Stakeout

This restaurant is just a bit off the beaten path, but the view is more than ample reward for driving up the unpaved road to reach The Stakeout. It's really only a short drive up the side of the Sangre de Christo mountains just ... more

This restaurant is just a bit off the beaten path, but the view is more than ample reward for driving up the unpaved road to reach The Stakeout. It's really only a short drive up the side of the Sangre de Christo mountains just a few miles south of Ranchos de Taos. As you drive south on the highway to Santa Fe from Ranchos de Taos, look for the large sign on the left (east) side of the highway for The Stakeout. The road is unpaved and a bit rough but it's only about a ten minute drive to the restaurant from the paved highway. The owners and hosts are from northern Italy and serve a diverse selection of both continental and american dishes. I had some mussel soup here one evening that was really wonderful! The restaurant has a large outdoor patio which faces west. If you arrive a bit before sundown you can sit outside, have a drink and an appetizer and watch the sun go down behind the mountains many miles west across the Carson Plain. After the sun sets you'll probably want to move inside for the main course. The temperature drops quickly because of the 7000 foot elevation. I had a nice conversation with one of the owners one evening and he was genuinely interested to know if I was satisfied with my meal and what I thought of the Taos area. My only criticism is that I found it a bit crowded once I moved inside -- fewer tables in the main dining room would make it a more pleasant experience. Still, the view and food are wonderful here. If you're claustrophobic, come well before sunset and eat your entire meal outside on the patio (during the warmer months), and have your desert and coffee as you watch the sunset. less

This restaurant is just a bit off the beaten path, but the view is more than ample reward for driving up the unpaved road to reach The Stakeout. It's really only a short drive up the side of the Sangre de Christo mountains just a few miles south ... more

This restaurant is just a bit off the beaten path, but the view is more than ample reward for driving up the unpaved road to reach The Stakeout. It's really only a short drive up the side of the Sangre de Christo mountains just a few miles south of Ranchos de Taos. As you drive south on the highway to Santa Fe from Ranchos de Taos, look for the large sign on the left (east) side of the highway for The Stakeout. The road is unpaved and a bit rough but it's only about a ten minute drive to the restaurant from the paved highway. The owners and hosts are from northern Italy and serve a diverse selection of both continental and american dishes. I had some mussel soup here one evening that was really wonderful! The restaurant has a large outdoor patio which faces west. If you arrive a bit before sundown you can sit outside, have a drink and an appetizer and watch the sun go down behind the mountains many miles west across the Carson Plain. After the sun sets you'll probably want to move inside for the main course. The temperature drops quickly because of the 7000 foot elevation. I had a nice conversation with one of the owners one evening and he was genuinely interested to know if I was satisfied with my meal and what I thought of the Taos area. My only criticism is that I found it a bit crowded once I moved inside -- fewer tables in the main dining room would make it a more pleasant experience. Still, the view and food are wonderful here. If you're claustrophobic, come well before sunset and eat your entire meal outside on the patio (during the warmer months), and have your desert and coffee as you watch the sunset. less