Pasqual's triangle (Cafe Pasqual's)

Member Name: ermintrude

Product:	Cafe Pasqual's
Date:	08/06/01 (208 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Delicious food, great atmosphere, fantastic service

Disadvantages: Price, not so much New Mexican at dinner

It seems this is the place to go in Santa Fe! We had to go on a waiting list just for breakfast, and we were so impressed we went back for dinner. Unfortunately we didn't complete the triangle by returning a third time :)

Cafe Pasqual's sits fairly unobtrusively on the corner of Water and De Vargas, not far from the town's main plaza. On the outside, it's just another cafe, but inside it's a riot of colour and a surprisingly dynamic atmosphere. At breakfast, it felt light and airy, busy yet friendly; come dinner time, it was a cosier, more intimate place, but still very welcoming. The morning's extensive breakfast menu had been replaced with a shorter, richer dinner selection, and the clientele seemed older and quieter.

The first thing you notice is it's so small! There must only be about 12 tables in the place, although they range from 2 to 8 people, and keep at least four or five staff busy. The decor is fun, with a bright fiesta of paper place mats strung across the ceiling like bunting, long traditional chilli strings, plus specially commissioned mural panels surrounded by fairy lights. Calendars featuring kitschy traditional Mexican paintings (all for sale) adorn the walls, and scrubbed wood tables and chairs are the order of the day. The staff wear t-shirts, and certainly give service with a smile, answering any questions about the food with great enthusiasm and obvious knowledge. It all contributes to a relaxed yet somehow cool atmosphere.

Breakfast is a very informal affair, with a good mixture of both American and New Mexican food on the menu, so as well as your typical eggs and bacon, there's a range of dishes featuring soft tortillas, chorizo sausage, red (hot) or green (mild) chilli, tomatillo salsa and jalapeno peppers. I had a breakfast burrito, which contained egg, sausage, onions and peppers wrapped in a fluffy tortilla, and I asked for a combination of the three sauces (red, green and tomati
llo). Just as well, since the red would have been hot even in a post-pub chilli feast! I almost felt like I should be drinking a beer, but the freshly squeezed orange juice and a pot of Earl Grey just about did the trick. Our meal came to about $11-12 a head, and was (despite the chilli heat) absolutely delicious, with very generous, filling portions. Lighter options including fruit and cereals are also available, and lighter on the pocket too. Just to tempt you on the way out, there is a little glass container of cookies and cakes by the till, including sesame biscuits and some wicked-looking chocolate confections. Sadly, we were too full to even consider them.

Dinner had an altogether cosier atmosphere, with fairy lights and candles providing a soft, warm light, although the way the tables are spaced, it's more a place for a meal with friends than an intimate dinner for two. Breadsticks are provided as free munchies while you think, and the waiter will quickly fill all your wine, beer and other beverage requirements from a pretty extensive list. Ask about local ales ($4) - I had Fat Tire Amber Ale, which was enjoyable, but didn't quite hit the spot like the Santa Fe Pale Ale I had earlier in the day. My friends shared an excellent bottle of wine ($24, and one of the lower priced ones on the list), and after enthusing about it to our waitress, were very impressed when she later brought over a copy of the wine list with that wine circled, and details of where they might buy it.

The food maybe lacked the New Mexican influence of breakfast, but was none the worse for it. I started off with a delicious and very fresh green salad, and followed that with a very generous portion of lamb chops, perfectly cooked, with lightly-garlicky mash, chinese broccoli and a tangy, tasty "Indonesian sauce" (like a smooth chutney, definitely not satay). My friends' choices included mango with lime salsa, chilli-rubbed salmon fillet, and the "
Plato Supremo", including deep-fried whole chilli peppers (chillis rellenos), a chicken taco, and jicama and orange salad. I only discovered jicama on this trip, and I can best describe it as a watery root vegetable with the crunchy texture of raw potato, but the subtle, sweet taste of raw sugar snap peas. I wish you could get it here - it's delicious!

We couldn't fault any of the food, and were especially impressed by the use of many different herbs and spices in the seasoning - everything was very tasty, and all the dishes certainly had their own identity. We also found them to be surprisingly filling (the portion sizes being smaller and more carefully presented than the humungous breakfasts) - only one of my friends went for dessert, choosing a chocolate confection served with toasted brioche (actually a little too crunchy) and a port-cherry compote. Although delicious, the overcooked brioche and a rather small portion of chocolate made it rather disappointing when compared to the other courses, and especially considering the $7 price tag.

The other courses rolled in at around $20 for a main course, and $8 for a starter, which with drinks made for a fairly hefty bill. However, for a treat, it's definitely worth a trip - you're assured of friendly, knowledgeable service, a welcoming atmosphere, and excellent food. If you can't stretch to dinner, at least try breakfast!

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