Elote Cafe Experiences - Update: Got a Res!

[isabel]

If you've been to Elote Cafe in Sedona, did you make a reservation or walk in?

I didn't realize they apparently book two full months out. They don't really have any availability in the next two months. I've tried to call to see if there's any options, but their phone always gives me a busy tone. Their website says you can call for takeout, but since I can't get through, that doesn't seem like it will be a great option.

Anyway, just curious if anyone has dined there recently and if there's any flexibility.

[msmerymac]

They're not doing walk-ins. Hopefully you can get through and see if they have a waitlist?

[isabel]

Feb 3, 2023 19:53:51 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

They're not doing walk-ins. Hopefully you can get through and see if they have a waitlist?

That was my hope, but I called at multiple points yesterday and again today and every time all I've gotten is a busy tone. Their website says they take takeout orders starting at 3pm, but I called at 3:15pm today and same thing. I mean, I know it's popular, but it seems odd that the line is always busy.

[rubytue]

We last went in Sept 2019, but didn’t have reservations. I thought they didn’t even take reservations, but it surely wasn’t 2 months in advance. Hell, we planned the trip only 2 weeks out. But, between being easy coast bodies and generally eating early, I think we showed up right when it opened.

[isabel]

Feb 3, 2023 20:24:09 GMT -5 rubytue said:

We last went in Sept 2019, but didn’t have reservations. I thought they didn’t even take reservations, but it surely wasn’t 2 months in advance. Hell, we planned the trip only 2 weeks out. But, between being easy coast bodies and generally eating early, I think we showed up right when it opened.

From what I can tell, they moved locations in 2020. Their website says they do not accept walk ins. Seems like things have shifted since then.

I am happy to eat early and it's just me, so I guess I'm hoping to be able to get through and find out whether there is a waitlist option. It's just bizarre to me that their phone is always busy.

I can't remember the last time I heard an actual busy tone when calling... anyone. lol

[fiddles]

Feb 3, 2023 19:57:45 GMT -5 isabel said:

Feb 3, 2023 19:53:51 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

They're not doing walk-ins. Hopefully you can get through and see if they have a waitlist?

That was my hope, but I called at multiple points yesterday and again today and every time all I've gotten is a busy tone. Their website says they take takeout orders starting at 3pm, but I called at 3:15pm today and same thing. I mean, I know it's popular, but it seems odd that the line is always busy.

From their website they direct you to open table to make a reservation. Looks like earliest is March 31

[isabel]

Feb 3, 2023 21:29:30 GMT -5 fiddles said:

Feb 3, 2023 19:57:45 GMT -5 isabel said:

That was my hope, but I called at multiple points yesterday and again today and every time all I've gotten is a busy tone. Their website says they take takeout orders starting at 3pm, but I called at 3:15pm today and same thing. I mean, I know it's popular, but it seems odd that the line is always busy.

From their website they direct you to open table to make a reservation. Looks like earliest is March 31

I understand. I wanted to see if I could get through to ask if there's a waitlist. 

Their website says you can call starting at 3 for takeout, but I couldn't get through at all the last two days, so was just curious if anyone else had had a similar experience.

[mx27]

Good luck isabel, but for what it’s worth, my husband and I ate there in 2017 (I realize it’s been awhile) and we thought the food was just okay.

[isabel]

Feb 3, 2023 21:49:22 GMT -5 mx27 said:

Good luck isabel , but for what it’s worth, my husband and I ate there in 2017 (I realize it’s been awhile) and we thought the food was just okay.

Thanks. It is what it is. I know there are lots of other places to eat. I may swing by on Tuesday and just see if it's possible to order takeout or something.

I did try sending them a message on Instagram. Maybe I'll get a response that way.

[rubytue]

Feb 3, 2023 21:49:22 GMT -5 mx27 said:

Good luck isabel , but for what it’s worth, my husband and I ate there in 2017 (I realize it’s been awhile) and we thought the food was just okay.

