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Tue-Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
"As good as everyone says it is."
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The best meal to eat OUT for me is breakfast.... because I LOVE breakfast foods. Second, the best PLACE to eat breakfast foods are hole-in-the-wall mom and pop's places... Until..... I discovered that shacks (like THIS joint) are JUST as great!
Another Triple D place recommended to me by a coworker who's addicted to the show.... and wow. I was in heaven for the 50 minutes I was here. I am a "hot n' spicy" queen and the sheepherder's breakfast totally hit my caliente G-spot (and by that I mean "GUT" you dirty minded peoples out there!). When you order something that allegedly is "spicy" in California... (how can I say this in a politically correct manner? Hmmmm).... let's just say it's made according to a NON-asian standard of "spicy". But wow, in New Mexico... when they say "spicy" they MEAN IT! Woo Hooo~! My breakfast was on fire and it was fantastical... and when you add some of that New Mexican green chili sauce on top, it's like the "fire in the hole" climax to a morning, yummy yum yum.
Also, they have these bread baskets and my favorite is the jalapeno corn bread muffins. Slab on some full fat butter and chase it down with a glass of freshly squeezed OJ and you're good to go.
I totally recommend this place for breakfast if you're ever around Santa Fe. It's not in the downtown-ish area but it's totally worth driving out to. Especially if you're in the mood for something extra EXTRA spicy... come and GET IT! :)
There is a reason why this restaurant has an average of 4.5 with that fifth star ready to burst out its little orange square!
This was hands down the best breakfast we had on our trip through out the south west and we had amazing eats almost everywhere we went! Everything about this place was exceptional and interesting....also a little humbling. I have to admit, although I know some Spanish, I don't know as much as I should for being Mexican. And it was evident after about 30 minutes of sitting in the restaurant, commenting on how much of an owl lover the owner must be.
All of a sudden, a light went off and I asked my girl, "Hey Babe, do you think Tecolote means owl?" I guess I missed the big owl painted on the front of the building when we took this picture
http://i4.photobucket....
Oh well, back to the food. Everything was amazing. From the Huevos Yucatecos...corn tortilla layered with black beans, two eggs any style, green chile, Swiss and feta cheese, pico de gallo, surrounded with fried bananas with posole to the home made Corn Beef Hash. From the Atolé Piñon pancakes to the regular ones...everything was fantastic.
http://i4.photobucket....
http://i4.photobucket....
Once again, the owner and servers where very friendly and helpful and gave us some great suggestions about Santa Fe. That combined with the food and comforting atmosphere makes it hard to give the Owl anything less then 5 stars.
I really enjoyed my experience here, the dining room was busy with locals dining at community tables and talking about the daily news. The food was okay but more than anything the environment and the staff make it comforting and homey. Everyone there was very friendly and helpful.
I ordered a double stack of pancakes but wanted to try two of their varieties, the Chocolate Walnut and the Atole Pinon (blue cornmeal and pine nuts), the waitress had no problem with this. I also got a side of potatoes.
The first I tried was the Atole Pinon, which was a bit different. I like the addition of the pine nuts. It had a heartier texture and taste than a buttermilk pancake which was great with the sweetness of a little syrup.I always like trying different types of pancakes that you can only find in certain areas and this one did not disappoint.
I had a problem with the Chocolate Walnut th0ugh, it was cooked poorly, too crispy on the outside and slightly underdone inside. It was unfortunate because although not executed well I could tell it would have been really good if it were. I really enjoy walnuts and how can you go wrong throwing in a little chocolate chips for breakfast. I imagine this was just a momentary flaw in their cooking.
I enjoyed the potatoes, sliced thin and extra crispy. The thing that stood out here was the chile (both red & green) that the waitress brought me, those were fabulous. That being the case I probably should've ordered a breakfast burrito or something that actually came with the chile. I would come back here again definitely but I'd venture on to other items on the menu.
I have photos and a more in depth review on my personal blog.
One of the first NM breakfast/brunch places that I went to during my recent destination wedding trip to Santa Fe. And actually one of the best.
Huevos Rancheros, Enchiladas, and a Pork Chop dish between myself, my gf, and a friend's kid we were "babysitting" while she played maid of honor duties.
