This is the top dinner restaurant in Taos. Â The menu is brief and inventive. Â The Chicharrones are the best I've ever had. Â The service is second to none. Â The view from the patio is amazing. Â If eating inside the rooms are colorful and cheerful. Â I reserve 5 stars for actual 5 stars. Â It's nice to use it here.
Review Source:Amazing! We had our New Year's Eve dinner at this restaurant, and it was amazing. The service was wonderful, and the fixed menu was incredible. The Spanish-influenced food items created a flavor explosion in my mouth, which felt really great on a cold Taos night.
If you're planning on going here, especially on a weekend or holiday, make sure you call ahead and make reservations. It was clear that this is a happening place in Taos for both locals and travelers.
Literally great (no, not a typo) and inventive food. Try the chicharrones, trout and the duck. Even the steak has such an interesting rub that it stands apart. I was skeptical about collards cooked in Taos, but our waiter assured me they were the real deal. Â And he was spot on. Â Mezze would be successful in any city on earth. Â It is a gem in Northern New Mexico.
Review Source:Good quality food and wait staff. What more could you ask for?! I went with a group of people we had the Buffalo short ribs as an appetizer and I had the duck as my meal. Everyone was really happy with what they ordered and it was really interesting to hear the waiter tell us about the preparation of the food.
Great experience!
We eat out a great deal and this was the best food we've had in ages!!
my ribeye was the best I've had in years and my wife's tuna was amazing.
The espresso crème bruleé and almond semifreddo deserts were breathtaking!
Do NOT pass up an opportunity to dine at El Meze...
PS: Don't forget to call ahead for reservations!
The starters, deep-fried sweetbreads and blue-cheese-stuffed olives, were a lot of fun. The trout was *way* overdone, and the tamale was--well, a pretty ordinary tamale. The lemon-and-raspberry napolean was nothing special. Nice room. Nice wine list. Attentive server with a big personality. Â But I'm sorry, the food was a disappointment.
Review Source:If I can give this restaurant more stars I would. Â They hit it out of the ball park in all fronts-- food, quality, service, and ambiance. Â I usually travel to Taos on business trips every two or three months, so I squeeze in dinner at El Meze whenever I can. Â I have tried some of the other fine dining options in town, but I realized that every time I did that, I chided myself for not eating at El Meze instead. Â
I usually order way more food than is possible for one person and someone my size. Â I can never pass up the chicharrones. Â Apparently, they have dubbed me the "chicharrones girl". Â During this past summer, I tried the jamon serrano which has Spanish cured ham, ripe white nectarines and shavings of Manchego cheese drizzled with olive oil. Â The combination was wonderful and unexpected. Â Their chunky gazpacho with prickly pear granita in the middle was nothing short of genius. Â The frozen granita actually made the other flavors in the gazpacho pop. Â I sat out on the patio facing the mountains and it started to rain. Â With glass of Spanish wine in hand and awesome food, the experience was extraordinary.
I was there again in October and tried their oxtail soup.  It came in a savory but light broth with corn shoots and yellow corn.  The corn shoots gave it an interesting flavor and the oxtail was super tender and meaty.  I also had the grilled trout which was presented with salad greens and I think shaved Daikon radish (I love radish!).  The fish came already deboned and perfectly grilled, so I ate everything--skin and all--well, except for the head and tail.  Yes, it was that good.  Finally, I decided to do something different from my  usual lemon Mousse and raspberry napoleon.  I tried the almond semifreddo, which was sort of a slice of ice cream with almonds in it, with a burnt sugar (sauce similar to caramel) and fresh berries.  I was so glad I tried it because it was amazing.  To top it off, they comped my dessert!!! I was shocked and grateful to say the least.
The past two times my server was Kelly. Â She was professional, attentive and knew what she was talking about. Â I ordered sparkling wine in the beginning, Â but when it came to choosing a wine for my dinner, she knew exactly what I should have. Â Annette, as usual, was friendly, greeted me like family, and had my table by the fireplace ready when I came in. Â Toward the end of my meal, Chef Fred came out to say hello to me and other diners, as he has done other times before.
What more can I say or do but sing praises about this restaurant. Â Their food is obviously prepared with care and artistry. Â It is clear to me that the whole staff takes pride in the restaurant. Â My only wish is that I lived nearby so I can visit more often.
