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"As good as everyone says it is."
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Excellent New Mexican Dinner- like others had the Guac prepared at the table- which was great- they doctor it up with onion, garlic, tomatoes, etc just to your liking
Also had the Chile Rellenos- to me the smell of roasted chiles is the surest sign of autumn- and these made me feel right at home
Lovely dining room in the center of the hotel
First impression, the dining space is a beautiful sunroom with a fountain in the middle. We were lucky enough to be seated right next to the fountain. It was lunch time. Great natural lighting with gentle soothing sound from the fountain.
Second impression, taking a look around, the average age of the patron is probably about 40s. We felt a little too young (30 and 35). Maybe that's just a fluke.
Food? Amazing.
Mango Gazpacho is a must. You have to try this. It is so amazing. Refreshing not just to the palate, but also to the soul. I wanted to lick the plate but decided that wouldn't look good.
Chile Relleno is another must. A previous review mentioned this. I must concur. You have not tasted Santa Fe if you haven't tried this.
I have been to a dozen restaurants in my short stay there and I must say La Plazuela is one of the best.
Well, if you haven't been to La Fonda, you really haven't been to Santa Fe. It really is the heart and soul of the Plaza and blessedly, although it has undergone quite a bit of renovation over the years, it still retains a genuine Santa Fe vibe. The place is really a history lesson in the form of a lovely old hotel. The list of famous visitors is long and illustrious. You should really stay here at least once.
While you're here, you must enjoy a meal at La Plazuela. If there is a more charming, comfortable room in Santa Fe, I'm not sure where it is. It is the perfect blend of Old Santa Fe and contemporary New Mexican dining. The menu is pretty straight forward. Guac, a couple of salads, sopa de tortilla to start. Entrees range from steak and lamb to New Mexican favorites with a sprinkling of shrimp and fish dishes. I think the chile rellenos are some of the best in town, as well they should be at $17. The table side guac, is, hold on to your hat, $12 and the "petite filet" with enchiladas - $30. These are definitely hotel restaurant prices. One star off for charging about double what they should be. You could spend as much or more at the other big name hotels (El Dorado, Inn at Loretto, or Inn of the Anasazi) though. Make sure to have a few margaritas to soften the blow when the check comes.
Ok a good friend told me that if I were to have only one meal in Santa Fe it should be the chile rellenos at La Plazuela, boy was he right. One side note, I actually don't really like chile rellenos, I never order them at mexican restaurants, but I did on his reco and was glad that I did.
Here's how good they were:
1. They made me wish I hadn't drank so much alcohol beforehand so I could have gorged myself completely on them.
2. There was a ZOMBie sitting next to me enjoying the same dish and I swear for a split second as he took a bite I saw a flash of life enter his eyes!!
Also the menudo that came with the meal was AWesOME!! It was a little wierd in that it wasn't served in a bowl, it was just sitting there on the side of my dinner plate sans menudo juice. Great place and I would tell you the same told me, "If you are only going to have one meal in Santa Fe, make it the chile relleno plate at La Plazuela"
Cemetaries are generally ZOMBie safe...
In the eyes of a mid-westerner, La Plazuela is a jackpot. My experience was everything I imagined and hoped a meal at a quality southwestern restaurant to be, from the vibrant decor to the superb food.
I visited around 1pm on a Tuesday, and had no trouble getting a table. The host walked us from the front of the hotel to the restaurant, and told us a little history of the place as we walked. We were seated promptly. Our server was not top-notch (she forgot our drinks), but still pleasant.
We munched on chips and salsa and sipped Mexican beer while waiting for our meals. When my cheese enchilada plate arrived, it was first a feast for my eyes, and then for my stomach. I ordered both red and green chili sauces on the side, and ended up pouring both over the enchiladas. Rich, wonderful blend of three cheeses. The posole was fantastic...it was my first time eating posole, and I became and instant fan. The pinto beans and guacamole made for an all-around tasty and satisfying meal, topped off with a warm sopaipilla drizzled in honey. I also sampled the tortilla soup, which I found quite flavorless compared to the enchiladas, and the pork tenderloin which was incredibly tender a so flavorful. Very reasonably priced.
La Plazuela is decorated with vibrant local art, and although all the tables are in one large, open room, it is a very comfortable and cheery place to eat. I left a full but happy camper, as did my aunt and uncle who were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. Don't miss this southwestern gem right of the Santa Fe plaza.
Solid choice in the center of town. I'm sure you could do better, but you can do definitely do worse. Lovely room.
