Joy Godfrey
Fire & Hops
Best Asian Restaurant
Jinja
510 N Guadalupe St., 982-4321
Mu Du Noodles
1494 Cerrillos Road, 983-1411
Izanami
21 Ten Thousand Waves Way, 982-9304
Best Artisan Chocolate
Ancient recipies and historic traditions influence the thick, chocolatey concoctions—known here as elixirs. Sample fine bite-sized chocolates, and take plenty home with you.
1050 Paseo de Peralta, 982-0388
Chocolate Maven Bakery and Café
821 W San Mateo Road, 984-1980
851-A Cerrillos Road, 473-2111
Best Chef
Chef Ahmed Obo, Jambo Café
Is “beloved” a strong enough word for what Chef Obo cooks up in his restaurant? Not even a car crashing through his storefront could keep him down, and when it comes to his particular style of Afro-Caribbean fare, the locals line up in droves. See also the Jambo food truck at special events all over town.
2010 Cerrillos Road, 473-1269
Chef Martin Rios, Restaurant Martín
526 Galisteo St., 820-0919
Chef James Campbell Caruso, La Boca
Original location: 72 W Marcy St., 982-3433
Taberna location: 125 Lincoln Ave., Ste. 117, 982-3433
Best Gastropub
Joel Coleman and Josh Johns have been killin’ it for a relatively short number of years on Guadalupe Street, but the mix of fine food and fantastic local beers has earned him a loyal following and a packed dining room night after night.
222 N Guadalupe St., 954-1635
2860 Cerrillos Road, 471-0043
730 St. Michael’s Drive, 471-0440
Best Food Cart Truck/Stand
Like a lot of people, we’d never heard of maple bacon jam—especially on a burger—but Chef Enrique Guerrero’s fantastic creations coupled with the nomadic style of his food truck has made us experts. If you run across Bang Bite, you should eat there, even if you’re not hungry.
411 W Water St., 469-2345
El Chile Toreado
950 W Cordova Road, 500-0033
Best Fine Dining
While the untimely death of Chef Eric DiStefano was a major loss to the local culinary community last year, Geronimo remained strong under the vision of Sllin Cruz. Timelessly classy and unbelievably good, this fine dining establishment is famous to tourists and locals alike.
724 Canyon Road, 982-1500
132 W Water St., 983-1615
526 Galisteo St., 820-0919
Best Patio
Tucked away in an almost-ancient enclosed adobe plaza lies one of the most lush and serene patios in town, and when the kickass menu and singing waiters (you read that right) play second fiddle to a restaurant’s environs, you know it’s a nice patio.
125 E Palace Ave., 988-9232
821 Canyon Road, 992-0972
96 Old Las Vegas Hwy., 989-4629
Best Happy Hour
Kelli Johansen
Hotel bars are notoriously swanky, but the Agave Lounge scores points for being accessible to all. A comfortable and elegant space with craft cocktails, fine wines, shareable small plates and discounted happy hour prices, this watering hole really does have it all—or most of it, anyway.
Eldorado Hotel and Spa, 309 W San Francisco St., 995-4530
530 S Guadalupe St., 988-7222
95 W Marcy St., 984-1091
Best Bakery
Clafoutis
When a French bakery/restaurant has to change locations just to accommodate the mad dash for parking, you know it’s good. Clafoutis has done just this with its new, larger location right next to BODY. We recommend the breakfast croissants and crepes or the macarons, but we’d never tell you how to live because that just ain’t French.
333 W Cordova Road, 988-1809
Chocolate Maven Bakery and Café
821 W San Mateo Road, 984-1980
1100 Don Diego Ave., 989-9966
Best Independent Coffee/Tea House
Yes, their coffee is fantastic, but it’s the dozens of teas from China, India, Japan and beyond that set this Canyon Road establishment apart. You should also try the oatmeal for breakfast or the rotating dinner specials, but if it’s a black or herbal blend you’re looking for, this is the place to be.
