iwannaeat's Profile
Restaurants in Santa Fe and ABQ with house-made flour tortillas?
Garcia's in ABQ has great house made flour tortillas...I usually go to the one on Central Ave. but they have other locations. You can buy them bagged at the counter (along with their INCREDIBLE bizcochitos).
Aspen for two nights.
I think Gusto is now called Gisella's and we have previously had very nice lunches there....good wood-fired pizzas, excellent carpaccio, minestrone. Matsuhisa can be great if you have the right seat at the bar with the right chef...kind of a crap shoot. Pinons is excellent but I believe they close at the end of October for a month or so. I also have to highly recommend the addition of D19 to the places you have listed. The savory rosemary zeppole with pecorino romano is a killer!
Santa Fe solo traveler - dining out, takeout, groceries
I don' think it is sacrilegious at all to claim the Shed overrated. The food and particularly the service is one of the worst in Santa Fe in my opinion. They just happen to have a good address and a loyal following. In their recent issue, Bon Appetit magazine actually named the Shed as one of America's top ten classic restaurants. Frankly, The Shed can't measure up to the others mentioned in the article namely the Tadich Grill in San Francisco, Locke-ober in Boston, and Berghoff's in Chicago. The Shed, as with Coyote Cafe and Geronimo and the Compound all suffer from the "I'm in Santa Fe so I must be a great restaurant" syndrome.
Zagat Survey Best Fast Food: In-N-Out Burger
Have to totally disagree and I live in NM. Blakes is good in a pinch, but in NO way even compares with INO! Besides the only comparable to INO in NM is got to be the Bobcat Bite.
ABQ update wanted on ABC Chinese Restaurant
From what I have read here and elsewhere, ABC Restaurant is one of the best bets for Chinese food in ABQ, but most posts seem a couple of years old.
Has anyone tried it recently and how good was it? And I'm talking about the blue menu. Thanks!
Albuquerque--Craving Japanese Noodles!
Thanks for the suggestion. I was just looking at Noda's website and it looked really good!
A couple of Santa Fe questions
I've lived in walking distance of the Downtown Sub for years and some time in the past perhaps some employee there has served up a decent espresso, but in my recent memory their service, coffee, food, and ambiance have been so laughable that I always ask myself why I keep returning...unless it is a meeting arranged strictly for convience. Try instead our best new morning spot for all things pastry (as well as excellent coffee)....Clafoutis on Guadalupe St.
Where to eat in Boone, NC?
Going to Boone and wondering where to eat in the area? I want to hear about anything good.
What's the latest on Coyote Cafe?
Can't give a review but can tell you that there is a new chef as of last summer, Eric DeStefano, formerly of Geronimo. The open air cantina upstairs is still a great spot for drinks and apps and then you could at least check out the downstairs menu and see if you want to have a meal there.
A couple of Santa Fe questions
There is a nice gelateria/coffee shop on Marcy St. just off the plaza called Ecco Espresso and Gelato that would be a good meeting spot and also centrally located.
Next time in Ventura....El Rey Cantina!
So we were cruising down Hwy 1 this past Thursday and feeling a little too hungry to negotiate a dining spot in SB so we ventured on to Ventura and stumbled upon the El Rey Cantina on Main St. (named for the King, Elvis Presley).
Let me just say that this is One Great Room....lots of velvet Elvis', two funky glass chandeliers, one mounted deer head adorned with bras, an enthusiastic emphasis on tequila, and a small, but very nice Mexican menu.
A word about the interior: The bar is long, the wall booths are even longer, and the whole room gives off a very campy, whacked-out vibe that is refreshingly hip, but not so heavily designed as to lose its intention which is serving good food and drink. Undoubtedly this place hops at night, but at 1:30pm on a Thursday it was pretty calm so we decided to cool it for a bit and try a few bites.
We ordered nachos as a tester and they were very good....crisp chips with lots of roasted Anaheim chiles and a binding layer of refried beans, tomatoes, cheese (not overloaded) and fresh salsa on the side. Feeling confident about the food, we tried a couple chicken tacos with their homemade corn tortillas (excellent) and just the right garnish of white onion and cilantro. Didn't even have to ask for the Tapatio...it's a given here that you should want a little splash of it on your taco. Next we tried the Agave Wings which even if you are not of the "Buffalo-Wing" persuasion you should give a try because the sauce they are basted and served in is wonderful. It's got a little hint of tequila and red chile, but not so burning hot that you need a fire hose. Ranch dressing on the side cools it off anyway if you're worried. I wanted to try the Tomatillo Pork Ribs, but that will have to wait til next time. Got the T-shirt...and the T-shirts are way cool plus you can pick up a temp tatoo or two if you're lucky. I didn't have to dance on the bar to get one, but don't be surprised if I don't go back for a reprise.
So the bottom line is, next time you're in Ventura (or the vicinity) head on over to the El Rey, pick a couple songs on the juke box and order up a marg or a shot of one of their many tequilas and get your Elvis on!
El Rey Cantina, 294 E. Main St., Ventura. 653-1111
Cambria / Morro Bay Dining? [moved from S.F. board]
Thanks for all your great recs!! Since it is going to be SO VERY hot in Paso Robles I am definitely looking forward to going to the coast on Sat and I appreciate all your speedy posts to help me along! My husband couldn't remember the name of the Sea Chest as he was there many years ago, but we'll give it a shot again.
Have a great weekend!
