This restaurant is listed as American traditional food but I would say it is more Mexican food. The salsa is great. The chips are too thick for my liking but were good. I ordered veggie fajitas with no cheese, no dairy for my vegan diet. They were quite generous with the veggies. Bell pepper, onion, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes and mushrooms. Along with beans, rice, and guacamole. Tasty and filling. We are just traveling through. We drove all around town looking for a restaurant that looked interesting. Didn't appear to be much to choose from. The food we got here appeared to be fresh, made to order and tasty. Service was a little slow. Maybe they were short staffed. Our waitress was super nice. I would definitely return if in the area. read more

Casa Lemus Restaurant - Cuisine is a mix of Mexican, New Mexican and American favorites. - American Near Me - Raton, New Mexico

Strange set up which I'm sure started with covid protocol- using an iPad to order food, but the wait staff having to complete it and refine the order. Easily could take our order and walk it back to the kitchen quicker than using the iPad. And though we ordered breakfast with two eggs and only got one but was still charged for two- the system obviously is faulty. Food was warm when delivered, not hot. The wait for our food was about 35 minutes, too long. Food was fair. I wish I had checked yelp reviews before walking in. read more

How do you make bland Mexican Food? Food is in the middle to above average. Not bad. I would expect more flavor from what appears to be an above average Mexican Restaurant. We may be just used to TexMex, where there is LOTS of flavor in South Texas. The restaurant is clean. The salad bar looked fresh and good even though it's a tad small. Salsa for chips is incredibly mild, more like Pico De Gallo. Good taste though. To Go Cups for your tea are small, no Grande Cups to go :( If you are traveling, this is NOT TEXMEX. Bland, but decent. read more

Really tasty food. Had Chili Colorado burrito very excellent flavor, nice people, big servings good prices

Stopped for lunch on my way home from Denver on a Sunday. I got the Chili Colorado and it was delicious! Excellent, friendly service too.

Steak and shrimp fajitas for two were delicious and a HUGE portion. It could have fed all four of us! The sample platter was a highlight- quesadillas, chicken flautas and nachos! All the food seemed very authentic. The vibe was family friendly and the service was quick. They do not serve liquor!!! Only beer. But If I'm stuck in Raton, I will certainly eat here again. read more

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You must order from an unsanitary tablet that has more fingerprints than the FBI. The food was ok. Ordering from the tablet makes it impossible to ask questions about menu items or anything else. There was only one server for the whole restaurant who was helpful when she could attend to you. I wouldn't go back even if the food was excellent. read more

Very nice local restaurant with fine food - we had quesadillas and combination fajitas and the spicing and prep was excellent. A step above for a small town. Great meal and fine service. read more

As others have mentioned, there isn't a lot to choose from in Raton, and this is a solid choice. The service was excellent, and the food was good. The guacamole was really good. The salsa a bit watery. The rest was just fine. The menu is really missing a bowl of green chile though. For anyone passing through Raton, a bit of New Mexico green chile would be welcome. I'm always sad to go through NM without getting some. I might stop here again if the timing was right, but I wouldn't make it a destination. read more

Casa Lemus Restaurant - American Near Me - Raton, New Mexico

Never a bad meal here. Great service with excellent food. If you are nearby it's worth the stop!

DO NOT LET THE OUTSIDE FOOL YOU! The food was delicious. It was fresh and cooked perfectly. I had veggie fajitas and the other people with me had chicken fajitas and beef enchiladas that have the green chili sauce on it. It was DELICIOUS!! read more

Solid breakfast. Decent coffee. Pancakes hearty though syrup was nothing special. Everything else is best described as "fine." Waitress was efficient though only one there and help wanted sign is up. Kiddo had buenos rancheros and said they were good though sauce had little kick to it. Also they're a bit pricey for what they are. read more

Casa Lemus Restaurant - American Near Me - Raton, New Mexico

Excellent stop ! If you are passing by stop here and get a beer and fajitas !!! Omg the beer is just perfection! Excellent customer service, great delicious flavor, guacamole was just that home made flavor, everything was outstanding! I loved this stop on the road trip my first time in New Mexico ! read more

The chicken enchiladas were barely mediocre and I wouldn't have finished my food even if a food allergy hadn't stopped me midway through. I alerted the hostess/waitress to my allergy when we first walked in the door and they assured me they could provide food that wouldn't contain the allergen. Once the food arrived, I quested her a second time to ensure the allergen wasn't in any portion of my food. Again, I was told the allergen wasn't in my food. I ate a few bites before I began itching and burning over my entire body. I alerted the waitress and she provided us with our check so we could pay for the food. No consideration that I hadn't been able to eat it (or even wanted to because of the poor quality anyway). They finally agreed to remove my meal from the check. EXTREMELY disappointed in this experience and don't recommend this restaurant at all. read more

Excellent food and wait staff. We stayed at the motel and we were treated very well. The motel is a bit dated but very clean. Reasonable rates. Very nice employees! Recommended eatery! read more

