Santa Fe Eats

I’ve highlighted a restaurant in my previous Santa Fe post already of Gabriel’s, which also offered a very cool artsy atmosphere and tableside guacamole on the way to Bandelier, and which I would definitely recommend again. My favorite Santa Fe Eats that we had overall during our entire trip was at The Shed, a very well known a family owned restaurant since 1953. They serve Southwest specialties but are especially known for their red chile sauce. It’s a little hidden off the Santa Fe Plaza since you need to go back a little bit to see the doors, and it’s reputation as a must visit may mean a line (they do take reservations) although we didn’t encounter any on the rainy day lunch we had.
We started with lunch at the famous The Shed, a family owned restaurant since 1953. Some say it is the best place for chile in Santa Fe. I would definitely agree with the red chile, and the green chile had great flavor but would not be the spiciest we would have We started with lunch at the famous The Shed, a family owned restaurant since 1953. Some say it is the best place for chile in Santa Fe. I would definitely agree with the red chile, and the green chile had great flavor but would not be the spiciest we would have

The atmosphere is like a hacienda with lots of folk art that feels like a neighborhood joint in the heart of downtown Santa Fe.

We started with lunch at the famous The Shed, a family owned restaurant since 1953. Some say it is the best place for chile in Santa Fe. I would definitely agree with the red chile, and the green chile had great flavor but would not be the spiciest we would have We started with lunch at the famous The Shed, a family owned restaurant since 1953. The atmosphere is like a hacienda with lots of folk art that feels like a neighborhood joint in the heart of downtown Santa Fe. We started with lunch at the famous The Shed, a family owned restaurant since 1953. The atmosphere is like a hacienda with lots of folk art that feels like a neighborhood joint in the heart of downtown Santa Fe. We started with lunch at the famous The Shed, a family owned restaurant since 1953. The atmosphere is like a hacienda with lots of folk art that feels like a neighborhood joint in the heart of downtown Santa Fe. We started with lunch at the famous The Shed, a family owned restaurant since 1953. The atmosphere is like a hacienda with lots of folk art that feels like a neighborhood joint in the heart of downtown Santa Fe. We started with lunch at the famous The Shed, a family owned restaurant since 1953. The atmosphere is like a hacienda with lots of folk art that feels like a neighborhood joint in the heart of downtown Santa Fe.

The bar offers a pretty good selection of margaritas. And a vacation especially when our lodging is in walking distance of the Santa Fe plaza (and which offers a complimentary shuttle to and from downtown) means a margarita for lunch. It always feels so decadent to drink at lunch!
We started with lunch at the famous The Shed, a family owned restaurant since 1953. Some say it is the best place for chile in Santa Fe. The Shed, a family owned restaurant since 1953. Some say it is the best place for chile in Santa Fe. They offer lots of margaritas. Vacation means a margarita for lunch "Vacation

He ordered a vegetarian burrito in green chile sauce – and holy moly was it massive, fork to show scale! The green chile sauce was good, but would not be the best we had during the trip.
The Shed Burrito with green chile sauce in Santa Fe. The Shed Burrito with green chile sauce in Santa Fe.

Meanwhile, I think I had the best dish since I got the cheese enchiladas (vegetarian so we could bot enjoy) in the legendary red chile sauce served with pinto beans & posole (stew of Nixtamal corn, lean pork, coarse red chile, garlic & oregano). Keeping with The Shed’s tradition, their New Mexican dishes are served with French garlic bread, which was a great break as I was scooping up the sauce by itself by the spoonfuls – it was spicy, smokey, and delicious. The Shed’s chile comes directly from a farm and is continuously ground on the premises for freshness. I now it doesn’t look like much, but it was fantastic.
Keeping with The Shed’s tradition, their New Mexican dishes are served with French garlic bread. I think I had the best dish since I got the cheese enchiladas (vegetarian so we could bot enjoy) in the legendary red chile sauce served with pinto beans & posole. Keeping with The Shed’s tradition, their New Mexican dishes are served with French garlic bread. I think I had the best dish since I got the cheese enchiladas (vegetarian so we could bot enjoy) in the legendary red chile sauce served with pinto beans & posole.

Cool your tongue afterwards by not missing dessert: we were pleasantly surprised by the sophistication of this Zabaglione with Creamy Italian Custard, Cointreau, White Port
Dessert at The Shed of Zabaglione with Creamy Italian Custard, Cointreau, White Port to cool off our palate after all that great red chile and green chile

Shed Creative Cooking Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

While The Shed was my #1 favorite for dining, and had the best red chile sauce, for green chile sauce our vote goes to no frills local diner Horseman’s Haven. It’s set back a bit from the busy Cerrillos Road – you have to look for it slightly behind a gas station – I drove by it twice before I found it. One of the reasons I write my blog is because I always adore reading blog entries myself when researching travel: and this entry by NM Gastronome on Horseman’s Haven is what convinced me to make this someplace to check out.