Went there on my anniversary, ordered the expensive Tortilla soup, it was cold. When they picked up the soup there was a black grease ring on the white table cloth and the waiter went and hid after I showed it to him. El Meze is filthy, don't go there. We're local and we know better now from hearing the other horror stories!
Review Source:We had an amazing dining experience Sat night at El Meze.
We sampled 3 different wines before making our choice.
We had the Bread and tomato salad  which was yummy
and the trout was to die for. We also had the homeade pasta
which we would order again.
We had a wonderful waitress that filled our water glasses and brought coffee
with refills often.
Our dessert we had the chocolate mini donuts which were tantalizing
and rich.
We will most certainly be back
El Meze is definitely in a class of it's own in Taos. The food is lovely and exquisite and light and tasty. This restaurant would be awesome anywhere but the fact that it's in Taos in a new old hacienda makes it particularly special. We had the sweetbreads which were delicious, the hummus and olives with wonderful grilled flatbread, the oyster soup which was a good a soup as you can get anywhere and lastly the Chile Relleno, which was good but not as spectacular as the rest of the meal. For dessert we had the lemon curd with fillo pasty....light and a wonderful end to a completely delightful meal. This place and it's food shines. Don't miss it if you want a great dinner in Taos!
Review Source:Simply the most amazing meal we had during a ten day vacation in New Mexico. Our server did a great job pairing our dinner with a great wine. Our main course was the Truchas Yerba Buena, which is a
grilled whole trout with preserved lemon, mint, cilantro and garlic. Â Wow, I wish I knew how the chef make that, and I would try it at home. If our travels take us back to Taos, this'll be the first (and last) place we eat.
We went here with friends on Sat evening. Â We had the Chicharrones (bacon), Ejotes (green beans), Buffalo short ribs, and the Truchas Yerba Buena (Trout). Â It was all wonderful. Â The service was superior. Â The interior space is small, but lovely. Â There is also outdoor seating on the patio.
Review Source:Thought we'd try new place when on short trip to Taos. What luck we came across El Meze. Everything we tried on the menu was first class. The red & the green chile sauces were fantastic as was the ambiance of outside patio. Service was exceptional. A definite find that we'll return to next trip.
Review Source:What a wonderful evening and experience we had at El Meze. Â My wife and I enjoyed every aspect of this adventure. Â My preference is indoor vs outdoor dining but the beautiful view available from the tented patio was so spectacular it erased any doubts. Â The outdoor seating is only available during the warmer months of the year. Â Go before October if you want to enjoy the view. Â
The food lived up to our expectations as we selected several different plates for sharing. Â Chunky gazpacho with a ball of prickly pear granita in the middle of the shallow bowl was so unexpectedly different that we proclaimed it the dish of the evening. Â The buffalo tamale was very tasty. Â The two cheeses accented the flavors. Grilled hearts of romaine fit nicely between Tim's trio of tapas and the gazpacho. Our lemon mousse and raspberry napoleon was an excellent ending.
My experience in even the finest New Mexican restaurants has been both up and down. Â Service is a weak point at many despite excellent food. Â The waitstaff a El Meze are knowledgeable and very well trained. Â They accommodated several special requests. Â I was particularly pleased by the wine service and the parings. Â Our waiter allowed us to sample several of the selections before choosing a glass.
Certainly a great evening in Taos.
Chef Fred is a genius! We were in Taos for four days and we ate here twice. We tried the fresh pasta, watermelon salad, pork chops, trout and espresso creme brulee. Everything was so fresh. The flavors were so well balanced and had a melt in your mouth effect. The plates are also a visual treat. This world-class restaurant is Taos' best kept secret. The restaurant has a great causal feel and took our taste buds on a journey we will never forget. Cant wait to come back for more.
Review Source:Wow - so quirky and unique!
You cannot beat the view out on the patio. They allow dogs. Everything we ordered was sensational and just a little bit different.
Tim's Trio of Tapas = boss
Tamale de Cardenas - the best tamale ever had
FRESH PASTA !!!
and the gaspacho....the chinky gaspacho with prickly pear granita - who thought of this? It was out of sight and I thought about it for the rest of the week!
We even ordered and shared three desserts, which may have been a mistake except they were all...yum!
My favorite place to eat in Taos. So far.
