Favorite Las Cruces Restaurants (Albuquerque, Santa Fe: credit, places to eat, rich)

[mike0421]

Originally Posted by fnord

I have to say High Desert makes one of the most fantastic (and one of the only) veggie burgers in Cruces. I go about once a month - a treat to myself. I don't drink beer often, but their beer is damn good. Once in a while I get a growler to go, 9 bucks. I've ordered the sweet potato fries a couple times and they were way too greasy, so I stick with plain fries.

I do agree with you on the "dingy little place". It is far too small for the level of popularity that place has. If I go, it's usually early on a Sunday afternoon because every other time it's just packed and I hate that.

If the older lady behind the bar is the one I'm thinking of, she makes me feel nervous and unwelcome. Twice she has given me a strange look when I ask to sit out on the patio, like I'm doing something wrong or I shouldn't be there. All the rest of the staff is awesome.

I have a suspicion that as Downtown comes back to life High Desert will relocate somewhere along the Downtown Mall, and I think that would be a very smart move.

If they moved just about anywhere from their current location, that would be a smart move! Well, maybe not Vado...

[gabygirl]

Originally Posted by kathleenssal

Yes, this place was fabulous! Sitting on the roof top with a bottle of wine and watching the Organ mountains! Too bad it closed.
There is another place that is very nice - great bar with bartenders that know how to mix a drink - with some reasonable California wine selections.
It's called RISOTTOS and is next to the Mesilla Valley Mall.

And now Risotto's has shut down too....

[kathleenssal]

hey gabygirl

I heard that Meson de Mesilla has been bought and will re open in May!!

Yes, tears for Risottos. It was busy every time I went in but I think too many staff and perhaps not managed well. My last drink there was prepared by someone NOT AT ALL a bartender so I knew things were not good.

The new pizza place and bread bakery is very good! Always busy. It's on Water on the Water side of the downtown mall.

[lawmom]

When we were in LC this past weekend, we went to some Cattleman's steak place -- not impressed at all.

We also had lunch at the place in the historic Mesilla -- forgot the name of it but it is clearly a tourist spot. It was good, but I don't know New Mexican food at all, so have nothing to compare it to.

[tecpatl]

The Cattlemans on 70 is really second rate, IMHO. I've given it four chances and have never found much improvement. You probably ate at La Posta (birds in the lobby?) which is pretty much an atmosphere choice (assuming you get seating in one of the more pretty rooms), not a food choice. I was there two weeks ago with friends from out of town who had heard from someone else that they should go there. I warned them, we went anyway, and they all agreed (two were restaurant owners) that the food there was second rate and not worth a return. El Comedor and Andale, both in Mesilla but on Avenida de Mesilla, are much better food choices but not as atmospheric. The steaks at Double Eagle on the Mesilla plaza are pretty good, and they have a great wine list. I'm not a huge fan of their other chow, however. Fussy fussy! I do like having a drink in the over-the-top Victorian bar.
One thing you'll learn about LC is that it is "restaurant challenged", that is, there is a lot of mediocre, some awful, and painfully few top quality choices.

[lawmom]

It was La Posta -- our tour agent (the guy interviewing DH) decided we should eat there because "everyone should once."

The thing about the restaurants, is it's all relative. To have an Outback and a Texas Roadhouse and a Chili's is a huge improvement from where we are. I know chain places aren't preferable, but it's better than no places. And the fast-food choices! Jack in the Box (whatever that is), Sonic (saw a waiter dude wipe out on his skates -- never thought I'd see that) Blakes' Lotta Burger (whatever that is) and some others I don't remember. Don't think I'll try that W place though (weinerschnitzel??)

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by lawmom

Blakes' Lotta Burger (whatever that is)

Good milk shakes, good basic hamburgers. The original owner just died, he started the places in 1952 (?) in Albuquerque. There are 75 locations, strictly New Mexican. Kind of an institution. Ate at one last weekend with my granddaughter...


Rich

[tecpatl]

Once is enough for La P. I usually take friends on a walk thru it because it's very old and pretty interesting, but not all that great for a meal. When forced to go there I usually have the Tostadas Compuesto, which aren't bad. My wife hates the place because she likes chicken things and the past two times she was there her burrito and tacos were filled with chewy, stringy tasteless "chicken".
You're right...it's all relative. There are a couple other threads that have peoples personal favorites listed. I find that more out of the way places have the best New Mexico food, but, as much as I didn't think I'd like it, Si Senor, a rather slick place, has consistently served me pretty good food.

I had lunch yesterday at Nellies on Hadley and though it's pretty much charm-free the food and service are excellent. The owner is usually out on the floor. It makes a difference.
I also like Enrique's, a hole-in-the-wall in a strip mall on Picacho. Order the chicken tostada (one is all you need, it's a plateful of chicken, very tasty frijoles, lettuce, tomato, cheese, guacamole and sour cream piled on a crispy tortilla) and enjoy. That and a drink for less than 6 bucks, and don't be surprised if you're the only person speaking English in the room. I've never been disappointed.

[nancy thereader]

Ohhh, boy. I can't wait to try all of these places.

[sjbasin]

For tasty and simple breakfast gotta go with Milagro Coffee. Great fresh bagels made from scratch in their own bakery. The coffee is roasted on site also.