821 Canyon Road, 992-0972
1600 Lena St., Ste. A2, 428-0996 202 Galisteo St., 988-4226
2801 Rodeo Road, 474-5282
1248 Siler Road, 930-5763
Best Breakfast
It’s not unusual to find the queue spilling out onto the sidewalk at The Pantry—this is a New Mexican breakfast at its finest.
1820 Cerrillos Road, 986-0022
Clafoutis
333 W Cordova Road, 988-1809
210 W San Francisco St., 983-9880
Best Breakfast Burrito
El Parasol serves up brilliant burritos—for breakfast and otherwise. Oh man, we want one right now. A second Southside location has indoor seating, unlike its main-drag location that’s just carry-out.
1833 Cerrillos Road, 995-8015
298 Dinosaur Trail, 995-8226
210 W San Francisco St., 983-9880
Various locations
Best Chile - Red
Luke Montalvoo
C’mon. Was there ever a question whether this sister restaurant of The Shed (and locals’ favorite) would pick up this prestigious honor? Not in our minds.
905 Alarid St., 982-0909
113 E Palace Ave., 982-9030
500 S Guadalupe St., 983-5721
Best Chile - Green
Of course, the folks at Choza also know their green, be it on the legendary blue corn burritos, a little side tamale or one of the best tortilla burgers in town.
905 Alarid St., 982-0909
Horseman’s Haven
4354 Cerrillos Road, 471-5420
500 S Guadalupe St., 983-5721
Best Curry
Even if you think you don’t like Indian food, Paper Dosa has something to change your mind. And curry goes great with almost anything—just visit and find out.
551 W Cordova Road, 930-5521
2010 Cerrillos Road, 473-1269
2501 Cerrillos Road, 471-2651
Best Burger
We’re pretty sure this burger goes beyond local into best-in-the-world territory, and now that they’ve got a slightly smaller version on the menu next to their original delicious behemoth, you can go more often! Try also the fried chicken on Sundays. We know it’s not a burger, but still.
Garrett’s Desert Inn, 311 Old Santa Fe Trail, 982-0544
631 Cerrillos Road, 988-8992
Various locations
Best Frito Pie
When Anthony Bourdain dared to slightly besmirch this downtown delicacy, Santa Fe flipped its lid. Turns out Frito pies are our most precious resource and, if you’re in the mood, there really isn’t a more Santa Fe way to do it.
58 E San Francisco St., 992-1800
1833 Cerrillos Road, 995-8015 298 Dinosaur Trail, 995-8226
Chicago Dog Express
600 Cerrillos Road, 984-2798
Best Pizza
From the cornmeal crust to the slices with whatever dang toppings you want served up in mere minutes, this local haunt has wowed us for years and you can totally play pool there, too. Keep an eye out for their new food truck at events around town.
1807 Second St., Ste. 1, 955-9055
329 Old Santa Fe Trail, 982-0000 5 Colina Drive, Eldorado, 471-1111
Design Center, 418 Cerrillos Road, 988-8825 3470 Zafarano Drive, 471-6200 7 Avenida Vista Grande, Eldorado, 466-3161
Best Steak
If you’re going to pony up the dough for a fine steak, you may as well do it right and hobnob alongside the local elite and politicians. Every cut you want is there, and a full bar, too—bon voyage, veggies.
150 Washington Ave. (in the courtyard), 983-3328
414 Old Santa Fe Trail, 955-0765
2571 Cristo’s Road, 424-8900
Best Tacos
Pardon the informality—but duh! El Parasol’s crispy taco shells house the finest ground or shredded meats (they’ve got veggie, too, don’t worry) and are affordable; you should order, like, 20 of those bad boys.
1833 Cerrillos Road, 995-8015
298 Dinosaur Trail, 995-8226
301 Jefferson St., 820-2862
1711 Llano St., Ste. A-B, 473-9397
Best New Mexican Restaurant
Expect a wait at this local institution, but also expect a massive menu full of your New Mexican faves created by a family who’s been in the local food game for more than 60 years. New Mexican food simply doesn’t get better than this.