Hands down the best restaurant in Taos and beyond! My wife and I are aspiring restauranteurs in the area with a good sense for quality food and dining. El Meze has always exceeded all of our expectations! Not only is Chef Fred cooking the best food in NM, but they have all their bases covered, from ambiance and location to fluid and polished service. The integrity and simplicity of the beer and wine list is refreshing and perfectly balanced. Â Though I must say the desserts may be the unsung hero of the whole operation. Flying under the radar, and sneaking in at the end, they let you find out for yourself just how important it is to stay for something sweet. Â Looking forward to next time!
N and B
Taos, NM
A gastronomical experience! My husband and I enjoyed the prix fix menu and each course got better and better. The grilled romaine anchovy dressing salad was a hit as was the perfectly cooked seared ahi tuna in a white bean cilantro broth. Our server Erica was very knowledgeable about the menu and wine pairing options and provided warm, friendly service. The desserts didn't disappoint either. The atmosphere is  romantic and music selection very chill. We will be regulars of this place as we are fortunate enough to live part-time just down the street.  We love El Mez!
Review Source:We ate here while on a ski vacation in Taos back in February. Â It was by far the best meal we ate all week. Â The atmosphere was cozy and the service was exceptional. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable and gave us some great recommendations. Â Do not miss out on the chicharones and the chile relleno, the best I've ever had. Â Their flatbread and hummus was also a delicious appetizer. Â If we go back to Taos, I will definietly be coming back to El Meze.
Review Source:One of the best meals we had in NM. Â The place is small and popular so make a reservation. Â The small plates are pretty huge so don't over order like we did. Â We tried the chicharonnes which we actually found to be the most disappointing dish despite the raves by others. Â It was dry and not very flavorful. Â However, the serrano ham/mancheco cheese/fig plate was amazing..the ham hock w/ squash and spinach soup was delicious combination of flavors, the grilled ceasar was great. Â Service was excellent. Â Our waiter was knowledgeable but not snotty at all, he seemed to delight with our delight at each plate. Â I loved this place, a must do in Taos. Great gluten free options, nearly everything was gluten free!
Review Source:Probably the best meal we have had all year. We started with the ejotes (locavore green beans with gorgonzola and hazelnuts) and a watermelon and feta salad.....both were fantastic. Equally great were our entrees: buffalo tamales and trout.
The service made the evening even more enjoyable. The staff knew its offerings intimately and gave guidance without pretense.
When in Taos be sure to stop in.....definitely worth the visit.
I was in taos on a business retreat and our whole group (of 17 people) came here for dinner on friday night. Â We had a reservation and when we arrived they were all set up and ready for us. Â The wait staff was very attentive, knowledgeable, and made sure we have everything we needed.
Now the food. Â Since we were a big group, we have a pre fixe menu. Â We started with Hummus and marinated olives, Chicharrones (fried cubes of pork bellies with a cilantro/paprika sauce. Â It was cooked so it was crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. very good.), Jamon Serrano (Spanish cured ham with white nectarines and Manchego cheese. Â Eat all three parts together. So good.), and grilled flat bread. Â Its hard to say which was my favorite between the Chicharrones and the Jamon Serrano.
So after a very appropriate amount of time, the main course came. Â Really it was perfect timing. Â We had a choice between a roasted chicken or the house made pasta. Â I had the house made pasta and it was really good. Â I first picked it because the chicken was made with fennel and I can't have fennel. Â I was expecting the pasta to be kinda bland but i was very wrong. Â The pasta was freshly made and had a light citrus sauce with a lot of roasted veggies and manchego cheese on top. Â Very tastey.
Finally dessert. Â We had the option of the dark chocolate souffle and Almond Semifreddo. Â I had the semifreddo which was kind of an ice cream with almonds. Â It tasted a bit like an almond biscotti.
So for this pre fixe our group was charged $40 a person which i think was a pretty good deal. Â Plus my boss loved it! Â When we come back to taos I am betting we will be having another group dinner here!
Wonderful New Mexican cuisine. Â Quaint artsy house. Â Gorgeous view of the mountains and sunset. Â What more can you want? Â The herb frites, pork, chile....all were fabulous. Â Ended the meal with a lemon mousse Napolean....ohmygoodness. Â Lusciousness that ended all too quickly. Â Prices are in the moderate range (~$15-20/entree), so not a place to go everyday (at least not for me, as I would become poor rather quickly)....but worth it. Â :)
Review Source:We had the most amazing dinner here. After reading all the great reviews we had to try. This place did not dissappoint. The atmosphere was cozy and the service was excellent. We had the trout, tuna and chicken dinner. All were savory, unique and scrumptious. We also tried the doughnuts for dessert. Heavenly.
