Go for the Food: Santa Fe's Twist on a Roadside Diner

There is no shortage of good food in this northern New Mexico town, where the many casual and gourmet takes on the state's trademark chile dishes are almost as big a draw as the city's art galleries and festivals.

The question typically is not where to go, but where can you get a table.

So while the tourists are lining up at the Plaza's dining hot spots, a popular respite for locals is Harry's Roadhouse, Santa Fe's upscale version of the roadside diner.

Tucked along the Interstate 25 service road at the edge of the capital, Harry's offers a little bit for everyone, both in its menu selections and seating options.

Dining alone? You might find yourself perched on a diner stool next to one of its more famous regulars, actor and playwright Sam Shepard. Other options include tables or booths in one of the colorful dining rooms or out back in the flowering gardens.

The menu runs the gamut from New York strip steak to pizza, po'boys and Vietnamese caramelized catfish. And of it course it offers New Mexican and Mexican favorites, making it a popular Sunday morning spot for a clientele used to having a little spice at every meal.

Looking for some classic Mexican? Try the breakfast chilaquiles with black beans and eggs. Want a New Mexican twist? Try the chile relleno omelette or Harry's famous blue corn meal waffles.

The Roadhouse also does an outstanding job on brunch and breakfast classics, right down to the spicy bloody mary. And it is New Mexico, so anything can be had with side of red or green to heat things up.

The Roadhouse's lunch and dinner menus also have an interesting variety of dishes that put a new spin on the traditional. For instance, their meatloaf and blue corn enchiladas are made with turkey. Its baked sweet potato is stuffed with red chile-honey mash and topped with quinoa, black beans and crema. And taco lovers can choose between salmon, Korean or "tinga de pollo" with black beans.

No matter what you decide, save room for dessert. The menu offers fresh pies, sundaes, even a chocolate peanut butter ice cream sandwich.

And since this is Santa Fe's version of a diner, that means it's green-certified, uses trans fat-free oil, only purified water in its drinks and offers gluten-free and organic options.

If You Go...

HARRY'S ROADHOUSE: 96 B Old Las Vegas Highway, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 505-989-4629.