We're stuck in Santa Rosa due to the car getting poked in the gut by a wayward chunk of wood. The radiator bled to death and replacement parts have to be expedited from Albuquerque (should have made a left there). So now we're here for a couple days, and can avail ourselves to the culinary side of this charming town. Sun and Sand was our first encounter with the skills of the local chefs. This Route 66 relic did not disappoint. Locals, and us strandees populated the place on this bitter cold morning. A hot meal was what we were looking for, and what we found at Sun and Sand. I had a hearty breakfast of corn beef hash, eggs, tortilla, hash browns, and juice. The corn beef was perfectly corned, the eggs were cloud fluffy, and the hash browns were browned nicely. The driver whose car is in surgery, had an extremely tasty green chili omelet. It was decent sized, but she had no problem finishing it off. Mainly because it was so good. All this for like 20 bucks! They need to up their prices. Stop in and see the nice folks at the S and S. But hurry, cause maybe after they read this review the prices will be on the uptick. Quick Tip: They also give you toast with your meal. Save a couple slices to feed the fish at Park Lake. But NOT at Blue Hole! I understand that those fish are picky. They only like bugs and natural food. Like worms and meatloaf. read more

Sun & Sand Restaurant - a mural of cars on the wall - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Santa Rosa, New Mexico

It makes me very sad that the hotel is gone... I hope the city doesn't tear it down tbh... Maybe I could make a GoFundMe and we could bring the hotel back. There was a young, female waitress whom I found pretty attractive, who also waited on us. However, she misunderstood my order and brought me out a full meal... it was good regardless, even though I can't eat bread right now. The dining area seemed like it might've been exactly the same as it was when it was built. There is a nice, large mural of what the motel and Restaurant looked like in their heyday or when they were first built. read more

Great place for diner style breakfast. Very friendly locals And Miss June is a major hottie! read more

Sun & Sand Restaurant - Bill and Ted style! - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Santa Rosa, New Mexico

Service was great as was the food! We stopped on our way home and was surprised by this small place.

Decent for a quick bite. Used to be great. Not sure what happened. Seems a little run down and less authentic and more fast and cheap. It's still a decent choice for the location. There isn't much to choose from here. read more

Nice local diner in a small town. Very local, supporting the local high school teams. With casual American Food. We had a mechanical break down and had to stay in town for about a day and this was recommended to us by our auto repair place. They had wifi and food, so all our needs were met. Booth and table seating. Fairly clean place and bathrooms, obviously the family, young and old, were involved in keeping the service going. Friendly and maybe could have checked on us once or twice more, but no issues and we were able to kick back and surf the net after our meal. read more

Sun & Sand Restaurant - Chill Cheese Burger and taco salad - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Santa Rosa, New Mexico

This place stinks Very poor management Only scheduled 1 waitress I get a 30 minute break I waited 15 minutes for miss turtle pants to take my order I waited another 20 for my meal I then had to eat my meal while driving a semi truck All because this restaurant stinks Thanks for nothing Couldn't even get a regular hot dog with regular chili I was offered red or green chili That ain't a hotdogs Mustard Regular chili Onion That's a hotdog Taco was ok Actually the meat was seasoned very well No plastic ware for my rice and beans do had to eat it with my hands Had grilled cheese But no tomato soup So I'm confused about that too Just do the world a favor Just lock the doors forever read more

Sun & Sand Restaurant - the menu - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Santa Rosa, New Mexico

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By far one of the best in Santa Rosa NM. Iconic rout 66 diner. Breakfast was very good and staff very friendly. Next best place yo eat going east is in Amarillo. I recommend this place read more

Sun & Sand Restaurant - Sun and Sand - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Santa Rosa, New Mexico

This was the only place open on a Friday morning, other than fast food joints. My husband's Huevos Rancheros were cold. My Smothered Burrito was hot. But it was odd-tasting. Inside, I think were lots of potatoes, perhaps some scrambled egg, not sure, and crumbled sausage. I didn't see any beans. The red sauce was tasty; the green had no taste whatsoever. It's on "historic" Highway 66. Lots of locals who all seemed to know each other. read more

OK... really, I am completely mystified how a restaurant that has been around as long as this one (apparently its roots go back to the 1950's!) has not had more reviews... Situated on Route 66, this restaurant has multiple generations of workers working in the kitchen and out front. There is memorabilia from the local high school plastered all over the walls, and it hearkens back to the "Good Ol' Days" that we all envision in our minds eye of what it used to be. I was presented with a bowl of chips and salsa immediately after being seated, and they were quite good. I really enjoyed the salsa that came with them, as it was spicier than most salsas that I have been presented with at Mexican restaurants. The chips were crisp and flavorful. For my meal, I ordered the "Mexican Dinner" which was a taco, a chimichanga, and a tamale smothered in a sauce with lettuce and tomato on the side. I was in heaven with this dish. So, if you are travelling through the area and need a nice meal, take a break off of the Interstate and pull into the Sun N Sand for a nice bit of Mexican food! read more

Sun & Sand Restaurant - Sign out front - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Santa Rosa, New Mexico