Came in later at around 12:30pm, staff was friendly and very accommodating, though the runners didn't really speak english. They were really nice to all of us and treated the 10 yr old girl really nicely... like she was a miniature adult!
Food was well prepared and very fresh. Prices were really right, we even brought back takeout for the rest of the wedding party and they all loved it even the native NMexicans. And the price was definitely right for the portions. The bakery basket was good, fresh, and tasty.
I'd say the best brunch place when I was there. I liked it better than Tia Sophia and Horseman's Haven. Though the gf said she liked Tia Sophia's chile better, the service and atmosphere wasn't as good.
Great place for breakfast/brunch! There was a super long line when we arrived at this place, but the wait was worth it! Our waitress was very helpful in giving us suggestions on what to eat.
The bread basket was pretty good. I liked the jalepeno bread. There were also blueberry muffins, biscuits, cinnamon rolls, and orange poppyseed muffins.
Our group ordered the following:
+ Blueberry Pancake Single Stack - The two pancakes were a good size! I love how fresh blueberries were used. In addition, the pancakes were light and fluffy.
+ Pancake with Fresh Strawberries Single Stack - Regular pancakes with strawberries placed on top. The strawberries were not sweet, so I didn't think it was worth the extra cost.
+ Sheepherder's Breakfast - I didn't get to try this dish, but it looks good. I heard that the dish tasted funny.
+ Carne y Huevos- The pork was made adobada style so the chili sauce was spicy! The pork wasn't warm though. I loved the thin fried potatoes. Yum!
+ Breakfast Burrito with posole - I didn't try this dish but it looks like a good size burrito.
+ Huevos Yucatecos with posole- Wow! I loved the fried bananas since they were sweet. The corn tortillas with the black beans, eggs, and cheese had an interesting flavor due to the chile sauce. The posole was a disappointment since it was plain.
Separate women and men bathroom stalls were in the back. The bathrooms are small. Just a warning for the claustrophobic people.
The place closes at 2pm, so try to come early!
The owner of the amazing Tecolote commented on my review - and I am humbled to revise my earlier, opinionated review that assumed something that was just flat out wrong.
I hope that my stupid review didn't affect your business. Viva Tecolote!
Tecolote = awesome food. You can't deny it. The coffee has even gotten better over the years.… Read more »
Breakfast just doesn't get any better than at Tecolote Cafe in Santa Fe!
Each visit to Santa Fe finds me starting my day at Tecolote's several times during the week. The food is consistently good from the bakery baskets to the blue corn pancakes to the main dishes--the stacked enchilada's w/ an egg rocks! Delicious green chile. The staff are so attentive you feel like you've just woken up and ran downstairs to be served b'fast by your mom/aunt/nana.
When I sleep in (after a night of too many margaritas) I still may be found at Tecolote for lunch!
Note: they have a convenient communal table for single diners.
I've been eating at the Tecolote since the week they opened nearly 30 years ago. I've known Bill Jennison longer. One of the things I appreciate the most is the consistency - it is always great chile. Both the red and the green. Had the Carne Adovada Burrito red this morning and will have a Christmas Burrito tomorrow. Hold the rabbit food. Get the bakery basket and the Ciro potatoes.
This is serious, superb chile. As good as it gets.
Delightfully fresh-mex breakfast food!
Waitstaff here are friendly, all smiles :) I am glad our waittress was opinionated about specific things on the menu that she preferred, instead of saying "it's all good" like some places. I ordered the Huevos Yucatecos and it was YUmmMY!! I wouldn't have thought that the fried bananas would be good in combination with Beans, eggs, and swiss and feta cheese, but it's a surprisingly tasty combination. The eggs were layered on a corn tortilla with the cheese and then beans on top. I couldn't tell what sauce was surrounding the whole thing, but it was good.
I think also that if one is not too hungry, the bread basket is Carb Heaven!! It came with Jalapeno cheese muffin, orange poppyseed muffin, blueberry muffins, and some biscuits. I think there may have been some cornbread involved, but i don't remember... The biscuit had a very savory creamy flavor to it, and it was a bit fluffy.
