Well tonite was Valentine's and since it was our 40th it was especially special.  We haven't been to the Santa Fe in a while & we know their food is good so my wonderful husband  made reservations for 8pm outside.  A little concerned since a "cold front" arrived (50ish), but they had the burners & an outside fireplace warming up the area, along with an amazing guitarist who usually plays Mon & Tue, but this was a special occasion.  It was a preset menu with 3 or more choices of 4 courses.  The food was out of this world!!  First course we chose was Bacon & wild Mushroom Stuffed Quail with Balsamic Glaze.  2 of those and I would have gone home happy.  But, we also got the Tuna Tartare - indescribable with wonton chips.  Oh my gosh!!  Then the next course, Lobster Bisque & greens with apples, gorgonzola cheese, pecans & balsamic vinagrette. (Also on the menu was carrot & ginger cream soup, but Bill thought 2 soups too much.)  Now I have had an issue with balsamic since a french restaurant over used it & I tasted it all nite, but this was just the perfect amount for the dishes.  OK, we still haven't had the main course - Roast half duck with Maple Glaze & creamy wild rice & Baked Lobster Tail, Tenderloin Filet & twice baked potato.  Yep - 3 bites & into a box it goes.  So yummy it was a sin not to eat it, but they would have had to call an ambulance when we popped.  Dessert was next - one yummy caramel, chocolate cheese cake boxed & a Tiramisu to share with our last glass of champagne. Those were just our choices.  Others were just as enticing & I am sure just as delicious.  The Chef outdid himself.  Service was perfect - not too overbearing but on the mark with drinks & courses.  Sat on the beautiful patio with wonderful guitar music & warm heaters.  Could not have had a more romantic and delicious Valentines.  5 stars all around!!!!  & 5 to my Husband too for an amazing evening!
Review Source:Solid. Â Only been there once, but it's what'd you'd expect from a higher end steak joint. Â Calamari was standard fare, on the good side. Â Service was excellent. Â Prime rib was very good -- bigger than I thought, but not done how I wanted (rare). Â Granted, it was later in the evening so I'll give them a pass on not having a properly rare prime rib since the cut was probably toward the end of the roast. Â It was still very good despite being closer to the medium side. Â Again, it was also bigger than your standard 16oz prime rib. Â I'd wager it was probably closer to 18oz. Â Overall, a very good experience and would definitely go again. Â Met expectation. Â Wasn't overly wowed, but was definitely impressed.
Review Source:Simple and great steakhouse with a great staff!
It's simple and straightforward, like most good steakhouses. Â
Great fresh appetizers, good wine selection, and excellent Texas cuts.
They serve your plate very nice, with a corn and bean salsa garnish. Â
7 of us dropped about 100 each, so be prepared to drop some cheddar.
I recommend the cowboy steak, a bone in ribeye. Â Served medium rare, it was about 1 3/4" thick steak to perfection: juicy, med rare but seared hot, and perfectly salted.
Awesome meal!
I heard from friends and noticed some yelp reviews that with few exceptions, everything here is pretty darn good. Based on a coworker recommendation, we stopped in for dinner.
Subdued lighting, a talented fella playing tunes on the baby grand piano, and $3 for my dirrty martini - easily a few more bucks at any spendy steakhouse. So far so great!
Starters: fried calamari. Yum. Light & crisp and not greasy. Chimichurri steak medallions...Superb. Smoked oysters, wrapped in bacon, and fried. So delightfully indulgent. I probably would've been ok with sharing apps, but we were here for fine quality steak. I thought it was weird they didn't have any bone-in steaks on the menu. Our waiter went though the off-menu features, including (but not limited to) a lobster bisque and a 20oz bone-in cowboy ribeye. You almost roped me in...until the $70 pricetag.
Everyone's entrees came out in a timely fashion and was delicious all around. My 14 oz boneless ribeye was fantastic. Beautiful diamond grill marks and cooked just how I like it. No room for dessert this time since I was stuffed. Service was pleasant, prompt, and our table enjoyed every bite. Five shiny steak knives for Santa Fe.
I rated Santa Fe a "5" because they have by far the best steaks in the Valley  comparable to Ruth's Chris in Houston. The salads, appetizers, and desserts are also outstanding. The service is excellent because the waiters explain the specials and keep an eye on their tables. Everything is ala carte, so the prices are similar to a Ruth's Chris -- ie, quite high for the Valley. Live piano music is an added treat, but the acoustics make it difficult to hear the music if you are seated in a booth in the back. Outside seating in a remodeled patio is an attractive feature, though we prefer inside seating. Santa Fe is our favorite Valley restaurant for special occasions when we don't mind a $130 to $ 175 tab for two (including one or two bottles of wine). It's a great place to share with friends ... if they don't object to the prices.
