Santa Fe - Where to Eat on a Sunday Night?

[wintersummer]

We'll be in Santa Fe for only 4 evenings and I'm attempting to put together list of places to eat.

I've looked at posts here on Chowhound and it seems many of the recommended places are closed on Sundays. I'm really interested in eating southwest cuisine. Here are the places I've found open on Sunday evenings: Maria's New Mexican Kitchen, Coyote Cafe (and Cantina), and Tune Up Cafe.

Any recommendations? What's food like in the Coyote Cantina? Do you know of other places from which to choose?

Thanks!

edit - I forgot to ask - we're also looking for a lunch spot. My husband is at meeting at ElDorado Hotel and will only have one hour for lunch. Any suggestions about where we can walk and have a good nice lunch?

[finlero]

The Coyote Cantina is fun in that it's on an outdoor rooftop patio near downtown. The food and drinks are fine, but it's by no means an ultra-chowish destination. I haven't tried Coyote Cafe itself; moderately upscale Southwestern kind of is what it is, I'm sure you could do worse.

Will you have a car? If so, and you don't mind a (very, very scenic) drive, El Rancho de Chimayo is a fun, immensely picturesque spot about 40 minutes north of Santa Fe, and definitely open on Sundays; they do truly good, slightly dainty renditions of all the New Mexican classics.

On the south side of town, Harry Roadhouse has a little something for everyone, including reasonably good takes on NM-style dishes, and the boisterous neighborhood setting and very good margaritas make it a lot of fun. My bar-none NM favorite in town is Los Amigos, but it's heavy on chow and comparatively light on ambiance.

If you won't be driving, or if you definitely want a more upscale Southwestern dinner, you might check out Santa Cafe. I can't really personally vouch for it (recent meal was mostly fine, if overpriced), but enough people I know seem to wax poetic about it that maybe we just caught it on an off night. If nothing else, the minimalist Southwestern decor is just spot-on, a really lovely setting. I see they do Sunday brunch, so I'd assume they're open for Sunday dinner as well.

Hopefully some other hounds will have some good ideas for lunch, but a few thoughts downtown: if you can get a table at the Shed, they should be able to get you in and out quickly. Bumblebee makes their own tortillas and does some pretty decent Baja-style fish tacos. Also, providing the weather is nice, you could grab takeout and sit in the Plaza; Flying Star is just a smidge too far to walk to and from inside of an hour, but they make good sandwiches and salads. There are also some food carts right on the Plaza, I haven't tried any recently.

[jjdot]

I second The Shed. For either lunch or dinner. Their red chile is very good and they are in a classic rambling old Santa Fe building. I had lunch a La Casa Sena recently and it was yummy. They are slightly more upscale than The Shed but the lunch prices are reasonable. You may want to check to see if they are open on Sunday nights. I think they are and they often have music in their cantina.

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La Casa Sena
125 East Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501

[jjdot]

I want to add one more place--El Paseo--not upscale at all, more of a local joint but just off the plaza. They have good good, cheap Green Chile stew, frito pie and $2 pints. It's a bar that sometimes has music, poetry reading etc but it doesn't get too raucous. It's my go to place when I'm in town for a concert or event and I want to have a casual meal. I know they are open on Sunday nights and may be a good break from upscale eating and a good lunch choice. If you like beer (and you don't mention it so I am making assumptions here) there is a Marble Brewery tasting room that overlooks the plaza (same building as rooftop pizzeria). I am not a big beer drinker but their beer is my absolute favorite. They are a local (Albuquerque) brewer and the patio is a great place to people watch and see the sunset. Stick with the beer --the food is pizza from the previously mentioned place next door.

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El Paseo Bar & Grill
208 Galisteo St, Santa Fe, NM 87501

Rooftop Pizzeria
60 E San Francisco St, Santa Fe, NM 87501

[wintersummer]

Thanks for the the El Paseo recommendation. It sound like it might be the perfect place for us. Casual sounds great.

[wintersummer]

We plan on eating at the Shed. However, they are not open on Sundays.

I'm on the search for a place to have Sunday lunch (with only a limited time, about an hour) and dinner. We'd like to walk, if at all possible.

[fyfas]

No quarrel with any of these recommendations but two things to note...

Two Santa Fe restaurants with common ownership offer a deeply discounted wine program on Sundays

[fyfas]

Somehow the above posted without the balance of the comment -

The two restaurants are the O'Keeffe Cafe next door to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum and Pranzo which is an Italian restaurant in the Railyard District.

Food at both is very good if not quite up to the high standards of, say, Geronimo and others in that top tier. On Sundays both places offer their entire bottled wine list at 50% off.

[DebitNM]

WE had an excellent dinner on a Sunday at O'Keeffe Cafe. Highly recommend it.

[juliereilly]

There are many great places to eat in Santa Fe. If you want an authentic Santa Fe experience, put The Compound Restaurant on your list. The Compound is located in the Canyon Road arts area and is in a classic compound that features folk art and minimalistic decor. They are open for lunch and dinner. Both menus are seasonal and they also offer classic dishes that this restaurant is known for.

[wintersummer]

I've heard many great things about the Compound and looked at their website. I was really interested in eating southwest type cuisine - I didn't see a think on their menu (at least on the web site) that looked like southwestern type cuisine. Many things looked good (great) - just not what I am looking for on this trip.