Santa Fe Food
Tasting the local food can be one of the most memorable parts of traveling. Northern New Mexico cooking is known for green chile, which comes in a variety of types from mild to blazing hot. And ordering chile, whether red or green, may get you a very literal result: a bowl of chile, no beans, no meat. You can get those, of course . . . you just have to specify that you want them. Restaurants will bring you a taste of the chile on request, so you can calculate whether it is hotter than you want before you order. “Smothered” on a menu refers to having a chile sauce poured over the item, for example, over a burrito. The “New Mexico State Question” is “Red or green?” – referring to what type of chile you want with your meal. If you answer “Christmas” you get red chile on half the plate and green on the other half!
Santa Fe is a "food heritage community." celebrated for preserving traditional foods and preparation methods. Visit The Food Museum Online http://www.foodmuseum.com/FHCSantaFehome.html This remarkable site has a fine, concise overview of the history of Santa Fe, information about New Mexico food stuffs, information about current conservation and education efforts, and more, more, more, all illustrated with current pictures, early maps and drawings.
MARKETS
Several markets featuring fresh and prepared organic food are within a few blocks of La Casa Santa Fe. Standard and gourmet supermarkets are within a mile. A good selection of wines and some beer is available in the nearby Sanbusco shopping district, and two liquor stores are within 5-8 blocks.
La Montanita Food Coop (formerly “The Marketplace”)
You don’t have to be a member to shop at La Montanita, 5 blocks to the west of La Casa Santa Fe. This compact but crammed cooperative market features fresh, prepared, frozen, and canned organic foods. They stock seasonal produce from local farms, as well as bulk and packaged herbs. Toiletries, cleaning supplies, pet food, and some housewares also are available. The local branch does not have a website, but you can get an idea of what they carry by looking at the Local Harvest website which describes the sister store in Albuquerque http://www.localharvest.org/member/M18451
The Santa Fe Farmers Market
http://www.santafefarmersmarket.com/
Produce, meat, flowers and plants, handicrafts, street musicians – the Santa Fe Farmers Market provides an extraordinary opportunity to buy the freshest food around and to meet the people who produce it. Permanent home for the Farmers Market will be in the Railyard Park, slated to open in August 2008. Meanwhile, they set up on Saturday mornings in the Public Employees' Retirement Association parking lot. On Tuesdays the market meets in the parking lot for the Center for Contemporary Arts. The market website has maps and directions to both sites.
National Chains
You’ll probably want to drive to these, especially if you expect to lug home a lot of produce. Whole Foods is approximately ten blocks, another four blocks brings you to Wild Oats, and across the street catty-corner, to Trader Joes. World Market is in the Sanbusco area, about five blocks http://www.sanbusco.com/ . It has a small selection of canned and dried gourmet foods, candies, a good, inexpensive wine selection and some beers.
Restaurants
Santefesinos must eat out more than most folks, we have a bounty of restaurants. On those days you want somebody else to do the cooking (and we all have those) over two dozen restaurants are near La Casa Santa Fe, most moderately priced. We’re working on collecting sample menus from many of them so you can figure out where you want to go while you work up an appetite – look for them in the “Guest Album.” The Quest phone book yellow pages lists restaurants by food type, as well as by name, so you can look for a specific cuisine. The restaurants in bright yellow, bold-face italic type are the ones we find ourselves in most often (think tasty and fairly cheap.)
Some restaurants within easy walking distance of La Casa Santa Fe are:
Less than a quarter mile
Ristra -- on the way to Sanbusco, American food with a French and Southwestern influence (pricey.)
El Tesoro– in the Sanbusco market complex http://www.sanbusco.com Salvadoran/New Mexican food for breakfast and lunch, in a relaxed atmosphere.
Pranzo -- also in Sanbusco, Italian food with nightly food and drink specials, call to see what’s happening on those 984-2645. Menus at http://www.pranzosantafe.com/menus.php
Mauka -- This restaurant recently got a glowing review in the Albuquerque Journal North for both food and service. Just two and a half blocks from La Casa Santa Fe, on Agua Fria Street, Mauka features "Asian fusion" offerings, and serves wine and beer. http://www.maukarestaurant.com
La Taqueria – New Mexican food by a locally owned family, housed in a former convent. Recent guests at El Primero loved the food, we tried it and weren't so impressed.