905 Alarid St., 982-0909
113 E Palace Ave., 982-9030
500 S Guadalupe St., 983-5721
Best Italian Restaurant
Tucked in an old house in the Railyard district, Andiamo! does Italian right with an ever-changing pizza menu, delicious pasta hits and a local yet fancy feel.
322 Garfield St., 995-9595
2890 Agua Fría St., 471-1480
95 W Marcy St., 984-1091
Best Sushi Restaurant
Whether you belly up to the sushi bar or spread out at a table, Shohko proves yet again that they’ve got the finest fishy offerings in town. Pair that sashimi with a nice sake and drink in the minimalist atmosphere … you’re home.
321 Johnson St., 982-9708
105 E Marcy St., 424-1311
313 S Guadalupe St., 984-2002
Best Asian Restaurant
Pacific Island meets Asian food and one of the craziest tropical drinks menus in town in this long-standing local hotspot. Experiment a little with your ordering, because this menu is huge.
510 N Guadalupe St., 982-4321
21 Ten Thousand Waves Way, 982-9304
720 St. Michael’s Drive, 471-7120
Best Dessert
From the decadent chocolate petit four grande and the smoothest coconut cream pie to creative cakes, cookies, muffins and more, Chocolate Maven covers just about any sweet tooth imaginable. Lucky us.
821 W San Mateo Road, 984-1980
Clafoutis
333 W Cordova Road, 988-1809
1100 Don Diego Ave., 989-9966
Best Margaritas
It’s not exactly hard to find a great margarita around here, but with over 100 tequila selections and countless awards, Maria’s neatly takes top honors and remains a favorite to those who can’t live without those sweet, sour, smokey, salty margs.
555 W Cordova Road, 983-7929
500 S Guadalupe St., 983-5721
101 W Alameda St., 954-0320
Best Cocktails
With famed mixologist Quinn Stephenson holding the reins at this downtown fine dining establishment, their already stellar cocktail list is only bound to improve. Between the main dining room and the summer-only rooftop Cantina, spirits fans better get to work on those craft and signature drinks.
132 W Water St., 983-1615
548 Agua Fría St., 930-5325
308 Read St., 780-5906
Best Distillery
From its Expedition vodka to the sensational Colkegan whiskey and back, Santa Fe Spirits has steadily become a fine spirits brand. Visit tasting rooms in both the main production facility and picturesque patio of the downtown spot.
Distillery: 7505 Mallard Way, 467-8892 Tasting room: 308 Read St., 780-5906
Editor’s Note: We know these two aren’t distilleries, but it is readers choice, after all!
1814 Second St., 982-3030
35 Fire Place, 424-3333
Best Locally Brewed Beer
Anson Stevens-Bollen
You’ve known and loved them for nearly 30 years, and the more they expand, the better they seem to get. Be on the lookout for a new family-friendly beer garden, barrel-aged brews and lots more from this cornerstone of our community. Oh, and that Freestyle Pilsner might be the most refreshing choice of summer.
35 Fire Place, 424-3333
Three locations in Santa Fe
3313 Girard Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, 505-872-0225
Best Taproom
With soon-to-be three locations across town (including the gargantuan new production facility and taproom going up in the Siler district), Second Street is everything we love about a local success story—but with great beer, live music and good food to sweeten the deal.
Original: 1814 Second St., 982-3030 Railyard: 1607 Paseo de Peralta, 988-3278
1606 Alcaldesa St., 216-5678
505 Cerrillos Road, Ste. A105,
231-0632
Best New Mexico Winery
Sip their signature sparkling wine with New Mexico roots or take home a case of a still varietal that’s made with grapes from here and afar. The intimate Santa Fe Gruet tasting room offers enough flights to have you airborne.
Hotel St. Francis, 210 Don Gaspar Ave., 989-9463
1502 Hwy. 68, Velarde, 852-2820
Various locations