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Super fast and friendly service! Ordered eggs, pancakes, omelette and a breakfast burrito. My son said his burrito was one of the best he has had. My green chili omelette with chorizo was fantastic! And the coffee was very good, too. A great way to start the day before hitting the road! read more

The food here was fine -- exactly what you'd expect from a small town diner. No wait for lunch (compared to a 30 minute wait at the local 4.5-star place). Service was completely acceptable. To echo what another reviewer said: some of y'all need to level-set your expectations to your surroundings. I'd happily eat here again next time we're road-tripping back from Taos. read more

I had the huevos rancheros and apparently it's New Mexico style which I was not expecting. I would say it was good if you just want some food or used to that style. Service was mediocre as we were not greeted and the waitress seemed kind of uninterested. read more

This restaurant was one of the few in town and we were hungry for lunch. It was a big dining room with some partition walls to separate the serving stations from the main seating. I ordered the lunch cheeseburger with fries. It was not the best but edible. I'd probably not order lunch again and try for the breakfast if I came back based on others reviews. They were not very busy, but the was friendly and checked back regularly. read more

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Pulled in at 7 this am and NOT OPEN. Facebook posts indicate not first time, so probably another LOCAL place that can't find people to work.

Good basic food. Clean. Friendly. Quiet. Appears to be family owned. Great prices. Wine limited. Beer limited. But great food. I would recommend this cute restaurant on Route 66!!! Love this place. Reasonable read more

We came here for breakfast after spending the night in the hotel across the street. It is all that's left of an old Route 66 motel and restaurant. The dining area is a little old and run down, but having grown up in rural Oklahoma where old and run down is the status quo, I felt right at home. My companion and I were greeted with a shout from behind the counter: "Sit where you like." There's a counter with seats, booths that line the walls, and tables and chairs, all clad in purple vinyl. My companion chose a booth and within 2 minutes a server was there to bring us water and take our drink order. After looking at the menu for a few minutes my companion decided on the Green Chili and Cheese Omelet. It comes with hash browns and a choice of toast--I think it was under $8.00. I ordered the Two Egg Breakfast. It came with a choice of toast (white, wheat, or sour dough), meat (ham, bacon, or sausage [no turkey bacon option here]), and (though it didn't mention it in the menu) a generous portion of hash browns--I guess you could call them "surprise hash browns." I neglected to look and see how much it was but I believe it was under $8.00 as well. In less then 10 minutes we had our food. Everything was all correct and brought to the table hot. My companion is an adult man with autism; every time I ask him what he thinks of his food he will say-without fail: "delicious." When asked what he thought of his omelet, he said: "delicious." My breakfast was simple and tasty. I ordered my eggs over easy and got 3 thick cut pieces of bacon cooked just right (crunchy on the meat and chewy on the fat), and as mentioned above a generous portion of surprise hash browns. I skipped the toast. It was all yummy and I ate every last bit. The wait staff took turns tending our table. They were all cordial and attentive. They were quick to come by with refills of coffee and water. This is the kind of place I would make regular visits to if I lived in the area. I would definitely recommend it and will come again if I'm in town. read more

Service was GREAT, Food was EXCELLENT..... The older lady who I'm guessin is the manager.... Needs to learn how to talk to her employees! She is rude n I wonder how she has kept employees working with/for her. Can't believe she thought it was ok to tell her server... "Go... Get the hell out of here." If I heard her from a few tables away from where they were standing I KNOW for fact the tables near her heard also. read more

Stopped here for breakfast, customer service was great. Ordered bacon and eggs, both were cooked perfectly. Kids enjoyed their pancakes. Price was a little high, but didn't mind paying it because the food was done right read more

Sun & Sand Restaurant - Over easy eggs, bacon, toast and hash browns - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Santa Rosa, New Mexico

Great omelets, really good coffee, even better service, this is tríele a diamond in the ruff

My family and I stopped here for breakfast to wait out some icy road conditions. We were greeted immediately with a smile and seated. We ordered, and we were served our hot food in a timely manner. All was good, homestyle meals. The inside isn't a five-star, ritzy restaurant, but it is clean and the food is good. Our waitress was joking with the locals and welcoming to the out of towers. My toddler had an accident, and they were quick to provide us with cleanup assistance. Nice and friendly people! I would love to try their lunch options one day. read more

We were passing through on our way to Boise and stopped in for dinner. Service was great. After being on the road for a few days it was nice to be able to relax over dinner. Food was great. It was a little slow coming out but it was no big deal because there is plenty here to occupy your eyes and mind. This will definitely be on our must stop list when we pass this way again. read more

The food was cold out pancakes were so cold and the syrup the butter just sat on top! And they don't even come to help or anything just walk past you read more

Sun & Sand Restaurant - Uneaten food - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Santa Rosa, New Mexico

We came here for breakfast. The waitress was very nice and we had your typical breakfast fare. The food was good, the restaurant is clean as were the bathrooms. There isn't much to say about eggs and hash browns since that is simple breakfast food to prepare. The coffee was good and I enjoyed having vanilla and hazelnut creamers as a choice too. read more