Kohnami – Japanese, with sushi bar.
Cowgirl Hall of Fame – Barbeque, with bar and live music most nights; watch for the Thursday night prime rib special, very tasty and affordable. http://www.santafestation.com/cowgirl/index.html
Zia Diner – Go here when you’re homesick for meatloaf – and you can get meatloaf with piñon nuts and green chile. Said to serve “the best comfort food in town,” it also has a soda fountain and a bar. www.ziadiner.com
Cafe Dominic – all sorts of food, along with beer and wine. A popular lunch spot, has a patio.
Tomasita’s – Housed in the old Santa Fe Railroad Station, Tomasita’s is frequented by everybody who likes New Mexican cooking. There can be a wait, but if you’re willing to be seated in the bar area you may get in sooner. They have the same menu in the bar as in the rest of the place, and you’re closer to the margaritas.
Willee’s Blues Club – A hoppin’ night spot. There’s a bar menu and, of course, music http://www.willees.com/
Tin Star Saloon -- www.tinstarsaloon.com Three blocks from La Casa Santa Fe, and voted the "Best Bar in Santa Fe" in the 2008 Santa Fean Magazine's Chef's Picks awards. Booze, of course, and lots of live music Wednesday through Saturday.
Railyard Restaurant and Saloon – Seafoods, salad, pasta, and lots of red meat. http://www.railyardrestaurantandsaloon.com/
Aqua Santa – Mediterranean influence in the food, has a patio. Across the river and a block to the East, on Alameda Street.
Vanessie of Santa Fe – Continental/American; John B. says he had about the best steak he ever ate in his life here. Has live music in the piano bar. Several times a year Vanessie designates a percentage of all food sold to go to local non-profits. http://www.vanessiesantafe.com/
Los Mayas – Mexican food, with nightly entertainment, no cover charge. Also open for lunch. 986-9930 http://www.losmayasrestaurante.com/
Dinner for Two – French-based continental food, intimate atmosphere. At the corner of Guadalupe and West Sanfrancisco streets.
Within a half-mile:
Andiamo! -- Italian food made with fresh ingredients, and a wine cellar that has won awards and praises. The menu is not expansive, but creative and seasonal. Reservations are suggested, since it's very popular. The dishes are moderately priced, entrees run around $15, appetizers and side dishes are extra. www.andiamoonline.com
Thai Cafe – We haven’t been to Thailand, but folks who have say this food is authentic, as well as delicious. The decorations are very colorful. Remember you’re in Santa Fe, if you choose “hot” for the sauces you may get more than you bargained for.
Il Vecino – Wood oven pizza and microbrewery. The pizzas are creative and light, not heavy with cheese. Order an “Il Vecino” salad and split it, and then get two different 10” pizzas to share. They have their own micro-brewery beer, and a wine selection. http://www.ilvicino.com/ilvicino/santa_fe.asp
Sakura – Sit in your own shoji-screened room (hint – it looks like you have to sit seiza [kneeling, sitting back on your haunches] but they actually have a hole under the low table so you can drop your feet in and sit western-style.) Order sushi, tempura, or any of a number of Japanese favorites. Ask if they are serving green chile tempura. . .
El Cañon – This is one of three restaurants in the Hilton Hotel. It’s a good place to get hand-carved sandwiches and fresh pastries.
