Ardovino’s Desert Crossing
El Paso’s hippest restaurant is in New Mexico! Nestled in the foothills of Mt. Cristo Rey since 1949, Ardovino’s Desert Crossing has established a solid reputation as a restaurant/lounge and banquet facility. The Mecca Lounge, a throwback to the swanky lounges of the 50s, offers fabulous cocktails and an extensive selection of fine wines, scotch and beer. Dinner items created with garden-grown herbs include entrees ranging from beef tenderloin to seafood and great pastas. Every Saturday morning in the summer through fall, there is a farmers’ market with fresh local produce and breakfast on the patio. Full service banquet facilities are available for private events (10-350 guests). Dinner served Wed-Sun and lunch served on Saturday. Full bar available. Live entertainment nightly. One Ardovino Drive, Sunland Park, NM. 575 589-0653 for info and directions.
Azulejos
A popular restaurant inside the historic Camino Real Hotel, Azulejos serves a full breakfast buffet, authentic Mexican cuisine, and international classics: grilled seafood, Angus beef hamburgers and Caesar salad in a casual setting. Don’t miss its renowned Champagne Sunday Brunch. Open every day. 101 S. El Paso Street, 915 534-3000.
Avila’s Mexican Food
For over 50 years the Avila family has been serving El Paso’s traditional Mexican food. This family restaurant is still owned and operated by the Avilas and offers a complete menu at extremely reasonable prices. Among our favorites are the chile con queso, a cheese and chile dip appetizer, the chicken fajitas and the carnita plate. The restaurant was chosen in the top 50 Hispanic restaurants in the U.S. by Hispanic Magazine. They’ve also been selected the as Best Mexican Restaurant in the El Paso Times readers poll for multiple years and cooked in Washington DC at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival—that’s saying something! Beer, wine and wine margaritas are available. 6232 N. Mesa near Sunland Park Drive. 915 584-3621
Billy Crews
Great steaks and great wines go hand-in-glove, and the glove fits at Billy Crews. A Wine Spectator Magazine Grand Award winning restaurant since 1986 plus top awards from Wine Enthusiast and Santé Magazine, Billy Crews serves custom-cut steaks, fresh seafood, prime rib, chicken, lamb and veal. The wine cellar holds over 3,200 selections and 15,000 bottles with over 200 imported and specialty beers and a complete selection of liquors and spirits. The lounge is open daily and features live entertainment on Wed–Sat evenings. The package store is open 7 days a week (viva New Mexico!) and offers all wines from the cellar at less-than-big-city prices. Open daily for dinner with a lunch menu in the lounge. Diet-restrictive dishes are also available. Just ask or call ahead. 1200 Country Road (10 minutes from downtown; take I-10 west to N. Mesa, exit 11, and go left 3 miles), 575 589-2071 (El Paso local call). www.BillyCrews.com
Cattleman’s Steakhouse
Consistently voted the best steaks and best steakhouse in El Paso, Cattleman’s has been drawing large crowds for years and for good reason. The steaks are nothing short of delicious and always cooked just right. If you’re not in the mood for steak, the great mesquite-smoked barbecue, fresh seafood and a beautiful sunset also make the trip well worthwhile. Located on the grounds of Indian Cliffs Ranch, Cattleman’s offers hayrides and is a great place for a large group to gather to enjoy an outdoor picnic or a more formal celebration. Go early and spend some time seeing the sights at the ranch, including recent movie sets, before dinner. Call 915 544-3200 for more information. Located near Fabens, Texas, 35 minutes from downtown El Paso. Take I-10 east to exit 49 then turn left and drive 5 miles. www.CattlemansSteakhouse.com
Dome Bar and Restaurant
For an elegant, historic setting, enjoy the exotic Escargot Bordelaise appetizer or the signature roast rack of lamb entree, complimented with vintage wine found only in the Dome Restaurant in the Camino Real Hotel downtown, or drink in the history under the Tiffany-styled dome in the hotel’s opulent bar. 101 S. El Paso Street. 915 534-3000.
