Amuse-bouche The best mid-priced dining in Santa Fe
enu prices seem to be creeping up around town, as evidenced by the $26 bowl of pasta with a mere handful of shrimp we recently had at a popular Italian eatery.
some diners are looking to taste what is coming out of the trendy kitchens of our award-winning chefs — and are willing to pay top dollar for the experience — many of us are just looking for a well-prepared, interesting dinner out at a fair price in a comfortable and attractive setting. Recently, I embarked on that specific mission: to find the best mid-priced dining in the city.
Before doing a little sniffing around, we decided to set some ground rules. We were looking to spend between $35 and $40 for dinner for two, not including tax and tip. And we ruled out New Mexico food, because, well, we all know where to get our favorite bowl of posole or plate of enchiladas at a modest price. No chain restaurants, food trucks, or happy hours were considered. And we also factored in a nice evening atmosphere and good service at a place where you and your dining partner might like to linger.
With a budget like this, don’t expect a three-course meal with a $12 glass of wine. Forty dollars covers an entrée or a couple of small plates, and maybe a drink or two if you’re lucky. Sharing is obviously advised.
But it turns out that several tried-and-true restaurants in town are still offering good value, and in our search, we were able to find places with distinction that emphasize healthy, locally sourced ingredients prepared with imagination and care. The newer brewpubs that have sprouted around Santa Fe, too, are good options. Here are some recommendations.
dining partner and I hadn’t been to the (1115 Hickox St., 505-983-7060) in years. The homecoming, after a day on the slopes at Ski Santa Fe, turned out to be very pleasant. In an old, cramped house with eclectic decorations and festive Christmas lights, Tune-Up is funky in a very good way.
From the get-go, the service was welcoming and prompt. We each started with a Corona — after all, we’d been skiing. Learning that the mole was housemade (with over eight hours of preparation), I opted for the mole Colorado enchiladas ($12.95) with chicken. I