Santa Fe - Gaps in the Resume'

Hello LTH, have also posted this on SW CH but will probably get better advice over here. Show me!

Will be revisiting Santa Fe for 2 nights in a couple weeks. Been there a few times, last visit was this past June. Have hit most of the places recommended prior posts on CH board.

Definitely going to Coyote Cafe again for dinner, it was absolutely outstanding last time.

Harry's Roadhouse for a green chile cheeseburger at lunch is also a must.

In a quandary about our second dinner:
Not in the mood for 2 fine dining nights, so rules out the Compound or Geronimo's. Cafe San Estevan and Tomasita's were a slight disappointment last time, so I've scratched those off the list for this trip. Not a huge fan of Maria's.

You get spoiled eating in SF, the food is so good that if it's a notch below perfect it's kind of a letdown. Any suggestions on a great - preferably New Mexican - place I may have overlooked, $10-$20 entrees? Is El Farol an option for food (I know it's tapas), haven't eaten there.

Gracias,
FE

Pasquals. I've been there for breakfast and dinner, and enjoyed both. I have heard some suggest its on the touristy side, but hell, the entire city of Santa Fe is on the touristy side. Anyway, good NM cuisine, fun atmosphere, a bit on the pricey side. Go to this link for a menu.

http://www.pasquals.com/dinner.html

Tesuque Village Market, just outside Santa Fe. I've only been there for breakfast--excellent huevos rancheros w/green and red chiles. Small, you'll definitely need reservations, and the drive--although it only takes 5-10 minutes from downtown SF, is not one I'd want to attempt after a couple cocktails--lots of twists and turns. But a good place--I'm curious as to how dinner is.

As an aside, the last time I was in Santa Fe, I took advantage of some of the best (and most unheralded) trout fishing in the US. Check out High Desert Anglers if this interests you at all.

Best meal I've had this year has been at Ristra, but it is definetely fine dining. In the same category is Rancho de San Juan out near Ojo Caliente. Just spectacular. I do not like El Farol at all (based on 3 visits).

For New Mexican food and atmosphere, take the 20 minute or so drive up to Espanola and try El Paragua. Mostly locals.

For green chile cheeseburger, skip Harry's Roadhouse and go further down the frontage road to Bobcat Bite. Order of magnitude better. Weird hours so call ahead.

I've got tons of other suggestions if these don't move you.

Bill/SFNM

Bill, you're my Boy!!!

Will definitely do Bobcat Bite this time instead of Harry's - I can't imagine how their green chile cheeseburger could be better, but if it is I definitely need to check it out.

I've never tried Ristra, sounds like a winner. Espanola's a bit of a hike at night after a couple margaritas, will have to save that for a lunch in the future.

Someone on CH SW mentioned a new place that I've never heard of with a great name, Agua Sante - I love it when these places invoke the gods. Have you eaten there yet?

Thanks,
FE

Fast Eddie,

I'm pretty sure Aqua Santa is Brian Knox's new place. I've been meaning to try it. Brian, a super guy, is from the Alice Waters school and has had a few restaurants that I have enjoyed, but they have all closed. His previous venture was a little high-end food market that was very popular, but also closed. I think he must be better at the food side than the business side.

You're probably right about avoiding Espanola at night since drunk drivers are the NM state mammal and the road there is under construction - still! But El Paragua is a great place to stop if you're going to the Chimayo Santuario (MUCH MUCH better than the once-great-but-now-dreadful Rancho de Chimayo) or Taos.

Enjoy your trip to and stay in our village.

Bill/SFNM

Fast Eddie wrote:Someone on CH SW mentioned a new place that I've never heard of with a great name, Agua Sante - I love it when these places invoke the gods. Have you eaten there yet?

FE:
Lasst night I had dinner with some peope who had recently eaten at Aqua Santa and whose opnion I highly respect. They said the house-made bread at Aqua Santa was among the best they had ever eaten, but that the rest of the food was disappointing.

Bill/SFNM

Just returned from a quick trip to SF, have been there 5 times now and like it better each time - my favorite place in the US. Thanks for the meal suggestions.

Had dinner at Aqua Santa Friday night. Since it's new there's not much info out there on it, and I'd assumend with that name that it would be New Mex cuisine. But the menu leans heavily towards Tuscan items, which I found surprising - didn't expect to find that in the middle of the desert.

Chef is another Alice Waters protege', and it was interesting comparing this to Mesa Luna in Three Oaks, MI - which is also Alice Waters influence. Lots of boutique produce. meats and cheeses featured at both places and thoughtful wine lists. Plus the bread baked on premises. Started with arugula & fresh fig salad, and assorted heirloom tomatoes with cheese salad and fresh herbs. Both were great.

Entree's were an "open-braised" pork dish, and a wild boar ragu and pappardelle pasta dish. The pork was very sweet and savory but slightly overcooked and a touch dry. The wild boar pasta dish was excellent. Also had a side of sauteed fresh greens with parmesan, garlic and bread crumbs - this was OUTSTANDING, a very simple but absolutely perfect little dish. Waiter recommended a 2000 Vacqueyras, which was great accompaniment (especially at only $31/bottle).

I can see why this chef has trouble keeping restaurants open, the bill including wine was only $90 which I felt was a bargain considering the high quality of the ingredients. Service was pretty uneven though, assuming it's growing pains so all is forgiven. Chef was out to say hello, nice guy - says he's from Tuscany via Milwaukee.

Breakfast next day was at Zia's Diner. was just ok. Sorry, didn't make it to Bobcat Bite for lunch my wife insisted on Harry's - good as ever. Dinner was at Ristra. Had tempura fried squash blossom with crab, nice dish but thought the squash was overpowered by the crab and the sauce - too rich for the squash. Wife had carrot soup which was very good. I had the crusted salmon, my wife had a filet mignon. Both were very good but not earth-shattering. My favorite was the green chile mashed potatoes that came with the filet. Very good meal but tab was a little steep. Plus, my wife was beating me about the head with a rolling pin for not taking her to Coyote Cafe on this trip - will have to rectify that and come back again soon.

FE,
Sorry that you and your wife didn't like Ristra as much as I do. Give me a holler next time you pass through; Bobcat Bite burgers will be on me.

Bill/SFNM

What, you're not picking up the tab for Coyote? Ristra and Aqua Santa was a calculated risk, was hoping one or the other could be better than Coyote.

Might pick you up on that offer Bill, was thinking of coming out for Christmas.

Adios,
FE

Fast Eddie wrote:Might pick you up on that offer Bill, was thinking of coming out for Christmas.

This may be true for many places, but my experience here is that the quality of the restaurants (food and service) degrades significantly around Xmas. The chefs and the most senior employees are often on vacation. The remaining skeleton staff is often not up to caring for the throngs of holiday patrons. I have learned the hard way to steer clear of the high-end places then. A beautiful time to visit, but not if you're keen on special dining experiences.

Bill/SFNM