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Pranzo Italian Grill
From thin-crust seafood pizzas to garlicky pastas to hearty grilled steaks, Italian flavors rule here. Stop by for a major meal, a romantic glass of wine on the rooftop terrace, or cool jazz Friday and Saturday nights after (around US$5 cover).
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Ristra
Savor your stroll up the wisteria-lined brick walkway and then savor French-inspired creations that have found a home inspired by Southwestern flavors - like the sumptuous achiote elk tenderloin in red wine sauce.
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Saigon Cafe
Tasty options include huge portions of hot Vietnamese soups; crispy, garlicky salads; and a variety of fried-noodle dishes.
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Santa Fe Baking Company & Café
This lively spot serves breakfast all day (as well as salads and sandwiches) and offers up live Irish music on Saturday mornings. Live it up with a New Mexico favorite, the Fritos pie (around US$6 ; ).
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Santa Fe Bar & Grill
OK, so it's not in a historic adobe, but it is located at the convenient DeVargas Center . The patio, which overlooks a parking lot, and the sleek interior are packed with folks grooving on live acoustic guitar on weekends and grubbing on Southwestern-style salads, piles of nachos with home-made chorizo and big plates of ribs.
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Santa Fe Chile Company
This combined salsa factory, grille and gift store offers fresh finds including meals of Southwest barbecue (around US$13 ) and gifts of New Mexico spice mixes, cactus-inspired tableware and piñon candles. Have lunch and shop in one quick stop.
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Santa Fe Farmers Market
Local produce, much of it heirloom and organic, is on sale in the refurbished Santa Fe Railyard alongside homemade goodies, inexpensive food, natural body care and herbal products, and a fair number of arts and crafts.
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Santa Fe Railyard Restaurant & Saloon
Housed in a corrugated tin warehouse in the up-and-coming, gritty-artsy Railroad District, this conventional steaks-and-chops house also offers pastas, sandwiches and a bar menu.
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SantaCafé
Chef David Sellars is practically an international celebrity because of dishes like roasted poblano chiles relleno with three mushroom quinoa and chipotle cream, served in an 1850s adobe built by the infamous Padre Gallegos. Lunch is a deal, the wine list flawless and the dining room historic. In short, it's perfect.
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Saveur
Basically a foodie's dream salad bar, this innovative eatery serves everything from mixed greens to steamed fish and noodle salads, buffet style. Bonus: for take-out beginning at , soups and salads go for 30% off, and 50% off at .
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Shed
This family-run, James Beard Award-winning restaurant has been serving New Mexican fare in a 1692 adobe since 1953. Order anything - it's all fantastic - but get it red. Spicy posole soup comes with many of the mains, and trust us, the rich chocolate mocha cake (around US$4 ) provides an outstanding end to any meal.
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Shohko Cafe
Did you expect anything less? Even sushi comes Santa Fe-style - try the cream cheese and green chile roll. They also serve bento boxes at lunch and teriyaki dishes for folks who don't do raw fish.
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Sol
Burgers are the raison d'être here, yet vegetarians aren't slighted. The Sol Burger is massive, the crab cake sandwich and smoked salmon burger solid. Mac with five cheeses, nachos and salads also make great choices as you survey galleries and passersby from the patio.
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Teahouse
Enjoy more than 100 varieties of tea and creative coffee drinks alongside pastries, soups and salads in the cozy, relaxed interior or the outdoor rock garden. Fortify yourself for a long gallery stroll with smoky lapsang souchong tea or coffee spiced with red chili and chocolate. Whew.
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Tecolote Café
It's all here - any enormous combination you want to dream up of eggs, potatoes, tortillas, beans, salsas and the best Hollandaise sauce in town - at the finest, oldest hole-in-the-wall on the strip.
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Tesuque Village Market
In the wooded, horsy, upscale village of Tesuque, grab gourmet groceries or an excellent lunch - from subtle cheeses to various fajitas - and enjoy them on the pleasant outdoor porch.
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Thai Café
Santa Feans and tourists done with the green chile thing can enjoy flavorful Thai cuisine here. You can't go wrong with the curries or the seafood.
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Tia Sophia's
Locals outnumber tourists at this top spot. They've come to savor New Mexican chiles rellenos and hearty and flavorful lunch specials. The shelf of kids' books helps little ones pass the time.
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Tomasita's
Locals hate to admit it, but they love this tourist standby for its outstanding green chile, served atop excellent burritos, enchiladas, and on weekdays huge around blue-plate specials (set meals served at a reduced price). It's raucous - perfect for families hauling exuberant kids.
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Trattoria Nostrani
Dinner at this trattoria is like a trip to Italy, complete with fresh pastas made by hand daily. The menu changes often, so return trips are a delight. Choose a theme to guide you through artful food - for a seaside vacation, start with the seared rare scallop salad followed by the talierini with clams or the sautéed shrimp with toasted orzo.
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Upper Crust Pizza
Relax on a nice outdoor patio or in a cozy interior over pizza piled with green chile, piñon, or traditional favorites like pesto and pepperoni. This is considered by many (including us) to be Santa Fe's best.
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Vanessie of Santa Fe
You don't really come to Vanessie for the food, though it's fine. The attraction here is the piano bar, where Doug Montgomery and Charles Tichenor have been delighting crowds with cabaret and show tunes for 20 and 10 years, respectively.
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Zia Diner
This cozy diner offers generous portions of something for everyone, from buffalo burgers with sweet potato fries to grilled portabella sandwiches with onion rings. Have a beer and watch pierced hipsters and graying progressives coo over their blue-plate specials (weekdays only). The banana splits are a local fave.
