First: get a reservation! Then, enjoy! Beautiful atmosphere, excellent service and the food was to die for! One of the finest meals I've had since coming to New Mexico. This is a special occasion place. A little on the high end, but definitely worth every penny! You get what you pay for. Our cocktails were spot on, and we really just enjoyed ourselves in a relaxed and elegant setting. read more

I arrived early for a 6:30 reservation and offered to sit at the bar but the hostess seated me at our table. The busboy brought me water and, after 15 minutes I went up to the bar to get a drink myself. After 25 minutes the waiter finally came and asked if he could bring me anything else. And there were only 3 or 4 tables seated so they weren't busy. For a $20 cocktail I would have appreciated table service. read more

This is not the El Nido you remember. After a long period of shuttered doors, the familiar adobe building just past the Tesuque Village Market reopened last Thanksgiving as a newly reincarnated "Italian Steakhouse." Specializing in fire-cooked and rotisserie entrees alongside pizza and pasta dishes, this upscale establishment draws a diverse crowd every night, as the parking lot spills out onto the street. On a recent visit, my New York Strip was cooked to medium-rare perfection, full of flavor, and drizzled in house-made A1 sauce. Each bite was tender and irresistible. From the specials menu, an order of monkfish was also selected. The flavor, mild and buttery, perfectly complemented the potato puree and greens. The grappa-cured salmon appetizer has a bold and pungent taste which lingers on the tongue. A cappicola pizza, topped with apricot preserves and arugula, is fresh and sumptuous. At classy joints like this, I'm more conscious of my desire to rapidly devour whole plates of food. The beer list isn't fancy, but the recent addition of Dogfish Head 90 Minute is a plus. For five dollars, PBR is the cheapest option, and there's no shame ordering a glass of it to accompany your ribeye. Ask your server what's good that day, and don't be afraid to try something new; El Nido provides just such inspiration. read more

El Nido - Grappa cured salmon appetizer - American Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

I had the pleasure of enjoying every minute of my evening at El Nido from the staff, to the superb meal. We went with a sharing state of mind and were happily blessed to fight over the meatballs, crab fritters, arugula fig salad, tortellini and the Everest sized volcano chocolate ice cream dessert. I can't say enough about the attentiveness and knowledge of the staff. It's pretty hard to find professional waitstaff in NM, but El Nido has hand picked the finest and Melissa was top notch. Chris picked out the perfect accompaniment wine and Chef Cristian checked on us to make sure all was as expected. 20 years ago, El Nido was the best restaurant in Santa Fe, and Chef Cristian has revived its perfection and taken it to the next level. I love this place and will return as soon as possible. read more

El Nido - Meatballs - American Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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I enjoyed a fantastic dining experience at El Nido, on a Friday night, using Open Table to make a reservation for myself and 2 friends. It was an hour drive from Albuquerque, but well worth it. We enjoyed two tri-pepper ribeye steaks, so tender, juicy, spicy and flavorful, paired with grilled vegetables and the most amazing green chile Cowboy mac & cheese. My other friend ordered the Kobe burger and he considered it the best burger he's ever had. Before our meal we tried several smoked cocktails, a mixture of bourbon, tequila and mezcal. The servers checked on us frequently for refills and to make sure our entrees were prepared as requested. We were too stuffed to sample the desserts and will need to return another time to save some room for dessert. The character and history of the dining room and bar definitely added to our experience. read more

El Nido - Tri-pepper ribeye with green chile mac & cheese - American Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

First off the food was amazing! The chicken was some of the best I have ever tasted! Also, our waiter was incredible! We loved sitting outside! I would go here again and again! My husband got the Oaxaca Old fashioned and LOVED IT. read more

El Nido - We are on our baby moon so they made this mocktail! - American Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

A dining disappointment-twice, so won't go for thrice. Service, menu, and value for price greatly overrated in an area with better choices.

