Ruidoso -- pls. help!

I know Ruidoso is not in TX but I'm not getting any responses on the SW board. Any of you Texans know of any good places for lunch or dinner in Ruidoso? The Inn of the Mountain Gods was waaaaaay over my budget, at $40 per entree. Whew!

[Jaymes]

Depending upon how long you're going to be in Ruidoso and whether or not you want to explore the surrounding area, I'd recommend a day trip over to Old Mesilla and La Posta restaurant.

http://www.oldmesilla.org/

[billbertg]

Lincoln County Grill, great breakfast and the stacked enchaladas with fried egg on top, as New Mexican as you get and worth the trip.

[tom in austin]

I'll be in Ruidoso next week: any suggestions? I'm looking especially for the defacto best New Mexican Mexican food I can score, within 45 minutes drive of Ruidoso. Seriously, I need some NewMexMex. Please help. I beg you. Other than that, all recommendations are wanted.

In the above thread, tIotMG, Lorraine, and Rio are mentioned. My takes:

Inn of the Mountain Gods has completed their rennovations and is now quite the swank place. Their upscale offering (Wendel's) is pretty good, but overpriced. I've had excellent beef tenderloin there, but I've also been underwhelmed. During dinners, the constant has been excellent service. Brunch, however, has been a more muddled affair -- although, I will admit that the staff was always friendly and generally awesome. Probably just undermanned in the morning.

La Lorraine had a rack of lamb which might be the best I've ever had. The time before that, I had some mixed up seafood slurry that was good, but not great. I've only been here twice, so I can't ring in with any authority other than to say I'll definitely go back there on this trip. So far, this is the best place fine dining establishment I've been to in Ruidoso.

Cafe Rio is probably the best value in town, with great prices and a beer menu that surpasses any pizza joint in Austin. The food is great, too: the pizza stacks up well against Home Slice. If I lived in Ruidoso, I'd hit this place once a week.

[ruidosopete]

Disco Taco - Great taqueria, homestyle food, when I go back just for the beans and rice you know that's a good place.

Cafe Rio - best pizza for a hundred miles

Michelena’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant
http://www.michelenas-ruidoso.com
Tons of food for the price, load up on the carbs and you're ready for another big day.

[missmitzi]

Lincoln County Grill - Excellent Green Chili Cheeseburger and love love love their breakfast!

[tom in austin]

Warning! The new owner of Cafe Rio has banished all beer from the joint! TRAGEDY. Indeed, what was the best bottled beer selection (oh, Fin du Monde how I will miss thee) for a hundred mile radius is now a desolate wasteland.

There may actually be some sad personal story behind this decision, or it may just be ignorance. I'm not clear, as the employees couldn't get me a straight answer.

Food is still decent.

wow, three replies. what did we do before chowhound?!?

Both La Lorraine and Cafe Rio sound interesting. I found a web site for a place called disco taco that sounds like it does paella mexican-style.

My main goal is for nice atmosphere for my mom who rarely gets out of her assisted living facility -- and lunch under $20-30. Thanks for your help.

I was there about 3 years ago and in fact stayed at the Inn of the Mountain Gods. I wasn't very impressed with either the rooms or the food there but they were undergoing major renovations at the time so maybe that has changed. We were only there two nights and the on the second night we ended up at the main steak house - I think it is Cattle Baron's or something like that. It was fine. Nothing to write home over but a decent enough steak with the ever popular salad bar....As we were going in and out of the local shops earlier in the day I kept asking local shop keepers where to eat and the place most highly recommended was La Lorraine. I really wanted to try it but my non adventerous traveling companions pushed for the steak dinner. I don't know if La Lorraine is still there but it might be worth checking out.

Inn of the Mountain Gods has since opened the new hotel and is supposed to be a lot better now, but I think they are taking a gamble that people will be able to afford the high prices.

La Lorraine is still there, and as far as I know is the most upscale restaurant in town. I haven't tried the food though.

Picking up on the responses you've received, La Lorraine is still there but when we were there last October, they were closing to undergo a complete "re-theming" as the upscale dining market has changed over the years (10? 15? 20?) they've been open with a fine French theme. I assume it has reopened by now although when we there in June we didn't have a chance to go by.

Lincoln County Grill is also worthwhile for its green chile cheeseburgers.

But our #1 place in Ruidoso is Cafe Rio which bills itself "Ruidoso's Most Unique Restaurant" and with its menu ranging from roasted whole bulb of garlic to Tzatziki to baked, stuffed quahog clams to Portugese Kale soup to shrimp jambalaya to Spanakopita (and its all terrific!) PLUS some of the best pizza south of New Jersey, it's an amazing place.

As for Cattle Baron, I liked their "old" place but the "new" turns me off.

Happy visit.

Link: http://www.ruidosonm.com/caferio/cr_f...