Ella's was so great!! The service was impeccable and friendly. The food was very good, not greasy, and the green and red sauce was SO tasty!! The omelettes were cooked very well and the hash browns were crisp! We ended up ordering a bunch of extra food to take with us and only regret we haven't tried this place sooner! Thank you for a lovely visit!!!! read more

The food is great Service is great really can't complain. I could almost eat there every day.

Close to home cooked! We visited on a weekday for late lunch, only 2 other tables were seated. My beef burrito, Christmas, was huge and filled with beef although it was more like a cross cut roast than a shredded style. There wasn't the usual heavy flour tortilla globs folded under the ends, as is often found on a burrito that big. Completely tender, there was nothing left on my plate. My spouse had the 3 tostada plate with the same flavorful beef and was pleased. He enjoyed the beans. They were whole, NM style, like his family traditionally made. He was not a fan of the pico as it was overwhelmed by cilantro. I spooned a bit of my red and green onto his plate and that worked for him. My #1 reason for 5 stars? Someone in the kitchen knows that salt can always be added, but not taken away. Our taste is for straight flavors, simple and fresh. Packaged food and pre mixed spice "blends" rely heavily on salt and when you eliminate these conveniences, the true flavors become more appealing and typical restaurant fare is no longer acceptable. I noticed the meals being brought to other patrons and wow those burgers and fries would be a real treat. Maybe next time? read more

In the middle of nowhere. We were traveling back country roads from Arizona to New Mexico. This place was packed. Long wait for food. A lot of take- out orders,Flavorful ground beef tacos. I had a pork entree that was so juicy and spicy. I would recommend. read more

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Super nice people and straight up delicious homemade Mexican food (along with other awesome food) worth a sidetrack if you're riding through on 180! read more

I was lucky enough to wander into this gem the other day. They have a great menu but am happy that I ordered the Huevos Ranchero with the green sauce. No lying...The best I've ever had!!! read more

Ella's Cafe - Huevos Rancheros! Delicious!!! - Cafes Near Me - Reserve, New Mexico

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Bacon breakfast burrito. Green for him, red for me. I have been craving since CA. Did not disappoint! read more

Ella's Cafe - a plate of enchilada and a bowl of enchilada - Cafes Near Me - Reserve, New Mexico

Reserve is a very small town of 289 (according to 2010 census). This is the place where locals dine and pick up food. The waitress knew all the locals names and the locals knew each other. We did not feel like outsiders. Food was good and a great value. Waitress was very nice. This is a very conservative little down where the waitress and customers were not wearing masks during COVID. No alcohol here, get it at the nearby bar. The bar is actually the only place in town to purchase alcohol by the can/bottle to take out by the way. Would recommend! read more

Ella's Cafe - Fried chicken.. and he had the burger! - Cafes Near Me - Reserve, New Mexico

While driving in the country we came upon this place. Lots of cars out front so we decided to give it a try for lunch. Great chili cheese burger and great service. read more

Small little diner. They post a sign that states, "good food takes time to make, please be patient." They we're right. If you're not in a hurry, this is a great breakfast spot. I'm not a hash brown fan, but this place did a great job on their hash browns..... slightly crisp on the outside, just perfect. Omelette was wonderful also. read more

If you're passing through Reserve, Ella's is a must! Friendly down-home greeting upon entering and a familiar collection of chickens and chicken-themed decorations makes for a truly small hometown experience. To top it off, the food is on par as well! Great pancakes, and perfectly cooked eggs and hash browns for me, Green Chile huevos rancheros for my wife. Hers was great and perfectly spicy. I'm really glad we chose to stop at Ella's during our stay in Reserve. We didn't try any of their pies, but I bet they are great too! read more

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A hidden gem! Great lunch with thick juicy burgers. Pie was amazing! Pistachio cream pie is amazing. The most friendly server. Will be back again. We rode as a small group of motorcycles and the ride up there was amazing. read more

