I came in around 3pm on a Friday afternoon and it was really slow so I had great speedy service. The owner came out to greet us and mingle for a while. Great food!!!!!! I tried the poblanos sampler to help me decide on what sauce to use for me enmoladas! They were delicious, I tried the green mole and we also had the empanadas criollas as an appetizer. We decided to have dessert as well and it was delicious!!! We had the mascarpone cheesecake! It is a combination of cake and cheesecake with blueberries on top. Very moist and delicious. I recommend this place to anyone wanting to try authentic mole. read more

OMG... Last night we had our Valentine's Dinner at Paisano Cafe. I recommend 100% this place. I ate the Requeson Shrimp and my husband the Lobster, AMAZING! This people know about good food. Today we came back for lunch, and mi chicken enmoladas with mole poblano were delicious. My husband ate Chiles en Nogada, that is a beautifull and full flavor plate. For dessert, we share Crepes Zuset, it was very good too. read more

I'm a big fan of mole, so I was excited when I was looking into my dining options in Las Cruces and found Paisano, whose menu entices with four different types of moles. I opted for the shredded chicken enmoladas (basically enchiladas) with mole poblano, and while I wouldn't say I was underwhelmed, I certainly wasn't overwhelmed. I guess you could say I was just "whelmed." It was a pretty good meal for under 10 bucks, but the mole, which I hoped would take center stage, was just sort of "there." It wasn't overly sweet, but it lacked that little bit of heat that makes mole so delectable. Believe or not, I've had several better moles in Maryland and Virginia. Aside from the mildly disappointing mole, the refried black beans and rice were outstanding and our server was friendly and attentive. My dad claimed that his chicken breasts didn't amount to the 8 ounces promised by the menu, but again, the meal was under 10 bucks, so that's not a huge complaint. Overall, a good but not great dining experience. read more

This is one of our favorite restaurants in Las Cruces because of three things-the queso fundido, chips and salsa, and the Cuban sandwich! It's sooo good! I'm not a fan of the bread that comes with the queso, so I sub out the chips. The only reason I knocked it down to one star is because they only give you one basket of chips. I recommended this place for a big group of women for our ladies night out and the amount of chips they gave us was ridiculous. None of them liked the place and thought it was overpriced. They were also annoyed at the very little amount of chips and salsa they allow. I mean, come on-this is New Mexico!! Everyone gives free chips and salsa-and unlimited chips at that! Anyhow, I'd recommend this place, but only for those three items, for a couple of people(due to the small amount of chips they give), and for lunch. read more

I quite like this place, though somehow I don't end up there very often. It's easy to get to once you know where it is, but they certainly don't get much passers-by traffic. It's buried in the back of a not-exactly-bustling attempt at an upscale shopping center, without so much as a sign out on Avenida de Mesilla. The menu is, by Las Cruces standards, inventive, and the food is always tasty. The service is consistently good. The prices are reasonable. The ambiance of the place is what fails to draw me back more often. It tries to be both an unpretentious default breakfast/lunch spot for the regular crowd and a romantic european sidewalk cafe. That's a very very difficult fusion to achieve, and Paisano Cafe doesn't. But the food makes up for it. Well worth a visit. read more

I haven't given Paisano a chance in the past year or so and am glad I did tonight. The Chile nogados and a house salad were extraordinarily tasty. The atmosphere and service were great and I'll surely be putting this back on my list of restaurants to go to more regularly. read more

Came here for my moms birthday. It was between here and saint claires. We came in and we were going to be a party of 5. Several minutes later another party came in, then another, then another. Everyone was sat before us. We were not an extremely large party so were taken back. We finally were seated. Our waitress came to our table right away took our drink order and took about 10 minutes to come back with our drinks (non alcoholic beverages), we had all fountain drinks or water. We placed an appetizer order. I kid you not when I say this appetizer took one hour to be delivered to our table. 1 hour!!! For a cheese bowl!!! Insane. We asked about it several times in which we were told a couple more minutes several times. Our appetizer finally arrived and then our main dishes were there 2 minutes later. We had to ask for refills 5 different times. All adult meals came out and then the waitress proceeds to tell us that the meal my son had chosen, was out. They waited until all of us had our before coming to us that the kids meal was not available. Ridiculous. Not only that but several of the entrees we had came with sides. Almost all of our sides were not what we asked for. After we were done eating I asked to speak with the manager/owner about how terrible this celebration was due to their service. It was one negative thing right after another. The owner/manager did not offer any rectification and only simply stated that he will be speaking to our server. We will never be coming here again. We always try and support local but this will not be one of the areas we support nor will we ever recommend it! read more

Great fresh ingredients. Homemade sauces. This is an awesome spot. I enjoyed the experience.

