Santa Fe and Taos Restaurants

Gordon B · June-3rd-2007, 11:35 AM

My wife and I are going to NM the first week of July. Does anybody have any restaurant recommendations? We'll be spending 5 nights in Santa Fe, two in Taos, and one in Albuquerque?

Valerie · June-3rd-2007, 12:46 PM

all i can easily remember is the cafe sante fe which was wonderful with its outdoor garden and excellent food. enjoy!

Gordon B · June-3rd-2007, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerie

all i can easily remember is the cafe sante fe which was wonderful with its outdoor garden and excellent food. enjoy!

Valerie, was it this place?

Cafe Santa Fe at Courtyard Mariott
Businesses: Restaurants
Restaurants: American
Northern New Mexican
3347 Cerrillos Rd
Santa Fe
Formerly The Doubletree Hotel

Hours: BREAKFAST: 6:30 - 11 DAILY ('til noon on weekends)
DINNER: 5:00-10:00 (Daily)
BAR:5pm to Close

(505) 473-2800

AMERCIAN & NEW MEXICAN CUSINE
RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED
CREDIT CARDS: ALL MAJOR
SMOKING IN BAR
FULL BAR
OUTDOOR DINING - LIMITED BASIS

Valerie · June-3rd-2007, 03:50 PM

gee, i don't remember it being part of any hotel. doesn't sound like the one that was in a very old building/courtyard. i'll do some checking for you, gordon. my girlfriend is leaving this thursday for albuquerque/santa fe/taos, so i'll have her check it all out for me!

Jason Bivins · June-3rd-2007, 05:41 PM

Gordon, my sis lived in SF for a couple years. I remember enjoying the Blue Corn and the Cowgirl Cafe (a superb neighborhood joint with nice taps, excellent food, and a very relaxing atmopshere).

Gordon B · June-3rd-2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerie

gee, i don't remember it being part of any hotel. doesn't sound like the one that was in a very old building/courtyard. i'll do some checking for you, gordon. my girlfriend is leaving this thursday for albuquerque/santa fe/taos, so i'll have her check it all out for me!

Great. I hope she finds some good eats

Jason, I'll check them out. Thanks.

moneyp · June-3rd-2007, 06:13 PM

A friend of mine lives in Santa Fe. I can't imagine anyone going there if they didn't have to. It's pretty dead. He's not really the fancy restaurant type, so when I visited, I didn't bother to explore.

Gary Sisco · June-3rd-2007, 07:35 PM

Haven't been to Santa Fe since the 70s.

Gordon -- I used to busk on the square in Old Town, which I'm sure you'll see while there. A bit of additional history..... ;-)

Also in downtown Albuquerque, lunch times. I lived in Albuquerque '71-'72.

Pete C · June-3rd-2007, 07:59 PM

Here's my Santa Fe report

http://petercherches.blogspot.com/20...31-june-3.html

Of course you want to eat New Mexican food, but don't miss El Farol on Canyon Road for tapas.

moneyp · June-3rd-2007, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

Here's my Santa Fe report

http://petercherches.blogspot.com/20...31-june-3.html

Of course you want to eat New Mexican food, but don't miss El Farol on Canyon Road for tapas.

Great post, Pete. I also had some weird dreams while I was there, and I didn't get to eat many chiles. I think it's the desert air.

Gordon B · June-3rd-2007, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

Here's my Santa Fe report

http://petercherches.blogspot.com/20...31-june-3.html

Of course you want to eat New Mexican food, but don't miss El Farol on Canyon Road for tapas.

This sounds good.
The boquerones fritos, fried, sesame-coated Spanish anchovies served with a spicy lemon aioli were delicate and wonderful.

It sounds like you were disappointed overall. Are you a tough critic or was the food below par for a popular tourist destination?

Ron Thorne · June-3rd-2007, 09:06 PM

I'll add a couple of suggestions soon, including a Santa Fe lodging recommendation if you're interested, Gordon.

We've been to Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos and Las Vegas, N.M. the past two years in the fall (when the chiles are roasting) with our oldest son and his wife, a native of New Mexico. It's heavenly.

Gordon B · June-3rd-2007, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

I'll add a couple of suggestions soon, including a Santa Fe lodging recommendation if you're interested, Gordon.

We've been to Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos and Las Vegas, N.M. the past two years in the fall (when the chiles are roasting) with our oldest son and his wife, a native of New Mexico. It's heavenly.

Ron, I'd love to hear your restaurant ideas and anything else but I've already booked the lodging. We are staying at B&B's in both Santa Fe and Taos.

walto · June-4th-2007, 07:11 AM

I don't know if it's still there, but there used to be a really nice restaurant in Albuquerque where they had opera and musical-type singers performing (as well as good food).

