While visiting Carlsbad Caverns we stayed in town for a couple days and had dinner here our first…read morenight. The waitress who served us was wonderful, friendly, attentive, and incredibly kind to our dog. Prices were very reasonable and the portions were generous. The only negative part of the evening had nothing to do with the restaurant. A man seated next to us spent much of dinner being rude and entitled, repeatedly questioning how the salmon was prepared, criticizing the wine list, and generally acting unpleasant toward the staff. The blonde waitress with glasses handled the situation with impressive patience and professionalism. Honestly, it took restraint not to say something myself. She did a fantastic job dealing with a very difficult customer and deserves recognition for it.

Came here because locals swore this place was "so good." Absolutely not…read more The outside gives you hope, but don't be fooled. They marched us straight to some random back room that looked filthy and forgotten. Dirty walls, dead flies sitting on the window sills, dusty air vents directly over our table, worn-out floors and furniture... the whole place felt grimy. On the way to our table we were also walked past a nasty smelling dishwashing area, which really set the tone for the experience. Now the food. The kids got chicken fettuccine Alfredo, and somehow it managed to be both lava hot and completely flavorless at the same time. The chicken tasted like it lost a fight with the microwave. The meatloaf? I genuinely have no idea what they served me. It looked like cafeteria mystery meat drowned in tomato puree. Honestly offensive. I ordered the green chile cheeseburger with fries thinking maybe they'd at least get that right. Nope. The green chile had zero spice, zero flavor, zero reason to exist. The burger itself was forgettable at best. And the best part? The bill was nearly $100. For dirty vents, dead flies, bland food, and mystery meat. Would I come back? Not even if someone else was paying.

Food was really good! I had the salmon with slaw and fried okra. My husband had the Notorious PIG…read moreand really enjoyed it! The slaw was incredible! Service was very good! Atmosphere left a little to be desired! The music was very loud and it was annoying screaming music! I asked if they could turn it down and they did. Except for that it could've been a very nice experience.

We had lunch here, and had no difficulty finding parking We were seated immediately and had…read moreattentive service. Unsurprising, the Lucky Bull Grill has a rustic character. I had the 24 Tap BLT, and my wife had the Cobb salad with fried chicken. She enjoyed the salad, and said the fried chicken was quite good. The BLT was mostly bacon, with a leaf of lettuce and a thin slice of tomato; much as I enjoyed the bacon (chewy, not excessively crispy), I also appreciate the contrast with meaty tomato and crisp lettuce, so I found this BLT okay but not great. YMMV. I had onion rings with the BLT, and they were pretty good. Overall a positive experience, and a decent venue for lunch, but room for improvement.

My husband and I were staying next door at the Homes2Suites and decided to grab a couple pizzas to…read morego. One of the pizzas we ate at the hotel and one we ended up taking with us to Carlsbad Caverns the next day and eating as a picnic lunch which was so fun! Both fresh and as leftovers, the pizzas were very good. We also indulged in a couple of IPAs/ Pale Ales as we waited. All of which hit the spot. The place was PACKED! But the line went by quickly and waiting for food was easy enough. There seemed to be a bountiful amount of seating.

DLDR: Food is decent, service takes forever, and the beers are delicious…read more First time to GMBC and I'm going to try to have an open mind. This brewery is an oasis in Southern New Mexico. I can honestly say I could drink their brews daily as there is a wide range of IPA to almost Pils which should satisfy most folks. Beer = damn good! Ambiance is nice but simple. I can see that there might be a vision for branding and a local guitarist setting the tone. I'm all for it! It's a good idea but needs more application. Here's the problem: The service and wait times are very bad. Not the worst I've had, but it will 100% take you 30+ minutes to get a pizza plus wait time in line. To me, that is absolutely unacceptable. I don't have a problem with queuing in line for food and drinks but the speed needs to increase just to adhere to the vibe GMBC is trying to create; a Guadalupe Mountain Brewery that focuses on food, family, and beer. About the pizza, promising an open mind here, it's ok. Again, an oasis in a Domino's wasteland. But Dominos fully cooks their pizzas. I am 100% a pizza snob. I give these pies 2.5/5. Far too many toppings and a pale crust. Less toppings, more heat, more experience from the BOH staff. The pies are not cooked long enough as the cheese is clumpy and uneven and the toppings (veggies mainly) are huge, undercooked and the pizza was served nearly cold! Great portions but poor bake as they prioritize "speed" over making a good pizza. If you have never had a delicious slice, this is a solid step in the right direction. If you are used to professionals creating quality food, you will be disappointed. Still, don't shy away from this brewery as you can have a good (quite long) time as the beers are fairly priced and food will satisfy you. Absolutely throwing shade to the queso which is just canned Queso brand with crappy chips. I might add that the queso came with a hair in it but was slowly rectified by a server that I had to flag down. Ultimately, why should I wait so long in line for food that is minimum standard and is amateurish? Because I'm in Carlsbad, NM and there isn't competition to incentivize this place to be better. I want them to be better because I plan on making this a solid pit stop in the future. Keep up the good work, but continue to improve.

