New Mexico

If you're planning to visit New Mexico - Taos, Santa Fe, then don't miss the great eats in Espanola, NM. Right smack between Taos and Santa Fe. You'll find the best Mexican food there. Dos Amigos, (was Dollies) 1206 Riverside Dr N Española, NM - (505) 753-3161 has been remodeled and has the best breakfast around. El Paragua Restaurant
603 Santa Cruz Rd NE Española, NM - Hot chile and great margaritas!
http://www.elparagua.com/

Restaurante Rancho de Chimayo is known for its unique native New Mexico cuisine, prepared with locally grown products from recipes that have been in the family for generations.
http://www.ranchochimayo.com/Ranchodechimayorestaurant.htm

All the restaurants in the Espanola Valley can be found at:
http://www.EspanolaOnLine.com

You can't beat the food in Espanola, New Mexico!

Don't forget[url='http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=1752']Leona's[/url]!

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Stern

Don't forget[url='http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=1752']Leona's[/url]!

Oh yes, Leona'a is a great place to eat. Located in historic Chimayo, just minutes from Espanola. They have recently streamlined their menu but it's still a great place!!! I highly recommend it!

http://www.EspanolaOnLine.com

Thanks for the tips on Espanola. I have passed through there, but never needed to stop. I'll be in the area around the middle of November and will be sure to make a stop for a meal or two.
Usually headed to Maria's in Santa Fe on our way down South to Silver City.
Great coffeeshop with good food and home made bakery in Socorro, The Black Dog. On the main business loop through town near the south end.

Thanks again

Locals took me to Anthony's at the Delta last time I was in the area, I remember it not being special but I would highly recommend Rancho de Chimayo for not only the food but the peaceful setting.

Anthony's does have good food and the art collection that Anthony has is worth the trip to see. He's a art collector, on of the nicest in the area. I've known Anthony since we were kids way back in the 50s-60s.

Rancho de Chimayo does have charm. The food is great, so is the service. You'll be glad you went there.

If you want a really classy place to eat then you have to go to Rancho de San Juan. It's in the Ojo Caliente area, just a few minutes north of Espanola. Dave and John run a first class place there. It's a B&B and they server dinner to none guests too. It's a Relais & Chateaux. Dinner by reservation only. You'l want to get there early to tour around the place. The view is wonderful.
http://ranchodesanjuan.com - http://EspanolaOnLine.com

Thanks for the link to Rancho de San Juan, that place looks really cool! I generally stay in Santa Fe because thats where my friends live but I always try to stay at some place different, might have to consider this. The food looked great and it looks very peaceful!

You'll love your stay at Rancho de San Juan! I've been there many times and know Dave and John. In fact I created their web site before retiring. Peaceful is a good word to describe the experience. There are lots of nice places to visit in the Espanola area. Folk that drive through Espanola instead of to Espanola are missing the true charm of the southwest.

Another cool place to eat is the Stop & Eat Drive-In, 110 E Paseo De Onate Dr Española, NM. One of the oldest drive-ins in the area. They offer great hamburgers and some out of this world Mexican food. A good place to stop after a day of skiing. You'll love the food there!

http://EspanolaOnLine.com
The Beautiful Espanola Valley

I lived in New Mexico for 5 years, and I miss the great food! Try El Bruno's in Cuba (between Albuquerque and Farmington) for some outstanding Mexican dining.

quote:

Originally posted by St. Louis Browns fan

I lived in New Mexico for 5 years, and I miss the great food! Try El Bruno's in Cuba (between Albuquerque and Farmington) for some outstanding Mexican dining.

I second your nomination. Pass through there from time to time and eat at El Brunos every time. It's a great place to eat after soaking in Jemez Springs baths.

El Bruno is still a fantastic place to eat.  Yesterday, three of us stopped for lunch shortly after the 11am opening.  I ordered "Torreon" - their Navajo taco and the other two ordered "Regina" - their stuffed sopaipilla.  All were on the lunch menu for $6.95 and included a fresh sopaipilla and honey.  On this trip, the food seemed to be even better than it had been in the past.  All three of us were very pleased with our meals. 
The good news is that another friend of mine and I will be having lunch there tomorrow, as well.  What a weekend!  My 50th high school reunion in Farmington and two meals at El Bruno in Cuba.

I returned home at 2am this morning, and there is a bit more to report about my New Mexico food experiences while attending my 50th high school reunion in Farmington.  On arriving Thursday, I immediately went to Frontier Restaurant for a light meal to hold me until reaching my counsin's home in Belen.  My bowl of green chile stew, accompanied by a homemade warm flour tortilla, was fantastic.  Just perfect for what I needed at that moment.  Southwest Airlines is impressive, but those two bags of peanuts left me rather hungry eleven hours after breakfast.
 
For breakfast Friday morning, my cousin recommended Rutilio's New Mexican Foods, 455 N Main St., Belen as the best place to eat.  She recommended their breakfast burrito - which I had with sausage.  It was served with very average, but decent, hash browns - a pleasant change of pace from the grits I now get whenever I eat breakfast out in Georgia.  The traffic that morning convinced me that this is one of the better breakfast places in Belen.
 
My first stop at El Bruno's in Cuba is detailed above.  On Sunday afternoon, another classmate and I ate there again.  She ordered stuffed chile rellenos with green chile and I had stuffed sopaipillas with chicken and green chile.  The two plates were very clean when the table was cleared.  Again, the warm sopaipillas with honey made a fantastic way to finish an already excellent meal.
 
Yesterday morning, I walked from my hotel across from the airport to Frontier Restaurant across from the UNM campus.  Google Maps said 2.2 miles and 52 minutes.  This 68 year old hungry male made it in 50 minutes without pushing it.  My breakfast burrito without meat (which I ate with red salsa) would likely have been better with meat, but I had already had one with sausage on Friday morning.
 
I ate five meals out, beyond what I ate at the reunion, and could not have enjoyed myself more.  My need for some New Mexican food was greater than I would have ever thought.  These three restaurants are all worth a visit when you find yourself in Belen, Albuquerque, or Cuba.