Traveling from Phoenix to Texas--looking for a place to stop and eat and stay the night. Looked for suggestions on Yelp. This place is worth the stop. There was only one other table of customers. Lack there of customers was a little scary. But oh my! I ordered the chilies en nogada. I didn't want it to end. Every bite was yum. It was a poblano pepper stuffed with this mixture of ground beef, dried fruits, pecans, pine nuts. It was covered in a goat cheese sauce with pomegranate seeds. Soooo good. I told the waiter to take the plate away so I wouldn't embarrass myself by licking the plate. It was that good. Definitely worth the stop. read more

This might be the best restaurant in Las Cruces. Everything is prepared expertly, with layers of flavor and interesting ingredients. The restaurant is perfect for romantic dates, and the outdoor views of the area are beautiful. The sauces for the enmoladas are incredible! read more

This may be not only he best classical Mexican restaurant in Las Cruces but the best overall. Chile's en Nogada unique and delightful. He poblano pepper sauce on the Pamela chicken was smooth with a rich flavor and just a bit spicy. We also had excellent steak, a shrimp pasta dish. The chocolate cake was jus right--not too sweet and very chocolaty. read more

Excellent service! The beer was ice cold and I liked all the mole sauces. We will have to come back to try what we missed. The chef has no problem customizing your order if you request it. read more

Delicious! We husband and I were on a road trip from CA to TX and we stopped here for a delightful lunch. Excellent staff and incredible food! We left happy and full. read more

This restaurant is worth a special trip to Las Cruces this good sets a new standard for me for good in New Mexico. Call it New Mexican with a French flair. The chef/owner is in the kitchen the wait staff is quietly perfect. Why go to Santa Fe when you can come here? read more

We stopped through Las Cruces on our way back to El Paso, hoping to get a decent lunch. Paisano Cafe far exceeded my expectations--the food was excellent! The restaurant itself is tucked away in a little plaza area so it's easy to pass by it and the décor is a little incongruent with its cuisine. However, those are the only things that approach a complaint from me. I ordered the Cuban sandwich with a side of "carrot soup." Odd combo? Maybe, but it worked well for me. Before our food arrived, we got a complimentary basket of homemade tortilla chips and some kind of spicy dip which seemed to contain cheese and I couldn't tell what else. Let me tell you though, I don't care what the dip was made of, it was delicious. If it were possible, I would have bought some to take home with me. My sandwich was huge, which the waitress kindly informed me before ordering; I had enough to eat for lunch and then later for dinner at home. The different components of the sandwich all balanced each other out and the ingredients were obviously homemade and fresh. The carrot soup I was a little unsure of when I ordered but it was 100% delicious--I'm not sure what it was made of since it seemed like a bisque of some sort. If I lived near the Las Cruces area rather than just traveling through, I'd definitely be paying Paisano more visits. read more

Paisano Cafe - Paisano's version of a Cuban sandwich and carrot soup--delicious! - Italian Near Me - Mesilla, New Mexico

1st time here. Certainly a hidden gem in the high desert. The enmolada was great, as was the enchilada plate. Will definitely return, as there is much more to explore and tease the palate with. read more

Wow...just had the best meal that I have had all week visiting Las Cruces! Started with the Oxeca appetizer stuffed with the squash blossoms and it was very good. For my meal I had the fettuccine pasta with the squash blossom sauce and chicken. It was amazing! So glad that our host from NMSU brought us here. It is a hidden gem! We stayed at a hotel just down the road and would never have known the place was there. It really does blow away all the other restaurants that we have tried this week. Please put up a sign near the main road so tourists can find the place! You are sitting on a gold mine! read more

Hubby and I went there yesterday afternoon and there was a decent amount of guests eating. I believe the 2 waitresses working may have been overwhelmed because service was extremely slow. We were not even asked if we wanted any appetizers (no biggie). The reason I give this restaurant a 3/5 stars is because my husband asked for a refill on his coffee ( which wasn't even filled to the top in the first place) and never received it despite being passed by both waitresses multiple times. I had a tea, in a clear glass that was clearly empty and also was never offered a refill. I don't think I'd return to this restaurant for the reasons listed above, but also because my tacos were bland. And hubby was still hungry after ordering the carne asado tacos. read more

Great place! The salsa is out of this world, we had the pepito the alambre tacos the oj burger every thing great, the server did a great job

The food is absolutely out of this world delicious!!! We were in town for graduation and saw a write up in Southwest magazine featuring this place. If you are in town it is a MUST!!! Service was great, everyone is super friendly and the food is fabulous!! read more

Paisano Cafe - Patron plate...maybe the best thing I have ever eaten! - Italian Near Me - Mesilla, New Mexico

Love love love this place!! The setting and deco and the coffee!! so good and the food is pretty amazing too!! Recommend ten times over!!!!