Review Source:I promise that this review is based on over 30 dining experiences at Santa Fe. That should say something... 5 stars after so many visits.... right?
The place has barely changed over the years (except for the new additions this past year: a wine room which can hold 12, large open air patio and a private larger party room). It doesn't matter where you're sitting, the service is exceptional. Napoleon is my family's favorite server so when you call to make a reservation, request him!
Not only is the service spot on, the food is constantly delicious and I really like that the menu isn't extremely large so they do what they do very well!
Before you choose what to order, make sure to hear about their specials because they'll usually change your mind from a menu item! I'd suggest starting with the Angels on Horseback (oysters wrapped in bacon) or Lobster Bisque (if they have it). My personal favorite is the filet oscar (filet topped with crab meat and hollandaise), side caesar salad (their dressing is like no other caesar) and a twice baked potato. If you order a salad with ahi tuna on it, make sure to ask for it rare because I've been served it a little too cooked for my liking - ahi tuna should be bright pink!
Whether you men want to impress your ladies or ladies want to impress your man, I highly suggest getting a little dressed up and heading to Santa Fe for a delectable meal.
I have been to the Santa Fe a few times while in McAllen on business. Â This time I was with a large group and sat in their new party room addition.
We started with a bunch of their appetizers. Â Most of the items on the menu are heavier than I would like. Â They have one called Angels on Horseback that is an oyster wrapped in bacon. Â Tasty, if not healthy.
They do make a nice margarita, and they keep making them stronger as time passes. Â A fun perk.
For dinner I ordered a petite fillet, which was a little overlooked, but was a nice piece of meat and took the insult well. Â They has bok choi for a side, which was done in a teriyaki sauce and was quite tasty alongside the fillet.
For dessert, I tried their brownie cake. Â It was good enough that I regretted not ordering one as my main course.
On this visit, I didn't stop in, but they do have a bar with live music. Â It is a good spot for drinks, late-night.
Santa Fe does a decent job at expense report dinners. Â Nothing super. Â But OK.
This is really more fine dining than steakhouse, as steakhouse suggests a certain atmosphere and service. The service and atmosphere were quite fine, though, but as a high-end restaurant not steakhouse way. The menu obviously features steaks and derivations thereof. I started with calamari (average, but the dipping sauce was very good, and felt unique), moved to salad (again, solid, but not special), the NY Strip (great flavor with no apparent seasoning; clearly quality meat. Not cooked to my specification, though, which was supposed to be medium rare plus) with a side of chipotle grits (beyond good) and finished with chocolate mousse (quite good, but not the best I've ever had). Overall, this is refined spot that I don't think will disappoint, but it's not in the top 10 steakhouses I've been too.
Review Source:Went here on the recommendation of my client. Â Boy was I glad he made this recommendation! Â (Best of all he went three for three!) :-)
The atmosphere inside was very nice, equal to any 5 star restaurant I've been to. Â The service was excellent, couldn't have been better. Â But best of all was the food. Â I ordered the filet and it was outstanding... cooked to perfection and tender enough to cut with a fork. Â The quality of the meat was second to none, I was in heaven eating this steak!
Some might call this place a little pricey and I can understand why, but coming from the east coast I thought this place was a bargain. Â The steak cost $32 but included a salad and veggies. Â To get a steak of equal quality in the east you'd pay $45 or more PLUS you'd pay another $10 - $15 for a salad and a side.
The service, the food, the atmosphere was all just gorgeous. I've eaten at Santa Fe before but it was many moons ago and I seem to remember it being quite bit smaller.
So right up front, it's pricey. Like $30 steak pricey. And the food is damn good so if you got the money honey, make the time. We started with Angels on Horseback -- smoked oysters wrapped in bacon and lightly fried. It's oystery but those of you who like that sort of thing are going to get all giggly about it. Then my Dad and I split a steak and a caesar and Mom got this beautiful duck. See the pic! It was all perfectly timed, well prepared, juicy and fabulous. Martin, our server, was right on the money with the relatively inexpensive red he helped us pick too.
McAllen has a dearth of nice restaurants and since this one has been going strong for as long as I can remember, they're clearly doing something very right.