First time back to this Tesuque favorite. I decided during the past year of lockdown that my first foray out would be here. Made a reservation well, well in advance for a table on the patio. Upon arrival they had our reservation, but the hostess glibly informed us that there were no tables outside because 'others' had reserved them. We were told in no uncertain terms that our reservation held no value. Apparently, El Nido has taken the same approach as airlines who overbook and then just don't care about 'your' reservation. It's fine if they are basically not respecting the age old tradition of holding reservations sacred, but at least be honest about it and say you only deal with customers on a first come first serve basis. Additionally, they've gone to the Santa Fe 'You think I'm stupid' pricing model in the manner of Geronimo, The Compound et al. The food here is very good, but the pricing is getting ridiculous. Raising prices to make up for lost revenue might seem smart on an Excel sheet, and with pent-up demand prove to be a short-term income boost, but it's not a long-term strategy for winning back loyal patrons. read more

Now that the pandemic is getting behind us it's good to be able to go back to Alamito and enjoy a lovely dinner and drinks. We love the architecture and the walls since the remodel several years ago. read more

I've lived in Tesuque for 21 years and never been treated so badly. They are particular who they let in and the person, as you walk in is rude and acts superior. The waiter at that time was acting distant and not helpful. This restaurant used to be welcoming and fun - with good, reasonable food. read more

Private event tonight and the place looked amazing from the table settings the candles, lighting and the music was perfect as well. Food came out great and everyone was happy. Thanks for the wonderful hospitality. read more

El Nido - Ribeye with red chili mashed potatoes and asparagus. - American Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Awful! Server the only good thing there...got reservations wrong. Food is OK but way to pricey for what it is... Awful dessert! Manager rude! Will not be going back with so many better choices in Santa Fe. read more

Excellent. The food was delicious, the service very friendly and accommodating. Each person in our party was fully satisfied with their meal. We had the grilled oysters, caprese salad, fettuce pasta, pizza, bison ribs and pork. Everything was excellently prepared. We also had our 6 month old baby and everyone from the host to our server was so very gracious and invited him back anytime. read more

El Nido - Starter: Burrata in Tokyo...it's delicious! But make the plate messy! The soy sauce/sea salt dribble makes the perfect bite. - American Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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We tried the roasted green chili oysters. I asked for no bread crumbs and I got luck warm oysters with no green chilies or anything. No butter, no spice, no flavor but warm runny oyster. Yuck. They took half the price off for us. I live on the coast of California half time so to be fair I eat a lot of grilled oysters. These aren't even close. But, I gave it 4 stars because our entrees were yummy. I got the salmon with a cherry harissa sauce and grilled asparagus and polenta. The harissa sauce and salmon were amazing so Au didn't care the the polenta was boring. If they had added a little cheese to it it would've made a great partner to the salmon. But, the salmon held its own and rocked my world. My partner had the handmade squid ink pasta with arugula and shrimp and loved it. We shared a chocolate bomb dessert filled with vanilla ice cream and berries. Yum!! Our waiter was really great too. (We also had the grilled romaine Caesar which was excellent) read more

El Nido - Chocolate bomb - American Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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I'm not sure how we have missed this really lovely, slightly-out-of-town restaurant in the time we have lived in Santa Fe, but what a real treasure! This small local restaurant has a long and storied history, but in it's current configuration it is the best combination of a casual place to enjoy a brick-oven pizza and cocktail, or a full, delicious continental meal. For me this place is the best mix of good service, beautifully prepared meals, and reasonable prices. We came during happy hour (4-6 daily) when all of there hand-thrown pizzas are $7.00 off the regular price and well-selected wines are a very reasonable $7.00 per glass. The setting is very quiet and romantic. The dining room is comfortable. Staff did a great job in accommodating our gluten-free preference. Everything was very nice. We'll certainly be back to enjoy more of their menu options! read more

Top restaurant of Santa Fe! This was our first time at El Nido and had the best dinner in years. The service from Katie was outstanding. She was knowledgeable, funny, engaging...perfect. Janine was the manager and was equally as fantastic. 10/10 in my book. Can't wait to go back next visit. read more

El Nido - Vodka Gimlet - American Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

So right of to start I love EL Nido's food. The problem I have is when I order it on-line there are issues. How can I explain it? Dishes that we ordered don't show up. ie...Ordered three dishes and got two. This has happened not once but multiple times. I pay for 3 and they give me 2. Love the food but it will be hard again to order from them with any confidence that I get what I ordered. And by the way... I pay full price for food I don't get. Feeling like there is some kind of scam going on. This kind of stuff has happened to me not once, not twice, but three times. I think I'm done unfortunately. I read more