This place doesn't look like much from the outside. The restaurant is attached to the lobby of the motel. The food is excellent. Very large portions. Had the fajitas and they had tons of meat. One drawback was the chips and salsa. You get a small basket with a handful of chips and a small bowl of salsa, once you've finished this any additional chips and salsa are $1.00 read more

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Got a tip when i stopped for fuel this place would be good. Very solid breakfast! Piping hot, decent coffee and fabulous service. Perfect road trip stop! read more

Great place to stop for a meal on the road. It doesn't look like much on the outside, but the inside is clean. The menu is mostly Mexican food, but also has burgers and grilled cheese, etc. for the kids. I had the chicken flautas. Everything on the plate tasted fresh and house-made, including the tortillas and guacamole. The chicken was in large, juicy chunks, and the flautas were only lightly fried...no greasy mess. My husband had a burrito and cleaned his plate. We will stop here again the next time we are passing through. read more

Casa Lemus Restaurant - Sands Restaurant chicken flautas - American Near Me - Raton, New Mexico

Road Trip Notable Nosh #5 (See Lists) Good Diner-esque Food We got the Green Chili Burger with Fries Chicken Enchildadas I'd heard a lot about the famous green chilis in the Southwest, and for some reason, I was expecting a flavorful relish. Instead, I got two large green chilis that had been fire roasted, placed on top of my burger. Don't get me wrong; it was delicious and the burger was the epitome of what a burger is supposed to be, generous portion of meat, well seasoned, fresh and hot off the grill. The bun was soft and soaked up just the right amount of grease from the meat. The fries were yummy, too. Not too thick and not too thin cut, crispy and not cloying from old oil. The chicken enchiladas were kind of messy, but in a good way. The portion was very generous and we couldn't finish it all. I couldn't distinguish between protein, beans and cheese, but sometimes that is a-ok. read more

After searching for a local Mexican restaurant in Raton, I decided to try this place. I wanted to try La Cosina, but they were closed. They had other food like burgers, salad bar, and sandwiches, but mostly Mexican food filled up the menu. It was pretty good Mexican food, but not the best I've had, especially in New Mexico. The salsa was fresh and the chips were crispy, but the rice reminded me of the kind you make from a box. The chicken enchilada and refried beans were average, and I really didn't like the enchilada sauce too much. It was also a little more expensive than what it was worth. $8.99 for just one enchilada, rice & beans. read more

Casa Lemus Restaurant - Cute little bar area - American Near Me - Raton, New Mexico

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Really a good value, relaxed vibes, home made authentic food. Inexpensive, convenient, good food served well. Love the frosty glasses for our beers, and the festive dining room. Worth a stop when you are rolling down the road. The Sands restaurant has been open since May 25, 2006. They are a family restaurant, operated by Mauricio Lemus. He created his own cuisine, which is a mix of Mexican, New Mexican, an American favorites. read more

Casa Lemus Restaurant - Dining room on a Thursday night, when most of the town is closed. - American Near Me - Raton, New Mexico

This is a family owned restaurant and you can tell in every bite. Have eaten there many times and always satisfied with the food and the service. Menu has lots of options and the servers are informed and helpful when making decisions. read more

This place is expensive and the food is horrible. The only good thing I can say... Is it was good service. Very friendly wait staff. And it only took a few minutes to microwave our food. So we were in and out. Should have been out before we went in. The queso was out of a can, like at the ball park. And it was $7.99. I got enchiladas. The tortillas were rubbery and the enchiladas had zero taste. My husband got the ranchero burrito. The meat was a chopped up hamburger. The Mexican food had no Mexican food taste. Save your money!! read more

We had dinner here while staying at the motel. The restaurant is clean with a great atmosphere. The wait staff was vary friendly and attentive. The food was tasty and very reasonably priced. Great margaritas! Made us feel right at home while on our road trip. We went to bed full and happy! read more

We had an EXCELLENT meal here. Staying at the Rodeway inn next door. The front desk staff recommended this restaurant. Very pleases I got the 41 chicken. The green chili sauce was delicious my whole meal was just wow.. my husband ordered 53 his steak was delicious. Being from Dallas Texas we love Mexican food. It has been a very long time since I have given such a great review. Eat here. The food was awesome and the service was exceptional. Will have to stop again next time we are coming thru read more

Texas big city Tex Mex is better, but this is decent for small town fare. Main problem is wife asked for ground beef in her taco (as opposed to shredded beef), and it came out overcooked and too clumpy, almost as if she got a seasoned, torn up, recooked hamburger patty. Other than that, the food was decent. read more

Stopped for breakfast on July 4. Great huevos rancheros. Fast service & friendly staff who helped us locate some family sites in town. I'd visit again, and maybe next time we'll stay as guests! read more

The absolute best independent restaurant, anywhere, at any price, on the Clayton Road exit in Raton. Seriously, decent local establishment with a good mix of diner and Mexican fare. Don't miss the Raton Favorite Burger. read more

