Summertime and the livin’ is easy, especially when you’re dining al fresco beneath beautiful Santa Fe skies. And who better to accompany you to breakfast, lunch, dinner or cocktails than your favorite Fido? Santa Fe is a town for dog-lovers and having just adopted a new puppy myself, I know how important it is take your dog with you, when the weather’s right. Across the city, you’ll find inviting restaurants with patios and terraces that not only welcome you for a delicious outdoor meal, they’re happy to host your dog, too. Here’s a short list of some of Gourmet Girl’s favorite pooch-friendly patios in Santa Fe.
The Cowgirl is a popular pooch-watching spot, where there’s always a crowd and great live music. This iconic Santa Fe patio is the perfect place to relax and sip on a signature margarita as you peruse the menu, with plenty of options to consider, from thick, juicy burgers and bodacious BBQ to steaks, Chuckwagon Chili, Bourbon Salmon, fish and chips and more. Your dog might like to taste the Yak Meatloaf, made with stout and molasses demi-glace; or perhaps the Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich, Buffalo Burger or Smoked Turkey Reuben. Don’t miss the daily specials and seasonal menus, along with the “wicked good” house-made desserts, including the famous Ice Cream Baked Potato and Peach Blueberry Cobbler.
When it’s time to celebrate a special event—your dog’s birthday, the day your pup came to stay or a training milestone, for instance—you have plenty of upscale patios to choose from. La Casa Sena, situated in one of the most beautiful downtown gardens, is an elegant place to take your pooch with a menu to match. Order the Colorado Lamb Rack with stone ground polenta, shaved asparagus and a cabarnet-mint reduction, or Beef Tenderloin with Peruvian potato flan, snap peas, baby carrots a green peppercorn sauce and foie gras butter, and your pup will want a bite or two.Or share a taste of your Roasted Duck Confit with foie gras en brioche, Anasazi beans, sweet crema and sherry reduction. Be sure to leave room for dessert, perhaps the Black Plum Parfait with crème anglaise and toasted pistachios or the Sorbet Trio, featuring mango sauce and basil-tarragon gel.
You might find a few poodles at 315 Restaurant & Wine Bar, where the French-inspired food is classically prepared with a contemporary twist. 315 is famous for its Steak Frites, a classic bistro dish featuring a New York strip served with au poivre, bernaise or herbed butter. Your dog will turn tricks for a bite of this, as well as a taste of the Pork Schnitzel with Chanterelle Gravy, marinated cherry tomatoes, kohlrabi and summer squash hash. The ½ Roasted Colorado Chicken with Potato Tots, creamed string beans, baby carrots, poached garlic and summer herbs will also please your pup. Reward yourself with Chocolat Pots de Creme, featuring whipped cream and chocolate marble (not for your dog, though, as chocolate isn’t good for most dogs) or end your meal the way many do in France, with a Chef’s Artisanal Cheese Selection with seasonal garnishes.
Another great place to take your dog is Hotel Santa Fe’s Amaya, where a covered, patio provides shelter for you and your pet from the harsh summer sun and overlooks beautiful gardens. Cool off with the Pressed Watermelon and New Mexico Goat Cheese Salad or the Cactus, Heirloom Tomato and Burrata Salad, followed by Picuris Pueblo Seared Elk Tenderloin with pinon-infused mashed potatoes, sweet corn puree and junier demi, which your dog will love to try. The IPA Pan-Seared Free Range Chicken Breast wit curry butter roasted fingerling potatoes, fried Brussel sprouts and IPA pan sauce would be equally delicious for your canine friend to sample. For dessert, try the Pear & Almond Tart with vanilla ice cream.
After an early morning walk along Canyon Road, when the weather is still cool, you and your pooch can relax on the patio at The Teahouse and enjoy a breakfast of housemade, granola with milk or yogurt, Eggs Benedict (choose from six versions of this beloved dish) or a Breakfast Panini with bacon, Black Forest ham, prosciutto di Parma, grilled mortaella or a veggie version. Or stop by for lunch and choose from a creative selection of salads, sandwiches, panini and entrees. This patio offers some sweet shady spots when the sun gets too hot, and it’s a great place for your little darling to meet other dogs, too.
This article was posted by Jesse Williams
