the shed

santa fe knows how to cook folks!! i haven't had a single thing here that i didn't enjoy!!! and no, it's not mexican cuisine, it's new mexican (haven't been told yet what the difference is, just that there is a clear distinction).

theshedwas highly recommended by a local foodie, an authority of kinds. her recommendation was the mushroom soup (wait, what!?). yes, mushroom soup...so of course i ordered it!! it was just what i needed after several days of tortillas, beans, guacamole and pico. i'm not even a mushroom soup fan but the flavor of this was so incredible!!! it was thin, but cream based, and had such depth of flavor. it was paired with a 1/2 green chili roasted turkey sandwich which was the perfect hearty accompaniment. in fact, many of the dishes here are spicy (and they advertise same)

my only caution is the long wait times...we arrived at 12:12pm and was told it would be a 30 minute wait. we figured a place that is constantly busy must be good, right? i suggest you plan to wait long wait times, no matter what time of day, but it's well worth it. menu is simple and affordable. our server looked like he just walked out of an episode of prison break, but he was friendly, attentive and down to earth...so really, what else would you want :)

supports local food movement!. theshedbuys fresh, local ingredients for their meals through farm to table's farm to restaurant program. the farm to restaurant program promotes a viable food system in northern new mexico by helping small to mid-sized farmers sell their products to santa fe restaurants, and by helping these restaurants source the highest quality, most nutritious and flavorful ingredients for customers like you! we thank you for supporting the local food movement by dining at a conscious restaurant like the shed. we know you will love the dishes that incorporate local ingredients; supporting local restaurants and farmers is one way to preserve santa fe’s unique culture!

4.5 stars (this site doesn't allow half-stars) primarily losing half of one on the long wait that was longer than stated and the use of patrón in your upper-end tequilas.

ok, new mexican cuisine is truly a bit of an outlier for me in the food world, having grown up in west texas and steeped in the rich, varied tex-mex and mexican cuisines of that region. that being said, my limited experience with new mexican cuisine in las cruces and in santa fe would clearly put theshedup against any mexican restaurant of any type in the united states. the expression of the red chile is bountiful and consummate here. 

as if it needs any more stars from one more reviewer due to its james beard award it won in 2003, this place is marvelous. here goes:

1. the margaritas offered are really tasty. the menu almost looks trite with the many variations they offer off of their base margarita, but the st. rita (elderberry being the added in this one) was quite marvelous. the other margarita, the elite silver, was really tasty (use herradura -- it's better).

2. the chile con queso (basic in the mexican cuisine world, yes, but rather tasty) has marvelous green chiles that make it truly a more-than-one-chip offering. even the kids cleared the bowls.

3. carne adovada [sic] in most places is overcooked and has been sitting in a pot for ages. this was marvelously delicious with red chiles setting off further taste buds, and the enchilada on the plate and the hominy side were simply divine. truly unique.

4. the desserts were fine, but i left with fond memories of red-chile-immersed fairies dancing on my tongue.

this is a must for all to visit in santa fe. the end.

theshedis amazing and offers gluten free too!. great food - authentic. very good margaritas too. the wait is long, but worth it. one of the sauces is gluten free and fabulous. we ate there twice during our visit. each time was delicious. highly recommend!

terrible, overpriced diner quality new mexican. if you enjoy terrible service, uninspired food and paying a premium then theshedis your place.

if you want good green chile go to south side cafe - the best.

if you want a much better lunch in the same proximity, just walk a couple blocks up the street and dine at cafe palicio. the food is much, much better quality and prepared with care.

authentic food & tasty margs!. i do love a good margarita, and theshedhas them! although this wasn't the best mexican food i've had, it was certainly delicious. they aren't lying when they say the red sauce is spicy...i warned you! the bread that comes with every meal is delicious and hits the spot, the service was great and the proximity to the plaza is a plus. overall a tasty little lunch spot!

theshedis the gold standard for northern new mexican food. everything on the menu is a treat and excellent. you may have to wait for a table and it is worth the wait. expect santa fe prices.