Had supper - #68. Two cheese enchiladas with beans, sour cream, and guacamole. Decent food and plenty of it. Service was excellent. read more

Casa Lemus Restaurant - Enchiladas. - American Near Me - Raton, New Mexico

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We often pass through Raton late in the evenings returning from fishing or the mountains so we discovered Casa Lemus many years ago because it is one of the few real restaurants open late. Now, stopping for dinner at Casa Lemus is a part of our travel tradition.The food is always delicious and more importantly the staff are just ridiculously friendly. It sounds cliché but they just make me feel at home. read more

The salad that came with my chicken wrap was quite large and colorful, with mushrooms, green peppers, tomatoes, red cabbage. Loved it! Wrap was tasty. Fast service, we'll definitely stop here again next time we pass through town, instead of stopping for fast food read more

My husband and I tried the 2 for $20 menu. We were very pleased with our meals. The staff was very attentive. Chips and salsa were brought to the table right away. The salsa was delicious but very hot. I had the enchiladas verde. The enchiladas were served with rice, beans, a dollop of sour cream and one of guacamole. The enchiladas were stuffed with shredded white meat chicken. The sauce was not too spicy. It was really wonderful that the dish was not smothered with cheese. There was just enough to make the dish. My husband had sirloin steak with baked potato, garlic toast and mixed veggies. The steak was thin, but a good size. We really enjoyed our meals. read more

We're locals and this is our favorite Raton restaurant. The owner is always present, the service generally good, the food primarily Mexican, authentic and good. I usually get the Number 67, a grilled-chicken burrito smothered in green chile sauce with beans & rice. Beer and wine, plus some American dishes (great green chile cheeseburger) and a salad bar. The worn sign outside gives a wrong impression but the interior is beautifully renovated and colorful. The Sands is popular with locals and travelers alike, the latter coming off I-25 just up the boulevard. read more

Casa Lemus Restaurant - Mauricio, owner, The Sands - American Near Me - Raton, New Mexico

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My daughter and I were traveling from San Antonio, TX and we stopped here to stay the night in the hotel and ate in their restaurant. The server was very helpful and kind and we were so tired from driving all day and just drove through a heavy rain storm in June. We were exhausted and hungry. The dinner was good and the breakfast the next morning was also good and their pancakes were very good. Coffee service was fast and we were very pleased with this little restaurant and hotel and would come back again when in the area, which I do plan to next year again! Thank you read more

The food here tastes like microwaved frozen dinners. The breakfast is so awful we didn't even accept the free one offered with our room. The staff was rude and slow. Don't waste your time and money. read more

Great place to stop in the middle of nowhere. Was starving on a trip to CO and needed food. Was more than pleasantly surprised at the awesome food and solid service. The chicken quesadillas were a delight for my tired, hungry body. Skip the nasty fast food nearby and come here! read more

Busy hometown restaurant...good Mexican food. The salsa was extraordinary and the food was great...if you got the right order. Don't serve margaritas and out of Corona...I just drank tea. My sister-in law liked her meal even though it wasn't what she ordered. They did bring her the right stuff and she liked it even better...but was full...More for Me!!! read more

Super cute restaurant attached to a motel. The restaurant was originally a 1950's style. It has been southweternized. It is comfortable. They have a vegetarian section on the menu. Fajitas, quesadillas, nachos. They also have a salad bar. It's not whole foods, but decent for a small town mexican bar. If you are avoiding gluten or corn I would stick to the salad bar or fajitas. We split the spinach quesadilla to go. (In my head the health of the spinach canceled out the ill effects of the dairy and flour. Haha.) I skipped the sour cream and asked for a side of the salsa. The salsa was great. We both really lived the salsa. I would go just for the salsa. I would stop here again, but there may be better vegetarian options in Trinidad. We were headed south and the next was is Las Vegas, NM. Las Vegas has a small health food store. read more

We had a great burrito here! The service was excellent and the food tasty. I would recommend it!

Let me begin by saying, try the Mexican. Everyone else had it and it looked pretty good. We thought it was too expensive. Considering we are from TX, paying $17 for carne asada seemed too much. Nevertheless, we sure wish we had tried it instead of what we had. So, we settled on this place after the restaurant we wanted to go to was closed. Looked like plenty of people were there, and we'd been traveling awhile. Our server was young and seemed new, but he was nice. The menu is a little disorganized (with the appetizers being on the last page). Everything seemed pricey to us...we paid$7.50 for a 6" kids cheese pizza (with a side of spaghetti--weird?) that we're pretty sure was just a frozen Totinos individual deep dish pizza. The kids burger ($7.99) was the same size as the regular burgers. My husband's burger cost $10 bucks and was average. He was really hoping it was going to be great since it had the hatch chiles on it...he said it was good, not great. And I just had the salad bar. Not super extensive, but sufficient for the price ($6 for all-you-can-eat). The best thing was the soup off the salad bar, a hearty chicken and vegetable. We were bummed on this stop. read more