Don’t be fooled by the commercial location or chain restaurant appearance, Javelina Cantina serves incredibly good food. Tucked in at the end of the Hillside Sedona Shopping Plaza, Javelina Cantina may be a large restaurant, but it’s also very popular so it definitely pays to call ahead and make a reservation. We were only a party of four but would have had a long wait had another group ahead of us not foolishly forfeited their table by not showing up when their name was called.

We had a minute to order drinks before we were seated and opted for Mexican beer and cocktails. We were shown to a table right next to the bar, which I initially thought might be a bit annoying but there wasn’t too much bar traffic and in fact we were able to have a relaxing meal without any disturbance from our drinking neighbours.

In spite of my large lunch, I couldn’t quite resist the Salmon Tostada. I have to admit that living in the Pacific Northwest I also didn’t expect it to be as tasty as it was. The grilled 6 oz. filet was crunchy on the surface and very tender on the inside, which is just how I like my salmon cooked. The fish was served with black beans and mango salsa topped with a very generous helping of fresh avocado. Again the meal was large but by holding back a bit on the rice and beans I didn’t feel too guilty afterwards.

The thing I liked most about Javelina’s is that many of the ingredients looked and tasted fresh, often a rarity in these large family style diners. Despite being very busy the service was very efficient and cheerful. At the bar, some of the customers looked so comfortable they could easily have passed for regulars. It seemed like a place that had something for everyone – groups, couples, families and those in search of drinks only. It’s also an environment that’s geared towards tourists who don’t want to stray too far off the beaten path with their holiday cuisine. The interior is big and bright, verging on garish with the colours, and at the front desk they sell an abundance of "Javelina" themed items. For anyone who’s never seen one or even heard of them (myself included), the Javelina "is the only wild, native, pig-like animal found in the United States. Called Javelina because of their razor-sharp tusks, Spanish for javelin or spear." For our part, we shamelessly picked up a fridge magnet with a photo of a very cute mother and baby Javelina.

I can’t say that Javelina’s is excellent value for money as the entrees are moderately priced but the meals are large and definitely better quality than the Taco Bells of the world.

www.javelinacantina.com

A bit pricey for Mexican, which is usually a bargain. Tucked away on the back side of the Hillside shopping center, this is one of the few restaurants in a gallery-intensive area. The lack of soft surfaces boost its noise level, and the food is decent but nothing to write home about. Instead of sour cream, a fresh cream is included with most dishes.

This restaurant was recommended by several locals and was really very good. We did not have reservations and had to wait. It had a nice casual atmosphere and very friendly staff. It was located in a shopping area, so you could look at some of the shops while waiting. There were lots of nice art and gift shops.

We called around noon on a Friday to make a reservation, and our choices were 5:30pm or after 8pm. We took the one after 8pm. We were promptly seated when we got there, and it was still busy.

We ordered a small plate of nachos for an appetizer, and it was still large enough for us to share. My son ordered the Mexican steak that came sliced. It looked very good. My husband got pork enchiladas, and I had a cheese enchilada and chicken burrito.

Everyone enjoyed their dinner. Because we were there so late, it was dark and we couldn't see the view. During the day, you can get a nice view of the red rocks while you dine. Service was excellent.

I cannot recommend this restaurant. There was nothing at all special about the food. It was not even mediocre Mexican and the prices were double what I'm used to paying for really good Mexican food. We did get to sit out on the patio, which was nice, but since it was after dark, we couldn't see the red rocks. Our waitress was an airhead, indifferent and inattentive. The atmosphere was kind of tacky, overdone Southwest-Mexican. Javelina is a type of wild pig indigenous to the area, so, of course, tacky, cartoonish javelinas festooned the restaurant.

We shared a huge order of fajitas, which we thought it would be hard to mess up, but they serve theirs with a heavy, cloying sauce that either detracts from the flavor of grilled meal, or hides the fact that it has no flavor. Not sure which.