Essence Kitchen + Bar — Restaurant in Chino Valley

First off, let me say I am a writer, though my predilections bend toward those of the hoplophile. So it was, that engaged in a party of 20, I landed quite by chance, at Essence. Nothing I had seen in Chino Valley over the preceding two days had led me to believe I would experience anything above a very low bar of mundane when it came to culinary delights. Thank the gods, I was so wrong. Upon arrival it took a bit to get seated, but had I only known what I was in store for, I would have requested a safety belt. Derrick was a whirling dervish, professional and wound through our two tables collecting orders for drinks and hors d’oeuvres. He was adeptly assisted by Julia, one of the owners, likely because of the size of our invading party. Through the entire course of the meal, no one wanted for anything. To begin with, the very water served at the table was an extraordinary cucumber flavor, and had me coming back, glass after glass, refilling my personal aquifer after a long day in the desert. The bacon wrapped dates arrived with a separate order of shrimp and both were simply amazing—such was the contrast and complimentary nature of their textures and flavors. My first drink of choices was the Agave Old Fashioned. I’ll spare you details but suffice to say it was grand and began to open the doors of my mind in preparation for the culinary experience which lay ahead. After quaffing this I succinctly moved onto the chocolate martini with Screwball (peanut butter) whiskey. The food and beverages were flowing and I pulled out my phone to capture notes, such was the fever that began to overtake me. My Caesar salad was divine. Long, strong fronds of romaine were bespeckled with shavings of parmesan cheese and perched in the middle, were a school of anchovies! A light dressing complimented this lead in and was garnished with a delightful slice of bread, possibly bruschetta. Derrick and Julia worked in tandem, swooping in and out between our two tables and expertly kept glasses filled, plates cleared, and smiles ongoing. I marveled that the butter knife I surrendered with my salad (crips romaine!) was not only noticed by Derrick, but deftly replaced without fanfare. A more casual observer or diner would not have noticed. My appreciation for the clockwork attention manifested by these two was profound, continually working to keep the experience progressing. As I think back now, my fingers grow week at the keyboard. Sweet Dionysus, when the main course arrived I saw a healthily glowing filet, gorgeously bronzed vegetables, and a pillow of potatoes that could only signal the penultimate course. A part of me died when I bit into that steak. The color, perfect. The heat, perfect. The flavor, succulent. My previous dining experiences in Chino Valley had left me scalded, gun shy. A ray of light broke out within my mind and I remembered that life is a sum of the collection of our experiences. My gastronautic heart swelled and I fought back the urge to weep. Don’t get me wrong, the potatoes and veggies were good, but being a predator in a high desert, I knew I must maximize caloric intake with brutal efficiency. Whilst circling my plate, I sampled the sides, but destroyed the steak. Much of the end was a blur from this point. Derrick surreptitiously picked up my note about a birthday member of our party (I’m outed now) and delivered the goods with aplomb. Eventually a chocolate mousse cake with a consistency of fudge made its way to our table. My erstwhile companions were laid low, though we tried in vain to defeat the beast. Valiant effort was expended and at last, I hewed the sweet dragon down to its cookie crumble crust. At some point, I have a dim memory of the powerful wizard, known only as Chef Jason, passing by our table and wishing us well. No doubt, he delighted in our besotted and overstuffed faces such was the effect of his spell. I don’t remember how I made it back to my room. If you are in this town, go to...

Update: -The server was rushed and busy, getting into it with her was not an option. Even while rattling off the desert menu she was rushed and spent more time looking away from the table than paying attention to us. This was our first time in, we will be back, everyone deserves a second go.

Okay, so people have ranted and raved about essence. As a 20-year resident of Chino Valley, I was pretty excited to try this place out. To say that I was disappointed would be an understatement.

To start we ordered two orders of scallops because they were four of us and for a weird reason, the scallops only come in groups of three. Which seems weird even if you were there with one other person. Anyways, that wasn't necessarily a problem, just a bit of weirdness. The problem with the scallops is that two of the three that I ate were extremely gritty like they had been rolled around in the sand. Not pleasant at all!! Off to a terrible start. F-

We also had the bacon-wrapped dates which were the highlight of the entire meal. I love dates and I love bacon. The dates were sweet and flavorful. The bacon was well-cooked, crispy, and salty. These were delicious. A definite high note. A+

I was less than impressed with the meals themselves. If something on the menu is described as seared but then comes out in what amounts to a soup, that tends to come across as weird to me. The fish could have been good. The fish could have been terrible. I have no idea because it was swimming in a broth. Nowhere on the menu did it say that the meal was soup. I have had sea bass many times in many locations and this was probably the worst example of seabass I've ever had. It could have been a fillet of cod for all I could tell. I'll make sure to ask how a dish is prepared before ordering anything. C-

We decided to go ahead and try to redeem the meal with some dessert and I will say that the, (and I'm not remembering what they called it because the waitress rattled off all the options so fast that I just told her to give me the chocolate one) was delicious. It was kind of a moosey, cakey kind of thing that was pretty amazing actually. A+

I, as always, will go back again but if this is what food at Essence in Chino is like ... I...

We made a reservation at 11AM and were seated right away. It was my first time here, and I have to say, the place is cozy with near fine-dining vibes.. I loved it! Our server (unfortunately I didn’t catch his name) was very attentive throughout our meal, and I’m truly thankful for that level of service.

Here’s what we ordered:

• Crab Dip (Small Plate) – $20 9.5/10. The dip was delicious! The crab was tasty, the cheese flavorful, and it came with garlic bread. The bread was a bit chewy, but still had a really nice flavor overall.

• Lobster Bisque – $10 10/10. Wow! Absolutely worth ordering—flavorful, rich, and filling. The peppery kick was perfect, and the croutons added a nice touch.

• Fettuccine Alfredo with Applewood Bacon (+ Cajun Chicken +$8) – $18 9.5/10. This was a new dish I found on their Facebook page. The pasta was creamy and perfectly cooked. The Cajun seasoning on the outside of the chicken was excellent, though the chicken itself could’ve used a bit more flavor inside. Still, I enjoyed it a lot.

• 12oz Ribeye Steak with Wild Mushrooms – $47 My friend ordered this and it was cooked perfectly well-done—just the way she likes it. The meat was tender and flavorful, and she really enjoyed it.

• Shrimp Scampi – $28 Another friend tried this dish. The cilantro lime rice was a highlight—fresh and flavorful. The seafood was fresh as well, but the dish itself was a little too oily. Still, she enjoyed it and finished the whole plate.

• Fudgy Brownie with Ice Cream & Whipped Cream – $8 10/10. The perfect way to end the meal! The brownie was warm, fudgy, and not overly sweet, paired beautifully with the ice cream on top. Loved, loved, loved this!!

We were also celebrating a friend’s birthday, and they surprised her with a complimentary dessert :) such a sweet and thoughtful gesture.

Overall, an amazing first visit. Great food, cozy atmosphere, and wonderful service. I’ll definitely be...