We had a meal that started well, but turned into a disaster. We were walk-ins on a busy night, and the hostess was very accomodating. We had wonderful whiskey sours and a delightful split caesar salad. Then things went haywire. A long, long wait for the maincourse followed by a dead cold pizza - I mean no warmth at all. The restuarant tried to fix this by reheating, but returned with the pizza crust burnt . I mean really really burnt. Personally, I would be ashamed to present anything like that to a table. After a little round about, the restaurant did comp the pizza. Saved some money but we went away hungry. read more

I'd been getting emails saying there is now sushi at El Nido, so, of course I just had to try it. Im giving a 3 star rating for a couple of reasons. First and foremost I'd like to say that the sushi was very good, very fresh and very well presented. I thought the prices were overly exaggerated, I.e., $10 for two pieces of sashimi and the prices got worse from there. $170 for two people for sushi is crazy to spend when you can go locally for wayyyy less than half that price and the same quality and freshness. The atmosphere was lovely though there were only us and two other diners. I later found out that the two other diners were the owners that were sitting at the bar. I would have thought that considering the place was empty, one of them Would have came over to inquire how our meal was progressing. They did not. Also, I would suggest soft traditional Japanese music as opposed to Mexican music in this particular setting. BTW, the setting is very calm and ascetically pleasing. My friend asked for a sake martini which was not in the menu. Our darling waiter, Jose happily without hesitation said he would ask the bartender if she can accommodate us. He came back with a flipping yummy sake martini. Now Jose is the kind of waiter that you want to serve you. He was very discrete yet eager for feedback every step of the way. I would love to give his service a five star if there was a way to do that. He made our dining experience very pleasurable indeed. I'd like to make it clear that my 3 star rating was mostly because of the crazily expensive prices of the sushi. I've dined in the non-sushi part of El Nido several times and will always give it a 5 star rating for the food and service. We were off put only by the prices and very small portions and the fact we thought one of the owners should have asked us how our dining experience was. Hopefully, they will have the good sense to lower the prices and increase the portions and when and if they do, I'll be back. However, again, Jose was the bomb, bravo Jose! read more

I have eaten many times at El Nido when it was under different ownerships. We decided to try it again in its current incarnation. We had a lovely table under the covered rear patio. The service was excellent, and an owner or manager even stopped by to inquire if everything was okay. The food, however, was disappointing. We started with Caesar salad. There was nothing wrong with it. However, it lacked the zest that I am accustomed to and did not contain anchovies. It could have been any salad. We next had the chicken which the server characterized as a house specialty. Unfortunately, it was no better than one might get if one bought a rotisserie chicken at a supermarket. The skin was not crisp, and the chicken had a bland taste in addition to being tough. The accompanying vegetable medley composed mainly of Brussel sprouts was tasteless as was the gummy polenta serving. We finished with the cheesecake dessert. Although this was just okay, it again was like something one might get at a diner. I doubt that I will revisit El Nido. It does not live up to the rave reviews it gets from others. I suspect that many diners do not pay much attention to food quality after 3 to 4 martinis, as I saw being served at adjacent tables. read more

This is one of our new favorites! To start, I cannot say enough about the excellent service, hospitality and atmosphere. Drinks were always full and everyone was very friendly. Food was very good with ample servings. We enjoyed it so much, we went two days in a row. You will not be disappointed with the Stuffed Artichoke, Wagyu Burger or the Lamb Pappardelle. read more

Finally open and well worth the wait! This is one of the best restaurants in the Santa Fe area. First enjoy one of their custom cocktails then follow along their daily specials and you will find yourself enjoying one of the best culinary experiences. read more

Lovely restaurant with excellent service, tranquil patio atmosphere, and wonderful food. Sean knew exactly what to do to make us feel welcome and helped us make the best selections... since so many items on the menu were alluring! We started off with the Fig and Gorgonzola Flatbread which was absolutely delicious! For my main entree, I tried the 'El Rey' and really enjoyed it! My husband had the Wagyu Steak Frites and love it! read more

