Dining Santa Fe: Canyon Road aims to demystify the offerings on a street frequented by many newcomers to Santa Fe. At this writing, there are six restaurants on Canyon Road.
Quick bites at the base of Canyon Road
Beginning at the base of Canyon Road are Café des Artistes and Caffe Greco –both offering patio and indoor seating. Each has its fans with Café des Artistes lauded for its savory sandwiches and owner hospitality and Caffe Greco attracting raves for its Salsa and Green Chile Cheeseburger.
Fine Dining Refined
Just before the junction of Gormley Lane, in what was once the main house of the McComb Compound, is The Compound Restaurant, a classic destination for fine dining since the sixties.
The Compound offers a seasonally varied menu. Don’t miss the polenta with wild mushrooms. The back courtyard is a charming summer venue with its flowers and fountain. The lively yet intimate bar inspires pop up parties between visitors. Reservations are recommended, even in off-season.
Geronimo, located at 724 Canyon Road in the Rafael Borrego House, built in 1756, is acclaimed for its consistent quality. Elegant dining rooms, beautifully balanced flavors, and smooth service make for an exceptional experience. The intimate bar is a pleasant refuge for quiet conversation.
Top-of-the-line Bistros
In the 800 block, are three distinct, popular options: The Teahouse is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with daily specials. Their “oatmeal” –a combination of black sticky rice, steel cut oats, and coconut milk– is heavenly. I love the fresh, bright flavor of the Confetti Eggs. Joshua’s a fan of the lox plate. There are plenty of top-notch salads, panini, savory soups, slow-cooks and desserts. Don’t forget the tea. The coffee is quite good, but the long and well-curated menu of teas is well-worth exploring.
Small (Plates) Wonders
Just across the street is El Farol restaurant, cantina, music venue, and dance stage. In the eighties, the old cantina, with its rough wood floor and wrapping of murals, was one of the few places you could count on to hear live music. The walls of this fun and funky cultural womb have stories to tell. Today, the cantina still hops with music. In summers, there’s flamenco in the courtyard. But the savory small plates and entrees are reason enough to visit. In good weather, sit out on the portal which offers streetside seating for the action on Canyon Road.
Comparative newcomer, Milad Persian Bistro, blends wonderful cuisine and great service. A fine and savory selection of small plates encourage you to stop by for a day cap of small plates and wine. The eggplant and walnut spread with toasted garlic, yogurt and fried mint (Kashk e Bademjan) is comfort-food yummy. Another eggplant-based offering, Mirza Ghasemi, with poached egg is sufficiently different in flavor and feel that you won’t feel like you’re repeating tastes. We usually start with a few appetizers to share, and depending on our appetites, order individual entrées or one to split. Don’t miss the Idaho Trout, showcased in Edible New Mexico, when it’s offered as a special. The mint tea is a deep-flavored delight. For the warmth of its service and the quality and character of its food, Milad Persian Bistro is a restaurant you MUST try.
If you like the idea of having a home within strolling or rolling distance of these great restaurants, check out the inventory at Canyon Road Santa Fe real estate.
Mmmm, makes me want to head to the top of Canyon for breakfast at the Tea House. What a wonderfully seductive description of Tea House steel cut oats!