A DAY IN THE SAN LUIS VALLEY

"The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found." - Calvin Trujillo

April 23 , 2004

BY NOW YOU KNOW THAT I SPEND A FAIR AMOUNT of time in the San Luis Valley, that absolutely gorgeous area of our state bordered by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on the east, the San Juan Mountains on the north and west, and New Mexico on the south.

The city of Alamosa is the economic hub of the Valley, located in the southeast corner. I have a number of clients in the area so I sneak away from the Lakewood headquarters and visit the Valley each month during tax season, and several other times during the rest of the year. It has nothing to do with the abundance of fine restaurants that proliferate throughout the Valley. But since you mentioned it, I might as well fill you in on muh favs.

Last month I talked about one of em. Today I'll give you a more complete rundown. The diversity of the food in the Valley is pretty much the same as you will find in most rural cities and towns, with the most popular ethnicities represented. There are American, Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Swiss. Even several little old lady gathering spots serving gourmet sangies, salads and house-made soups.

There are pizza shops, ice cream parlours, coffee houses, steak houses, bugger joints, you name it they got it. All the fast food and semi-fast food chains are here: Quizno's, Dairy Queen, Popeye's, McDonald's, and most of the others. The big difference between dining in the Valley and dining in Denver is that it costs a lot less to have a great meal in the Valley.

So without further adieu, here are, in alphabetical order, muh favs. Note that there are many eateries in the Valley that I've not been to, so they ain't here. 'course if I don't like them, they ain't here either. I intentionally did not list times of operation cuz it can change periodically at different times of the year because of the seasonality of some of the restaurants and where they are located.

Back In Thyme (420 Main St, Alamosa - 719/587-3388). Located in the back of an antique store (you call it antique, I call it something else), the LOL's (Little Old Ladies) in the back serve up fancy yummy sangies, house-made soups, and over-healthy salads. There is also a small selection of excellent pastries. Open for breakfast and lunch. Stay away from the carrot soup.

Campus Café (435 Poncha Ave, Alamosa, 719/589-4202) Superb omelets and other breakfast meals, all house-made and all of large portions. The sign sez "breakfast served all day" but of course they close at 1 pm. Duh?

Bullfrog Restaurant & Bar (6615 North River Rd, Alamosa, 719/587-9999). Located on the Alamosa golf course, the place is quite old, but the grub sure is good. Lotsa fresh super salads, buggers, fish and chips, sangies and good desserts. They also offer yummy-lookin' dinners.

Calvillo's (400 Main St, Alamosa, 719/587-5500; 1100 Park Ave, Monte Vista, 719/852-0222) Mexican fare at it's best. Most folks opt for the huge (and I mean very) buffet available at both lunch and dinner. There are so many dishes, all of 'em super good, you don't know what most of them are. That's cuz when a serving bin is empty, they fill it. But not necessarily what was in it before. But who cares? It is all yummy. Last year I brought G a dozen tamales and she thought they were as good as any she has ever had, They're in a brand new building with lines out the door during peak periods. Unfortunately the room was designed by … let's be nice and just say a non-professional. It is Congestion City with the buffet, the cashier and the waiting area all in the same 25 square feet. But folks get through it fine. I just lift my plate high overhead and charge back to my table. They even do a full breakfast starting at 7 am with a large menu of great dishes. Sorry, no buffet in the am. But you won't ever leave hungry.

Clancy's (Clarion Hotel of the Rio Grande, 333 Santa Fe Ave, Alamosa, 719/589-5833). The promo sez, "great food, good times". I don't know about the "good times", altho I have been staying at this motel (it usta be the Holiday Inn) for almost 20 years and service is first rate. The food is actually very good. Last visit had a super New York strip with all the trimmings. Best broccoli in town. Only broccoli in town.

Desert Sage Restaurant and Bakery (Crestone, 719/256-4402). Everything here is splendid, from the fresh-baked breads and pastries, to the hand-packed super-sized buggers, fine steaks and seafood. Service is top stuff. The only curiosity is that there are 73 seats for a town with a population of 68. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

East-West Grill (405 4th St, Alamosa, 719/589-4600). The best place for a quick breakfast, altho they're open all day. They offer a mix of Asian and American fare, specializing in wraps as well as breakfast. Problem: they usta serve great coffee, now they serve Charbucks. Ugh.

Elk Ridge Restaurant & Lounge (29160 W. US Hwy 160, South Fork, 719/837-1700). Probably one of the best in the Valley, altho they've been open less than two years and are still struggling with the image of the former tenant. Had the best bugger I've ever had in Colorado a few months back. This is an upscale eatery; typical of mountain resort locations. The name fits it like a glove. Great Mexican fare, steaks, and other fine dining.

Emma's Hacienda (San Luis, 719/672-9902). This was Roy Romer's favorite eatery. The traditional Mexican fare and the service are outstanding. The place is very large with a menu to match.

Hunan Chinese Restaurant (419 Main St, Alamosa, 719/589-9002; 819 1st Ave, Monte Vista, 719/852-2002). Fine Chinese fare with a maavelous buffet at lunch. The food is the finest quality and always fresh. Service is unusually good.

Lu's Main Street Café (609 Main St, Blanca, 719/379-8646). Homestyle cooking and Southwestern fare, all served by friendly waitrons, and good good grub. Best chocolate cake in the Valley. Open seven days a week.

Mountain View Restaurant (2099 Sherman Ave, Monte Vista, 719/852-9919). Very good breakfasts altho the staff seems to always disappear when you need them.

Nino's (617 6th St, Alamosa, 719/587-0101; 118 Adams, Monte Vista, 719/852-0101). Very good Mexican fare. The Alamosa store is located in the historic Walsh Hotel. Yummy apple flautas.

Outhouse 'N' (12536 E. Hwy 160, Alamosa, 719/589-4708). Without repeating last month's column, the food here is terrific. The portions are huge. The porterhouse (they call 'em T-bones) is fabulous, altho I don't like the sizzle platters they come on. Ask for a cold plate. The bigger than 12 oz (how big depends on the whim of the chef) buggers are wonderful, accompanied by delish real french fries. You can not lift the bugger here without trimming back the overflow meat on the sides.

True Grits (Hwy 17 and 160, Alamosa, 719/589-9954). What usta be a good steak house now sucks. Really bad. Hey, I didn't say that I liked every place on this list. OK, I did. I lied. I'm planning on running for president of the United States and I wanted to get in practice. Actually, I sed this place usta be good. Not only did I have the worst steak I ever had, but also the service was down right rude. And I know at least two locals that had the same experience in the past month. And they plan on spreading the word. But the locals have to know cuz it's mostly empty at dinnertime.

Trujillo's A Dining Place (326 Main, Alamosa, 719/589-2641). The exact opposite of the prior eatery, Trujillo's is the epitome of fine dining. Located in the former Ace Bar, you'd never recognize the place. Completely gutted, it's probably now the pertiest restaurant in the Valley and one of the finest in the state. They serve American, Italian and Southwestern fare, all great. Super buggers, made extra large upon request. Great steaks. Yummy Italian fare. Fantastic Southwestern fare with some very unusual dishes. And the best service in town.

And, as the jerk from Chipotle would say, "that's a wrap". LOL. Ha ha. Tee hee. GGGS.

Cya