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Outstanding. The food and cocktails were top level. We had the shaved Brussels sprouts salad and bread basket to start, then the butternut squash cannelloni and lamb pappardelle. The food was delicious. For drinks we had the Oaxaca Old Fashioned, which I wasn't sure about from the menu because I am not a huge mezcal fan, but wow, it was excellent. Highly recommend El Nido, and this will be a regular stop for us when we are in town. We booked on Open table and we were supposed to have a regular table but we received a call a day or so in advance that Open Table doubled booked us and they asked if we would sit at the bar instead, and receive full service. We loved the bar experience. read more

We had an amazing dinner at El Nido! It was a special event, and we had the back room reserved and a special menu planned--I'm not sure how much of our food is on the regular menu, but it was all ridiculously amazing. My favorites were a truffled mushroom soup and buffalo steak. I hope that I get to return soon! read more

We really enjoyed El Nido. The service was top notch and the food was very good. We tried the stuffed artichokes and pork belly for an appetizer and both were amazing. I had the bison osso bucco and it was melt in your mouth and delicious. All around, great food and service. Would absolutely be 5 star but I think the pricing is a bit high here. Dinner for 2 adults and 2 kids with drinks came out to $320. Example: $9 bread plate (something most nice restaurants would just offer complimentary before your meal). read more

We had such an amazing evening at El Nido! The service was stellar, and the food was delicious. Brie Wellington, grilled Caesar salad and filet mignon, everything was exceptional. The atmosphere was upscale but casual, very comfortable. We will definitely be back! read more

I have never had a chocolate tort like I had here tonight, it was truly unbelievable, light, decadent, and perfectly paired with the vanilla ice cream on top. Cocktails and food was on point, service is great. Side note, we had 6 people there and didn't realize there was a service fee for 6 or more people. Keep your eyes open on that. Either way, loved this place! read more

Interesting rustic restaurant worth a try. The kitchen is trying some fun items and with time will certainly get better. They strive to provide locally produced ingredients. Upon entering I could not help but notice - El Nido lists the wood it is using for cooking that night - Apple, Oak and Pecan. The margarita's were really good, made with fresh ingredients. A decent local craft beer and wine by the glass/bottle selection. Food was Italian influenced, a lamb pappardelle, green chili roasted oysters, and spinach gnocchetti were well prepared. Unfortunately, after taking our order, unknown to our server, the kitchen ran out of the fish special. (Now, how do you do that?) The waiter tried to make it up to those who ordered the special by offering a beer on the house. Speaking of our waiter, he was enthusiastic about all the food, life, everything, to the point of whatever we asked about the menu, he loved it. He came across as disingenuous if not insincere. El Nico does have ample parking, a comfortable setting and reasonable prices. El Nido is worth a visit. read more

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We had a party of three last night. We booked like hours in advance. When we got there, the person at the entrance had a hard time finding our name. She insisted on putting us in Su when I specifically did not book a space in their sushi room. All the booth sections except one were unoccupied when we got there at 6. When we left, there was one booth section still unoccupied. She said seats in the other areas were "prebooked." What I did online does not apparently count as prebooking. Wonder what prebook means when their website only shows one reservation link for El Nido and another for Su. We felt embarrassed and frankly discriminated. read more

El Nido has a "new" offering, and new menu. We enjoyed the sushi menu, available by designating this choice when making a reservation. The winter menu is delicious, but this sushi is a welcome winter option. The choices were fresh, tasty, prepared by a seasoned sushi chef. The service was its usual friendly and professional. Six of us enjoyed different selections, and each of us raved and agreed to return. The Sushi option is available at El Nido Wednesday through Saturday. I highly recommend this as a delicious alternative to more traditional winter dining. Located in Tesuque, El Nido is a short and easy drive from Santa Fe. read more

The food was great; the server (Lena) was great; the female manager? Not so much. I would have given this restaurant at least 4 stars had the manager not been so rude. We arrived 15 minutes before our reservation, and they attempted to seat us in the absolutely most claustrophobic, worst table in the restaurant, though there were multiple other two tops available. We waited for over 10 minutes for her to 'find' us another table, though the place was half empty. When we were finally seated, the 'manager' berated me, saying "I don't know why you are so upset." I didn't make a scene. I didn't raise my voice. I just expressed that I didn't understand what the problem was--that's it. For her to berate me was uncalled for and only exasperated the service lapse, and started our meal with a bad taste. We may be back or not, but I don't look forward to interacting with her again. read more