The only thing that got me, was the fact that they give you an option of "Posole", which I read up on and it says that it is either kernels of corn soaked in lime water OR a stew of this kernel with pork, chili, and other seasonings BUT I think it should just really be Hominy on the menu because that's what it is. No flavorings involved.
A+
I had a fantastic breakfast early on a Sunday morning of a Carne Adovada Burrito served "Christmas style" with red and green sauces on each end of the burrito.
The burrito was very tasty and spicy. The service was very good (in fact I drank too much ice tea because they kept refilling my glass!). I got the bread basket and the mini cinnamon roll was an excellent desert after the burrito.
I confess, I'm a bit of a Tecolote addict. The green chile here is among the best in town, the Huevos Rancheros a plate of heaven. Atmosphere is very casual and the place bustles with both local and out of town customers. There's always a line for breafast/lunch on the weekends.
Part of what makes Tecolote special is that they offer truly New Mexican dishes prepared authentically, yet they also feature more mainstream American fare - french toast etc and blue corn pancakes - and a heavenly bakery basket with mini-muffins. Plates are large enough to satisfy the manliest of appetites, and everyone in your group is certain to find something yummy.
One of my top two picks for breakfast in Santa Fe because they serve up amazing, no-nonsense eats
Tecolote dishes out a mean breakfast. Of course the the highlight of the menu has to be the "New Mexico Breakfasts" section which includes some things you've heard of before and maybe a couple you haven't. I especially love the Carne y Huevos, which is pretty much Carne Adovada with a couple of eggs and their breakfast potatoes. Their motto is "Great Breakfast, No Toast" but the Bakery Basket is more than enough to make anyone forget toasted bread. This place is pretty popular, so there can be a bit of a wait to get a table but the food is definitely worth it. One of these days I'll have to try it out for lunch...
Absolutely fantastic for traditional NM food. Blue Corn Pinon Pancakes, Green Chile, Red Chile Adovada..... Everything was great. Topped off with friendly servers and a kicked back environment. Perfect.
I was hoping for a good meal after the plate of boiled socks in bland chili sauce I ate at Cafe Pasqual's last night.
Fortunately, Tecolote Cafe did not disappoint. I had the breakfast burrito X-mas style (i.e., half of it covered in red chili the other half in green chili). Both chili sauces had nice flavor and heat, although my favorite chili sauce in New Mexico still resides in Albuquerque's Frontier Restaurant.
My mom had the blue corn and pinon seed pancake. It was fluffy, big, and pretty damn tasty.
To start your meal, you get the option of tortillas or a sweet bread basket -- if your meal already involves a tortilla (like my burrito did), then go for the sweet bread. You get 3 kinds of corn muffin-like breads with butter and jam - a nice way to start your breakfast.
Total bill came out to $22 before tip (this included 2 coffees and an orange juice). I was so full the entire day that I ended up skipping lunch -- this was the meal that kept on giving (or least the meal that helped me save my lunch money for another day).
We took a road trip for New Years and decided to take the drive to this place after seeing it on Diner's, Drive-ins and Dives. My husband wanted to try it for the green Chile.
The place is very quaint. Not fancy at all. The staff is really friendly and efficient. Hubs ordered the item which features red and green Chile eggs over fried potatoes. I ordered the Atole Pinon (blue corn and pine nuts) pancake. They ask if you want a bread basket or tortillas. We ordered the BB. Different types of rolls, muffins. All were great. "NO TOAST" is plastered on the shirts and in various places in the joint. Both breakfast were different and great. It was worth the drive.
Another mainstay brunch restaurant in the same vein as Tia Sophia's, The Pantry, and Horseman's Haven. Another restaurant with an extrordinary long wait if you go there on the weekend too. Both of these points are plusses and not a diss in any way.
The food is strictly New Mexican food, and works for Tecolote very well. You get a bread and biscuit basket that is above par with your meal and plenty of jams, jellies, and butter for them. The green chili is phenomonal and in the same league with the afore mentioned restaurants. And the service is totally on top of your table. The coffee and iced tea flows like water when your glass if half-full (because I'm an optimist). The clientel are a mix of referred tourists from the hotels, local artists, and members of the general community and if you live here, there's a decent chance you'll run into an old friend in the process.
This place is really fantastic. Usually when I see some poster of someone from Food TV visiting I'm a little weary. This place was awesome though.