La Plazuela Dining Room at Santa Fe's historic La Fonda Hotel is all that and a bag of turquoise stones. While I've not scoured the restaurants of New Mexico for the perfect dish, I was so lucky to stumble on what has to be one of the more enjoyable dining options in the South West. This open, airy dining room has more personality than one could wish. The colorful decor and flora invite a sort of relaxation which is often sought yet hard to realize. The regional flare of the menu, and proficient chefs do magic here.
La Plazuela is the kind of restaurant where if I heard someone speak ill of it I would immediately know that person has trouble embracing the human experience. Because, it happens here.
_C$
This is one of the best places to eat in Santa Fe. Food is excellent in a relaxed atmosphere and service is wonderful. We are 'regulars'.
We came here for lunch...not dinner.
The fantastic atmosphere in the open, airy dining room was lovely. There was so much great decor, that we could have forgone the conversation and just looked at all the intricate detail.
The food was decent, but neither of us had anything that would knock our socks off. The service also left something to be desired.
With all these 5-star reviews, I'm willing to give it another try to see if we were just there on an off day.
*edit*
Went back to La Plazuela this trip, and I stand by my 3-star rating. Most of the stars are given to the wonderful ambiance of the dining room, past that, the food is just mediocre. $12 for guacamole? Jeez louise! I ordered the salmon (which was a gorgeous piece of line-caught Sockeye from Alaska). Unfortunately, it was COMPLETELY over-cooked. It was past the point of dry. It made me want to weep to see such a great piece of fish mis-handled. For $30 for the entree, it was a complete waste. I don't think I'll ever come back here.
I love Mexican food, so hear me when I say this place is excellent. My parents have been coming here for the past 4 years, and I can now see why. Wonderful decor inside, with open skylights, plants, lit windows, making you feel you're outside. The hours are a little odd, closing lunch at 2PM, and opening for dinner at 5PM, but I understand why.
The salsa was pretty hot, but tasty. I ordered a vanilla margarita, not a usual thing, but it sounded different. Not too strong in the vanilla, but definitely strong in the alcohol area. The chile rellenos were excellent and huge. Smoothered in a very tasty and not too spicy green chile, these beer battered beauties were perfect. On top of my sampler platter, I also got a pork tamale and cheese enchilada. Needless to say, at the end of my meal, I was stuffed. Add the included beans and hominy side, also including very large sopapillas, and I was done. You could have rolled me out of the place.
Highly recommend this place, and all at a descent price.
I was very excited to be in Santa Fe. And even more excited about having some great Mexican food. I came to the right place. I really loved the huge expansive dining room. Service from Rachel was great, she was very friendly and attentive. I opted for "Filet y Enchiladas" which was a char-grilled petite filet mignon and two yellow corn cheese enchiladas. It was also served with black beans, pork posole, guacamole, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes and sopaipillas. Also, I got a side of the papaya salsa, it was definately worth the extra money. I can't say enough good things about the posole!! I had never had it before and it was amazingly good. And the sopaipillas were SO good. Excellent meal.
Best breakfast burrito I've EVER HAD. Chorizo, potatoes, onions, cheese, and eggs. Thrown together in only a way the New Mexicans can do it. The burrito came with the choice of red (spicy) or green (flavorful) sauces on top. I couldn't decide, then our kind waitress informed me that I could get both. Thanks Juanita. The red was spicy and great, but the green was super flavorful and awesome. Either one would be great by themselves. Great fresh squeezed orange juice and in true hotel style, mini bottles of ketchup for your personal use. A great place, awesome interior, awesome location, amazing service, a must hit when in Santa Fe.
best margarita i've ever had.
The food, oh my . . . . New Mexican food couldn't get any better than this. Breakfast, lunch or dinner. They even make the guacamole fresh at your table. When they say 'fresh' they mean it. This dining room is literally right in the middle of the hotel - in a big plaza like area. Hence the name. It's a 2 stories high ceiling, glass covered so it is always sunny & inviting inside. The decorations are typical Santa Fe - lots of hand carved wood and bright colored painted floral designs. Although reservations are recommended, it is almost always possible to get a seat with a little wait. Except maybe during Fiestas or other local events. Make it a point to eat here when you are in Santa Fe, or at the very least walk through the lobby and take a peek in . . . .
Santa Fe, NM
Category: American (Traditional)
Santa Fe, NM
Category: Restaurants
Santa Fe, NM
Category: Mexican
Santa Fe, NM
Category: American (Traditional)
Santa Fe, NM
Category: Hotels
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