The Guadalupe Cafe, Santa Fe
by Peggy Bechko



You've been shopping, exploring and walking endlessly. Your feet hurt and your stomach is growling. I'd say it's time to eat!

One of the best local restaurants in Santa Fe for a broad selection of New Mexican favorites - enchiladas, burritos and Rellenos - as well as a mix of traditional fare, is the Guadalupe Café on Old Santa Fe trail, just three short blocks (and I mean short - these aren't big city blocks) from the plaza. (Just take the trail from the southeast corner of the plaza and follow it south. You cruise left after the first block, picking up the trail again, where it runs past the Loretto Chapel, home of the miraculous staircase. Keep going, cross the river (which may or may not have water in it) and proceed another block until Guadalupe Café appears on your right. (You won't miss the colorful sun umbrellas on the charming patio).

Once you've arrived, you can opt to dine inside or out. The patio faces the historical Santa Fe Trail and is very lovely in the summer. But, don't be disappointed if inside dining is all that's available. It's bright, cozy, and neat as a pin. The Guadalupe Café boasts a warm, comfortable feeling - even when there's a crowd and things get a bit loud.

The Guadalupe Café serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers a range of beer, sangria and wine. The prices are moderate, ranging from $4.75 to $14.95, with the preponderance of dishes falling in the $7.95 to $9.95 area. And, best of all, the food is delicious. On my most recent visit for dinner, my family and I paid a total of $36.80 plus tip. Although we skipped the wine in favor of coffee, we broke down and indulged in both an appetizer and a dessert.

From a wide-ranging menu that includes such tempting fare as fresh rainbow trout, southwest chicken salad, traditional burger and fries, chalupas, sampler plates, burritos and enchiladas, I chose the Guacamole Enchilada. It consists of two rolled corn tortillas filled with guacamole and white cheddar cheese served with Salsa Fresca, lettuce, a dab of sour cream, Anasazi Beans and Mexican Corn Pudding - all on a very hot plate. The enchilada was wonderful, flavorful and filling - the guacamole fresh and well prepared.

I had my enchilada with green chile. Whether or not you prefer green chile or red is quite an important issue when it comes to Santa Fe cuisine. I prefer the green, my palate finding it more full-bodied in flavor and a little less hot than the red, though most restaurants will swear the green is hotter. Guadalupe claims its chile is hot and a key ingredient to the dishes it's in, so they won't prepare any of their chile dishes without it. However, samples of the chile are available upon request. So if you're feeling adventurous and want to try the local cuisine, but feel a little chicken about diving right into the hot stuff, ask for a taste.

My husband chose the Seafood Enchilada with red chile and said it was excellent. The Seafood Enchiladas are blue corn tortillas stuffed with a white fish and crab combination blended with white cheddar cheese and served with black beans, Salsa Fresca, lettuce and a dab of sour cream. He declared it most delicious and satisfying.

A vegetarian, my brother picked the Fresh Vegetable Burrito Plate with red chile. An assortment of fresh sautéed vegetables and Monterey Jack cheese wrapped in a white flour tortilla and served with basmati rice, it was topped with Salsa Fresca, lettuce and a dollop of sour cream. He pronounced it excellent after the first bite. And, sopapillas (soft fried bread) came with the meal and were very well done, delicate and fluffy, delicious with a bit of honey. (A cuisine tip: honey on a bit of bread cuts the 'hot' in spicy foods better than sucking down water if you find you get yourself in a little over your head in the heat department).

To finish it off, I broke down and got the Heath Bar Pie. It's an interesting concoction of chocolate ice cream over vanilla ice cream with chunks of Heath scattered on a chocolate cookie crumb crust - covered with hot fudge. Probably not ideal for those seriously watching their weight, unless of course it's your day to indulge, but a delightful end to the meal. Guadalupe has other daily specials available, often pies with seasonally available fruits. They're listed on a board at the front and can be reserved by your waitress since they tend to sellout fast.

Overall, the Guadalupe Café dining experience is a savory and pleasant one. The food is wonderfully prepared, nicely presented and delicious. The service is pleasant, and while not overly quick, I think sets just the right pace for a leisurely meal.