The vegetarian green chile at Horseman’s Haven has a depth that’s surprising given that most green chiles have pork in them in town – and the chile has a nice meaty texture as it is thickened with a roux. The regular green chile sauce is already spicy unlike most other green chiles you may come across, and then they offer a spicier Level Two made with Jim and Sandia peppers. Make sure you have tissue for your sweat and runny nose if you go with Level Two.
Horseman’s Haven at 354 Cerrillos Rd has the spiciest green chile. The regular green chile sauce at Horseman's Haven Cafe is hotter than nearly any other in town. The spicier level-two green chile sauce is composed of Big Jim and Sandia peppers. The vegetarian green chile has a depth that's surprising given that most green chile are porky - and the chile has a nice meaty texture as it is thickened with a roux. Horseman’s Haven at 354 Cerrillos Rd has the spiciest green chile. The regular green chile sauce at Horseman's Haven Cafe is hotter than nearly any other in town. The spicier level-two green chile sauce is composed of Big Jim and Sandia peppers. The vegetarian green chile has a depth that's surprising given that most green chile are porky - and the chile has a nice meaty texture as it is thickened with a roux.
It is so spicy you may not be able to have more than a teaspoon or even a few drops. As much as I like spicy Thai and Indian food, I had to tap out after a few spoonfuls worth, though F ate it all up. So if you can take the heat, for green chile try Horseman’s Haven. I definitely suggest you order something large like a big burrito so you have something to eat between sweating with the green chile. Don’t be afraid to ask for the Level 2 on the side to be cautiously risky.
Horseman’s Haven at 354 Cerrillos Rd has the spiciest green chile. The regular green chile sauce at Horseman's Haven Cafe is hotter than nearly any other in town. The spicier level-two green chile sauce is composed of Big Jim and Sandia peppers. The vegetarian green chile has a depth that's surprising given that most green chile are porky - and the chile has a nice meaty texture as it is thickened with a roux.

Horseman's Haven Cafe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

For a more moderate green chile experience, we went to Tomasita’s which is the typical huge Mexican restaurant great for huge groups that has been in business for more than 40 years. Their red & green chile from Hatch, New Mexico is cooked daily and they also use New Mexico pinto beans plus all entrees and specials include a sopaipilla, honey butter and New Mexico Honey from B’S Honey Farm of Albuquerque. A sopaipilla, if you haven’t had one before is like a fried bread.

I recommend the entree called Tomasita’s Big Bowl, which allows you to build your own bowl with any combination – red or green chile, beans, posole, ground beef or chicken served with a hot sopaipilla. I went with red chile for myself. F had Tomasita’s Vegetarian Mexican plate with Red and Green Chile, beans and rice, and in front you see a sopaipilla.
Tomasita's Vegetarian Mexican plate with Red and Green Chile, beans and rice, and in front you see a Sopaipilla. Their red and green chile — from Hatch, New Mexico — is cooked daily and Tomasita's uses natural Monterey jack cheese and New Mexico pinto beans. All entrees and specials include a sopaipilla, honey butter and New Mexico Honey from B’S Honey Farm of Albuquerque Tomasita's Big Bowl: Build your own bowl with any combination – red or green chile, beans, posole, ground beef or chicken served with a hot sopaipilla. Their red and green chile — from Hatch, New Mexico — is cooked daily and Tomasita's uses natural Monterey jack cheese and New Mexico pinto beans. All entrees and specials include a sopaipilla, honey butter and New Mexico Honey from B’S Honey Farm of Albuquerque

The other reason we went to Tomasita’s is because they have this super fun mariachi band called Mariachi Buenaventura that plays every Tuesday evening at Tomasita’s at 7:30 PM. What makes Mariachi Buenaventura stand out is that they are an all female mariachi band. If you are around on a Tuesday, these ladies alone make it worth a trip to Tomasita’s. When we saw them that night, I think there were twice as any as in the video below.

Tomasita's Restaurant Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Have you had red or green chile before? Which one do you prefer?

Here’s the summary of my series of posts on Santa Fe, New Mexico Travels

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Comments

  1. Erin and I went through the entire Shed menu last night. Looks like we will be sharing a burrito!

    • Yes, share! I didn’t share with F since he’s always ordering vegetarian but I found myself eating not as often as I’d like because burritos are so filling… That’s why at The Shed I went with enchiladas instead so I’ll still get chiles bit smaller dish

  2. I love the bright colors of The Shed! That burrito — oh my! And I would definitely not miss out on dessert. That custard looks like the perfect treat after some delicious Mexican food!

  3. The food all looks amazing – And, yes, it does feel decadent to enjoy a cocktail at lunch. That is always the one thing that defines vacation for me!

  4. I didn’t mention Horseman’s Haven to you because it is a local place with very very hot chile. I forgot you can tolerate hot!

  5. This post is SO well timed! I’m going to Santa Fe in 2 weeks for my sister’s birthday bash, and I can’t wait to try out some of your recommendations! Lunchtime margaritas are definitely on my menu!

  6. The Shed looks amazing! I love the colors of the decor, and I’m always down for margaritas,

  7. That mariachi band is definitely getting added to our agenda!

    • Those ladies are amazing – I was getting annoyed at others in the restaurant that weren’t tipping them, they so deserve appreciation for their entertainment that they are providing, and they were so humble and grateful for what little we gave them with our small cash.

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