This has been one of our favorite restaurants, but a recent visit was a big disappointment. They have a new chef and the food is not nearly as good as it used to be. The Cacio e Pepe, which used to be one of our favorite dishes, was nothing more than pasta swimming in oil. The added sausage, which used to be crumbled Italian, was a large link of some kind of pork, with a flavor of smoke and no Italian seasonings. The shrimp on the coconut risotto were under-cooked and mushy. The steak frites and the calamari appetizer were good. They graciously remade the pasta dish, and it wasn't much better. They also told us that they've had other complaints about the dish. I'd say if you can't make it correctly, then take it off the menu, especially if you know it's an issue! We really like this restaurant, and hope that they get their act together with this new chef. It'll be awhile before we go back, though. read more

Last night was our first post-Covid19 dinner out. New Mexico has been shut down for two and a half months and we were ready to return to restaurant dining in person. It was our first visit to El Nido, and we are so glad we chose to visit them! The food and service were top notch. Safety precautions were still being observed by all; some one even opened the entry door for us. We reserved a table on their lovely covered patio. Our great server Katy took excellent care of us throughout the meal, and all the efficient crew seemed really delighted to be back in business. We started with two superb signature cocktails... mine was the SMOKE AND MIRRORS with mezcal and hubby drank a fancy Manhattan clone named OLD MAN GLOOM, a nod to Santa Fe tradition. They were a little pricey, but worth it, and we opted for wine by the glass with dinner rather than a bottle from their extensive list. They are known for their pizzas/flatbreads, so we ordered the ITALIAN, with sausage and pepperoni on a thin crust. We also shared possibly the best risotto I've ever had, topped with a generous seabass filet that was perfectly cooked! (And I make a mean risotto!) Jeanine, who seemed to be the owner or manager, visited each table to check on everyone. Congrats to her, Katy, the Chef and all who made for a lovely patio dining experience. We will be back! read more

This being a well-regarded place, I was stunned that the chef tried to sneak out a NY strip that was FULL of gristle and fat from the very first bite. After hacking through and spitting out about half of it, I politely told our server my $51 steak was inedible. I changed my pick to the tenderloin, which my wife had ordered, and it was perfect, though of course by then the pace of our meal was ruined and no effort was made to compensate us for the bad experience, like comping my entree, or a dessert or even a drink. Service was top-notch. Ashley did what she could. This would have been a wonderful meal if the chef had been paying attention. read more

I really like the look of El Nido, they did a great job with the remodel. Which apparently gave them the impression that they could serve average fare, at ridiculous , NYC prices. I have been to El Nido 6 times. Each as average as the trip prior, and think that that will suffice. Service is spotty at best. Don't expect to get a cocktail within 20 minutes of ordering. But when it does arrive, what is not expected is a $20.00 margarita, or a $100.00 bottle of chardonnay, marked up from $21.00 retail,that just hit me wrong. Not sure how they will make the one year mark in November. Oh, and the chef, Enrique was given his walking papers the week I last visited. At least the décor will be fresh for the next owners. read more

Review. I recently had the opportunity to eat at El Nido for a pre-opera dinner and I was amazed! The patio was beautiful and the opera lobster was to die for. Not only does place offer fresh pasta and pizza but it seems to have a large sea food selection(lobster, oysters, branzino, salmon and scallops). I have eaten all around town and have not seen this type of offering anywhere. My friends also enjoyed grilled fresh vegetables and organic chicken. I look forward to coming back soon! read more

Fantastic restaurant. Best service. Staff is friendly, attentive and professional. Food is amazing. Better than any restaurant in Santa Fe proper. Chris, Ed and Kirsten---AWESOME. read more

El Nido did an outstanding job under current COVID conditions. Excerpt the masks it almost felt normal. They have expanded there patio with tent to accommodate more outside dining. The service was great and the food is amazing. read more

Wonderful place would come again love the service the bar is great and the food is a must try.