Celebrated our 49th anniversary by trying out a local steakhouse in an area filled with chains. Â Slightly more expensive, but worth every penny. Â Margarita was perfect. Â The mini Beef Wellingtons had a wonderful sauce. Bread was a nice crunchy French baguette, not commonly found in So. TX. Â Raspberry vinegarette was disappointing, too sweet; wouldn't order it again. Â Fillets were perfect & served with spicy bean & corn salsa. Â Sides of roasted potatoes & creamed spinach were outstanding. Dessert was a lovely cheesecake topped with a layer of dark chocolate accompanied by really good fresh coffee. Â The atmosphere is very nice but the tables are a little too close together. Â You can't help hearing too much of other conversations. Â And the chairs are just not comfortable. Â We will go back again.
Review Source:After a long drive from Houston, I was starved for a big steak. The crew from Channel 70 wasn't due in until the following day, so it was another evening of dining solo. The clerk at my hotel suggest this place advising it was on the pricey side, but worth it. He was right on both counts. I ordered a NY Strip with no seasonings and it was just the perfect steak and not because I was famished. The baked potato was loaded, and I mean loaded, just as I'd requested. Too many restaurants are skimpy with the sour cream and butter. Service was good, but the atmosphere was not what I'd expect for a semi-upscale eatery. I would have stayed for what looked like very tempting deserts, but two undisciplined children owned by clueless parents nixed that idea. I really did want dessert and hiked to the nearby Ihop and had a really good piece of chocolate cake. Lastly, parking is not plentiful and I was worried about parking at a nearby businesses and getting my rental car towed.
Review Source:I did carry out, so I can't comment on the service or wine list. With all of the great reviews for this place, my expectations were HIGH. Â I had the petite filet and a salad for $28. Â The filet was cooked medium as requested and was a good quality piece of meat. Â It was very tender and could be cut with the plastic knife in the to go bag. It seemed like it was seasoned with a bit of sea salt and that was it. The lackluster seasoning was disappointing. Â The salad was good and I skipped dessert. Â I would try another steakhouse if I was in the area again.
Review Source:This is the second restaurant I went to while on business and everything was great! The decor and ambience was awesome. Very low key but interesting. Loved the crosses on the back wall- it gave it a great touch. Wine was great, the artichoke appetizer was amazing and the Filet a la Frances was very tasty and just perfect! The service was outstanding too! My coworker got the Filet a la Espresso and it was amazing as well! love it!!!
Review Source:Love this place. The food is amazing and the service is even better. I've never had a more attentive wait staff and a more enjoyable dining experience. The filet oscar was perfect! Make sure you pay attention to the specials are they are usually a very nice suprise dish!
I wish the bar was as much fun as the restaurant. The bar is tiny, crowded and impossible to get a drink at. Typically a 35 & up crowd.
Parking: Â The parking lot is shared with other businesses in the plaza. Â The lot can get full but people are always leaving.
Service: Â I've been here 3 nights out of my 5 day business trip. Â The service was great the first 2 nights but the 3rd night was awful. Â I would recommend the bald waiter. Â He referred to himself as the bald guy. Â Genuinely cares about his customers as well as their dinning experience. Â He was not our waiter the 1st night nor did we know who he was but he remembered us the 2nd night. Â Then came over the 3rd night to provide his assistance while our waiter was MIA. Â
Food: Â The food was fabulous. Â I've been to other high end steakhouses in LA and Vegas. Â However, the quality and the way the meat was cooked is sooo goood. Â I'm drooling just thinking about it. Â The meat probably came straight from the slaughter house (few miles away maybe haha) and right into the restaurant. Â The steak was so succulent and tender, I just took my time savoring each and every bite. Â
The creme brulee is the best dessert here. Â It was light and not to sweet and its huge, not one of those little one's you usually get. Â
Overall, whenever I'm in town, i'm going to this joint every night.
what a great way to end the stay here...
located hidden behind ihop... very discrete location u would need to know this place to actually find it. Â
service here was alright but i wish they gave more honest opinions instead of just trying to market what was the most expensive things on the menu.
