quote:

Originally posted by Rockbeast

Please…someone help me…I have to spend 3 or 4 days in Farmington, NM in a couple of weeks. I need to eat! I would like to try some Native American fare. And anything local. Any suggestions.

I can also vouch for the Three Rivers Brewery, excellent dark brew if that’s your thing, and the food is well above average. I also LOVED a little dive just on the outside of downtown called the Taco Box. It seemed to be hugely popular with the locals and their claim to fame is the "taco burger". Inexpensive and a great place to look like a local.

Unocal, MAN you got me jonesin’ for NM — I gotta post my trip report from there! Amy & I reviewed a handful of places in the northwest, including El Bruno’s in Cuba and Chihuahua Tortilla Factory in Bloomfield. We covered a couple of new ones in ABQ as well: Casa de Benevidez and Golden Crown Panader�a, plus La Posta down in Roswell, all regular reviews on the site. We also wrote logbooks for Bert’s Burger Bowl, Dave’s Not Here, Frontier, and Five and Dime, and ate at Chope’s and Owl Bar. I don’t think you can access the logbook section, but I’d be glad to send you our takes on the above if you email me through the site.

You lucky duck, you! [:p] Chris

Even if you’re just passing through Phoenix on I-10 it’s a quick detour to Lo Lo’s Chicken and Waffles (unbelievably good), The Farm at South Mountain, Raul and Theresa’s, Phoenix Ranch Market, Matt’s Big Breakfast… and that’s just places easily reached from the freeway (just google the names for more info). I haven’t been to Pizzeria Bianco but by most accounts it’s worth a little travel to get there. Take a little time to explore and almost every non-descript shopping center has at least one little dive worth investigating. Phoenix rocks. Don’t listen to the bashing on this thread… if you’re coming from LA you’ll laugh at what some might consider "sprawling and traffic-choked" (what major American city isn’t traffic-choked, anyway?). And you’ll be coming through (assuming you decide to take the I-10 route) in October so the weather will be beautiful (yes… it’s hot here in the summer. DUH. It’s the desert. At least we don’t have 5 months of miserable cold in the winter and 4 months of miserable humidity in the summer).

I guess I’m a little weird, but I love El Paso too. It’s a little gritty, a little crowded… but it’s just got a cool mood to it. Again, right off of I-10 is Carnitas Queretaro, a casual Mexican comfort food place with views over the border to Juarez. There’s also the State Line BBQ of off the Sunland Park exit.

I hope this isn’t too off topic of your NM plans, but if you’re passing through Phoenix, maybe this gives you some ideas.

quote:

Originally posted by MissAndrea

Now, what’s the real skinny on the Bobcat Bite? Is it really a 100-mile detour spot, or is it a has-been? Just curious.

Bobcat Bite is OK. I know you’re exaggerating, but it’s really not 100 mile detour. Actually not that far, maybe 10 miles east of SF off service road on I-25, pretty near Eldorado, a "suburb" of SF. Just a bit further from famed Harry’s Roadhouse (worth a stop, although a tad more "trendy").

The "trip" to Bobcat is a sense of getting "into the hills" out of SF, which is a nice change. Be sure to call ahead, they’re not always open. If you want a burger in town, try Dave’s Not Here (one of many great green chile cheeseburger joints) or if you want a good meal with a ride, try north to (of course) Rancho de Chimayo in Chimayop or, closer in, Gabriel’s near Pojaque. Great tableside guacamole.

Enjoy!!

Going to Santa Fe in about 3 days, and I can’t wait… for GCCs, love El Paragua (the takeaway too!), and really loved Sugar’s bbq on the way through Dixon. But you know what? the last time I was there, we checked out El Farolito, lovingly recounted by J&M, but was sorely disappointed. everything tasted canned – even the burgers. And they still had their old magazine coverage framed on the walls. It was definitely not as it had apparently been. Too bad.

Now, what’s the real skinny on the Bobcat Bite? Is it really a 100-mile detour spot, or is it a has-been? Just curious.

quote:

Originally posted by Rockbeast

Please…someone help me…I have to spend 3 or 4 days in Farmington, NM in a couple of weeks. I need to eat! I would like to try some Native American fare. And anything local. Any suggestions.