For what it is, it's five stars. Yelp helped us find this spot as we were making our way to ABQ. The reviews were hot and cold, a lot about service. Whoever said this was a multigenerational business is what we saw. They didn't hustle, but they were nice. It's Santa Rosa, manage your expectations please. :) I was going to go safe with a burger but when the hubs went with enchiladas I re-routed to the Mexican Dinner. Score!! The taco was yummy, enchilada tasty and a so -caliente tamale. Definitely the way to go! So, to my fellow Yelpers, this experience reminded me we all need perspective of where we are, level set expectations and write thoughtful reviews. Past reviews saved me from going to McDonalds or Subway. Thanks! read more

Ask to sit away from everyone. Food server got testy but sat us. Next group that came in she purposely sat next to us. We got up and left. read more

Looks are deceiving...VERY CLEAN including bathroom. No it's not modern but Clean, good service and food was delicious COOKED perfectly! Only complaint was a patron came in playing music from their phone SO ANNOYING! High Five to our server very nice - give that girl a nap! Lol read more

Don't waste your time or money on this restaurant! We stopped for lunch on our way to Albuquerque, sat down being the only table and ordered. Then, came back and said they only had one order and someone had to choose something else. So we ordered again, then waited and waited and waited. One other table came in and ordered and the waitress forgot one of their orders, so the owners son came in and got treated like a king while we all got ignored! Bad service,horrible cold food and snotty server and manager. Couldn't bother to clear or plates or give us a receipt for our credit cards or tell us thank you or anything. How rude!!! Don't give this family any of you money, as career restaurant professionals, this is an insult. Keep driving and safe travels read more

Great place to eat fast service, food was good. Very clean restaurant. Old fashioned. read more

I stopped in here this morning in hopes of a good breakfast and relaxation. I got the worst waitress with a bad attitude. I asked simply for 2 eggs scrambled, Bacon xtra crispy, hash browns crispy and butter. What I got was an attitude and was told we do not have butter or half and half for coffee. What do you want me to do she said. I don't do the ordering. If you don't want it I'll take it back. So I got up and told her I would be leaving a review. She stated good and I will leave a comment. Wow... Attitude, drama and more. What is wrong with people. We are visiting their establishment and paying. I do not recommend this place at all. read more

I still don't know what is in a green chile ground beef casserole -- aside from the titular ingredients, of course -- but it was remarkably satisfying, and made me glad that I'd stopped in here rather than at the pizza place across the street. read more

We stopped for breakfast on our way through. The breakfast burrito with sausage and green chili was smothered with cheese and wonderful pork green chili sauce! Lovely flavors. Service was friendly. Place was clean. read more

Breakfast was amazing. Great service. Definitely grab a cinnamon roll which is huge and tasted great.

You can get amazing chorizo breakfast burritos and Chile rellenos at this cute diner. Nice people. Good coffee. Sun and Sand will be my food stop along I-40/ Route 66, moving forward. read more

Quaint looking restaurant that we thought would have good old fashioned food. Boy we're we wrong!!! I had the burger with fries, it reminded me of the old Wendy's commercial,,,"Where's the beef?!?!?" McDonald's would have been better. As we were leaving, a Rascal Flatts song comes on, "Here comes goodbye, here comes a last time." I couldn't have asked for a more appropriate song!!! read more

My families food was ok , waitress never came back to check on us and waited too long for them to replace my meal of corned beef hash and eggs which looked lovely before I found a hair in my eggs , stuff happens but that was quite lame , that's all I have to say , leaving hungry and sad read more

First of all, the place is really run down and shabby. Kitschy charm is one thing, torn vinyl and bathroom doors that barely close is just bad management not willing to invest in the maintenance. Second, none of the staff wear masks nor observe social distancing when seating customers. We wore masks in and felt like we were getting the "stink eye" from servers. The food was typical greasy spoon fare - burgers and fries, but frankly, I was so worried about the lax attitude toward COVID, I just woofed down enough of my burger to keep going on our road trip and got out of there as quick as possible. My wife said her grilled cheese was fine, but she was anxious to leave, too. Advice? Keep driving to Kix 66 in Tucumcari. Better food, cleaner and the staff wears masks. read more

After driving from Amarillo finding a good place to eat in a small town is hard. However, at the Love's truck stop I asked if there was a place that served catfish in Santa Rosa. She said "Sun and Sand." We came and ordered the catfish dinner, only $10. The fillet was a generous portion and the fish tasted great. Will definitely try to stop in again and highly recommend to anyone looking for a good catfish dinner in the SW. read more

Sun & Sand Restaurant - Cozy interior. - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Santa Rosa, New Mexico

Nice breakfast spot... We liked the service... The food showed up fast and was piping hot.... We were traveling through and this place was perfect for a quick breakfast and back to the highway... read more

Sun & Sand Restaurant - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Santa Rosa, New Mexico

This place was right across the street from Super 8 motel which made it easy to go over and grab dinner. The lady who greeted me was nice. I ordered a grilled chicken salad. The guy had to check to see if they had chicken. The meal was decent. I wasn't expecting much seeing as how I'm out in the boonies. For under $10 it was fair. read more

Sun & Sand Restaurant - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Santa Rosa, New Mexico