Essence Kitchen + Bar

It was easy to make a reservation. The staff were all super friendly from the person who took our reservation to our server to the people who came and checked on our drinks and on our overall experience. Food was interesting, delicious and super fresh. The bread with our artichoke dip was so good, I almost wanted to eat it by itself. The mustard chicken was cooked to perfection and the mustard crust was delicious. The potatoes and veggies were a nice addition. Dessert was good, but we were so stuffed we probably didn't enjoy it as much as we should have.

The food at Essence is excellent. It's clear they use the freshest ingredients. The Ohana Cheesesteak is phenomenal. My husband enjoyed his Bison Burger. The fries are fresh cut and with pepper, too. Yum. The warm mushroom salad was incredible. And the Bacon wrapped Shrimp... come on, bacon just makes everything better. They were perfectly cooked. The coleslaw was veto good. And the blackberry lemonade was very good. The service was impeccable. The owners Julie and Jason are very personable and come out and greet their customers. The atmosphere here is very cozy and comfortable. I very highly recommend Essence Kitchen and Bar.

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 coming back!!

What an absolute gem. This place went above and beyond for families during the holidays. They hosted Santa and Mrs. Claus completely free for kids to come take photos, and it was done in such a genuine, thoughtful way. My kids were absolutely thrilled. They even had stuffed animals to give out and an assortment of really lovely children’s books, which felt so special and unexpected. You could tell this wasn’t about selling anything — it was truly about creating a magical experience for kids and families in the community. As a mom, moments like this mean everything. Thank you for creating such a warm, welcoming, memory-filled experience. Prescott is lucky to have places like this. We’ll absolutely be back and will be recommending to everyone we know. ❤️

Essence is, without question, the best restaurant in the entire Quad Cities. The food is not only fantastic — it’s some of the best we have ever had anywhere in this area. Every dish is thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. You can truly taste the quality and care in every bite. The atmosphere is just as impressive — warm, inviting, elevated yet comfortable. It’s the kind of place you can celebrate a special occasion or simply enjoy an exceptional dinner out and feel equally at home. Julia has created something incredibly special with Essence. Her staff is top-notch — professional, attentive, kind, and detail-oriented. The level of service and attention to detail is unmatched. From the moment you walk in until the moment you leave, you feel valued and taken care of. If you are in Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, or anywhere in the Quad Cities, Essence is an absolute must. We are so fortunate to have a restaurant of this caliber in our community. Highly, highly recommend.

We were staying the night at a local AirBnB and they highly recommended the Essence for dinner. We were there on Valentines days and the place was packed. The servers and staff were Outstanding and very attentive. I had the giant Porterhouse steak and my wife had the Shrimp Louie both dishes were way too much food but “Outstanding” thank you and your staff for a great evening. And of course I highly recommend the Essence and will surely be back.

First of all, you need a reservation. You can try walk in, but it's a small place. It is definitely upscale food, with upscale portions and prices. The ambiance is a little lacking, though. The waitstaff is plentiful and very attentive. My water glass was never empty, but that is somewhat due in part to the fact it was cucumber scented water. I don't like cucumbers. I ordered a Mockjito which was very good. Nice flavor blend. For our appetizer we ordered the sweet potato humus. So very good, smooth, slightly sweet but with an excellent humus flavor. Normally, it comes with pita and sliced cucumbers. Since I don't like cucumbers, they gave us all pita bread. The pita bread was lightly seasoned and was soft, warm and delicious. Excellent pairing. My hubby ordered the soup du jour which was a very delicious vegetable rice soup. He said it was very flavorful. My main course was the tri colored tortilla topped Mahi served with a topping of avocado salsa. It was served alongside cilantro lime rice and sautéed squash and red peppers. The flavors were nice, but my fish was dry and needed some salt. My hubby had the seared sea bass with miso, sake and mirin. It was served with rice and roasted field greens. It was served in a bowl with a coconut milk "soup" over it. Dessert was the warm brownie sundae with vanilla bean ice cream. The brownie was okay, but not remarkable. The ice cream was supposed to be vanilla bean but it was just regular vanilla. We were celebrating our anniversary, so they also gave us a little sundae. Will we go back again to try some of the other dishes, but we'll definitely get the sweet potato humus.

My sister insisted I try the sweet potato fries and they were good But since that's the only thing I have eaten there so far, I still have many more dishes to taste. The atmosphere is very nice, comfortable, and cozy. Good food, nice, clean atmosphere, friendly service. It is a small place within a grocery store parking lot but when you walk inside it is beautiful. Easy parking. I was happy to be able to experience it because the first time I went there it was closed due to a funeral. Family owned and just a lovely place to eat and relax.