Del Charro -- for sandwiches and other light fare, along with beer, wine, and mixed drinks, visit this restaurant which is in the Inn of the Governors. There is an attached patio with a kiva fireplace, to take the chill off summer evenings. Del Charro food menu
Old House – When we bought our house in Santa Fe it was a convenient walk to Big Jo’s Lumberyard. Instead of a lumberyard, the site is now occupied by the very upscale Eldorado Hotel, which houses the highly praised Old House restaurant. We haven’t eaten there (it’s pricey), but you can visit their menu at http://www.eldoradohotel.com/restaurants/pdfs/oh_menu.pdf
Cafe Paris – This little French restaurant, with accompanying pastry shop, has a pleasant summertime “patio” made by placing planters and umbrellas in the closed-off street known as “Burro Alley.” http://www.cafeparisnm.com/
San Francisco Street Bar and Grill -- Casual dining upstairs in a turn-of-the-last-century building, the old Santa Fe atmosphere is complemented by current paintings and sculptures. http://www.sanfranbargrill.com/
The Ore House – Here’s the beef. Located on the west side of the Plaza, go upstairs for steaks, chops, and seafood. www.orehouseontheplaza.com
Tia Sophia’s – The breakfast and lunch spot for locals and local politicos. John B. would probably go into withdrawal if he couldn’t get a breakfast burrito there at least once a week. At 11:00 a.m., they start making the sopapillas.
Torinos' @ Home -- an Italian deli and cafe, in the Santa Fe Village Mall at 227 Don Gaspar Avenue. They feature "build your own" panini; call in your order and pay in advance, and they'll give you a desert for half-price. http://www.torinosfoods.com
Saveur – Delicatessen, many items on the menu change daily. The big secret is, at 3:15 they sell what’s left at 25% off, at 3:30 they sell it at 50% off, at 3:45 they close for the day. Once they begin the count down, you can’t stay to eat, it’s take-out only.
Cleopatra’s – Tasty, very inexpensive mid-eastern food, in the Design Center, a two-story shopping mall that features a number of old world antique and handcrafted furniture shops, and other home furnishings.
Yin Yang – A long-time favorite for Chinese food, with friendly wait-staff and a very large selection of items on their menu. East end of the Design Center.
Carlos’ Gospel Cafe – Also in the Design Center, way popular for lunch sandwiches, and home of an exquisite lemon meringue pie.
Besides the prepared food available at La Montanita market, the Solano Center on West Alameda has five restaurants:
Masa Sushi – Japanese and Korean food, has a beer and wine list as well as saki.
Annapurna – Featuring Ayuvedic cuisine which “changes daily in accordance with each day’s planetary ruler.” Vegetarian food and chai. http://www.999dine.com/nm/annapurna/annapurna/AnnapurnaSantaFeMenu.pdf
Home Run Pizza – This popular, locally owned pizza spot occupies a fairly tiny space, because most of their customers have the pizza delivered.
Xiclo – Vietnamese food. Fairly new, hasn’t had time to build a reputation.
Ferragamo – Italian food, including pizza. A recent addition to the line-up at Solano Center.
Bumblebee’s Baja Grill– Very fresh, made-on-the-spot food with more of a Mexican than New Mexican flavor. The tacos made with fresh corn tortillas are a real treat. They also have take-out and a drive-up window. http://www.bumblebeesbajagrill.com/
The Mission Cafe and Sweet Shop - at 239 E. De Vargas St, off of Old Santa Fe Trail behind the San Miguel Mission, the oldest church in the United States. It's a bit more than a half-mile away, but you're probably walking up in that area, anyway. Carolyn serves locally raised beef and chicken in a beautifully restored old adobe home with modern amenities like wireless (not to mention great coffee and sweets!) Open M-F 7 to 2:30, Sat 8 to 2:30 Telephone 505.983.3033
DELIVERY SERVICE
Dashing Delivery – a courier for food, working with a number of local restaurants. http://dashingdelivery.com/
Upper Crust Pizza – terrific pizza with a wide variety of optional toppings, and they will deliver it hot within about 45 minutes. We like the “combination,” with extra sausage. You can also go there and eat in, but we’re lazy. http://www.uppercrustpizza.com/
LIQUOR STORES
In New Mexico, grocery stores are allowed to sell beer, wine, and hard liquor. Most of them have a good selection. Alcohol (including liquor-filled candies!) is not allowed to be sold before noon on Sundays.
The Owl – Some of the best prices in the nearby area, about seven blocks away. Small, crammed with stuff, has local microbrewery beer as well as wines and hard liquor.
Andy’s Liquorette – Down Agua Fria Street, about five blocks from La Casa Santa Fe. Claims it has the coldest beer in town.
World Market – in Sanbusco Center, has a large selection of wines and some beers, in a range of prices.