St.Clair Vineyards and Bistro
1800 avenida de mesilla, +1 575 524-2408. (http://www.stclairvineyar...) warm atmosphere, live music, great food and wine selection. french country menu includes interesting appetizers like european cheese plates that pair wonderfully with flights of wine. entres include dinner salads, fish, steak, pastas, and more.
Thai Delight
Great thai food in organ - up the hill east of las cruces. prices are moderate and servings are very large. a great addition and worth the drive. 16151 hwy 70 e, organ, nm. 575 373-3000. a second location is rumored to be opening in mesilla sometime soon.
Lorenzo's
1753 e. university, +1 575 521-3505. italian; lunch and dinner. also has a location in mesilla and a new location in the shopping center on lohman & roadrunner.
Si Señor
Best chips & salsa in town available to-go. you will not be hungry leaving si seã±or. 1551 e amador ave, 575-527-0817
Double Eagle
In mesilla, on the plaza. more of an upscale restaurant. standard new mexican fare and locally-inspired dishes. one of the few places in town that serves aged steak. supposedly haunted, local lore says star-crossed lovers perished here and continue to visit one of the dining rooms. their bar has an extensive liquor selection, suitable for all tastes. the ambiance is almost unmatched in the area. the sunday brunch is a popular choice.
Andele
2184 avenida de mesilla. mexican with a salsa bar. breakfast, lunch and dinner. check out the green chile pork enchiladas, tacos al cabon and roasted jalapenos.
Lorenzo's
1750 calle de mercado #4. italian; lunch and dinner.
El Paisano Cafe
1740 calle de mercado. new mexican food with a european flair; seasonal dishes using fresh ingredients. open breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Chinese Phoenix
On madrid, off solano. located in a strip mall, this is easy to miss, so stay sharp! daily lunch special priced at $2.99, with a large menu of standard chinese fare. some of the best traditional chinese food in town, everything on the menu is under $10. portions are large and tasty.
International Delights
1245 el paseo rd., +1 575 647-5956, (http://www.internationald...). mediterranean/mideastern food, rather hard to find owing to its somewhat obscure location in a strip mall. 7 days, 7am-midnight, to accommodate the student clientele. wireless access. in the shopping center on el paseo and idaho, slightly behind the rent-a-center. look for the albertson's, then look in the corner of the "l" shape. many of their dishes are halal.
High Desert Brewery
Hadley avenue just off valley head east. microbrew beer and excellent food. try their seasonal brews hefeweizen in summer and holiday ale in winter are choice and order their outstanding nachos. beware, the portions especially on the nachos!! tend to run large, ask your server for advice. open for lunch, dinner, and a pre-bed beer. live music many nights, but no cover, ever.
Nellie's
A local favorite. on hadley, across from high desert brewery. their hours are breakfast-lunch only, closing mid-afternoon. expect a wait, and with good reason: this is some of the best new mexican food in las cruces. nellie still cooks, her son danny ray is the manager, and the rest of the family can be seen serving and cooking. prices are all below $12, with most of the best plates in the $7 range. if you like your chile hot or your meals traditional, this is the place to go.
University Avenue
On the north side of nmsu, has the usual assortment of student-oriented eateries, with the usual properties for such places: lots of food, reasonable prices, less than haute cuisine. some, by no means all, of the restaurants along university are: lorenzo's, 1753 e. university, +1 575 521-3505. italian; lunch and dinner. also has a location in mesilla and a new location in the shopping center on lohman & roadrunner.
Sweet Indulgence/SI Italian Bistro
Located on idaho off el paseo behind the albertson's, this restaurant has great ambiance to go with the food! all desserts are handmade or baked by the co-owner. an extensive menu of italian and italian-inspired fare, along with coffee drinks, italian sodas, and beer & wine. lunch menu varies from the dinner menu. a popular spot for business lunches, "date night" or parties especially for weddings. seems much more upscale than their prices admit! lunch is $4-12 range, dinner $8-20. daily soup changes and specials.
Old Mesilla
To the southwest of las cruces is on the el camino real traveled by onate and coronado and is the home of many restaurants.double eagle in mesilla, on the plaza. more of an upscale restaurant. standard new mexican fare and locally-inspired dishes. one of the few places in town that serves aged steak. supposedly haunted, local lore says star-crossed lovers perished here and continue to visit one of the dining rooms. their bar has an extensive liquor selection, suitable for all tastes. the ambiance is almost unmatched in the area. the sunday brunch is a popular choice. andele, 2184 avenida de mesilla. mexican with a salsa bar. breakfast, lunch and dinner. check out the green chile pork enchiladas, tacos al cabon and roasted jalapenos. lorenzo's, 1750 calle de mercado #4. italian; lunch and dinner. el paisano cafe, 1740 calle de mercado. new mexican food with a european flair; seasonal dishes using fresh ingredients. open breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Chope's Bar and Cafe
16145 s hwy 28 la mesa, nm 88044, +1 575 233-9976, offers the best rellenos in new mexico. the restaurant is located approximately 12 scenic miles south of university ave on highway 28, which winds through the stahmann's pecan orchards.