A hidden gem, tucked away in the back of a small shopping/office area. Went for lunch and were blown away by the quality and uniqueness of the food. We had the pecan-encrusted chicken on a bed of mixed greens, cranberries, pecans, and blue cheese, made even better with the house cranberry vinaigrette. Other dish was exceptional fish tacos. The usual blah chips and salsa you get at most places were not present, instead light, airy chips were accompanied by a delicious proprietary dip. The servers were charming and helpful, making the visit an especially pleasant one. read more

If I could marry a salsa I would marry the one they serve here hands down. Every time I come to paisano there's barely anyone which is ridiculous because the serve the most beautiful food. The mango salmon dish is really a treat. They serve it with coconut rice and everything is perfectly proportioned and leaves you feeling refreshed. I don't write yelp reviews, I don't even have a picture on my profile. But his is one damn good restaurant. Definitely deserves attention. read more

Our meal was awesome! We're travelling in a motorhome with a 7 month old puppy...they were very accommodating! Try the mole...the best!!!

My family had reservations for 9 this past Mother's Day, May 12, 2019 at 11:30am. Our order's were not taken until around noon. We had a variety of food choices, fish tacos, 2 orders of eggs benedict another fish item, pancakes and eggs. Our food arrived at several different times; first person served was the adult with fish tacos. The next order did not arrive for 8 to 10 minutes. The last plates received were the eggs benedict; 3 to five minutes between each. None of us were able to eat at the same time. Very disappointing. Another large group arrived not to long after we did. This groups food arrived much sooner than ours and were out of there 20 minutes before we were all served. I noticed the owner going to several tables during our visit, not once were we checked on. I do not have issue with waiting for personalized well prepared meals, however our experience was not acceptable. The server we had was very pleasant and as efficient as she could be with the number of employees working. At no point during our visit was there an apology for the delay and scattered serving times. The food was very well presented and tasty. No member of my party will be visiting anytime soon. Supporting local business is extremely important to us. Kathy S. read more

This place was fantastic! We had the chicken tacos and the chips with guac and black beans. Seriously, really good. And affordable!!

My husband and I go to Paisano Cafe for breakfast or lunch regularly. The menu selections are wonderful and reasonably priced. The service is excellent. read more

Everything, including the side salads was well thought out. Our waitress was nice but had totally forgot that we ordered an appetizer (mushrooms). We would have said something once she brought out the entrees, but after taking bites of our meals, we didn't even care. They were so good and interesting. My partner ordered a steak that he really enjoyed, i ordered the veggie pesto lasagna. This isn't your mama's lasagna.......it was amazing and a refreshing take on the original favorite. Will def be going there again. The food was superior, but the interior of the restaurant seemed like it wasn't up to par with the cuisine. As if they were confused whether they wanted it to be a casual dining experience or a formal one. Still, very nice. read more

Best food is Las Cruces. My wife and I have lived in las Cruces for eight years and so have had a chance to try almost all the restaurants in the area. After discovering Paisanos about two months ago (it's kind of hard to find if you don't have directions) this is the place we retrn to week after week. Inventive food with a Mexican flavor, but definitely not Tex-Mex. Every dish I've had has been superb. Wine list is small but good, and markup is also small compared to purchasing at retail. Service is friendly and non-rushed. A real hidden gem. read more

This place is pure gold. Excellent moles with different styles. Great atmosphere as well and the free chips and salsa is unique and delicous

Very good food, surprise gem in town. Fresh ingredients, great chips and salsa. Surprisingly large portions.

