented with fresh berries and whipped cream infused with a raspberry swirl. The crust, thick but flaky, really makes the dessert come together.

I'll say it now: Fork in the Road has now become our favorite restaurant in Sedona, hands down. We would eat there more often if the pocket book weren't an issue. Be prepared to pay between $17 - $24 for most entrees and as high as $32 a plate for the special (tonight's was New York skirt steak).

When it comes to the Fork in the Road American Bistro, the path leads to a gem of an eatery that is quickly becoming recognized as one of Sedona's best.