We returned two nights later and our waitress not only remembered us but remembered what we ordered to drink. We chatted up sone locals who said the place is a regular for locals. Again, the food was amazing. Try the Napoleon for dessert!
This was the best dinner we had in a long time. Make a reservation for big parties!
Absolutely wonderful dining experience. The ambiance, the service and of course the food was absolutely impeccable! Congrats!
Our favorite dishes were the grilled romaine, the chile relleno and the humus plate., Â wow! Wonderful, what can I say.. You must eat here!
We live in Indianapolis. In ten years of eating there I've never met a chef. Here we walked into the kitchen to thank the chef. And he was as delightful as the rest of the staff.
There is something different going on here. Great vibe.
Stumbled into this little beauty while on a trip for work. Â It's in sort of strange location.
Once you walk in there is a beautiful view of the nearby mountains on the patio, and the inside features some nice art. Â (Ambiance is pretty sparse on the patio, though the view makes up for it.)
The food was great and moderately priced. Â It seemed to be an eclectic mix of Mediterranean, Spanish, and Mexican with other stuff thrown in. Â Everything we had was excellent- it seems that it would be hard to go wrong here.
In all regards, it was a fantastic place to eat.
You walk up to this joint and think its closed. You get closer and follow the many signs pointing to the entrance and think you've definitely watched too many Buffy the Vampire Episodes as you expect the undead to karate chop their way out of the seemingly abandoned adobe abode. You enter - there's the beautiful mountain in the background, a sunset, you sit, you order blackened Romaine salad and some stuffed Poblano concoction. Your day which was seemingly a-ok is now great. Go On - go to El Meze. It's wonderful.
Review Source:Our much anticipated visit to "El Meze Restaurant" and Chef "Fred" from Taos's old "Fred's' Place" was well worth the wait. Â First, the Historical Adobe compound was very cozy once we entered the warmly decorated dining room on a chilly spring evening. Â We ate a lot of food and enjoyed everything from presentation to the timing that each course was served. Â
Scallops with wild mushrooms
We started with small plate scallop and mushrooms on fried polenta in an earthy brown sauce which was a surprise taste.
Buffalo short ribs
I couldn't pass up the small plate Buffalo short ribs which were cooked in a red Chile sauce with some maybe some Chipotle peppers?
The little green salad was a palate cleanser which was a small head of Bibb lettuce dressed simply with wonderful oil and balance vinegar presented as it was just picked. Â
Tamale with de Gardenas
The first entree was the Tamale which is a throwback to the old "Fred's", so if you were a fan it is a must. Â A very nice tamale in a chunky green chile sauce also very fresh and moist.
Truchas with Green Sauce
For the finale entree we enjoyed the Trout in green sauce which was very flavorful and the light green sauce abundantly covered the fish and was great. Â Sauce was a great complement to the fish and there were some nice greens also.
Don't forget the wine pairings even with the dessert which that night was the Lemon Mouse and Raspberry Napoleon which I finished as my wife ate only a bite. Â And, yes we are going back to El Meze and this time to sit on the patio, watch the sun on Taos Mountain and see what Fred is cooking from the Taos Farmer's market!
Wow, what a dinner!
First off, we were a bit leery about going in....we went a bit early for dinner, 5:30ish...no one else in the parking lot, and the place has a "from dusk till dawn" sort of vibe....even their sign sort of looks like a blood spatter?
We decided to brave it and go in....
Wonderful Spanish food with some Morroccan accents. Had the fried, stuffed green olives and herbed fries for appetizer; beet salad (with hazelnuts!), grilled romaine salad; mussels, tuna carpaccio, ribeye, and mike spare ribs. Â (ok, spare me the judging....we were 4 people!)
All the food was absolutely wonderful. Based on the food, it would be a 5-star. Â However, the service was worthy of only 3 stars, so we averaged it to 4.
Waiter: Â a bit brusque, and for God's sake -- write the order down!! Â I hate it when people try to memorize the order, then forget things.
A lady I presume to be the owner was also brusque almost to the point of unfrendly.
Hopefully they figure out the customer service thing.... Wonderful food, absolutely gorgeous, intimate locale!
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
