As a gluten and dairy free girl, it can be hard to find food while on vacation but when my family and I went to New Mexico at the beginning of last year month, this place was perfect! Easily some of THE BEST Mediterranean food I've ever had. It had such good flavor and we couldn't stop eating it. Our waiter was amazing and recommended multiple things to us while having great knowledge for the food they provided. 10/10 service! The building is so cozy, it feels like you're sitting down to eat at a families house, not just a restaurant. It was incredibly welcoming and I recommend to anyone who's in Taos, NM! read more

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This isn't your typical Mediterranean place. They definitely have an elevated use of their spices and the dishes are a bit fancier (and pricey.) Unlike other experiences I've read about, we did get waited on promptly and food took about 20 minutes. The indoor area was eerily quiet-they could have added some music to enhance the ambiance. Otherwise, it was cute inside. I got the tofu shwarma-not something you'd typically see on a Mediterranean menu. It was minced and came on lavash bread. Very nicely seasoned. The rice was also really good-elevated from basmati rice with various spices and raisins. The side of veggies were so so-those were a little too oily and overcooked. Large portions and friendly spot. It's a unique dining experience and worth trying if you're looking for something different in Taos. read more

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Was our first time trying Middle Eastern/Lebanese food- food was fresh and delicious so many spices and flavors! Service was great, ambiance was clean but it's very small and quiet. If you're in the area, try it! read more

The Earth Oven - Dinner for two. Beef earth oven and baba ghanouj, batata harra - Mediterranean Near Me - Taos, New Mexico

Let me bring you.. "Songs from the Wood", to make you feel much better than you could know.. Dust you down from tip to toe. Show you how the garden grows.. Hold you steady as you go. Join the chorus if you can: After dusting off our birkenstocks, We settled in for an early afternoon lunch on the pleasant outdoor patio of "Earth Oven" w. our GranTyke. Da GranTyke feasted on the.. "Kufta" of grilled ground beef balls spiced with parsley, mint. and onions. w. side of "Tabbouleh" and a bowl of "Lebanese Lentil Soup" washed down w. two glasses of "Moroccan Mint Lemonade" Quite the delight..:) Da Old Folk shared.. "EarthOvenPrimeRib" w. sides of "Bukhara Rice" (a smoky mixture of basmati rice, raisins, and slivered almonds), and "Beets w. Tahini Drizzle"... Imagine a flight to a seductive Island w. a culinary celebration just for you..:) Washed down w. a Glass of "Chardonnay" by our lovely Queen and a Bottle of "Estrella Jalisco" by our Friar. We ended this culinary Journey w. "Baklava Cheesecake" and "Sesame Date Balls"... So Nicely Served to our Clan by our.. Maitresse Melissa.. Thank You Earth Oven. "GranTykeApproved" Greetings well met fellow, hail! I am the wind to fill your sail. I am the cross to take your nail. A singer of these ageless times. With kitchen prose and gutter rhymes. Songs from the wood to make you feel much better, as did this lovely lunch..:) Best, Avram Jethrotull Jr. read more

The Earth Oven - Dessert nicely Sweet - Mediterranean Near Me - Taos, New Mexico

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Hit or miss meal for us. Our family ordered a few appetizers: hummus, zaatar pinwheels, lentil soup. As well as shrimp and shish taouk (chicken). The appetizers were great but we were disappointed with the main entrees. Chicken was dry and stringy, the grilled vegetables were flavorful but a bit oily, the shrimp was great, but the rice was undersalted, greasy, and unfortunately inedible. Service was friendly and restaurant was quaintly cute with a nice outdoor seating area. read more

It was nice to have Mediterranean food while visiting New Mexico and luckily it was delicious. One of us had the lamb shawarma with humus, rice and salad as sides. The other had the shrimp with babaganoush and dolmas as a side. Both come with pita bread. All was very tasty. Service excellent ( worth the wait) and the price is right for good food. I don't live near here but definitely recommend going here for locals and out of towners. read more