real authentic new mexican food!. i travel the entire state of new mexico for work....and this is by far the best place to get new mexican food!! i always get their blue corn tortilla chicken enchiladas- stacked not rolled- christmas style (half with red chili, half with green chili) with an over easy egg on top. it may sound strange if you are not accustomed to new mexican food--but this is how many of the locals eat it and it's amazing! their chips, salsa, and guacamole are so fresh and delicious! but be careful....when they seat you and take your drink order... they assume the sale with the chips, salsa, and guac..making it sound like its free with your meal--it is not! if you order all three its like $7.95 added to your bill.... chips and salsa alone is like $2.95 added. it surprised me the first time i visited there. this is a place where all the locals eat and almost always has a wait so put in a reservation. also, they are closed from 2 to 5 everyday for break during lunch and dinner services. theshedis located at the heart of downtown santa fe where there are numerous shops to walk around and see while you wait. if you go during the warmer months during the day/early evening, the native americans sit in the downtown courtyard (right by the shed) selling their handmade goods from the reservations. its pretty neat to see and experience. amazing food and unique atmosphere!! a must try if your in santa fe!

the best new mexican food in town.. i have been eating new mexican food since 1952 and in my judgment, theshedis as good as it gets.

contrary to some of the reviews, theshedis not solely a tourist place. it is very busy in the off-season when it is full of locals. almost without exception, my long-term new mexican friends and relatives prefer theshedto any other new mexican restaurant in town-though there are many other very good restaurants. one of my very best friends, a ft. worth texan no less, actually prefers theshedfood to his otherwise beloved tex-mex.

this is new mexican, not tex-mex (an aberration in comparison) or mexican. the food is always fresh and in my experience, always well-prepared. what sets new mexican food apart is the chile. you simply will not find it anywhere else. while theshedgreen chile is very good, it is the red chile that is most exceptional. in my opinion only mary & tito's in albuquerque has red chile that is better. both chiles are tasty and piquant.

among my favorites here are the taco and enchilada plate and the carne adovada (available only at lunch). the margheritas are generally very good as are the deserts, especially the mocha cake and hot fudge sundae.

some people have trouble getting a table in the evening. i have found this to be a problem, also, on occasion. i prefer eating lunch here. i show up around 11:30 in tourist season and 11:45 in the shoulder seasons to avoid the crowds. also, it seems to me that the food is a tiny bit better at noon.


-----23 nov, 2011-----

hot fudge sundae. theshedmakes their own hot fudge and it is simply the best i have ever eaten.


-----23 nov, 2011-----

taco & enchilada plate w/red chile. the taco can be ordered with ground beef or chicken. it is a soft taco, meant to be eaten with a fork. i like it with beef and smothered in the shed's great red chile. this is quintessential new mexican food, and it is delicious. posole (very good) and beans accompany the dish.


-----27 oct, 2011-----

the best place in santa fe to sample new mexican food.. i was raised in abq and have lived in santa fe for 12 years. i have eaten nm food in perhaps 100 restaurants. in my judgment, theshedis one of the two best best restaurants in new mexico for new mexico style food. (the other is mary and tito's, in abq.)

what makes new mexico food unique is the chile. theshedhas the most consistent chile; it is unadulterated by cumin or other spices and is made fresh multiiple times daily. the red chile at theshedis exquisite. the green chile is very good. i particularly like red chile, so that is what i usually order on my enchilada plate or my taco and enchilada plate (both with blue corn tortillas). i ask for a side of "red" as well, to slather over anything left uncovered. the carne adovada, available at lunch, is also quite good. the posole is quite good, also.

i have had perhaps 100 meals here and have never been disappointed. lunch is best in my experience, i know not why. since theshedis always crowded, arrive around 11:30 during tourist season and prior to noon during off-season. for dinner, make an early reservation. by arriving early, i always avoid the crowds and my service has been good to great all but once.

note that this 16th century building. if you are seated to the left, enjoy this historic building. it is likely you will not eat in an older building in the states. also, because of the building, they do not accommodate large groups very well.

