Tuesday’s cold front shook the first snowflakes from the sky and turned our dining thoughts to Back Street Bistro. Soup’s not the only star on the menu at this popular lunch spot. There’s a good roster of sandwiches (we like the Smoked Turkey with Havarti Dill Cheese) and salads (I’m a particular fan of both the Greek and the Roasted Peppers) but it’s the soups that sing us back time and again. The changing daily selection always includes enticing vegetarian (Sweet Pepper Bisque, Butternut Squash Apple Walnut, Green Chile Corn Chowder) and vegan (Curried Yam, Sweet Creole Lentil) options as well as meat and meat-broth based fare (Mulligatawny, Chicken Gumbo, White Bean and Ham.) All are served with a small basket of chewy, sourdough bread. If you haven’t tried it, the Hungarian Mushroom is a sensual must, said by Yelp reviewer Jack T. of Denver, Colorado to be “an instant hangover cure, wonderful flu remedy, [that] can probably revive your dead grandma.”
If you can pace yourself for the tasty, freshly made pies and crumbles, do so. Or get one “to go.”
Be prepared for lines and waits at peak times. Service ranges from excellent to overwhelmed, but the host and owner do try to fill the gaps. Note that the restaurant only takes cash or checks. No credit cards.
Find the full menu at The Back Street Bistro on Menu Pix.
Back Street Bistro is located at 513 Camino de los Marquez, at the corner of Marquez Place near the junction of Cordova and St. Francis in downtown Santa Fe. Tel: 505.982.3500. Hours: weekdays, from 10-2:30; Saturday from 11:00 to 2:00. The restaurant runs changing exhibits of art and photography for a serving side of local culture.
UPDATE
Backstreet Bistro was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in their All Kinds of Gobble, Gobble episode (Season 18, Episode 8) airing now –November, 2013. Catch it on The Food Network.
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