Wow. Just wow. Call the James Beard people. This is one of the best restaurants in the USA on a strictly food basis. It totally changed my view on Lebanese food. First of all they roast meats and some of their veg in an underground oven. It gets their tender quality and smokey flavor that is way more special than your typical Lebanese falafel spot. The lentil soup incorporated some of that smokey flavor created nothing like I have had and a middle eastern restaurant before. The fatoosh salad also was elevated by this slight spicy vinaigrette that I guess was based on sumac. Another dish that typically I find to be kinda ho hum that was just remarkable. I also had the tasty homemade raspberry lemonade that was thick with raspberry puree. Sort of sweet and slightly sour drink for grown ups. Now the place is understaff and seems to be overwhelmed by the number of tables. I was ignored for a bit when I arrived and had to get my own water. The signage is a bit baffling and I couldn't figure out where to park. But personally I can live with that for good food. Hopefully they will eventually get their staffing worked out and add some directional arrows to there signs. Maybe a "please seat yourself" sign if that is the system. With a few management improvements they will probably serve folks looking not just for good food but a complete dining experience a bit better. read more

I don't mind paying a high price for high-quality food but it's a real gut punch to pay a high price for such utter disappointment. As stalwart customers of Middle Eastern food wherever we travel, this is the worst experience and least genuine we've ever had. If I could give zero stars, I would; this ranks as one of the worst dinner experiences we have had. 1. We made the necessary reservation and then arrived at a virtually empty restaurant. There was a sign that said to seat yourself - but that's unusual when you have a reservation so we entered and told the host we had a reservation. He said, "oh, that doesn't matter, just sit wherever you want". We sat inside and after a few minutes, no one brought a menu; we saw some near the door and got our own. We were brought glasses of warm water that were never refilled during our visit. 2. After some delay, we ordered the special for two which is two appetizers, two salads, two entrees (far too much food for two people, our fault - but we were disappointed that the waiter didn't bother to warn us the size of the servings). We chose the shish-taouk chicken, the earth oven beef, the fattoush salad, Lebanese lentil soup, hummus, & beets tahini. 3. First .. instead of serving us in customary order (appetizer, salad, then main course), our food was all brought to the table in one overwhelming slam. When we commented, the waiter replied, "yeah, sometimes they all come out at once". Our expectation of a fine dining experience vanished at that moment. The chicken was underwhelming and extremely dry. The beef was horribly infused with the flavor of lamb (I am assuming they are cooked in close proximity), and I hate lamb so it completely ruined the meal. Additionally, as shown in the picture, it was a pile of fat chunks, quite obviously a cheap and fat-laden cut of beef. The hummus was generically acceptable but very thick and impossible to scoop with what seemed to be grocery store quality pita bread. The lentil soup was served lukewarm and, while the flavor was nice, was completely cold and off-putting in minutes. Had it been presented as a single dish prior to the main meal, it may have tasted better warm. The salad was served with so much dressing (which was quite sweet tasting) that the lettuce was literally floating. My husband muttered "salad soup" more than once. The beets with tahini were good enough, as was a lemonade spritz drink. (Back to the entree: I asked the waiter if the beef was cooked with the lamb and he said they were cooked separately. I then suggested that it seemed that they were cooked in close proximity such that the steam from the lamb could easily infuse the beef and he said, "yeah, probably".) 4. The waitstaff kept walking out to serve the folks seated outside and leaving the front door standing open so, we dealt with flies around our table and on our food. 5. While there were only about five tables occupied with small parties (four tables of two, one of four), the three-person waitstaff was extremely harried and rushed and we waited almost 15 minutes to get someone to bring our check. We complained about the almost all-fat beef dish and were given a 20% discount. We are usually willing to give an establishment a second chance but there was nothing we can imagine that would be redeeming about this place, so we won't be back. As New Mexico residents it's a shame that our first night of this visit to Taos was marred by this experience because we are faithful returning customers when we find a great place. Heed the bad reviews - this place is not worth your hard-earned money. The photos are the whole spread served at once, the plate of fat served as beef, and the remnant of the soup-salad. read more

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The ambiance is great. We sat in the outdoor area that has several picnic tables and allows dogs. Server was attentive. Food is so delicious. I got the falafel special and the portion was huge and I already filled up on pita bread. I also got a slice of their baklava cheesecake to take home. They have love music on the patio for dinner service. I wish we could have stayed longer just to listen to the beautiful music. read more

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I love the food here but every time I come, which has been about four or five times, there is one waiter for a full restaurant. That waiter is always overwhelmed and understandably cannot tend to everything. There's always a wait, which, if you are planning ahead is fine. But I sincerely hope the owners will hire more people. Seems like at least two more people are needed to make things run smoothly. The music is so loud and it's cold inside. These are all easy to fix and should be since the essential ingredients of delicious food are there! read more

