I have to take out very important clients to dinner while I am in Santa Fe. What are the best restaurants??? I enjoy fine dining, although it does not have to always be the most formal atmosphere. I enjoy both formal and informal- it just must be impressive. Thanks.

I would recommend Coyote Cafe or Santacafe. Also, Blue Corn Cafe & Brewery is nice and a little less formal. These are Southwestern restaurants.

Also, what do you think of Old House and Pasqual's?

I'd also reccomend the pink adobe. they're online at www.pinkadobe.com

Try Ristra. Pink Adobe is passe and the food is so-so.

India Palace is one of the best Indian restaurants - Mobil star rated. Pasquales is excellent.

Here's my list of top restaurants in SF.... Geronimo (excellent & expensive), Santacafe,Tulips, La Casa Sena (fabulous patio if the weather is good, but terrific SF atmosphere indoors as well), Cafe Pasquales is good but very tiny place and casual(excellent breakfast). I also love El Encanto-- great old historic building and creative Mexican cuisine( NOT New Mexican!-- very different). Santa Fe is loaded with good food.. have fun.
Deb

Pasquels is a very good place. For what you're looking for, I'd also highly recommend Paul's (very quiet, but great food), SantaCafe (minimalist, but in an artsy way) and Plaza Cafe (an institution). The Coyote Cafe is a wee too touristy and trite for my taste.

Geronimo is to die for, formal but comfy and I would think perfect for a client dinner. (You probably already know that dress is fairly casual in general in Santa Fe, though very hip and elegant in a southwesterny way.)La Casa Sena has amazing food, and a lovely atmosphere, and would be a close second IMO. We also enjoyed Restaurant Daniel ( I am pretty sure that was the name...), which is a very cozy, charming Italian place with gorgeous risotto. Pink Adobe had very mediocre food and service--the bar is quaint and a tad raunchy and I thought it was fun, but I wouldn't dine at the Adobe again. Pasqual's is really tiny and cute, great food, but very casual--nice, but casual. I, too, would suggest b'fast there.