so i went with my own reservations and ordered the following
- the meal already started off really well with the bread... why can't people up north understand good bread means soft, with nice crispy crust and lots of inner filling... and then complement that with chives butter? HEAVEN
- glass of cab for 11 bucks - excellent with the steak
- tenderloin beef wellingtons - i was actually pleasantly surprised with this dish... i didn't think they could actually cook these lil small tips medium rare and encase it in a good pastry puff... but they actually did it well here! especially loved the puff itself along with the brown gravy... i could do without those string fries as that wasn't really necessary... just added nice texture to this dish
- crabcakes - a lil too much for me... after eating the beef wellingtons, it was nice that it had roasted red peppers as the sw flare to this dish... and as always the super buttery super crispy garlic piece of toast was nice to put the crab cakes on top
- blue cheese salad - both salads had way too much dressing i think for my taste... it was good, but kinda made the salad not taste so healthy anymore
omg and the prize winner here was definitely the steak
- ordered the 14oz ribeye - definitely more than enough for 2 people after sharing those other appetizers
- ordered black and blue and indeed it came out that way... still mooing without the blood... nicely seasoned and charred on the outside and pretty much raw on the inside but tender enough that it friggin MELTS in your mouth! Â i've gone to my fair share of steakhouses and this one was definitely UP THERE... the cut of ribeye was just perfect and they even split it for you if you are sharing which was nice... and for only 29 bucks what a steal!
way too full for dessert... wish they did have tres leches or flan as i would have totally ordered that!
Another great McAllen restaurant. Â Very impressed and I travel a lot! Â I was here on business and saw the reviews on yelp. Â My colleague and I came out for dinner and had a great dining experience. Â First off, service was extremely good!! Â stuff crab mushrooms were good along with a halibut entree. Â One thing to note, the restaurant is dimly lit with a romantic flare to it. Â I'd come back for business with a group of folks but probably not just a business party of 2.
Review Source:This place knocked my socks off... from the food to the wine to the service. I read TripAdvisor and found this place, and, honestly, even though the reviews sounded great, I reserved judgment. Thank goodness I did, because each outstanding item made me glad I had come here.
I eat tuna tartare all over the world, literally, and it's hard to surprise me. However, this preparation, with red onions, pear, capers, pine nuts, etc., presented a totally new experience. It was served with crispy wontons, which I could have done without, but I could see how many patrons would have enjoyed the scoop quality. But the wontons were a minor part of the appetizer, and the flavors came together magically, sweet pear complementing salty caper, under the binding of delectably fresh tuna.
The salad was meaningless, not worth mentioning, other than the fact that it comes with a baby corn, which is always cute. The bread, also, was pretty forgettable - clearly not house-baked or integral to the kitchen's agenda.
The steak, on the other hand, was legendary. It was definitely the best piece of meat I have eaten since I got back from a steak-heavy excursion to Argentina. It was cooked perfectly - raw, but warm - and seasoned beautifully - I only hope I can repeat it.
The chipotle grits were out of this world, with none of the cliche creaminess that has turned grits into a textured, cheesy version of whipped potatoes in too many restaurants. No, these were grits through and through, and they wanted the love that I gave them.
Overall, I cannot say enough about the food.
At the same time, I recommend that you hunt down the waiter who took care of me, named Martin. I just liked him. Not pushy, not demanding, just there to take care of your every need. He was fantastic.
Thank you, Santa Fe Steakhouse, for making a rare evening alone for me into a culinary adventure!
This may be one of my favorite restaurants.
I'm a sucker for a good steak; they have plenty.
For anyone wishing to dine for dinner, I'd definitely suggest making a reservation. Â However, I have gone on occasion with my wife hoping for a canceled reservation, and the hostesses have always been more than accommodating, and we've always been seated.
The ambiance is as the name implies; southwestern design and colors, however with low lighting. Â The tables are somewhat close together, but not uncomfortably close.
The service has always been excellent, waiters are prompt and attentive, bus boys equally efficient at servicing place settings, water, bread, and drinks.
I've honestly never had anything other than filet. Â The quality of the beef is excellent and consistent. Â I usually get the Filet Espresso, a tenderloin lightly seared with espresso grounds in a chile ancho sauce. Â I always order filet medium for a good balance of doneness and rarity, considering the thickness of the steak.
It is ALWAYS excellent. Â Salads are also good, with a nice blend of bitter greens and fresh greens, with garnishes to match your dressing. Â The salads are not over-dressed, and the portion is just right.
My only complaint is the noise. Â Santa Fe is the loudest "nice" restaurant I've been to.
My hotel found me this place as it was late on a Friday night with only fast food available to me. Â At 11:00 the manager said even though the kitchen was closed they would serve me. Â When I arrived they asked what I wanted and I said whatever is easy for the chef to make. Â Now while they did take advantage of me somewhat by giving me the big surf and turf it was the best meal I've had all year.