Wow! Lucky you, Taos. I'm over the moon about this wonderful new addition to the dining scene near the Plaza. Tucked away in a beautiful setting behind the public parking area (they have their own parking lot) this gem serves up fabulous Middle Eastern cuisine for not huge prices. Definitely! try the baba ganouj. Smoky, lemony, with creamy tahini and an exciting twinge of garlic, this dish exceeded my expectations. I honestly don't remember better. The pita was soft with the perfect amount of sear from the grill. Try the Moroccan mint lemonade to accompany. My mouth was doing the tango! For mains, we had both the lamb shawarma and the prime rib slow cooked in the earth oven (worth a trip out back to see.). While I didn't get a lot of spice from the lamb, it was melt in your mouth tender and delicious. The prime rib was also buttery soft accompanied by some pickled (?) red onions. The beef almost stole the show, but the side of rice with toasted almonds, raisins and spices I can't remember can compete. It was a very memorable meal, and I'm excited they're here. They have delightful live music in their garden area as well. GO! read more

Flavorful food, the best hummus ever, and a cute cozy vibe. Awesome service and they even overheard me wondering if I would be ok for the cheesecake with gluten intolerance and modified a small piece for me. The lamb earth meat had amazing flavor, was a touch too chewy for my liking. The onions with the meat were to die for read more

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Ambiance and service are top notch. We sat outside under the shade. Food...out of this world! I love, love, love the tahini cauliflower. The potatoes (batata harra) were delicious as well. Both lamb dishes we had were amazing. There is free parking in their parking lot or you can pay in the municipal lot next door. read more

The Earth Oven - Lamb shawarma. Hummus. Batata harra. - Mediterranean Near Me - Taos, New Mexico

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Before you even get in the door, you're greeted with the cutest outdoor seating and beautiful art. We walked in and sat ourselves. Our server Jonathan was so kind and welcoming. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, the environment, and the culture. This made the meal that much more memorable as well as delicious. Jonathan was the only server and there were quite a few tables, however you would have never noticed. We didn't feel rushed or neglected at all. Thank you earth oven for the most amazing meal I've had in a while. WE LOVE YOU JONATHAN!!!! read more

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Really lovely service. The staff seemed genuinely happy to serve customers, of which there were plenty. Nice smooth humus. Excellent mint lemonade and strong coffee. The falafel were decent; nothing spectacular. I found the babaghanoush (sp?) to be too lemony; the eggplant flavor was overpowered. My only real complaint - and this is everywhere is Taos - is no restaurants mitigate the freezing blast of air whenever patrons enter/exit. On the east coast, restaurants hang a half moon of thick, heavy curtains in front of the door in winter to keep people warm while dining. I was seated right next to the exit, so I absolutely froze the whole time I was eating. read more

It was pretty amazing and authentic food, but portions were a bit small and non alcoholic drinks were a bit pricey. Interior was also pretty chilly in winter, outside in the sun was probably warmer. But overall a really good experience, more on the gourmet side. read more

The Earth Oven - Kufta bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - Taos, New Mexico

What an interesting find. The flavors of the meat and especially the vegetables have a deep taste that lingers, and puts a smile on your face. It advertises as Mediterranean, but the flavors are much richer, and really wonderful. Additionally it has a bit of Middle Eastern thrown in...The tahini is excellent. The inside is a bit small; you definitely will not be having any private conversations. However, the patio would be a great place to hang out in the warmer months. If your mouth is ready for a rest from all the in-you-face chile, this is absolutely worth a visit. read more

The Earth Oven - A nice outside patio that probably doubles their seating. - Mediterranean Near Me - Taos, New Mexico

An Absolute Gem in Taos!! One of the most pleasant dining experiences I had this year was at the beautiful Earth Oven. From the moment we sat down, it was clear that the food is made with genuine care. You can taste the difference, the use of quality ingredients really shines through, and you can tell everything was truly cooked with love. Our meal was absolutely delicious! Beyond the fantastic food, the service and hospitality made the experience truly exceptional. The owner stopped by to check on us, which was such a thoughtful touch. He was very kind and hospitable, and this wonderful attitude clearly flows down to the entire staff and server. Everyone was attentive and genuinely warm. Thank you, Earth Oven, for such a pleasant dining experience and for the delicious food. I can't wait to be back here next time I am in Taos! Highly, highly recommended. read more

