New Mexico: The Soothing Southwest

PLACES TO EAT Santa Fe
Cowgirl Hall of Fame
This restaurant celebrates the cowgirl, but cowboys are welcome too. The kids' menu includes the regional favorite, Frito pie, and buffalo cheeseburgers. New Mexican cuisine is the house specialty, and exotic dishes such as wild-boar burritos are often offered. On Friday and Saturday evenings, there's live music and more of a bar feel. Try to get a table outside on the back patio, where the Kiddie Korral play area is. Call ahead for reservations if possible; this place gets crowded early. 319 S. Guadalupe St., Santa Fe; (505) 982-2565; Cowgirl-Santa Fe.

Hill Diner
A cozy cabin is the setting for classic diner dishes, from hamburgers to meat loaf. Leave room for the banana cream pie. 1315 Trinity Dr., Los Alamos; (505) 662-9745.

Taos
Dragonfly Cafe
This relaxed restaurant has an open kitchen so kids can watch the bakers making cakes and pies (sorry, you can't lick the bowls). Eat in or get your order to go for a picnic across the street at Kit Carson State Park. These are the best pies and cookies in town. 402 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos; (505) 737-5859.

Pizza Emergency
This restaurant, with a name you won't forget, serves up great deep-dish pizza, baked pasta, and meatball sandwiches. 316 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Taos; (505) 751-0911.

Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated July 2005.