Santa Fe’s Choice
What’s Your Favorite Santa Fe Restaurant?
by Aysha Griffin
With well over 200 restaurants in Santa Fe, why do I have such a tough time finding ones I love? I’ve lived here 10 years and am often at a loss for recommendations. We’d love to know the places you frequent, and your reasons for choosing them.
Please use the comment box below to share your favorite restaurant(s) and the reasons it rates for you. If possible, include the location, special features and feel free to mention a particular dish or drink. Thanks for participating!
Here are some of my favorites lately (as favorites have their seasons):
The Teahouse (821 Canyon Rd)
A charming adobe at the corner of Canyon Road and Palace Ave., The Teahouse is a fine place to meet friends, read or work. It offers free wi-fi, healthy dishes, excellent coffees and teas; and serves wine and beer. Open 8am-7pm. Their eggs confetti are a good value and the oatmeal with black rice and lots of cream is delicious. It offers many organic choices and tasty salads. In warmer weather, the outside café seating is very pleasant. The downside is you must wait and order at the counter. There is no table service and you are expected to bus your own. The parking lot is small with a steep entrance. I park for free on the south side of East Alameda just west of Palace Ave and walk around the corner. www.teahousesantafe.com
La Plazuela at La Fonda (corner of Santa Fe Trail and San Francisco, near the Plaza).
Adjacent to the lobby of this Santa Fe institution is the renovated La Plazuela, the hotel’s original 1920s patio. The furnishings, ambiance, center fountain and skylights make this perhaps the most charming dining room in Santa Fe. I met a business associate for breakfast. The menu offered a variety of hearty and flavorful choices at surprisingly reasonably prices (about $10-$13) and the service was excellent. Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. La Fonda has a paid underground parking on the east side, near the Cathedral, or find a metered space nearby. www.lafondasantafe.com
Del Charro Saloon (101 West Alameda, corner of Don Gaspar).
Attached to the Inn of the Governors, this popular restaurant-bar must be the best value in town, albeit not a “healthy choice”. Most appetizers and entrees are under $6. Green chiliburgers, salmon or chicken salads, good guacamole, and margaritas served in a chilled shaker holding 2-3 glasses also for $6. In warm weather, the patio roof is rolled back and in winter this area is made cozy with a blazing fireplace and gas-heat lamps. It can be crowded and very noisy. Open 11:30 a.m.-Midnight daily. www.innofthegovernors.com/del-charro-saloon
Jambo is my choice for one of the best restaurants in Santa Fe ………..
Ahmed knows his way around food and comes out to talk to everyone
LATEST FOOD FIND IN SANTA FE
a new restaurant called
JAMBO CAFE
OWNED BY AHMED OBE
AHMED IS FROM LAMU, KENYA – ONE OF MY
favorite places in the world
A little story about Lamu from my African journal…. 
I was approached by one of the dhow captains and asked if I’d like to sail in his dhow to the island. He was a strong man; skin the color of bronze, wearing a kanga, a gentle yet strong face, and his eyes not as clear as his physical being. Later I was to come to his bedside and comfort him while he was having a severe malaria attack. Both of his legs were locked while he groaned with much pain. He also just shook like a leaf. This was my first encounter with Malaria. I had been taking my malaria pills, which were a little comfort to me.
He said his name was Omar. He took my backpack and carefully placed it near the stern of his dhow.
His dhow was a masterpiece of handcrafted woods from the hull, tiller, and the mast.
These dhows have been sailing up and down the East African coast for two thousand years. There unique design with a mast leaning forward and a lateen triangular sail rig allows them to sail toward the wind. There hull design is perfect for the long straight sails up and down the Indian Ocean coast of Africa.
I fell in love with these sailing boats immediately. They have a beauty and charm difficult to describe.
We headed out across the channel between the mainland and the Island. Omar and I got talking –I told him my daughter Laura Lewallen had spent some time on the island studying Swahili. He said what was her name- BiBIwapi- I KNOW HER. YOU’RE HER FATHER? YES.
He went on to describe her perfectly. We bonded immediately.
This was my magical entry into the next adventure in Africa.
When we arrived in his dhow to the piers in Lamu town we were met by several of his fellow dhow captains.
jamba is my choice for some of the most flavorful food (and healthy! mostly organic!) in town.
in the shopping center on the corner of cerrillos and st. mike’s and just to the left of “hobby lobby,”
jamba is african/carribean and truly addictive. lentil stew, lamb, plantain chips, all delicious and
fairly priced….also, joe’s in rodeo plaza uses local organic food, and has lovely food.