OMG by far the most luscious food we had in Taos. The baba ghanouj, hummus and meat pie appetizers were delicious. The mushroom shawarma and kufta entrées were the best we'd ever had. And you get huge portions! read more

We're on a 3 week road trip in New Mexico, and were looking for something other than Mexican or BBQ. This was just perfect. We had lamb and shrimp dishes, both wonderful. The veggies delicious. This place is a real gem. read more

The Earth Oven - Lamb schwarma and grilled schrimp - Mediterranean Near Me - Taos, New Mexico

Amazingly, there are few Taos restaurants that have engaging vegetarian fare. Earth Oven was the exception with a nice mix of options. From our arrival to our departure, we had an a great experience. The service was attentive, the food was interesting and tasty, and the staff (Noe and others) were informative and engaging to guide us in our options and the restaurant was clean and bright. We had the mushroom shawarma and the tofo sandwich, both generous protions that we did not need any appetizers. There was soft music to allow conversation and people watching. This is a place to enjoy the experience rather that rush to eat. Thank you Earth Oven for one of our best meals on our trip. read more

Went there yesterday. Rough! The food was good but a small portion for the price. The service was... not great. I would venture to say it was actually BAD. Waited more than 45 minutes to get our food and we watched others just leave after waiting and waiting. The servers were mostly absent. It was.... Not a good experience. read more

I have found a gem of a restaurant Right in the heart of Taos New Mexico. The Lebanese food here is outstanding. For those of you who love the savory flavors from the tanginess to the smokiness and everything in between. Come and dine here you won't be disappointed. There wasn't anything on the menu that wasn't delicious. From the main dish and the side dishes then to the deserts. This is a must try if you have ever had Lebanese cuisine. If you have not then you must treat your pallet to an eye opening experience The service was excellent. The staff was so helpful and friendly The atmosphere was personal. Although it was small compared with other restaurants this was very intimate. Casual dining at its best. read more

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Delicious. We had the feast for two. We couldn't finish it, and we had been hungry! It's plenty of food and very tasty.

Food was just okay. The two salads and cauliflower appetizers are good. The hummus appetizer was brought to us at end of our meals - it looked good but tasted awful Otherwise the two main lamb and chicken entrees dishes tasted bland both were borderline cold. And the chicken was overcooked and burnt. Service was horrible- very under staffed The restaurant looks nice inside and has. ample parking. read more

The food was so flavorful. We add the Lamb roasted in that amazing oven, Service was excellent . Definitely we will recommend it. It was nice to have a different flavor for once. read more

The food was amazing! There was a long wait time but only because there was one server. He did amazing with handling everything! Definitely a hidden gem and a must if you love Mediterranean food. read more

The Earth Oven - Mediterranean Near Me - Taos, New Mexico

Lamb shank came out tough as leather and server agreed it was not cooked correctly, however we were still charged for it. Actually went back for lunch the next day to try to Chicken Kabobs and they were less than good as well. I think they just cheapen out on the quality of meat they purchase. read more

Place was cute and the menu was good. The food, if I've had it, smelled like it would have been amazing. They only had two workers there and were overwhelmed and I could never get waited on. I did manage to order a mint lemonade. Not what I would have wanted because it didn't have fresh mint in it. Just dried. I definitely need better help and better training. read more

Absolutely amazing service fantastic fun atmosphere and to die for food. traditional, flavorful and authentic food. our server Jonathon was so knowledgeable about the foods, and gave us so much information about the way the food was made and the care of which was taken to prepare it. the meal itself was exceptional we got the lamb and that dish alone is worth returning. everything was so fresh and flavorful it left us feeling satiated and adding to our must come backs list. Thank you Jonathon for such excellent and quick service. we will return soon!! read more