Ditto this. We went in 2019, and some time before that (maybe 2013, @@ I feel like my friend had her baby while we were there, and he is 10-ish). Neither time was I blown away. Good, yes. Probably some of the best food I had in Sedona, since I nothing else is coming to mind, to say “oh, go here instead.” 

Well, there was this one place that was BYOB run by some chef that retired there from somewhere else. But I think it’s long gone. Now I’m down a brain tangent and need to find the name of that place 😂

edit - well, searching old trip advisor reviews and travel planning folders, and I can’t find it. It was in a strip mall going pit toward west Sedona. Only had like 10 tables. Short, guys name. Like Ed or Bill. But I think I went there on the trip with my in-laws, which was 2012 or 2013. So this is a useless tangent.

edit again: OMG I found it. Dan’s Bistro. Again, useless bc it’s gone. But it’s the only place that stands out in my 3 trips to Sedona 😂 yelp.to/fpk6sJOm8wb

[fiddles]

Feb 3, 2023 21:38:18 GMT -5 isabel said:

Feb 3, 2023 21:29:30 GMT -5 fiddles said:

From their website they direct you to open table to make a reservation. Looks like earliest is March 31

I understand. I wanted to see if I could get through to ask if there's a waitlist. 

Their website says you can call starting at 3 for takeout, but I couldn't get through at all the last two days, so was just curious if anyone else had had a similar experience.

Good luck! We were there a couple years ago, I think 2019, and licked out with a walk in. Had never heard of the place

[al dente]

Don't some credit cards have a concierge service that they can help book these kinds of things? I feel like I may have seen something when poking around on the Chase site a long time ago.

Or if you're staying at a hotel see if they can help? Good luck though eating at new restaurants is one of my favorite things about traveling so I hope you get something good!

[isabel]

Feb 4, 2023 0:53:01 GMT -5 al dente said:

Don't some credit cards have a concierge service that they can help book these kinds of things? I feel like I may have seen something when poking around on the Chase site a long time ago.

Or if you're staying at a hotel see if they can help? Good luck though eating at new restaurants is one of my favorite things about traveling so I hope you get something good!

Hmmm interesting. I hadn't heard of that, but I do have a Chase card that is my primary credit card.

I did get a response from them on Instagram asking for my phone number so they could call me, but I didn't get a call today.

Still got a busy tone when I called around 4 today, so we'll see.

[sunshineandpinot]

I am going in three weeks and we do have a reservation.

[isabel]

Good news! They called me tonight and I have a reservation now.

[sunshineandpinot]

isabel, did you already go? How was it? Any other recs? We go in 2 weeks for a girls' trip. I'm excited!

[isabel]

Feb 12, 2023 19:45:37 GMT -5 sunshineandpinot said:

isabel , did you already go? How was it? Any other recs? We go in 2 weeks for a girls' trip. I'm excited!

Hey, I did! Copying this from the Randoms on Friday:

It was good. I enjoyed my meal. I’ve had better upscale Mexican though. Their salsa was kind of meh. Super chunky and didn’t have enough chile flavor. I got the goat cheese app, which I enjoyed and the braised pork cheeks, which were really delicious. Margarita was good and not too sweet. A solid restaurant and I’d go back, but it wasn’t mind blowing.

I also ate at The Hudson, which, again, wasn’t mind blowing, but was really tasty and seemed to have just consistently solid food. I ate there a couple of times. Liked the vibe.

Tamaliza was great, but very pricey for what you get. Butterfly Burger was really good. The Secret Garden cafe at Tlaquepaque was meh. I heard good things about the Coffee Pot for breakfast, but I'm not a huge breakfast person, so I didn't try it.

The Subway Cave off the Boynton Canyon trail and the Soldier Pass-Brins Mesa loop were my favorite hikes. Highly recommend earthtrekkers.com if you want a play-by-play for hikes in the area. It was *really* helpful. Download the Hiking Project app and download the Arizona trails for offline use. Some of the trails have no cell service and the app will help with keeping you on track and so you know where you are.