671 AZ-179
Sedona, AZ 86336
*Disclaimer: We were not paid for this review. All opinions are our own and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
Javelina Cantina is a tourist spot to enjoy Southwestern cuisine in Sedona. The convenient location on 179 to and from many area hikes makes it a popular choice with tourists.
Although Javelina offers a lively, colorful dining room, the food just does not stack up when compared to other more authentic Mexican choices in town. That being said, if you are seeking a fun vacation dining choice, you will likely be pleased with the colorful ambiance.
Javelina offers a small menu of Tex Mex favorites with a variety of choices for everyone including vegetarians.
The complimentary chips and salsa were quite good, in fact they were the best part of the meal, and luckily our waiter kept the refills coming. The salsa was very flavorful and addictive. App choices include: Cheese Crisp, Mexican Street Corn, Nachos, Queso, and Javelina Bean Dip. Entree choices are varied and include: Baja Shrimp Tacos, Salmon Tostada, Chicken Mole Enchiladas, Chicken Fajitas, and a Fajita Salad.
Although the Veggie Fajitas sounded great on paper and looked scrumptious as presented, I was shocked when I actually took my first bite and discovered that the fajitas were drenched in a sweet tasting Teriyaki sauce. If the waiter would have informed me of the unusual sauce choice, I definitely would have ordered mine plain. Think Chinese food topped with sour cream and guacamole - it just did not work for me. Combining Chinese and Mexican food is never a good idea.
The Teriyaki flavor conflicted so much with the other sides like the guacamole, sour cream, rice, and beans that I had to take my order to go, rinse off all the veggies of the sauce, and refry them with olive oil. Sometimes taking a risky chance helps a restaurant, however, in this case I am sure most would not like the weird taste of these fajitas.
In short, do not order any fajitas unless a Chinese/Mexican fusion dish sounds good to you.
On the other hand, the Grilled Chicken & Vegetable Burrito was pretty good, probably because it was not drenched in a sugary sauce. This simple flour burrito was stuffed with boneless grilled chicken, zucchini, squash, and corn. The rice and refried beans which were served on the side were delicious.
Overall, Javelina isn't the best Mexican food in Sedona, however, it's an option for anyone who wants to fill up on a lot of carbs before/after a hike. While the food is standard Tex-Mex fare rather than authentic, those who need a large meal at an affordable price will find it at Javelina.
Service was decent, perhaps a bit slow due to the packed house. We didn't mind taking our time as the restaurant ambiance was very nice and we were in no rush to leave.
The dining room is spacious with attractive colorful decor and large windows which offer a hint of red rock view along with plenty of green trees. The nice relaxing views give the restaurant a laid-back vibe despite the hefty tourist crowds.
Javelina offers a nice outdoor patio with a partial red rock view and a relaxing fountain, however, for some reason they chose not to cover their tables with umbrellas (what were they thinking in hot sunny Sedona?!). Obviously, this severely limits the time guests can dine outside without overheating.
I would be unlikely to return to Javelina due to my less-than-stellar experience with the fajitas. I am not a fan of places that try to add a bunch of weird ingredients to food that is good all on its own.