Excellent food . I had the fish tacos . Wow very good 4 tacos with large talapia strips cooked perfectly. read more

Paisano Cafe - Italian Near Me - Mesilla, New Mexico

So it's 1/13/18 Saturday, 2:30pm. Late minute decision to have lunch at Piasanos. Great choice. Had the guacamole chips. Carne asada tacos and my wife the fish tacos. Folks all was very good. But the fish tacos are the bomb! The best we've had. We plan to return and very soon. The service was excellent but it could get busy and then be understaffed. read more

First, the Paisano is NOT Italian. It's mostly what I would called "nouvelle central Mexico cuisine". I don't know if it's "As good as it gets!" But it's one of my top two or three restaurants in the Las Cruces, NM area. To me, most "Mexican" restaurants in the Las Cruces area pretty much serve the same menu (enchiladas and burritos), and the quality of food doesn't vary much from one restaurant to another. E.g., there is a certain well-known Mexican restaurant nearby that has great atmosphere. But the food is merely average. When we take visitors there, it's for the atmosphere, not the food (they're visitors to the borderland, so Mexican food is Mexican food. What do they know? Nothing). The Paisano definitely is different with dishes like chiles en nogada and mancha manteles. In fact, I've never had anything there was that wasn't really good (I also like the pasta with shrimp, lime and capers). The dinner menu is a little steep in price, but all the dishes I mentioned above are a good value and are served during lunch and dinner. In fact, we've never eaten off the dinner menu because we like most of the cheaper dishes on the lunch-dinner menu. The atmosphere is good and the staff nice. read more

Paisano. Three words for you. FOOD IS AMAZING!! This place has amazing mole, excellent ingredients all the way around!!! Very creative cuisine and excellent service!! I recommend this place for breakfast lunch or dinner! I make sure to go here every time I'm in town! read more

My husband and had dinner at Paisano's several times in 2012, the last time in September. We loved it! So when out of town friends visited, it was the obvious choice for a place to take them. We did so last night. What a disappointment. I had to apologize to our friends. The live music is gone. Almost no one was in the restaurant. One friend ordered a glass of Gewürztraminer. The waitress brought her a glass of Chardonnay. When the friend questioned the wine, she was shown a bottle of Gewürztraminer, but no proof that her wine came out of that bottle. My husband ordered Enchiladas with Mole sauce, his favorite at Paisano's. The Enchiladas weren't at all like they used to be. He said it seemed as if they'd been fried. My meal of Paisano Shrimp was very good. When dessert time came, I asked for one cake on the list. The waitress went away and came back saying it was out. I asked for another cake on the list. Same thing happened. She suggested one that wasn't on the list. It was very good. My husband ordered crepes. The waitress, again, went away and came back. They were out of crepes. So my husband, and one of our friends, ordered Flan. They only had one Flan left, so my husband ended up getting the same cake I got. We were never asked if we wanted coffee or tea. There are several other upscale restaurants in town now. I think we'll try them before considering a return to Paisano's. read more

This was my second time back, after the first great experience and many other good review and reccomandations. This time however it was a nightmare, we were a big group of people, and the service was just horrible. I think we could have got a better service at wataburgher! The server never came back to our table to get us more water. So we got one glass for the entire night and the rest was just waiting for the ice to melt. The food was served at different time through the evening, with about one hour difference between the first person receiving the meal and the last. I've ordered a medium steak, and it was well done. If I pay $24 for a stake better be how I like it cooked, no matter what fancy stuff you pour on top. They never came back to ask for a refills on drinks or if we wanted desert. And then it took another 30 minutes to get the check. I know that is not the chefs fault but this is more on the server side, but the manager should take care of it, we were a big group, you probably end up making a good money that night, at lest take good care, we might never come back again. read more

Service was awful. Had to ask for menus for us and then was told to go ahead and get them. Took 10 minutes to get drinks (but nice to see waitresses walking around with their sodas and chatting while we waited). 25 min to get salsa and chips and 50 minutes to get food. Restaurant was not crowded at all. Burgers were very average at best, chicken tacos were very bad, but eaten because we were starving. The salsa was very good but definitely not good enough to ever draw me back in this place. Sad because I really want to love small local businesses but this was just bad bad bad (very sticky floors too). read more

slow service, ignored food allergy, 30 minutes between first and last person served, management unconcerned about food allergy, food mediocre, won't be back, what a disappointment read more

Heard about this place and read great reviews. Very disappointed. Went last night for the first, only, and last time. Waitress was not very personable or helpful. Empanadas were tasteless. They were spinach, artichoke and cheese with a tasteless sauce. We had asked about salads and were told they didn't serve salads at dinner. Husband ordered sea bass. Initially wasn't cooked, raw in the middle. Sent it back. Then it was rubbery and had a horrible sheen. We told the waitress and said to remove it from our ticket. She said sir I know fish and this is good and cooked. My husband who eats fish five nights a week, said he knew fish and it wasn't good. Then the wait staff stood in the cashier area and laughed and talked about us. However with meals we both had a house salad-which they had. I had tenderloin with truffle sauce. No flavor and dry. Horrible. read more