My folks are spending January in Santa Fe and I'd like
to make them a Christmas gift of dinner in a good,
interesting restarant. Any suggestions would be much
appreciated.
If you want to do your own research, a good site with
lots of links is
http://gonewmexico.miningco.com/msubr...
I like low-end food in Santa Fe, like a bowl of green
chile at Tia Sophia's or blue corn enchiladas at The
Shed. A Christmas gift warrants something more
high-end, I suppose. In this category, I have had some
very good food (try the elk) at Geronomo on Canyon Road
(in the heart of the gallery area), though I have also
heard several very angry complaints recently of
indifferent to rude service. Mark Miller made the
Coyote Cafe famous, and though he is no longer running
the kitchen, it still produces good, though not great,
food, and the decor is wonderful and wonderfully
unique. It's hard not to have a good time here, and it
is sort of uniquely "Santa Fe." Another possibility is
the Anasazi Restaurant in the Inn of the Anasazi on
Washington Ave. The decor of the hotel and the dining
room is great, and the food, although variable, but can
be quite good (I had an amazing watermelon soup here,
but find other dishes, like peanut and coconut grilled
prawns cloyingly sweet and overwrought). All of the
above-mentioned places include southwestern elements in
their cooking. There are some other places that serve
Italian, French, and other cuisines, but why would you
go to Santa Fe, New Mexico to eat Italian food?
Another popular southwestern place is Cafe Pasqual's--
not cheap, but not as "high-end" as the other places
I've mentioned. If you need more suggestions, let me
know. Good luck.
I saw Tom's response which was mainly about high end
restaurants in Sante Fe. Tom, you intrigued me with
your low end suggestions. I am going to Sante Fe in
April , any suggestions for a good lunch place. (I am
also going to Albuqueque and Taos). Thanks in advance.
Sorry for the delayed response. Unfortunately, I've
lost or misplaced my notes on some of the more obscure
Santa Fe eateries. I'll supplement this response when
(if?) I find them. Generally speaking, Santa Fe is a
tourist town, catering to yuppy tastes. There is a
lot of wanna-be food served up in Santa Fe, that would
not come close to passing muster in New York or Los
Angeles. So have some fun, and explore the outskirts
of Santa Fe--you know, little places attached to a gas
station off the tourist track--and see what you can
discover.
Here are few suggestions. In town, try the green
chile stew and other simple dishes at Tia Sophia's,
210 W. San Francisco St. Or the red chile enchiladas
(the traditional New Mexican stacked blue corn
tortillas) at The Shed, 1131U2 E. Palace Ave., though
I've read recent reports of spotty quality here.
Maria New Mexcan Kitchen, 555 West Cordova Road, also
serves a good version of blue corn enchiladas, along
with more standard fare. Also, Tomasita's Santa Fe
Station, 500 S. Guadalupe St., expecially for the
carne adovada special on Fridays. Other possibilies
include the Old Mexico Grill, 2434 Cerillos Rd, and La
Choza, 905 Alarid St. Outside of Santa Fe, try El
Farolito, NM 84 to 554, at 1212 Main St. in El Rito.
And Rancho de Chimayo, County Road 98 (formerly NM
520), in Chimayo.
why not Ristra?
The answer is simple: because I've never had a meal there. Have you? If so, what is your opinion of the food there compared to, say, the food at Geronomo? (BTW, you're not associated with Ristra in any way, are you?) From the menu alone, I'd say that the food at Ristra falls into the "too-many-things" category. Menu descriptions like "Chimayo chile brioche tart with brandied leeks, roasted tomatoes, oregano and Taleggio cheese" and "duck leg confit with lentil du puy, wilted escarole, and mole verde de pepita" make me hunger for a bowl of green at Horseman's Haven. But, as I say, I've never been to Ristra.
Just returned from 4 days in Santa Fe. Good eats all over. My top choices were:
Pranzo - Excellent, medium priced. Nice atmosphere.
La Casa Sena - High priced. Must have dessert at La Cantina,next door, and enjoy the singing waiters.
Little lunch spot on Canyon Road is the Brown Bag. Try the soup.
In Taos, try lunch at Eske's. Little brewpub with good eats and beer. Try the Red Chile Chicken Burrito.
Have fun!!
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