Roanoker wrote:
I will ask my friend, who lives in New Mexico, if she knows of any good restaurants in Santa Fe.
Highlander, my friend responded. Here is what she said:
Hi - Tell them to head for the plaza, pick up a free city map at one of the vendors, which has listings for restaurants, galleries, ( Georgie O'Keefe gallery ) special attractions and streets, making it easy to find anything and everything. Then start visiting the shops, ask the salespeople for restaurant suggestions. Like everything else, restaurants can go up or down hill but the locals will usually know which ones are staying true to form. Suggest they visit St. Francis Cathedral, ( famous spiral staircase ) which is on the plaza. Off the plaza on Old Santa Fe Trail is San Miguel Mission ( the oldest church in the US ) I believe the oldest house is nearby on De Vargas St. and right by that 2 blocks off Old Santa Fe Trail is the State Capitol. They can drive or walk these areas. The Santa Fe Opera, second only to the NY Met, is a few miles North of the plaza area... It is an open air theater that is just lovely, not sure if you can tour it now or not but they can find pictures of it.
As for food.... it's been called ' The City Delicious, a culinary destination.... with more than 200 restaurants in a town with a population somewhere around 70,000. ' some of the more upscale places with nationwide attention are Geronimo, The Compound and Coyote Cafe ( with it's rooftop dining )
Last summer [my daughter] and I went up and ate at The Shed, which is very popular with nearly everyone. We were very disappointed in the green chile enchiladas ( which they are known for ) and the woman who worked at the Palace of Governors ( a wonderful history museum on the plaza ) told me she had gotten sick after eating them a month earlier. I think their hamburgers and soft tacos are popular but I don't like soft tacos or burritos. I think people like their patio area and the dining rooms in the hacinda. There's at least one place that offers Bison ( can't think of the name ) Ted Turner, the second largest landowner in NM, has a Bison ranch in the So. part of the State. The old La Fonda Hotel ( on the plaza ) is a lovely place to brouse through and perhaps have a glass of wine or snack. If you need a break, the atmosphere in the enclosed courtyard is calming. Cowgirls ( BBQ ) is very poplular but my personal favorite is Tomasitas... I love that place, never disappointed... it's just off the plaza by the Rail Runner shuttle depot. Some friends and I took the Rail Runner up last year for my birthday dinner. There is a sister restaurant ( of the Shed ) right by Tomasitas, that is supposed to be better then the Shed with more variety, called La Choza. Seems to me there was a another very good restaurant in that area, off the plaza. I think it's called Los Mayas. Many years ago we went to the Ore House and the Bull Ring ( steakhouse)... they were the ' in ' places to eat and may still be winners. Again, best to ask and get several opinions. By the way, if someone asks them ' red or green chile ?' tell them to ask for a bowl of each, ' on the side, ' and then spoon it on the food themselves. Usually I prefer green on chicken and red on any beef dish. The salsa ( common snack ) is good on the tacos or for dipping with chips.
There are various bus tours that can be picked up from the plaza that offer a nice tour around the town focusing on interesting locations and quaint little side streets and homes that are off the plaza area.
Tell them I truly hope they enjoy their visit to the Land of Enchantment and all that Santa Fe has to offer.
“Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give the earth itself and all it contains rather than do an immoral act.” —Thomas Jefferson (1785)