Had breakfast/brunch/lunch here as we were driving through Reserve. The cafe is quaint, clean and accommodating. My husband got the chicken fried steak, poached eggs, hashbrowns and toast. He really enjoyed it and felt that the poached eggs were cooked perfectly. I got a green chile cheeseburger after I confirmed that it was indeed NM green chile. Weird question, I know, but I did spend the weekend in AZ where they don't know what green chile is exactly. I felt the burger was overcooked and heard a microwave in the background, but I think there is about one person in the kitchen, and one waitress. So, you can't hardly blame them. Nice place to stop and get some grub though. And would stop whenever I'm in Reserve again. read more

I came to Reserve for a thing at the County Courthouse, and of course, I dove to Yelp to figure out where to eat here. (I also got a great little history lesson about Reserve). Whoa - every place in this town gets 4 and 5 stars. Either the bar is low, or it's a competitive market in this underrated culinary paradise. Well, it's definitely the latter. Ella's was fantastic - the service was fantastic (but what do you expect - it's small town America - the machine that made this country great). I had the chicken fried steak - AWESOME! This may sound silly, but the white gravy was done right, not thick, not lumpy, and not from a package (or if it was they did a good job covering it up). Sadly, I was too full for any of the fresh chocolate muffins, but I am looking to come back soon. Real soon! It's also interesting that 3 Elites from all over the world have now reviewed Ella's, and all of us have said 4 stars or more. read more

I read all the reviews and was pleasantly pleased. The only on that was questionable was the guy from California. In short, he is dead wrong, which doesn't surprise me any. California hasn't gotten it right in a long time. We plan on making a weekend road trip and will stop again. Glad to see we won't run into California while there. Jim K read more

Had breakfast here. Rose our waitress was awesome! The quevos rancheros with the green sauce was amazing!!! Had a side of really good bacon too. Their coffee is some of the best I've tasted anywhere. My daughter had a big breakfast too and loved it. Even said they'd try to make me a pineapple cream pie for my next visit will if I call ahead! How great is that! Love them! read more

Amazing food and the cutest server ever! Extremely friendly, speedy service and clean. If we find ourselves back in Reserve we'll be making a stop. read more

Ella's is one of the older establishments in Reserve. The original "Ella" owned and operated it when I was in high school, some thirty-odd years ago. It was good home cooking then, and it still is now. Situated in an old nondescript looking building near the county courthouse, and decorated in mostly roosters of all sorts, hunting photos hanging on the walls, the menu features American and Mexican dishes. Each one I've tried there were tasty and economical. There's definitely enough food to fill you up, and the endless glass of iced tea adds even more value to the meal. They make a mean green chile cheeseburger and fries (my standard there). The staff are friendly and helpful. read more

Burger and Picnic Special were excellent. Love the many many roosters and the potato salad was just like it was made back home. Yes, I would return and if you get down Reserve way, you should give Ella's your business. read more

The food was great, and everyone there was friendly and up for some good small talk. Def made a good start to the day!

About 10 months ago my girl and I went to this place for a little change from the norm in reserve. The place looks quaint on the outside but rundown on the inside. Service was slow and emotionless to say the least. We both ordered cheeseburgers from their "create your own burger" menu and received food unfit for human consumption. I have never seen a beef patty so over cooked in my life! This thing was scorched beyond recognition. I seriously would have enjoyed a hockey puck on a bun more than this thing. The french fries were the worst I've been served ever! They appeared to have been dropped back in the grease after nobody had eaten them in days. This caused them to become sponges for the grease and they were harder than diamonds. How can you fu#% up food so bad?! Then I saw the inbred deliverance looking guy in the kitchen and it all made sense. "Ella should Sella" this place to someone who knows how to cook. Maybe they do cook a decent breakfast I really don't know but they sure as heck missed cooking class on cheeseburger day. Personally I'm too traumatized now to attempt breakfast after my burger and fry fiasco. I don't know what two diseases I'd rather have than eat at this place. read more

We stopped here on March 26 as we were passing through town. Had one of the best meals we've eaten in three weeks of wandering through southern NM and AZ. Highly recommend the omelettes and the pulled beef enchiladas. read more

Fast, reasonably priced, and very welcoming. The food was delicious. I ordered the Chile rellenos.

Excellent food. No frills. Generous Helpings. Easily digested. Very glad we stopped by for breakfast on our way down the mountain

Mexican food left a lot to be desired, Waitress was very rude and didn't like it if you wanted something extra, like water or coffee.