Carlsbad, NM This is located inside the Stevens Inn. Small…read morearea but clean. Ordered off the menu instead of eating the basic buffet set up. Coffee cup was delivered with hands, on the lip of the cup, instead of by the handle. (Don't they teach that in the Food Handlers course?) Pet peeve for me. Also big thumb touching my food as she set it on the table! Other than those two things, the waitress was pleasant and I got a laugh out of her when she asked if "are you ready " and I replied, "ready for what?". Menu prices were reasonable. Don't know the buffet's cost. The parking lot could stand cleaning; flattened beer cans, coat hangers stood out on the walk into the lobby.

We ate at The Flume for Easter lunch. The service was great, but the buffet wasn't great. The…read moreturkey, ham, and roast beef were all dry even with gravy. The mashed potatoes were dense, and the gravy disappeared right after I added it because they were dry too. The restaurant was clean, and the staff were friendly.

I was recommended El Charro in Carlsbad, NM by some locals, and I'm so glad I listened…read more I'm a big fan of quesabirria and have been on a little quesabirria journey, and this has to be one of the top two best quesabirria tacos I've ever had. The taco was crispy and filled with delicious meat, and the consommé was rich and flavorful. If I hadn't been on the road, I probably would have ordered another one. The portion was generous, and the price was fair too. The service was quick, and the overall dining environment was bright and clean. Definitely a great local recommendation and a spot I'd happily come back to.

Ordered takeout and my husband said the whole experience went well…read more We ordered a few different tacos, but have a couple picky eaters, so they were able to separate the meats and toppings for us. We got carnitas, pastor, brisket, steak, and ground beef. (The pastor was my favorite! It came with pineapple. My husband's favorite was the carnitas.) Everything was hot and pretty tasty. The meal came with 4 sauces-- orange (spiciest), watery orange, watery green (my favorite), and the creamy green (least spicy.) After reading some reviews about slow service, I was a little apprehensive about ordering, but my husband went during lunch and said everything came out quickly, there was just a line to order. All in all, I'd definitely eat here again.

Carniceria San Juan de Los Lagos in Carlsbad, NM has to be some of the best Mexican food I've ever…read morehad! I usually have a rule when traveling that I don't visit the same restaurant more than once, but this place was the exception. I came back three times in two days. Yes, it was that good. Sadly, the third time I came back, they were closed. The food tasted very authentic and absolutely worth the visit. I noticed some reviews mentioned communication issues or that the staff may not speak much English. I had a little bit of that struggle too, but honestly, that's how you know you might be in the right place for truly authentic Mexican food. I also felt like it was partly my fault for not doing enough research before ordering. But we figured it out, and the food was more than worth it. One small suggestion: it would be helpful if the menu had a little more English explanation, pictures, or item numbers to make ordering easier for both customers and staff. Overall, this is the kind of true hidden gem you hope to find in a small town. I would definitely take a detour to come back here whenever I'm in the area again.

Carnicería San Juan de los Lagos - Worth the Detour, Even Years Later…read more Some places stay with you. So much so that five years later, on a completely different road trip, you find yourself checking the map and thinking... "we're kind of close." Back in 2021, while exploring nearby national parks, we stumbled across Carnicería San Juan de los Lagos and loved it. This time, on our way to White Sands National Park, we made a small detour to see if it still held up. First surprise... I barely recognized the area. What used to feel like the middle of nowhere has filled in. Suburban life has arrived. Growth happened. But the place? Still there. Still good. Inside, it keeps that same warm, easy charm. Cute wood, farm-style Mexican decor, nothing fancy, just welcoming. The space has grown too, now clearly divided into restaurant, carnicería, and panadería, which means more reasons to linger. And the smell when you walk in? That alone could convince you to stay. Service was just as we remembered, sweet, friendly, and genuine. The kind that makes you feel like a regular even if you've been gone for five years. We went with pozole and shrimp tacos, and both delivered. Flavorful, comforting, exactly what we were hoping for. It's always a bit of a gamble revisiting a place you loved years ago. This one paid off. Still a favorite. Still worth the stop.

I come here often for the sweet tea but that's about it. The service is always amazing and sweet…read moreeven if it's been a long day. Eating area is always clean and it's a nice spot to stop if you have time.

Overcharging on things that should already come with the meal. Ranch for a salad .69cents. I…read moresubstituted the cheeses, $1.29 each time. I'm not adding extra cheese just substituting. Called for a manger waited for her for about 20 mins and when she finally came she said they charge for everything. Never coming here again.

The interior was an interesting combination that gave mostly a country feel, even if the music…read moreselection was anything but country. Servers were kind and attentive although seemingly more business (at least our server). The food was fine but wouldn't necessarily say it was outstanding. I would though go back.

Nice clean place with fast and efficient service. The Bar-B-Q meats were cooked properly and tasted…read moregreat. The French fries were homemade and extra crispy like we like. A sign of the times when half the menu is listed as market price. The Memphis style Bar-B-Q sauce had a bit too much hot sauce/cayenne pepper.