BOSF 2017: Food and Drink

Best Artisan Chocolate

Kakawa Chocolate House
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

ChocolateSmith
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

Fire & Hops
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

Dr. Field Goods Kitchen
2860 Cerrillos Road, 471-0043

Loyal Hound
730 St. Michael’s Drive, 471-0440

Best Food Cart Truck/Stand

Bang Bite
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

Jambo Food Truck

El Chile Toreado
950 W Cordova Road, 500-0033

Best Fine Dining

Geronimo
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

Coyote Café
132 W Water St., 983-1615

Restaurant Martín
526 Galisteo St., 820-0919

Best Patio

La Casa Sena
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

The Teahouse
821 Canyon Road, 992-0972

Harry’s Roadhouse
96 Old Las Vegas Hwy., 989-4629

Best Happy Hour

Agave Lounge
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

Boxcar
530 S Guadalupe St., 988-7222

Il Piatto
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

Dulce
1100 Don Diego Ave., 989-9966

Best Independent Coffee/Tea House

The Teahouse
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

Iconik Coffee Roasters
1600 Lena St., Ste. A2, 428-0996 202 Galisteo St., 988-4226

Java Joe’s
2801 Rodeo Road, 474-5282
1248 Siler Road, 930-5763

Best Breakfast

The Pantry
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

Tia Sophia’s
210 W San Francisco St., 983-9880

Best Breakfast Burrito

El Parasol
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

Tia Sophia’s
210 W San Francisco St., 983-9880

Blake’s Lotaburger
Various locations

Best Chile - Red

La Choza
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

The Shed
113 E Palace Ave., 982-9030

Tomasita’s
500 S Guadalupe St., 983-5721

Best Chile - Green

La Choza
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

Tomasita’s
500 S Guadalupe St., 983-5721

Best Curry

Paper Dosa
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

Jambo Café
2010 Cerrillos Road, 473-1269

India House
2501 Cerrillos Road, 471-2651

Best Burger

Santa Fe Bite
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

Shake Foundation
631 Cerrillos Road, 988-8992

Blake’s Lotaburger
Various locations

Best Frito Pie

Five and Dime General Store
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

El Parasol
1833 Cerrillos Road, 995-8015 298 Dinosaur Trail, 995-8226

Chicago Dog Express
600 Cerrillos Road, 984-2798

Best Pizza

Back Road 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

Upper Crust Pizza
329 Old Santa Fe Trail, 982-0000 5 Colina Drive, Eldorado, 471-1111

Pizza Centro
Design Center, 418 Cerrillos Road, 988-8825 3470 Zafarano Drive, 471-6200 7 Avenida Vista Grande, Eldorado, 466-3161

Best Steak

The Bull Ring
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

Rio Chama
414 Old Santa Fe Trail, 955-0765

The Ranch House
2571 Cristo’s Road, 424-8900

Best Tacos

El Parasol
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

Bumble Bee’s Baja Grill
301 Jefferson St., 820-2862

Felipe’s Tacos
1711 Llano St., Ste. A-B, 473-9397

Best New Mexican Restaurant

La Choza
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

The Shed
113 E Palace Ave., 982-9030

Tomasita’s
500 S Guadalupe St., 983-5721

Best Italian Restaurant

Andiamo!
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

Piccolino
2890 Agua Fría St., 471-1480

Il Piatto
95 W Marcy St., 984-1091

Best Sushi Restaurant

Shohko Café
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

Izmi Sushi
105 E Marcy St., 424-1311

Kohnami
313 S Guadalupe St., 984-2002

Best Asian Restaurant

Jinja
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

Izanami
21 Ten Thousand Waves Way, 982-9304

Chow’s Asian Bistro
720 St. Michael’s Drive, 471-7120

Best Dessert

Chocolate Maven
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

Dulce
1100 Don Diego Ave., 989-9966

Best Margaritas

Maria’s
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

Tomasita’s
500 S Guadalupe St., 983-5721

Del Charro Saloon
101 W Alameda St., 954-0320

Best Cocktails

Coyote Café
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

Radish & Rye
548 Agua Fría St., 930-5325

Santa Fe Spirits Tasting Room
308 Read St., 780-5906

Best Distillery

Santa Fe Spirits
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!

Second Street Brewery
1814 Second St., 982-3030

Santa Fe Brewing Co.
35 Fire Place, 424-3333

Best Locally Brewed Beer

Santa Fe Brewing Co.
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

Second Street Brewery
Three locations in Santa Fe

La Cumbre Brewing Co.
3313 Girard Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, 505-872-0225

Best Taproom

Second Street Brewery
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 

Violet Crown Cinema
1606 Alcaldesa St., 216-5678

New Mexico Hard Cider Taproom
505 Cerrillos Road, Ste. A105,
231-0632

Best New Mexico Winery

Gruet
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

Black Mesa Winery
1502 Hwy. 68, Velarde, 852-2820

St. Clair Winery
Various locations

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