Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria

We had a great experience at Merkin Trattoria! The Herb Roasted Italian Beef Sandwich was delicious — it reminded me of a French dip, with tender, flavorful beef. The Chicken Caesar Wrap had good, tender chicken, though it was a little on the dry side and could use a bit more flavor. Service was wonderful — the staff kept checking in to make sure we had everything we needed. The patio seating was definitely the highlight, with beautiful views of the mountains. We finished with the Tiramisu, which was creamy and full of great flavor. A lovely spot for good food, excellent service, and a great atmosphere!

This is one of my most difficult reviews. We went on Monday at 4:30pm. We were seated promptly and our drink orders were taken quickly by Patricia. From start to finish the experience was outstanding. The pictures are Monday’s pictures. My wife had the pasta stuffed with ricotta, we shared the Arugula salad (OUTSTANDING) and I had the Calabrian pizza. Everything was perfect. We returned on Tuesday 11/11/25 Veterans Day and it’s as tho we were in a completely different restaurant. Nothing was memorable. The waitress was distant and our drinks were not served until after the food arrived. The food was not memorable. VERY INCONSISTENT. That is a deal breaker for me. Consistency is of the utmost importance to me and my wife. Therefore, I can only say go at your own risk. You may get a superb meal, and maybe not.

Great restaurant at the top of the hill. The views from the patio were spectacular and overlooked Cottonwood. Food was great and we really liked their proprietary wine. Our server was fabulous and was educated on both the wine and the food. It was nicer than other restaurants in town and worth checking out, especially if you are from out of town.

The best part about this restaurant is definitely the view. It is a beautiful setting. Our server, Patricia, was also very kind and efficient once she arrived at our table, and she did her best to make the experience enjoyable. Unfortunately, the overall visit had several downsides. When we arrived, the hosts barely acknowledged us. Once seated, it took quite a while before anyone came over to take our order. The food itself was hit-or-miss: the steak was cooked properly but served cold, and the sides were both cold and stale. The pizza (ordered without cheese, as vegan options were extremely limited) was surprisingly good, though. Dessert was mixed, the tiramisu had nice flavor, but the texture was off and too watery at the bottom. Overall, the view and service from Patricia were the highlights, but the lack of hospitality at the start and the underwhelming food make it hard to recommend.

Cute little vineyard on the way to Sedona, AZ. They offer tours but you have to set an appointment because it is only on certain days. We went on a Sunday so they were a little busy outside but we got lucky to be able to book for a party of 7. They were very accommodating. Weather was perfect to sit outside in the patio. You can see where they grow the grapes and the overview of the city and the Sedona rocks in the background. There is also a lift that you can take down the hill to see. Our waitress was very nice but she just seemed overwhelmed with the crowd. So service too a little longer. She was very thorough in explaining the different wine flights they have and recommendations on the food. We were still full from a large breakfast so we decided to share a few items to drink with our wine flights. We ordered Charcuterie board, fried calamari, arancini, Caesar salad, Salsiccia pizza. The cheeses on the charcuterie board were delicious! I usually don't eat goat cheese but I really liked it. Calamari was good but it would be better if it was crispier. Arancini was their popular dish but I felt it was a little bland. I like the Salsiccia pizza, thin crust, flat bread pizza. I tried their bunker mint chip was disappointed because it tasted grainy as if it’s been sitting there for too long. Wanted more mint chocolate flavor. The wines were more rose types but overall not bad.