Cambria / Morro Bay Dining? [moved from S.F. board]
Will be in Paso Robles this weekend and want to drive over to Cambria for lunch on Saturday. Looking for any food that is fresh and local...any great seafood shacks?
HELP! Looking for Good Breakfast in Phoenix
The Hotel Valley Ho has an excellent breakfast and a great atmosphere inside and outside. We stay there all the time when traveling and often opt to eat there as opposed to going out for meals. Seems like we have always seen more than a few locals coming in at all times of the day.
Farmington, NM
Let me preface by saying that Farmington is not a haven of good eateries...
I would try Three Rivers Brewery on Main St. Very popular with locals...the owner does a great job with homebrews and the menu is extensive and pretty good. A New Mexican institution is Blakes Lotaburger which is a small NM only hamburger chain and Farmington has one as does Bloomfield nearby...get the green chile cheese lotaburger with double meat. Nothing purely NM-style comes to mind, but you might find a decent Mexican meal at Tequilaz on Broadway. For better Mexican food go SE 100 miles to Cuba and eat at El Brunos. Wanna try some REAL NM food? Come on over to Albuquerque, Espanola and Santa Fe.
Perfect BLT or Variations
Also, simply slice and then marinate tomatoes with basil, a little olive oil, and a pinch of salt for ten or so minutes before combining them with the B & L.
Steak in Scottsdale?
The steak at Donovan's is to be commended, but the strange, syrupy service is a little weird (i.e "May I offer you some of our house bottled water (for $15)", "Please enjoy", "May I approach your table"). I think Drinkwater's on Camelback is a better call or Durant's.
Dinner Near Cedars Sinai
Locanda Veneta is open for lunch and dinner and is right across from Cedars Sinai...not so much moderately priced, but really great.
Seafood in Santa Fe?
avocado dip (complimentary)
coctel de camarones
ceviche de camarones
Gulf oysters on the half shell with pico de gallo
huachinanga veracruz
sopa de vuelve la vida
ceviche tostadas
filete a la plancha......
All washed down with cold Pacificos or a bucket of Coronitas!
Santa Fe
Ditto Nostrani...haven't been there since it was Rociada because of his obscene behavior. The Chef is very talented but unfortunately that's not enough for me to continue patronizing such a place.
Seafood in Santa Fe?
Ditto. The owners are Mexican and understandably very proud of their native specialties and make every effort to bring that "across the border" so to speak to New Mexico. All it takes is FedEx.
Seafood in Santa Fe?
This is not a seafood restaurant, but if you duck into the bar at Santacafe and order the fried calamari and a cocktail/glass of wine you will not be disappointed.
It is some of the best I've tried ever and anywhere!
Also there is Mariscos la Playa (Cordova Rd and one on Cerrillos which I never go to) that serves very good mexican seafood and excellent gulf oysters when they can get them.
Flagstaff Dining
Cafe Ole on San Fran St.....haven't been in some time and they used to have spotty hours, but good Mexican food and friendly owners.
I want good cheap food! In Tucson
Lerua's on Broadway...and get the green corn tamales!
Lardo Pizza At Mozza...What's All the Fuss About?
Have you tried Angeli or Spago? Since I can't discuss restaurants outside of LA, I can't post the laundry list of other great pizzas to be found in the country.
I think I'll pose your question about pizza in the greater US to the New York and Chicago boards and see what they suggest as the best pizza in their city.
Lardo Pizza At Mozza...What's All the Fuss About?
Would anyone be waxing eloquently about Mozza if it wasn't owned by Silverton/Batali?
And, I know this question has been raised before but please...how many more discussions must be had about the burnt crust and flavorless toppings at this restaurant? Soon it will be sold like La Brea was and no one will care anymore. Why, in 2007, is making pizza dough such rocket science?
What to order at a Thai restaurant?
The Thai restaurants I have worked for as a server were all so different depending on where the owner/s were from and how "Americanized" or not they wanted their menu to be...staples like pad thai seem to always be featured, but I find it to be the most uninteresting dish for my taste and the most boring because of it's ubiquitous nature.
If you feel your server is knowledgeable certainly ask them what the specialties are and try at least one unless you have some allergy or particular aversion to an ingredient (I hate peanut sauce!) Curries are certainly something to experiment with and although Panang, Gaeng Kari, Seafood Curry are common you will usually find many other variations worth trying.
I have found that Thai restaurants in the Bay area have more extensive seafood dishes and of better quality (obviously) than Thai restaurants further inland and in the Southwest. There was a great Thai restaurant in Daly City but the name escapes me as it has been years since I was there...
Anyway, go for variety...order a soup, some larb or beef salad, a curry, a fish or roasted dish of duck or chicken, and some noodles (you might need a few friends here) and you will learn what you like. Also, a common appetizer which can be spectacular is shumai (generally a Chinese app in dim sum restaurants) and sometimes served in Thai restaurants though I don't know how authentically Thai it is. I have fallen in love with some of these dumplings redux in Thai restaurants and I loved them served with extra chili paste.
The best part about working at Thai restaurants were the staff meals at the end of the night where the chefs cooked all the things that they personally liked, but that weren't necessarily on the menu. There were many, many, MANY dishes spread out on tables which were always shared by a large group (hence my agony when I subsequently went to a good Thai restaurant with only one person!) The spicy-ness of some of the dishes was intense at times, but I acclimated eventually and the belly, after a long night of serving food, was always full! Enjoy the journey!
