Best Restaurant in Santa Fe | Geronimo - SantaFe.com
Geronimo Santa Fe New Mexico

For more than 25 years, Geronimo Restaurant has been impressing diners from around the world, serving award-winning Global Eclectic fare in an elegant Territorial-Style hacienda that dates to 1756. The restaurant—one of just two in New Mexico to earn the prestigious 4-star designation from the Mobil Travel Guide—also landed a spot on OpenTable’s list of the 100 Best Restaurants in the U.S.

Business Insider named Geronimo as New Mexico’s best restaurant in its compilation of the best restaurant in every state and Food and Wine tapped it as one of the top most romantic restaurants in Santa Fe. Zagat included Geronimo on its “50 States, 50 Steaks” list this year, too: The tellicherry-rubbed elk tenderloin is served atop roasted garlic fork-mashed potatoes, sugar snap peas, applewood-smoked bacon and creamy brandied-mushroom sauce,” Zagat said. “ Unlike a traditional steakhouse, you get everything on the plate here.”Dinner at Geronimo is an unforgettable experience, from the warm and inviting atmosphere to the impeccable service, sophisticated seasonal menus and outstanding wine list. Chef and co-owner Eric DiStefano, who passed away in February of this year, created dishes that drew phenomenal praise from food critics, diners and his peers. Chef Sllin Cruz is the new executive chef, and his menu pays homage to DiStefano’s signature dishes.

Reserve a table in one of the intimate dining rooms or, if the weather’s nice, on the portal overlooking Canyon Road. Be sure to arrive early and enjoy drinks in Geronimo’s famous bar. The restaurant’s kiva fireplaces, wood floors and beams, white walls and other design elements reflect the era of the home’s first owner, Spanish settler Geronimo Lopez, a farmer with crops, pastures and an orchard. Some of the seasonal ingredients on the menu today may well be similar to the fruits and vegetables that Lopez grew on his surrounding land.

Begin your evening in the handsome bar with a Hatch green chile-infused Silver Tequila margarita or another refreshing cocktail crafted by mixologist Quinn Stephenson. Order a few apps, perhaps the Kobe Beef Sliders, Wasabi Caesar or Hawaiian Ahi Tuna Sashimi and Tartare. But don’t eat too much, as there are more delectable dishes to come.

Once you’re seated at your table, you might want to start with an order of Maryland Blue Crab Cakes with Caviar Dill Sauce while you peruse the French-inspired dinner menu. I highly recommend a few of DiStefano’s signature dishes, including Telicherry Rubbed Elk Tenderloin with Applewood Smoked Bacon and Creamy Brandied-Mushroom Sauce and Fiery Sweet Chile and Honey-Grilled Mexican White Prawns, garnished with Frisee, Red Onion Salad & Yuzu Basil Aioli and served with Jasmine Almond Rice Cakes. Another bestseller here is the Mesquite-Grilled Maine Lobster Tails served with Angel Hair Pasta, Spinach, Edamame and Creamy Garlic Chile Sauce.

If you can, leave room for the sumptuous seasonal desserts such as Meyer Lemon Crepes with Candied Lemon, Limoncello Syrup, and Lemon Curd; Flourless German Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Smoked Sea Salt Caramel Sauce; and Orange Creamsicle Cake with Lemongrass Ice Cream, Cardamom Sauce and Sesame Florentine.

Geronimo has established a solid reputation for consistency, something not every restaurant can achieve. You’ll note throughout your evening here that each dish is perfectly prepared, a creative blending of sublime flavors and textures, and that the service is flawless from start to finish. And no matter how crowded the restaurant is, it’s never noisy, so the ambience is always enchanting. It’s for these reasons that Geronimo is a longtime Santa Fe culinary treasure, beloved by locals and visitors alike.

This article was posted by Cheryl Fallstead

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