Landry’s Seafood House
A Gulf Coast tradition since 1947! Landry’s menu features an array of fresh fish and seafood selections from mouthwatering entrees and appetizers to assorted salads and seafood platters. For landlubbers, Landry’s offers tempting steaks and chicken delicacies. Attentive to seasonal changes, our chefs are constantly introducing new items to the menu. Come taste why we’ve been pleasing guests for over 60 years! Open every day. Located at 6801 Gateway West, along I-10 between Airway and Hawkins. 915 779-2900.
Little Diner
Finding the restaurants that the locals truly love is usually a bit of an adventure. Little Diner is no exception. Hidden on a side street in sleepy Canutillo, Texas (15 minutes from downtown El Paso), Little Diner has already been discovered by Gourmet Magazine and numerous travel guides, plus Texas Monthly named it one of the best Mexican restaurants in the state. Famous for its fabulous gorditas (the Taco Bell version isn’t even related), Little Diner makes everything from scratch, including grinding the corn for tortillas and cooking all the sauces. They’ll treat you like family—once you find the place! Diet-restrictive dishes are also available. Just ask or call ahead. Located 1.5 miles from the Outlet Shoppes at El Paso at 7209 7th Street, Canutillo, Texas. From downtown El Paso, take I-10 west to the Transmountain Road exit (#6), turn left then right on Doniphan Drive, and right again on Anthony Road and right again on 7th Street. Open 11 a.m.–8 p.m., closed Wednesdays. 915 877-2176 www.LittleDiner.com
Los Bandidos de Carlos & Mickey’s
The Arrambide family at Carlos & Mickey’s has been serving fabulous Mexican food in El Paso since 1944. The menu contains over 70 items and is probably the most complete in El Paso. Live entertainment each evening will make your visit truly special. The full bar serves the biggest and voted best margaritas in town, but be careful—they go down much too easily! Happy hour is from 4–7 p.m. All major credit cards accepted. Open every day 11 a.m.–10 p.m. 1310 Magruder, just north of Montana, 1 mile from the airport. 915 778-3323; and look for them on the ground level near the escalators at the El Paso International Airport.
Mediterranean Cuisine
Greek and Arabic food at its finest. This cozy establishment, tucked away in the La Posta Motel, is El Paso’s oldest Mediterranean restaurant. They offer a variety of mouthwatering, healthy and delicious recipes, including gyros, mousaka, lamb, chicken, beef, fish, vegetarian dishes, falafel, hummus, kibbee, stuffed grape leaves, soups, baklava and more. It’s a world of tastes in a tiny restaurant—and with a healthy Mediterranean diet proven to protect against heart disease and cancer, it’s good for you as well! There’s even a small patio for outdoor dining. Located at 4111 N. Mesa. Open Mon–Sat 11 a.m.–8 p.m. 915 542-1012.
Shogun Japanese Steak House
For great food and real showmanship in its preparation, this is El Paso’s original Japanese restaurant. Steaks, chicken, lobster and shrimp are prepared right before your eyes by your very own chef at a hot grill in the middle of your table. It’s really quite a show and a lot of fun to watch. The restaurant also features a large sushi bar. For dessert, try the Japanese ice cream. Japanese beer and exotic cocktails available. Lunch 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m., Mon–Fri; dinner 5–10 p.m., Mon–Sat. Reservations requested. Located at 1201 Airway Blvd. (Airway Junction Center, one block north of I-10). 915 775-1282.
State Line
Legendary Texas BBQ served up in a relaxed roadhouse setting. Touted for years as one of the places to take out-of-town guests, this casual but nice restaurant has remained one of El Paso’s most popular for over 25 years. Order the country-style platter—heaps of ribs, brisket and sausage (all you can eat) with all the trimmings. Lunch and dinner continuously served 7 days a week. All major credit cards. Near Sunland Park Racetrack at 1222 Sunland Park Drive, 1 mile west of I-10. 915 581-3371. www.Countyline.com
Teddy’s Lounge has been El Paso’s trademark lounge since 1965 . . . 45 years of great times and memories . . . . There is nightly entertainment and a great happy hour every evening from Monday through Thursday. Located in the Holiday Airport at I-10 and Airway Blvd, Teddy’s is the nightspot for airport area hotels. 6655 Gateway West, 915 778-6411.