I was given a nice green salad to start with shaved parm and chinese vegetables. Â My main meal consisted of steak and large shrimp, grilled asparagus, and double-baked potato. Â The filet was large and seared nicely on the outside to a perfect medium. Â They also served it on some pan fried vegetables with the skinned cherry tomatoes being a tasty addition I never had before.
I can't remember my servers name but he took care of me from beginning to end. Â A couple of Bohemia's rounded out an unexpected delightful meal.
The location of this place is perhaps in a strange spot but perhaps makes it unique from everything else. It shares a parking lot with IHOP and and strip mall. Though, I have to admit, it kinda fits in. I feel like Im in Mexico walking into a secretive underground cafe and once you enter in, the whole place is GORGEOUS. Well I must admit, its kinda like that. Its a diamond in the rough. its a huge and great restaurant with tons of seating. Not only is the STEAK grade A, but the staff was something out of this world. I mean they had a fork person. a desert person, a water person, a greeter, a host, a food person, a chef for the tables I mean its FULL SERVICE. It blew my mind that they had something like this in a small little town. So once you order your steak or seafood and fill your stomach with perhaps some of the best food you can have in Mcallen. Across the patio / exit of the place, they have a bar attached to the place. I must say, This place is a RIOT! They had a live band playing anything from salsa, blues, jazz and other popular music. This is a place you bring your date! I mean its so romantic and its limited in seating but awesome! The drinks are great, but perhaps not as great as a Las Vegas bar in the Bellagio but, very unique and awesome tasting mexico type of drinks! I wasnt let down at all, if you like live music, dancing and great food. This place is the place to go! I got to meet the owner as well. He is a great guy and there every night to greet you and reminds me of some laid back older playboy from Greece that should be on the corner of his boating coming into a port with his white open shirt! heheeh But over all, I give this place 5 stars and its a must visit! Great people, Great Service, Great Food, Great Drinks, Great Atmosphere, Great Staff, Great Decor and Great place for a date!
Review Source:My bf and I were visiting my bf's parents who were also visiting Mission, TX looking for a warm winter. Prior to this trip, my bf gave me one job to do- to find a steak house that I want to go in the area. So I yelped and found this steak house, book marked it and I thought my job was done. I was looking forward to get into TX to visit the steak house.
After we got to TX and the night we were going out to dinner, my bf asked me "So what is the place's name?" and I realized that I didn't even write down the name of the restaurant!! (BTW, Internet access was not available). Therefore, we ended up with looking for a restaurant on the local entertainment booklet and found this restaurant, which I didn't know at that time that it was the same restaurant I book marked earlier on Yelp.
This restaurant was located near a busy highway, a Mall, McDonald and sharing a parking lot with a local appliance store. We couldn't tell what kind of place it would be from the outside since there was no window and just solid white walls. However, to my surprise, inside was decorated with classy, warm but modern interior and very friendly waiters greeted us with smiles. We were able to get in without a reservation but place filled up rather quickly.
This steak house offers some ridiculous number of wine selections - something like 700 bottles. I was only 1/4 way through the wine list (which was like a phone book) when everyone was done looking through the dinner menu. Wine price was VERY fair - Â price I cannot imagine at restaurants in CA, and great selections. We ordered some appetizers (mushroom caps filled with cheese and deep fried hot peppers with cheese and shredded potatoes as garnish).
For Dinner - we ordered Filet Mignon with crab meat, chicken with spinach and shiitake mushrooms and the guys ordered some steaks... I loved my Filet and crab meat, Â the combination of steak and crab meat with light cream sauce. YUMMY! Â My bf's steak came with twice baked potatoes on the side, and let me tell you... that was the best twice baked potatoes ever. It was mushed and baked with filo dough or some sort of thin pastry dough. The texture and flavor were just amazing.
After dinner, we were so full that none of us had room for dessert. However I am a dessert person... never too full for desserts, plus the dessert samples were set right next to my bf's father and I had been checking them out ever since we sat down. We ordered a "Godiva chocolate mousse" --- a round thin chocolate ball shell filled with fluffy chocolate mousse. Very delicate presentation and mousse just melted in my mouth.
Live piano music was a great addition to this restaurant. Â Attentive service, great food and wine selections. I was pleasantly surprised to find such a fine steak house in such a casual neighborhood.
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