I was back in Farmington in August and only had one restaurant meal. I ate at Three Rivers Brewery and had their daily sandwich special. It was fantastic. Roast beef, fresh basil, cheese, and more – and I washed it down with homemade root beer, which was as excellent as the sandwich.

Please…someone help me…I have to spend 3 or 4 days in Farmington, NM in a couple of weeks. I need to eat! I would like to try some Native American fare. And anything local. Any suggestions.

The Blake’s Lottaburger in Bernalillo is usually my first stop between the airport in ABQ and Santa Fe, always good for a quick green chile cheeseburger fix.

Whaddya know, it’s still there, and sounds much the same as before:

http://taoswebb.com/hotel/snowmansion/

There used to be a cute little convenience store/bar across the street, full of local color, where the proprietor made these delicious "chicken flour tacos" – they were actually turkey, I think, and were basically fried flour tortillas with lettuce, tomato, salsa, some other stuff in addition to turkey.

I spent most of a summer in NM in between jobs, back in the late ’80s. I stayed at a funky youth hostel outside of Taos, called the Abominable Snow Mansion. It was busier during ski season than summer. I have no idea if it’s still there, but it was part of the official AYH network, so they could probably tell you.

My familiarity is with NW New Mexico. Several thoughts – get a green chile cheeseburger at a Blake’s Lotaburger, or from someone else if necessary. There is/was a Blake’s in Bernalillo on US 550 just west of US 85. In Cuba there is/was a very good Mexican restaurant on the right when northbound a mile or so past town center. I lived in Farmington for 21 years and was never able to find really good food in Cuba until I found this place. The Cuba restaurant was a Spanish style property with parking on the north side between the restaurant and a gas station. I wish I could be more specific, but if you are hungry near Cuba this is/was a very good place. While in Farmington, I would suggest Three Rivers Brewing at 101 E Main @ Orchard Ave. The food is as good as the brew. On or near the Navajo reservation (perhaps at the Four Corners) get a Navajo taco. They are large and filling. If you are around the Four Corners and it is not meal time, get some fry bread from one of the vendors. At the Four Corners, the vendors will all be Navajo except for those in Colorado who are Utes.

Here’s an idea: Pecos Monastery in Pecos (about 20 min ride from SF) and a beautiful spot in its own right provides rooms for people on retreat, as well as private "hermitages" for around $50/night. It actually is a nice place to stay; they even give you 3 meals, thought a bit "monastic". If you would like a nice quite experince, I actually would recommend them. You are free to do what you would like, so I guess you would spend days in Santa Fe, evenings in Pecos.

I’m in the hotel business in Albuq. About the only place you might find $40.00 or under would be Motel 6. They have all been re-done in the past few years. There is a brand new one on I-25 on the north side of Albuquerque. Hope you aren’t thinking of the first of October, as it is Balloon Fiesta time here. Santa Fe is iffy on hotel prices any time of the year, but it might be possible to find something in your range along Cerrillos since it will be off season. Would suggest yellowpages.com, and call a few independents. Most of these are reasonably clean and nice. There is also a M-6 there, as well as Red Roof Inn, which is also in Albuq.
Albuq: breakfast at the Frontier on Central, breakfast or lunch at Wecks (good red and green chili). Santa Fe: Tecolote for breakfast; huge portions of New Mex. (try the burrito if you have an appetite!), Diego’s for lunch or dinner. These are New Mexican; I don’t know about other types of food in SF, as I can get as much variety and prices here in Albuq.
U.S. 550 doesn’t have much going for it between Albuquerque and Farmington. It is a four lane highway, and some interesting scenery along the way. If you are going to visit Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch, just stay on U.S. 84 to Pagosa Springs, then U.S.160 to Durango, and 550 down to Bloomfield and Farmington. Much more scenic route, and some good places to eat in Durango. Hotels there are pricey, but off season, you might find some bargains.

http://legendsofamerica.com/HC-Mainpage.html
Hre’s a pretty neat site about the west & NM check it out.
Also, you can use the Albq, craig’s list; they’ll read it in SF.