Before I left I looked up several restaurants through Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Here is a "fan-site" for the show with a complete listing of all the places they've featured. FlavorTown USA is Very well put together and for most of them, they've included the clip from the show.
So here's a little restaurant rating and the reviews of some food worthy places to visit in New Mexico. Not all of them are from Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. (DDD) will be included on those I found through that.
Monte Carlo Steakhouse (Albuquerque) (DDD) (3.5/5)
Yes this is a Steakhouse in the back of a liquor store. :-) They have been in business for a Long-time, but it's a hidden secret in Albuquerque as most people are not going to stop at a liquor store for Steaks! It was a nice cozy restaurant. The place had all kinds of neat Chachkis to look at. They have an open kitchen/grill. The place was Packed on a Friday night. We were lucky and called ahead and got reservations (which they told us they don't normally do). LUCKY US!! :-)
I had the Pork Shish Kabob. It had a tasty Greek Marinade and came with a Salad and Baked Potato. It was definitely a heavy meal. But very tasty!!
Flying Star Cafe (Albuquerque) (4/5)
This is a place my friend likes. It's a cafe/dinner/bakery/coffee shop. I had the Californian Sandwich - Marinated, grilled crimini mushrooms, Swiss, avocado, tomatoes, caramelized onions & ranch dressing on grilled sourdough Yup it's as YUMMY as it sounds. And of course I couldn't resist the Devil's Food Cupcake! This girl pass up chocolate?! NEVER! They have locations all across ABQ and a place in Santa Fe!!
Harry's Roadhouse (Santa Fe) (DDD) (5/5)
Hands down, the best place and a MUST if you're headed to Santa Fe. I stopped on my way into Santa Fe as it's right off 25. Let me set the scene for you....as I'm driving it begins to snow (making this Texas girl's heart go pitter-patter). I pull up to this cute little place
I walk in the door to notice a lit fireplace!!! I'm immediately given a warm-hearted welcome and when I ask if I can sit by the fireplace, he says "perfect choice on this kinda day." So I get seated right next to the fireplace in a cozy little room next to a window, so I can watch the snowfall. Yes this is going to be a Good Lunch!!
This is the type of place where strangers become friends. And I literally made friends with other patrons. I wasn't dining alone, no I was dining with new friends. I ordered the New Mexican Blue Corn Turkey Enchiladas.
AMAZING!! The Green Chile was done just right. I'm not normally a fan of Red Chile, but theirs was good. By far my favorite meal of my trip. I wanted to stop by again, but didn't get a chance. From what I hear, they have WONDERFUL Breakfast as well!
Plaza Bakery (Santa Fe) (4/5)
This place is right off the Plaza in Santa Fe. And was my mid-shopping energy stop!! I grabbed a Cafe Amaretto and a HUGE Slice of Tiramisu. That could have made a whole meal in and of itself. The Tiramisu was Divine! Perfectly soaked Lady Fingers with the lightest/fluffiest mascarpone.
image from Plaza Bakery (http://www.sweetsantafe.com/cgi-bin/shop.pl?shop=get_item&item_id=31&wholesale=)
Oh I can't forget...I made a friend here too. Well, maybe we should call him a "peddler." He came and sat next to me at the bar and proceded to tell me he was a massuse and did work on the "stars" that come to New Mexico to film movies and he would love to offer me his services. Yeah I bet you would! ;) I entertained him for awhile then politely declined his Generous offer!
Zia Diner (Santa Fe) (DDD) (3.5/5)
I think I should have visited this place when I was actually hungry. I went after my "meal" at The Plaza Bakery. I was feeling a little full and settled for the Fried Goat Cheese Field Green Salad - with dried cranberries, toasted walnuts and a creamy balsamic vinagrette dressing.
The Fried Goat Cheese was Spectacular! And the salad was just what my tummy needed after a heavy food day! This place is a classic diner and is known for their New Mexican style Meatloaf. I failed to get a good sampling of what this diner had to offer.
La Casa Sena (Santa Fe) (5/5)
So I stopped at this place several years ago when I visited Santa Fe. In fact, on that trip I ate here twice because of this salad.
La Casa Sena Chicken Salad - Romaine Hearts, & Radicchio, Grilled Basil Pesto Chicken Breast, Cotija Cheese, Guacamole, Guava Vinaigrette, Tortilla Strips. It is only served on the lunch menu, by the way. And it is Amazing! The Guava vinagrette is sweet and tangy and flavors very well with the guacamole. It's a rather LARGE Salad and hard to finish, but it can be done! They also have these Amazing Blue Corn Muffins. They use blue corn meal and have bits of real corn in them. Oh so good!
The Candy Lady (Albuquerque) (5/5)
So this place is located in Old Town Albuquerque. And I'm 3 for 3 on my visits to ABQ and stopping here! It is a definite on my places to stop! I've never met The Candy Lady, but I'd sure like to, because she sure knows how to make my tummy happy! The Best homemade chocolates! My favorites are the chocolate covered strawberries (milk, dark, or white) and the chocolate truffles (Kahlua, Irish Cream, Grand Marnier, and more).
She also has a "Naughty" room with her chocolates in the shape of all that is naughty! :-)
Now that we're all hungry...I leave you to go open your refrigerators and have some...leftover rice and chicken??? :-( New Mexico I miss you!!!
