The Lowdown Verdict
Sedona's most consistently romantic restaurant. The grotto dining room — arched stone ceilings, fairy lights, wine list that actually extends beyond Napa — creates an atmosphere that no patio view can replicate. The osso buco is the dish to build the evening around. Book a grotto table, ask about the osso buco when you reserve, and bring people you actually want to impress.
Location
2321 W Highway 89A
West Sedona
Sedona, AZ 86336
Hours
Daily 5–9 PM
Dinner only
Verify seasonally
Price
$$$
Fine dining
Check current menu online
Reservations
Strongly recommended
OpenTable or direct call
Request grotto seating
The Grotto — Why It's Different
Dahl & Di Luca is on West Highway 89A in West Sedona, and the dining room is built out as a faux-Tuscan villa — arched stone, plaster walls, deep alcoves, silk drapery, and chandeliers — with a bar set into a grotto alcove. It's a look that's made the restaurant a repeat winner of Sedona's "Most Romantic Restaurant" honors, and the fairy-lit interior is among the most-photographed restaurant rooms in Sedona.
Request grotto-area seating when you book. The main dining room is pleasant but it's a conventional restaurant setup — the grotto bar area is the reason many visitors come here specifically. On busy nights that section fills faster than the main room.
The restaurant also has an intimate garden patio for al fresco dining, with live jazz piano some evenings. It's a West Sedona destination rather than a walk-up stop — plan to drive or rideshare rather than pairing it with a pre-dinner stroll through a nearby arts district.
For a proposal: call ahead and ask for the most secluded table near the grotto bar — the restaurant is used to coordinating proposals, so mention it when you book and let staff suggest the quietest option that evening.
The Food — What to Order
Founder and self-taught chef Lisa Dahl opened the restaurant in 1995, and the cooking leans classical Italian with a refined Mediterranean influence — organic produce, wild-caught seafood, quality meats. The handmade pastas are the backbone of the menu. Menu specifics (including whether osso buco is currently offered) change seasonally — confirm what's on the menu when you reserve.
The Osso Buco
When offered, the osso buco is slow-braised veal shank with saffron risotto — a dish that takes hours to prepare and is typically limited in quantity. When you make your reservation, ask if it's available that evening and whether advance notice is required. Exact pricing changes with the menu — confirm current pricing when you book rather than relying on a fixed figure.
The Pastas
The handmade pastas are the strongest section of the menu — expect classics like tagliatelle bolognese and seasonal ragu preparations, plus lighter vegetable-forward dishes. The exact lineup changes with the season, so ask your server what's currently featured.
Must Order
Osso buco, if on the menu
A handmade pasta
Carpaccio starter
Also Excellent
Seasonal ragu pasta
House-made tiramisu
1,000+ bottle Italian wine list
Price Range
$$$ (fine dining)
Check current menu pricing
at dahlanddiluca.com
Dahl & Di Luca vs. Mariposa — Which Should You Book?
| Dahl & Di Luca | Mariposa | |
|---|---|---|
| Cuisine | Northern Italian | Latin American |
| Atmosphere | Grotto enclosure, fairy lights | Open cliff-edge patio, views |
| Best For | Proposals, anniversary, privacy | Sunset views, special occasion |
| Reservations | 1–2 weeks ahead | 2–4 weeks ahead |
| Signature Dish | Osso buco, when offered | Peruvian sea bass |
Sedona Art & Culture Tours
Pair your dinner with a guided art or culture outing elsewhere in Sedona. Viator lists guided art and culture tours around town.
Browse Sedona Art Tours on Viator →Affiliate link — we earn a small commission at no cost to you.
Vortex Circuit Audio Tour
Spend the day on the vortex circuit, then drive into West Sedona for your Dahl & Di Luca reservation.
See Sedona Audio Tours →