If you want to taste a different side of something familiar (to New Mexico) and you or someone you’re dining with needs a green chile fix, get thee to Café San Estevan. Located at the edge of the SanBusco shopping center, Café San Estevan has a warm and pleasant atmosphere and wonderful food. The menu is a hodgepodge, its selection ranging from standard New Mexican fare to hamburgers, spaghetti and meatballs. There truly is something for any appetite, and what really differentiates Café San Estevan from other New Mexican restaurants in Santa Fe is that everything you order is simple, delicious and light. What appears to be plain old beans and chile turns out to be full of subtle flavors, with a not insubstantial kick to the chile.
Café San Estevan also has an interesting story behind it: Estevan Garcia, owner and creator of the menu, is a monk with serious passion for food and flavors. His food combinations are quite unique, and the care with which the food is prepared is always evident. You can read more about Garcia’s story on the menu as you are deciding what to eat.
While anything off the menu is delicious, pay close attention to the daily specials, which actually are special, and not always available. The café is open for a late breakfast as well as lunch and dinner, and some items, including the wonderful breakfast burrito, are available all afternoon. Another nice touch Café San Estevan provides is hot sopapillas brought to you whenever you’d like (so you don’t find yourself eating a cold, greasy piece of fried bread at the end of your meal).
The prices are reasonable ($6-$10 for lunch, $10-$20 at dinner), and the ambience is unusually welcoming. If it’s cold outside, there is typically a fire waiting for you in the main dining area. If you are visiting Santa Fe in warm weather, the patio at Café San Estevan is beautiful (and small—make reservations). All in all, Café San Estevan is a nice variation on the Santa Fe food theme.
