Cafe Rio
2547 Sudderth Drive
Ruidoso, NM
505-257-7746
This small, casual restaurant offers an eclectic menu of great specialty dishes including a spicy Jambalaya, Greek salads and "spanakopita", a Greek dish of spinach and feta cheese in phyllo dough. The handmade pizzas, especially when tossed by pizza-slinger-extraordinaire Eric Gile, are the best in town. Add a good imported beer list and specialty coffees and you've got a great choice for a variety of tastes. Open daily. No credit cards accepted.
Cattle Baron
657 Sudderth Drive
Ruidoso, NM
505-257-9355
An excellent choice for travelers and residents in New Mexico and West Texas. Cattle Baron offers hand-cut steaks, succulent prime rib, and extensive salad bar and other delectable entrees. There are also Cattle Baron locations in Portales, Hobbs, Roswell and Las Cruces in New Mexico and Lubbock, Midland and El Paso in Texas.
Flying J Ranch Chuckwagon Suppers & Western Show
Ruidoso's best bet for family entertainment. The Flying J offers an excellent chuckwagon supper followed by a western stage show. The kids love the pony rides and gold panning before the action starts. Next comes the opening gunfight and then the meal. The night is topped off by The Flying J Wranglers performing old-time western favorites and original compositions with a touch of humor thrown in. We've been going to Ruidoso every summer for years and the whole family still wants to go to Flying J every trip. Open nightly except Sundays from Memorial Day thru Labor Day, then Saturdays thru mid-October. Located north of Ruidoso on Highway 48, 1 1/2 miles past the Ski Apache turnoff.
La Lorraine
2523 Sudderth Drive
Ruidoso, NM
505-257-2954
Since we'd always taken our kids with us to Ruidoso, we'd always just passed by La Lorraine. This time we were on our own and decided to give it a try. Because of the name, we'd expected French cuisine, but instead found a solid varied fine-dining menu. We both chose steaks--the peppered steak and the filet mignon--and both were excellent. The presentation was fit for a gourmet magazine cover. For our money, it is the best fine-dining experience in Ruidoso.
Santino's Italian Restaurant
2823 Sudderth Drive
Ruidoso, NM
505-257-7540
An expansive Italian menu in a very pretty restaurant located where Sudderth and Mechem Drives meet. The roasted asparagus appetizer, with prosciutto, mozzarella and balsamic vinegar is a great way to start. Pasta, chicken, steaks, veal and seafood are all well represented. The cozy bar makes a perfect hideaway before or after dinner.
Casa Blanca
501 Mechem Drive
Ruidoso, NM
505-257-2495
El Camino Nuevo
1025 Mechem Drive
Ruidoso, NM
505-258-4312
Farley's
1200 Mechem Drive
Ruidoso, NM
505-258-5676
The Hummingbird Tearoom
2306 Sudderth Drive
Ruidoso, NM
505-257-5100
Le Bistro
2800 Sudderth Drive
Ruidoso, NM
505-257-0132
Texas Club
212 Metz Drive
Ruidoso, NM
505-258-3325