Best Restaurants in Santa Fe area (Galisteo: appointed, move to, suite)

[Towanda]

John's cousin's wife ordered a combination plate. She asked the waitress where the "Santa Fe taco" was. The waitress pointed to this fried tortilla BOWL filled with taco ingredients. Barbie said "I have never seen a taco that looks like that!" and the waitress sniffed and said, "Well you are obviously unfamiliar with the kind of tacos we have in Santa Fe."

Barbie sniffed right back and said "I was born here, madame, and I have lived here almost my whole life and I have eaten hundreds of "Santa Fe tacos" -- this ISN'T one."

We think Barbie won that argument .... and we have laughed about the "Santa Fe tacos" for years now.

[Towanda]

Check out their menu:

The Pink Adobe.

Not a lot of traditional New Mexican cuisine on the menu...and a limited number of dishes with green chile.

There is one enchilada dish -- with lobster, crab and shrimp and no chile. And it costs $30.00!!!!

I see on the lunch menu they do have green chile stew...but not for dinner.

[Ria Rhodes]

At the end of one of my Santa Fe visits I was about to get back on the road and head home, but I was really hungry after picking up some supplies at the Trader Joe's out near West Cordova. I wandered in to a place I saw across from Trader Joes called Maria's. When I walked in ten minutes before opening there were eight people waiting for them to open their inside door to the dining area. The people in line were locals from what I gathered, and once inside I ordered the combination plate (after overhearing a person in line saying they liked it) which was really a lot of food. Maria's couldn't be called "gourmet" Mexican or a destination tourist place, but the food was damn good and reasonably priced - a lucky find. As you might guess, I wasn't hungry again till I got back to Arizona.

[Towanda]

I have been eating at Maria's for years - I think it was the first restaurant I ever ate at in Santa Fe. We were just there several weeks ago to celebrate our anniversary.

They are just about the best! And yes, I do think locals may eat there more than tourists (it is a little out of the way for people who stick to downtown.)

I think they have the best green chile stew I have had in Santa Fe. And they certainly have the BIGGEST margarita in town. Their margs are quite strong.

Yum. I love Maria's.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by Towanda

Check out their menu:

The Pink Adobe.

Not a lot of traditional New Mexican cuisine on the menu...and a limited number of dishes with green chile.

There is one enchilada dish -- with lobster, crab and shrimp and no chile. And it costs $30.00!!!!

I see on the lunch menu they do have green chile stew...but not for dinner.

Thanks for the link....it looks very much like a Continental restaurant with Santa Fe/NM touches here and there. Recipes for some of the menu items are included in the old cookbook.

I noticed that they have beignets (sp??) on the brunch menu! Given that she grew up in NO (hence some of the recipes), it's most likely close to the genuine article. I love those things, and used to get them at Cafe du Monde in NO when I was working south of Jackson, MS.

You'd never get me back in that nasty hole, even for beignets. So....I'd go for those alone....and I bet chicory coffee is served with them, which is what I drink most mornings!

[Dancingearth]

Originally Posted by Towanda

I have been eating at Maria's for years - I think it was the first restaurant I ever ate at in Santa Fe. We were just there several weeks ago to celebrate our anniversary.

They are just about the best! And yes, I do think locals may eat there more than tourists (it is a little out of the way for people who stick to downtown.)

I think they have the best green chile stew I have had in Santa Fe. And they certainly have the BIGGEST margarita in town. Their margs are quite strong.

Yum. I love Maria's.

I AGREE! Yum. It is on the top of my list. I was thinking I need to get back there soon. Maybe as my reward when I get moved out and the old house cleaned. Afterall, the dishes are all packed and I have to eat somewhere.

[Towanda]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

I noticed that they have beignets (sp??) on the brunch menu! Given that she grew up in NO (hence some of the recipes), it's most likely close to the genuine article.

I'm sure all of the food at the Pink Adobe is considered very genuine.

My objection to the place is that it seems to me that any restaurant that enjoys the reputation as one of the "Santa Fe Traditions since 1944", and attracts so many tourists who have heard about it, should proudly offer the best of New Mexican cuisine on the menu along with the other dishes.

Just my own personal opinion.

P.S. I make my beignets at home. I bet I could compete with Cafe Du Monde.

[Towanda]

Originally Posted by Dancingearth

Afterall, the dishes are all packed and I have to eat somewhere.

Best reason in the world!

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by Towanda

I'm sure all of the food at the Pink Adobe is considered very genuine.

My objection to the place is that it seems to me that any restaurant that enjoys the reputation as one of the "Santa Fe Traditions since 1944", and attracts so many tourists who have heard about it, should proudly offer the best of New Mexican cuisine on the menu along with the other dishes.

Just my own personal opinion.

P.S. I make my beignets at home. I bet I could compete with Cafe Du Monde.

Oh...yum!!! I have never tried it myself.

Don't know what to tell you about the other....

I have cabrito baking in the oven....got it started too late, and it won't be ready for another 3 hours..!!

[Towanda]

I know I have mentioned Diego's Cafe (in DeVargas Mall) before; it is near the top of my favorites list. We had lunch there today. They have the most awesome food (every time we go) and such friendly service. Great green chile!

Two thumps up!!