The service was good -- prompt, and the server really seemed to care about our satisfaction. The presentation of the food was very nice -- colorful arrangement on each plate, and large quantities. Many of the ingredients seemed to be of good quality. The problems...service, preparation, value. For example, fried food (falafel) was served medium-warm, clearly a batch that had been prepared earlier and held. The level and quantity of spices were off in almost every dish. For example: the zaatar pinwheels had very little flavor, despite the appearance of a lot of spice powder (as if someone brought back a large quantity of good zaatar years ago, but as the flavor diminshed over time, more zaatar was sprinkled over the dish), the hummus and babaganouj each had very little flavor, while the salad (a large portion) had an overly strong dressing. The tofu in shwarma spices was a unique dish -- a nice offering, but it was overly salted. There didn't seem to be much balance or awareness of how the various flavors on a plate interact -- it did not feel as if there was a deliberate choice in spices and flavors to create mild food to offset spicier food, but that the various flavor levels of each dish on a plate were unrelated. The falafel special is a particular problem -- it is composed of foundation recipes (falafel, hummus, baba ganouj, salad) that are on the menu at any Middle Eastern food truck. Given the considerable cost, the food at Earth Oven should be of higher quality and offer something special in terms of ingredients, preparation, and presentation, not just quantity, to improve the value for the customer. For example, perhaps the use of pomegranate vinegar would have elevated the salad, fresh lemon slices would have complemented the hummus and baba ganouj, etc. Given the dinner price and pureed foods (hummus, baba ganouj) the absence of any bread (baguette or pita) was a real surprise. After dinning, I was left with the impression that the menu selections and original recipes were carefully chosen and prepared, but that they had mutated over time, as if the current chef had been cooking from those recipes for years but did not have personal experience with how Lebanese food should taste. I'd certainly want to try Earth Oven again if the kitchen gets a nudge back on course. read more

Worst Mediterranean food ever! I love & enjoy Mediterranean food, have eaten Mediterranean food in many different locations. usually in cities with larger Mediterranean/Middle Eastern populations you will find excellent prepared dishes. Not Earth Oven! read more

Visited a friend in Taos and was absolutely blown away by The Earth Oven! I'm from Los Angeles and we have quite a few Lebanese places in town, but The Earth Oven is truly sensational. A very simple place, but everything is in the flavor. My buddy and I sat inside and feasted on Shish Taouk - the marinated chicken with pilaf and yogurt sauce- the photo doesn't do it justice, but hey, I was busy eating. The cooking is very authentic, fresh, flavorful and the plates are huge. We had a couple of IPA beers and I got the last piece of baklava cheesecake - outstanding! I hope they will stay in Taos, because of the three restaurants I visited (see other reviews), this one won, hands down! read more

The Earth Oven - The Shish Taouk - marinated chicken! - Mediterranean Near Me - Taos, New Mexico

We love Indian food. We sat down about 130 ordered drinks and food. It was about 3 pm when the food was delivered. The chicken kebab tasted reasonable, but it was cold. $92 total. This place needs a lot of work before it becomes a restaurant. read more

The Earth Oven - Mediterranean Near Me - Taos, New Mexico

Came in for lunch because we had heard good things. It was delicious! Will definitely be going back! Our server guided us all along the way and she was right about everything. My friend is celiac and gf and there are so many options for him. I am a veg/pescatarian. I ordered the mushroom wrap, tahini cauliflower, falafel and salad. Everything was just great, including the lemon, mint drink. Go! read more

The Earth Oven - All the yummy items! I took half home for dinner! - Mediterranean Near Me - Taos, New Mexico

Killer food. Good option for when you're burnt out on New Mexican cuisine. Heads up -- the portion sizes are large.

What a fabulous experience. The food was exceptional - Lebanese inspired, hearty and delicious. Their meats are cooked in an outdoor oven and are juicy, tender and fabulous. Portions are enormous, and the service terrific. Baklava cheesecake for dessert was a special treat! read more

This was a delightful experience. The food was delicious and authentic. Molly, our server was the best. She was kind and helpful. Small place but worth it. read more

If you speak Spanish, don't go there; they're racist. When he found out I spoke Spanish, he treated me badly and yelled at me because I didn't understand him at first. He was a bald, white guy. The waitress was very kind. read more

Why eat another dish of New Mexican cuisine when you can eat a plate of delicious Middle Eastern food?? We devoured the Felafel Plate and Shish Taouk along with the cauliflower tahini appetizer!! The Chai Tea was cold, plentiful and was a great accompaniment to our dinner. The staff are very friendly, helpful and attentive. Give this great restaurant a try, you won't be disappointed!! read more