Food & Drink Awards 2023 | 27 Based in the heart of Sedona, Arizona, Mercer’s Kitchen is a restaurant and catering group that operates across five award-winning establishments: Creekside American Bistro, René Restaurant, Mesa Grill Sedona, Rascal Modern Diner, and private event venue The View. Set within a desert town surrounded by scenic cliffs and stunning red-rock buttes, each restaurant delivers its own unique culinary experience, accompanied by awe-inspiring views of picturesque Sedona. Best Restaurant & Catering Group 2023 - Arizona smiles and outgoing personalities who will get along with the existing team. As well as employing those with relevant hospitality experience, the group hires a lot of young people who have just finished high school, providing them with the opportunity to enter the industry. Overall, Mercer’s Kitchen believes that the consistency of its team is essential, so it strives to maintain a high retention rate by treating staff with respect and paying them a fair wage. Chef Mercer comments, “I sincerely believe that the guests can feel the energy of a happy restaurant staff. We are the only restaurant group in Sedona to offer profit sharing to our managers.” Moreover, being based in a very small town, Mercer’s Kitchen is deeply committed to its local community. Chef Mercer explains, “Some local businesses claim to be local but are actually based out of Las Vegas or southern California. I have been in Sedona for 16 years now and we are proud to be active members in many community organisations. Mercer’s Kitchen is always trying to make Sedona a better place to live and work.” As a result of its excellence in all areas, Mercer’s Kitchen Restaurant Group has been named Best Restaurant & Catering Group, Arizona, in the Food and Drink Awards 2023. Currently, the group has finished renovations of René Restaurant and is starting works at Creekside American Bistro and Mesa Grill Sedona. It is also building a Creekside preparation and catering kitchen. These projects will all be complete by late 2024, but renovations will never truly end for Mercer’s Kitchen. The company aims to renovate all locations every three or four years to keep them in the best possible condition. Contact: Mercer Mohr Company: Mercer's Kitchen Restaurant Group Web Address: mercerskitchen.com ounded in 2008, Mercer’s Kitchen has built a loyal following over the years, serving a large client base that primarily consists of returning customers and referrals. The group strives to offer a little something for everyone, delivering everything from comfort food to fine dining through its various restaurants. Whether customers are enjoying southwestern cuisine at Mesa Grill Sedona or the flavours of Spain, Italy, Morocco, and France at René Restaurant, they are bound to experience outstanding food, breathtaking views, and a true slice of Sedona. Chef Mercer Mohr, Founder of Mercer’s Kitchen, writes seasonal menus for each restaurant in order to take advantage of Sedona’s local organic produce. Most of the daily specials reflect the goods on offer at the town’s local farmers market. As well as this, he takes inspiration from other restaurants to keep up to date with industry trends. On this, he comments, “My wife and I travel and dine out almost every day. It is not unusual to come back to Sedona and reprint the menus based on new creative food and beverage ideas and experiences.” Alongside its restaurant offerings, Mercer’s Kitchen provides premier wedding and event planning services. Whilst it sometimes caters to larger parties, it specialises in creating custom menus for those with less than 100 guests. In this, the company’s priority is to create a memorable experience for the client’s wedding, rehearsal dinner, or private event. With over three decades of experience, Mercer’s Kitchen serves as a trusted wedding and event catering partner, delivering the highest level of service alongside innovative and creative menus. To enhance the guest experience at its restaurants, Mercer’s Kitchen believes that it is important to truly value and consider customer feedback. The group prides itself on its ability to quickly react to their concerns, taking their suggestions on board to improve and evolve. If something is not working, Mercer’s Kitchen will develop and try out a different approach. In a competitive industry, it is crucial to keep up with the needs and desires of the customers as times change. Furthermore, Mercer’s Kitchen believes that proper staffing plays a significant role in its success. In hiring, the group seeks people with big F
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