in addition to the new mexican food, their soups and salads are surprisingly good, their margaritas are fresh (not made with a "mix") and good, and they have several good desserts. i particularly like the mocha cake and the hot fudge sundae.

finally, when eating here, if you are an out-of-stater, remind yourself that this is new mexican food-not mexican nor tex/mex. the names of the dishes are the same, the tastes are different. i hope you enjoy the food and visit as much as i do.

one of my santa fe favorites. we eat at theshedevery trip to santa fe and it's always as good as the first visit. their red chile sauce is always right on and for those that like alot of sauce, just ask for an extra side and they are happy to oblige. they do take reservations which is a plus. i tried the pollo adobo for the first time this trip and it was delicious, it was accompanied by a cheese enchilada (which i never order) and this stole the show - absolutely fantastic! the margaritas are strong too - good to know if you prefer them stronger and if not, they will lighten it up for you. staff is always pleasant as is the staff that answers the phone when taking reservations. if you have not been here while visiting it's worth a stop!

condescending attitude and mediocre food not worth the wait. santa fe was a stop on our road trip and we heard that theshedwas the place to eat. so i called to ask about their dinner hours and if i needed a reservation, they said i did not. so we show up right at 5:30 and were told that since we don't have a reservation the wait is an hour and a half long (by the way, told this by a really rude greeter as he rolled his eyes at us for not having a reservation). i was annoyed but we decided to shop around the square during our wait time so no biggie. we were seated and ordered some beers and chips and salsa. the beers were kind of expensive $4+ a bottle but the salsa and guac were delicious. we ordered the veggie quesadillas as a starter and 2 chicken enchilada dishes. the veggie ques was awesome and i wish i had just stopped there. the posole and beans that came with the enchiladas were bland and really what i consider "throw away food." the enchiladas did not have a lot going for them. they were smothered in some decent, spicy sauces but other than that i couldn't taste any cheese or chicken or anything else. definitely not worth the 1.5 hour wait or the slow/rude service of the waiters.

still one of the best. i just returned from my trip to santa fe and my meal at theshedstands out the most. i hadn't been there in several years and wondered why i hadn't kept this in my rotation of regular restaurants i visit while there. best chile i had out of 6 restaurants i ate at on this trip. awesome salsa and guacamole too!

pretty good. my family had dinner reservations and were promptly seated. the service was average. we were out the door shortly after one hour.

for an appetizer, we had chips and salsa. the salsa was good, but the chips were disappointing as they were stale. i had the blue corn chicken enchiladas, which were good although not the best i had in santa fe. i personally think the blue corn cafe had better enchiladas, not by much, but by a slight margin. the pinto beans were tasty, but not the best either. same for the posole.

although theshedis good overall, i don't think it lives up to the hype. i do recommend though. i give it a 4 out 5 stars.

santa fe as i remembered. in the santa fe of my youth, theshedwas a restaurant where visitors could eat decent mexican food while absorbing the cool lifestyle of us locals. after a 20+ year absence, we recently experienced it from the visitor side of the equation and were amazed at how well the concept has withstood the test of time. on a cold, windy monday night in the off-season, the place was jammed. we worked our way to the front of the waiting mass and signed up for the obligatory "20 minute wait". remembering that under "santa fe rules" time estimates mean very little, we claimed one of several empty tables in the bar. as we listened to a manager explain to neighboring customers that there was no table service and that drinks must be ordered at the bar, a server materialized to take our order for margaritas and chips. didn't question it (again "santa fe rules") but probably over tipped. the drinks and people-watching were good enough that we almost didn't mind our 40-minute wait. we were eventually escorted to a small dining room attended by a surprisingly professional wait staff (not "santa fe rules"). both red and green chile dishes had just the right level of kick and the beans definitely had the new mexico touch. while santa fe has changed immensely during the years since i left, this evening was definitely a reminder of my old hometown.

underwhelming. reputations come from a variety of sources and having found what we felt were the best red and green in nm, we had to compare with theshed- and ........eh. long waits, nice folks, standard fare, nothing to write home -or online - about.