Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
159
Kids
Family-Friendly Restaurants
Blue Corn Café
(p. 161) A relaxed atmosphere and their own menu pleases
kids, while excellent brewpub beer pleases parents.
Bumble Bee's Baja Grill
(p. 161) A casual atmosphere allows parents to
relax while their kids chow down on quesadillas and burritos.
Cowgirl Hall of Fame
(p. 187)
Children can enjoy the “kid's corral,” while
their parents take in live music.
Upper Crust Pizza
(p. 163) Many people feel it has the best pizza in town,
and it'll deliver it to tired tots and their families at downtown hotels.
blue-cheese crumbles. My favorite for lunch is the half BLT with soup or salad, best when
ordered with their green-chile stew. Lunch also brings more formal dishes such as a
lumpy crab over angel hair pasta. At dinner, the prime rib is a big hit, as is the filet
mignon, both served with a potato and vegetable. For dessert, try chocolate cake. The bar
here romps during happy hour, when the booths fill up, martinis nearly overflow, and
reasonably priced menu items sate post-work appetites.
414 Old Santa Fe Trail.
&
505/955-0765.
www.riochamasteakhouse.com. Reservations recommended
Fri-Sat nights. Main courses $8.50-$24 lunch, $18-$39 dinner. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Daily 11am-3pm and
5-10pm; patio bar 5pm-closing.
Santacafé
Moments
NEW AMERICAN/SOUTHWESTERN This is where
my mother and I go to celebrate birthdays and other special occasions because the place
exudes unique charm, both in its food and ambience. The food combines the best of
many cuisines, from Asian to Southwestern, served in an elegant setting with minimalist
decor that accentuates the graceful architecture of the 18th-century Padre Gallegos
House, 2 blocks from the plaza. The white walls are decorated only with deer antlers, and
each room contains a fireplace. In warm months you can sit under elm trees in the
charming courtyard. Beware that on busy nights the rooms are noisy. The dishes change
to take advantage of local and seasonal specialties, each served with precision. Their
Sunday brunch menu offers such delights as a mascarpone-stuffed French toast and
poached eggs with corned beef. For a lunch or dinner starter, try the shiitake and cactus
spring rolls with Southwestern ponzu. One of my favorite main courses at lunch is the
baby spinach niçoise salad with tuna seared to perfection. At dinner I've enjoyed the
grilled rack of lamb with potato-leek gratin. A lighter eater might try the sautéed Diver
scallops with kalamata olive linguine and wild mushrooms. There's an extensive wine list.
Desserts, as elegant as the rest of the food, are made in-house; try the warm chocolate
upside-down cake with vanilla ice cream.
231 Washington Ave.
&
505/984-1788.
www.santacafe.com. Reservations recommended. Main courses
$9-$15 lunch, $22-$40 dinner. AE, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Sat 11:30am-2pm; daily 5:30-10pm. Sun brunch
served in summer, Easter Sunday, and Mother's Day.
7
315
FRENCH This classy French bistro enjoyed instant success when it opened
in 1995 because the food is simply excellent. The elegant atmosphere provides a perfect
setting for a romantic meal, and during warm months the patio is a popular place to
people-watch, with little white lights setting the whole place aglow. Service is excellent.
