I ate at La Boca last November when I was in Santa Fe for a girl's getaway. It was wonderful. The food was fantastic and the waitstaff was terrific.

We love breakfast at the Plaza Cafe. Even when staying on business, when we could order room service, we walk down to the cafe.

Bookmarking. :)

Could one of you regulars educate me on the difference between the red and green chiles? Is one spicier? Are they different varieties? This all sounds delicious.

That was perfect, sf!

So would a green chile burger have me reaching for my water glass? I do jalapenos - would it be comparable?

I like the Christmas suggestion so you get to try both.

Green chiles are picked before the pepper turns red. Each season is different as far as the spice level on the chiles. Some years the green is spicier than the red and vice versa.

The green leans towards a more fresh flavor and the red is more rich and smokey in a way. Both are delicious. If you're not sure you can handle spice always get it on the side. And, if you can't decide red or green order "Christmas" and you'll get a little bit of both.

Both green & red chiles are the same variety. Big Jims are a popular variety for mild-medium peppers. Sandia & Barkers are a much spicier variety.

Thanks, BG!

Ask your server which is hotter. If you think it sounds too hot, ask for your chile on the side.

Lee Ann

Just want to add that I went to El Farol up past Geronimo's on Canyon Rd. for tapas on Fri. night. It has been good in the past, but man it was awful this time. Out of 4 hot tapas ordered, 2 came out cold, and it took forever to get them sent back and reheated. One of them was so bad after reheatng that we did not eat it. We were served the wrong bottle of wine. Waitress was scattered and hurried, and took forever to get her attn. I will go back to the bar to listen to live music in the future but never will I eat there again.

I wish we had gone to La Boca...

Had a very nice dinner at the Cantina at La Casa Sena on Thurs. night last wk. They have live Broadway tunes, sung by the waiters and waitresses, at dinner. Very nice entertainment and the food was very good. DH had the NY steak, I had the grilled ruby red trout. The salad we split was very good also- organic greens w/figs, blue cheese and a shallot vinagarette. Nice wines. I think this place is a great deal considering the prices and the included entertainment. But be sure to make reservations.

PAH. You need to man (or woman) up and handle some chiles. My two-year old son was constantly dipping into my green chile stew on our trip to Taos last year, and it had a good kick to it.

And in NM you can get green chiles on just about everything -- helps the sinuses clear out.

There's a place near the rail station (not in the railyards property) that was real good but I'm blanking on the name. BeachGirl or the pickle probably know it off their headtops.

Tomasitas? It's a favorite of ours for food alone.

They've won best green and red chile from the Santa Fe Reporter several years. I've been guilty of buying a 1/2 gallon of each before heading out of town. They didn't flinch when I ordered so obviously I'm not the only one. :)

La Choza is my guess.

Tomasita's it is. Although we did have a lunch at La Choza too. It was more memorable for a toddler meltdown and I may not have given it its due.

I'd love to get recommendations on your favorite things to eat at Pasqual's, Inn of the Anasazi, and the Shed. I know Bobcat Bite has the great chile cheeseburgers. I was thinking Pasqual's for breakfast and The Shed for lunch.

We were at the Coyote Cafe in Feb...very dissapointing..very pricy, very drafty, noisy, and nothing special in the food. Won't go there again.

volcanogirl, pencil in Tia Sophia's for breakfast, too. Authentic New Mexican cooking. Just west of the plaza a block. Just west of Evangelo's (bar on the corner) and before you get to the parking garage. It's a favorite of our and a lot of others, too.

Bobcat Bite can have a long wait as it's a very, very small spot. Be prepared to wait.
Pasqual's for breakfast I like huevos motulenos and posole with red sauce. My favorite meal there is either at lunch or dinner. Lunch - chicken mole. A mole connoisseur's delight! And, hands down, THE best cafe mocha as it's made with Mexican chocolate.

The Shed - #4 blue corn tortilla with cheese, onion and smother in red sauce. No beans or rice. Or, #5 made with green chile and chicken with blue corn, and cheese and onion with red chile, blue corn, possole & beans. Their guacamole is very good, too, as is their green chile stew. A meal in itself. Their courtyard is very charming as is dining at their small bar.

Inn of the Anasazi: tortilla soup, buffalo sliders, and we love the prawn risotto. Lamb was very tasty, too.

Now that I've tortured myself recounting all of these dishes we love, I've got to look at the calendar and see when I can sneak out there. :)

Thanks, BG - mmmmmmm!

A new restaurnat in Santa Fe that we really liked is the Galiesto Bistro on Galiseto Street.

bookmarking for september trip..... any new recommendations or updates?

Here's a more current thread on the same subject, ncounty.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...n-santa-fe.cfm