I don't remember the food being too good around Taos. Mostly what I called "mound meals"--big portions of faux-Mexican-style globs of beanish stuff smothered in thinner, other stuff, with some soggy chips scattered around. Sometimes they used blue corn meal. I didn't mind it, but I'm not exactly Cherches.

This was 15 years ago. Maybe it's changed.

Pete C · June-4th-2007, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon B

This sounds good.
The boquerones fritos, fried, sesame-coated Spanish anchovies served with a spicy lemon aioli were delicate and wonderful.

It sounds like you were disappointed overall. Are you a tough critic or was the food below par for a popular tourist destination?

I think the problem is that it is a popular tourist destination with a relatively small local population. The consensus on Chowhound is that you'll get better New Mexican food in Albuquerque. Of course, I'm also a tough critic.

Jon Abbey · June-4th-2007, 08:47 AM

Chris Letcher was raving about the food in Santa Fe to me this past weekend, he said it has the best Thai place he's ever been to, and he's lived all over. I don't know the specifics, but if he hasn't posted here in the next couple of weeks, make sure to bump the thread and I'll point him here.

clinthopson · June-4th-2007, 12:10 PM

One of the places we really enjoyed was the Santacafe. It was a block or so off the main square and their jalapeño bread was killer!

Pasqual's specaility breakfast dish of potatoes, cheese, chiles and eggs is unforgettable.

Be sure to see the International Folk Art museum. It's a treasure.

I hope you have a car so you can take the back road to the Taos pueblo, it's a spectacular drive.

Of course, it's been 16 years since we were there, so some things may have changed. Many more tourists, I've heard.

Brian Olewnick · June-4th-2007, 12:32 PM

If I may borrow Gordon's thread for a minute (I promise to return it), has anyone had the misfortune to visit San Antonio? I'm obliged there for a week in August (San Antonio in August! Excellent choice!) for work-related reasons. Any place good to eat that's not Tex-Mex? Or for that matter, any especially good Tex-Mex places? Will settle for places without bronco machines.

picsou · June-4th-2007, 12:45 PM

I spent a few days in Taos many years ago (scientific meeting). A rather sad (to put it mildly) visit of the Indian reservation is what I remember most vividly. More memorable was the bus drive from Denver.

Pete C · June-4th-2007, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

Any place good to eat that's not Tex-Mex? Or for that matter, any especially good Tex-Mex places? Will settle for places without bronco machines.

I can't remember any names, but I had great Flintstone-sized beef ribs in San Antonio. I had the good sense to go in February, though.

Jon Abbey · June-4th-2007, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

If I may borrow Gordon's thread for a minute (I promise to return it), has anyone had the misfortune to visit San Antonio? I'm obliged there for a week in August (San Antonio in August! Excellent choice!) for work-related reasons. Any place good to eat that's not Tex-Mex? Or for that matter, any especially good Tex-Mex places? Will settle for places without bronco machines.

ask on IHM, lots of Texas people there.

gonzo · June-4th-2007, 10:44 PM

santa fe-the shed-steak enchilada dinner-and great margaritas.
la fonda bar-great nachos and margaritas
tomasitas at the old railway depot-great mexican food and beer.
all the above in santa fe.

Pete C · June-5th-2007, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gonzo

santa fe-the shed-steak enchilada dinner-and great margaritas.

The Shed may be one of the best bets for New Mexican food in Santa Fe.

moneyp · June-5th-2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

I can't remember any names, but I had great Flintstone-sized beef ribs in San Antonio. I had the good sense to go in February, though.

Pete, what about Houston?

Valerie · June-9th-2007, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinthopson

One of the places we really enjoyed was the Santacafe. It was a block or so off the main square and their jalapeño bread was killer!

that's the place i was referring to!! it's on washington avenue. check it out, gordon. you might need reservations on the weekends.

Pete C · June-9th-2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moneyp

Pete, what about Houston?

Never been, and I can't imagine ever being.

Jon Abbey · June-9th-2007, 11:46 PM

we were just in Houston, really nice actually. the place for Mexican is the original Ninfa's, on Navigation, they claim to have invented fajitas. I don't know about that, but the ones they have are sure good. there are some offshoots around town with the same name, supposedly none nearly as good.

Vince Kargatis · June-10th-2007, 01:03 AM

Houston's a pretty good food town, especially for the prices. Not sure there's one "the" place for Mexican; one great place I visited last time I was there was Irma's just north of the football stadium downtown. Small verbal menu, magical fresh-made strawberry lemonade, a delicious meal.

Gordon B · June-10th-2007, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerie

that's the place i was referring to!! it's on washington avenue. check it out, gordon. you might need reservations on the weekends.

Valerie and Clint, I just emailed SantaCafe for Saturday night reservations but I may reconsider now. If you look at Trip Advisor, you'll see that it's had issues recently, especially with poor service.

walto · June-10th-2007, 08:56 AM

Oh, yeah, we ate there too. It's really cool looking, but I don't think we liked the food too much.