A Phoenix In Sedona
Elevating The Burger
Verde Valley Wine
Señor Bob’s Rises from the Ashes
Many entrepreneurs would have called it quits the moment lightning struck and destroyed their business. Not Craig Nimtz. It took Craig a year and a half to recover and rebuild after Señor Bob’s Hot Dogs and Burgers was obliterated in a fierce fire last spring. But like the mythical Phoenix, Señor Bob’s rose from the ashes. Craig made the new space bigger and better than ever and his loyal customers couldn’t have been more pleased. Señor Bob’s was named one of West Sedona’s Best Burger Restaurants for the second consecutive year in 2019 by the neighborhood social network NextDoor.com. And raves on all major review sites consistently give it between four and a half and five stars for its friendly service, reasonable prices and incomparable hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, veggie burgers, and fries. On TripAdvisor, for example, the restaurant has earned multiple certificates of excellence, ranked as one of Sedona’s top “quick bites” and places to eat.
Señor Bob’s was named one of West Sedona’s Best Burger Restaurants for the second consecutive year in 2019 by the neighborhood social network NextDoor.com. And raves on all major review sites consistently give it between four and a half and five stars for its friendly service, reasonable prices and incomparable hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, veggie burgers, and fries. On TripAdvisor, for example, the restaurant has earned multiple certificates of excellence, ranked as one of Sedona’s top “quick bites” and places to eat.
There’s a reason for that. Nimtz’s hot dogs are quarter-pounders—grilled all-beef kosher dogs from Hebrew National. He uses only fresh ground chuck hand-selected and sourced daily from a local butcher for his hamburgers. His veggie burgers are crafted from fresh-cut vegetables, parmesan cheese, eggs, and homemade bread. Craig bakes all his fluffy egg buns from scratch—“seriously, fresh, squiggy, yummy bread,” according to one more-than satisfied diner. When you talk to customers, they all speak enthusiastically about the restaurant’s toppings and condiments bar. Along with all the traditional favorites is Señor Bob’s signature mayo-wasabi sauce (also great on fries). At a time when sales tax means you never know how much you’ll be paying for your meal, Señor Bob’s makes it simple. Nothing on the menu is more than $11, and all prices include tax.
The decor in the new Señor Bob’s is simple, featuring a colorfully Mexican flair. The beautiful, handcrafted, alligator-juniper tabletops were fashioned by none other than Craig himself at his Crooked Chair furniture design studio, also in West Sedona.
When Nimtz opened Señor Bob’s in 2002, it was an adjunct to The Crooked Chair. Back then, the restaurant had limited hours and earned just enough to keep it afloat. But high-quality, low- prices and a commitment to the local community through events like hot dog-eating contests, car shows, and street fairs soon transformed Señor Bob’s into one of Sedona’s most popular eateries—a fixture with the local community as well as with tourists. Senor Bob’s is so popular that despite being open until 6 P.M., it sometimes sells out by 3 P.M.! Put Senor Bob’s at the top of your list when you are looking for one of the best eateries in all of Sedona!
Why Señor Bob’s? Why not Señor Craig’s? One of Nimtz’s early supporters and investors was Robert S. Larson, cofounder of the Sedona Red Rock News. Nimtz named his new establishment after Larson in gratitude.
Señor Bob’s Hot Dogs and Burgers is located at 1015 W. State Route 89a in West Sedona. 928-204-2627. Open daily from 11 A.M. to 6 P.M
Story written by Eve Hunter Photos Provided by Señor Bob’s