The food is top-notch and the chile is usually both tasty and hot. Their yucatecas breakfast is really good, and I strongly recommend it. All of their breads are made fresh in house. This includes the french toast!
The staff is attentive and pleasant. My coffee cup never got below 3/4 full the entire time I was there. It was great.
Food from Tecolote on a warm Sunday morning, it doesn't get any better than this. We eat there so much, the staff knows my children almost as well as I do! (Seriously, they know their names and what meals they like.)
I love the bakery basket on Sundays, along with the homemade biscuits and blueberry muffins that you will find if you visit during the week, the baker adds cinnamon rolls to the mix which are always the first to go.
My favorite dish right now is the breakfast burrito, swimming in red chili, and a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice. MMmmm, I think I will head there this weekend!
This is a cute down-home Mex breakfast joint. The breakfast burrito (XMas style) was HUGE and pretty tasty. Too huge. The breakfast basket was good. I especially enjoyed the fresh-made blueberry muffin. They were a little too eager to give coffee refills.
I have to get a healthy dose of hatch green chiles and new mexico red chili when I am in New Mexico and will take it at any meal possible. My brother-in-law suggested this place on a recommendation from a local- and oh yum! Christmas style, on Christmas Eve can't get any better. The hardest decision was whether to choose the posele, potatoes, or beans. What kind of choice was that? I had the Sheepherder's Breakfast and it was awesome. The eggs just right, the chile made my nose run, the potatoes were excellent and not too much cheese. The coffee good and the pastry basket was all homemade.
I even saw Donald Rumsfeld! I didn't get a chance to curse him, but apparently he is a regular there.
Great Eggs Benedict. Very good baked products.
Slighty less good fried eggs. Go for something more unusual
Great for kids.
Good service.
I had the blue pinon pancakes with morning star farms veggie sausage links. Chris and I shared the bakery basket. It was a solid breakfast joint. The service was very friendly and fast.
just thinking about this place makes me want to go back to santa fe... we had a late brunch here on sunday (recommended by Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives). even though the place looked packed and saw tons of people waiting outside - we waited only about 10 minutes.
i had the Carne Y Huevos (carne = pork in red chili sauce) and my boyfriend had the Frittata (with green chili and bacon!). it came with a bakery basket with awesome biscuit, cinnamon roll and my favorite pumpkin muffin).
food = 5 stars
service = 5 stars
breakfast/brunch will never be the same for me again... i heart tecolote cafe.
I have heard that the breakfast burritos and Mexican style omelets are good here. I, for one, will dream about the pinion pancakes for the rest of my life.
It's good.. But I found the chili to be so hot once that I could not even taste the food.. my mouth was burning.. if you are up to the challenge... go!
When visiting Santa Fe this summer, this was one of my favorite breakfast places I found. It is downhome, casual, friendly, and reasonable. I had an egg dish with tortillas and fried bananas I think--which sounds strange, but was actually quite good.
One thing about Santa Fe and New Mexican cooking is the chili, which seems to come with every meal. I went to one of the downtown places and almost burned my lips off. But here, the chili was spicy, lingering, but not so much that that is all you tasted.
When I go back, this will be on the list of must go to places.
Obviously Tecolote (Little Owl) Cafe needs a reviewer who's been there more than once. There is probably nothing on the menu I haven't tried over the last 20+ years. Although all the choices are great, I still vote for breakfast burritos. As with any truly good Santa Fe restaurant, if they don't ask you if you want "red or green" then you are in the wrong place. And don't even think about not having the posole! You can have potatoes any old time! And the "beans" are not just any old beans - they are pintos! If you've ever spent any time sitting under a pinon tree eating raw pinon nuts (trees only yield the cones every 7 years - that is why the nuts are so expensive) you'll more than appreciate any baked pastry or salad that has them in it. Just try not filling up on the fresh pastries they bring with your coffee! The best is yet to come when your Hatch green chili burrito arrives!
Santa Fe, NM
Category: American (Traditional)
Santa Fe, NM
Category: Steakhouses
Santa Fe, NM
Category: Mexican
Santa Fe, NM
Category: Hotels
Santa Fe, NM
Category: Mexican
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