last updated: Friday, 26-Jun-1998 17:58:00 MDT
Santa Fe
Continental/Southwestern
113 Washington 988-3236
Haute Southwestern. The staff recommends the cinnamon and red chile-rubbed beef tenderloin. Both the food and the space are elegant, imaginative and somewhat over the top. Breakfast, lunch, dinner seven days, Sun. brunch. Full bar, reservations recommended. AMX, D, CB, DC, MC, V. $29 and under.
Bishop's Lodge
5 minutes north of the plaza on Bishops Lodge Road 983-6377
Contemporary/Southwestern. It was recently bought by ERE Yarmouth out of Australia, and there's a new chef. He's Peter Zimmer, formerly with Inn of the Anasazi. Breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days. Elegant Sunday brunch, breakfast buffet. Full bar, reservations recommended. AMX, D, DC, MC, V. $22 and under.
Bistro 315 
315 Old Santa Fe Trail 986-9190
French. True bistro food, including the best roasted chicken in Santa Fe. Lunch and dinner, seven days during summer. Menu changes daily. Beer and wine, reservations recommended. AMX, MC, V. $25 and under.
Cafe Paris
31 Burro Alley 986-9162
French. Was Cafe Romana, then Milano, and it's now Paris. Good bistro food, good service. Lunch and dinner daily; closed Tues. night and all day Sun. Beer and wine. MC, V. $18.50 and under.
Cafe Pasqual's
121 Don Gaspar 983-9340
Haute Mexican and New Mexican. For dinner, try the Chimayó chile-rubbed, pan-roasted salmon with the corn torta, or one of the excellent steaks. Beer and wine. Breakfast, lunch, dinner seven days; Sun. brunch. Dinner reservations recommended. AMX, MC, V. $25 and under.
The Club
Water Street and Don Gaspar in the Hotel St. Francis 983-5700
Continental. Look for dishes like pan-seared foie gras and an oven-roasted tapanade-crusted portabello mushroom. Good steaks and meats, too. Full bar. Also, tea in the lobby from 3-5:30 p.m. Breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days, Sun. brunch. AMX, MC, V, D, DC. $25 and under.
The Compound
653 Canyon 982-4353
Continental. Here's what awaits you: superb food served impeccably in a building designed by master architect Alexander Girard. Dinner only, closed Sun.-Mon. Full bar, reservations required. AMX. $25 and under.
Corn Dance Restaurant
1501 Paseo de Peralta, Hotel Santa Fe 982-1200
Native American/continental. Think haute Native American cuisine -- game, buffalo burgers, and indigenous veggies, such as corn and squash. Breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days. Full bar. AMX, MC, V. $22 and under.
Cowboy of Santa Fe
331 Sandoval 982-8999
American. It used to be the Double A, but new owners have softened and humanized the space, and simplified the menu -- salmon's there, but so are Southern fried chicken, liver and onions, and braised short ribs. Best Caesar salad in town. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner seven days, Sun. brunch. Full bar, AMX, MC, V. $25 and under.
Coyote Cafe
132 W. Water 983-1615
Haute Southwestern. Mark Miller started this food style more than 10 years ago, and he's still top dog. Cool logo, too, and it's on most of the stuff in the gift shop below the restaurant. Dinner seven days. In the Cantina, open April-Oct.: lunch and dinner seven days. Full bar, reservations required in dining room. AMX, DC, D, MC, V. $42.50 for the cafe prix fixe menu; $19.50 and under in the Cantina.
El Nido
5 miles north of the Santa Fe Plaza on Highway 591 in Tesuque 988-4340
Continental and New Mexican. Classic steaks, continental and New Mexican entrees, along with more imaginative stuff on the appetizer side of the menu. Its fans are very loyal. Dinner only, Tues.-Sun. Full bar, reservations a good idea. AMX, MC, V. $30 and under.
Galisteo Inn
On N.M. 41, 23 mi. southeast of Santa Fe Plaza 466-4000
Southwestern. Julie Francis is the chef here, and her menus include marinated calamari salad, wild mushroom and chicken ravioli with a truffled mushroom jus, chilled eggplant bisque with saffron aioli, lamb chops with sweet potato gratin, and lemon shortbread tart with ginger ice cream. Dinner, Wed.-Sun., prix fixe menu only. Full bar, reservations required. D, MC, V. $30-$35.
Geronimo
724 Canyon 982-1500
Southwestern. Big on presentation -- but sometimes the taste doesn't equal the look. Beautiful bar and patio. Lunch, dinner six days; Sun. brunch, no Mon. lunch. Full bar, reservations recommended. AMX, MC, V. $26 and under.
Jack's
135 W. Palace Ave. third floor 983-7220
Haute American. Good steaks, good salmon, good food and plenty of toys for grown-ups -- there are real jacks there for those who want to polish their childhood skills. Beautiful balcony dining, good art on the walls. Lunch, dinner seven days; reservations recommended. Full bar. AMX, MC, V. Under $20.
La Casa Sena
125 E. Palace 988-9232
Continental and New Mexican. If it's summer, sit under the big tree in the courtyard. Try the lamb chops. Lunch Mon.-Sat.; Sun. brunch; dinner seven days. Full bar, excellent wine list. Reservations recommended. AMX, CB, DC, D, MC, V. $27 and under.
Le Cafe on the Trail
311 Old Santa Fe Trail 982-7302
French. Wonderful pastries, breakfasts and entrees. Breakfast, lunch, dinner seven days. Wine and beer, reservations suggested. AMX, MC, V. $14 and under.
Nellie's
Hotel Loretto, 211 Old Santa Fe Trail 988-5531
Haute American. The menu changes often, but not the beautiful patio by the Loretto Chapel. Good service. Enclosed patio. Breakfast, lunch, dinner seven days. Full bar. AMX, CB, DC, D, MC, V. $18 and under.
The Old House
309 W. San Francisco in the Eldorado Hotel 995-4530
Southwestern and continental. A beautiful, cozy space with excellent food -- try the rack of lamb. Dinner 7 nights a week. Full bar. AMX, CB, DC, D, MC, V. Under $27.
Paul's Restaurant of Santa Fe
72 W. Marcy 982-8738
Continental. Lovely French-styled food in a shoebox space full of great, zany art. Lunch Mon.-Sat., dinner seven days. Beer and wine, reservations suggested for dinner. AMX, D, MC, V. $20 and under.
Pink Adobe
406 Old Santa Fe Trail 983-7712
Continental and New Mexican. Not a tradition but a legend. Try the steak Dunigan. Try the Dragon bar. Look for owner Rosalea Murphy. Lunch weekdays. Dinner seven days. Full bar. Reservations suggested. AMX, CB, DC, D, MC, V. Under $23.
Rancho Encantado
NM 592 in Tesuque 982-3537
Continental and haute Southwestern. A breathtaking location. Breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days. Sun. brunch. AMX, MC, V, D. $21 and under.
Ristra
548 Agua Fria 982-8608
New American. That's what the owners call it, but you can call it French, simple and very, very good. Beer and wine. Dinner nightly. AMX, MC, V. $24 and under.
Santacafé
231 Washington 984-1788
New American. Try the calamari or the shiitake and cactus spring rolls with a green chile dipping sauce. Lunch Mon.-Sat.; dinner seven days. Full bar, reservations suggested. MC, V. $24 and under.
Vanessie of Santa Fe
434 W. San Francisco 982-9966
American and continental. Charlie Tichenor and Doug Montgomery at the piano. Good steaks, but not cheap. Dinner only, seven days. Full bar. Reservations suggested. AMX, D, DC, MC, V. Parking in Water Street lot behind building. $40 and under.
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