This place is special. Family owned and operated and it feels like it. We moved to Santa Fe almost a year ago and have been here four times. Each time we have loved it. The food is delicious and the staff is top-notch in that the service is spot-on and incredibly friendly but still professional. Everything from the caesar salad and bananas foster both made table-side, to the quality of all of the meats and produce grown at the restaurant's own farm or sourced from local farmers/ranchers prepared in simple yet imaginative ways, the food is terrific. We will continue to frequent this place for many years to come. I just got home and am already looking forward to going back.
(5)
Bob B.
This is another great place in Santa Fe... Been here a week - exploring restaurants / art and shopping - Dinner for Two is a great place to eat - Rib Eye was killer - Cesare Salad was unreal
(5)
Matt A.
These guys are so amazing. Just strolled in an hour after they closed (and didn't even realize it). They insisted we try the dessert and had killer peach pie with a whole dose of love. I love these guys long time.
(5)
Sue R.
First, the food was very good! The kitchen turns out quality and creative dishes that are visually appealing. The mushroom soup alone is worth the meal. However, the service, which started out strong, went steadily downhill during the evening. The host was friendly and helpful and made excellent suggestions. However, our wait person didn't offer us a choice of water (the other wait staff did) didn't seem to have much knowledge of the wine list, and was put off by our dinner pacing (the Caesar salad is a huge serving and it took us awhile to finish). My companion's coffee was cold, and our server topped off her coffee without replacing it. In the end we were given a check without any breakdown and were overcharged a few bucks. Just seems like they are missing the little things that could make this place great.
(3)
Kathy H.
You could TOTALLY walk by this place. No clue, from the outside, how wonderful it is. Happened in on Sunday eve, $19.95 for 3 course meal special. Great!! Very classy but comfortable. Staff very proud of their restaurant, with good reason. I want to go again.
(5)
Susan V.
We had a great meal. The mushroom soup really is award winning. Crab cakes and coconut shrimp were good - sauces were homemade and good compliments. Veal piccata was a little tough which could have been the cut of meat. Get the vanilla ice cream and ginger snap! Ask for an extra chocolate chip cookie to share! Service was a little slow and we sat next to a wall mount A/C unit that wasn't ideal.
(4)
Crystal K.
Treated like celebrities. Literally. Yummy dessert, killer service. Would highly recommend checking this place out.
(5)
Ink B.
Came here with my wife. The service is perfect, the staff is kind and on the ball. There is good atmosphere, and even when the house is packed the noise is not too bad. I had the filet, it was like 10,000 angels having an orgy in my mouth. We will be back.
(5)
Robert F.
This is what dining out should be. We go to Dinner For Two as one of our regular stops when eating out because the service is excellent and so is the food. It's cozy, a great experience, and I just wish they had a larger area for things like receptions and bigger gatherings (even though Dinner for 25 doesn't have the same ring) as we would have done that here. The filet mignon is perfect. So is the grilled swordfish (when available). The menu changes depending on what is available and fresh, but there are staples as well. Highly recommended!
(5)
Gretchen P.
Last night was my second night to eat there. It is close to the hotel where I stay when I am in. The first time in October, I would have given it a 3.5 star, but last night was awful. Food was cold and mediocre. Crab cakes tasted like hockey pucks. Likewise with the heaviness. Fish was inedible. Usually, I will send food back, but I was with a table of four more. Everyone commented that the food was "just mediocre." Waitress was a zombie. Not very attentive. We had to ask her, after an hour, about our entrees. There were 5 of us. They were not unduly busy for a Friday night. The ultimate insult: Gratunity was added on for meal. Fair enough since one woman was paying for whole meal on business account (we are here on business) Individually, three of us got check for a glass of wine because it was not covered by business, of course). Gratuity for 5 was added on for each one of us. So, my class came to 7.50, and she gave me check for 10.51. She had added on gratuity after tax. I left 10. The manager came to pick it up and when she saw the 10, said "It's 10.51." I kid you not. Perhaps the defintion of grauitity has changed. I felt held hostage. We had NO demands at our table, no one was rude. When our director went to pay the food bill, the manager said, "Aren't you going to give her extra gratuity?" Seriously. needless to say, I will not darken their doors again, nor witll I recommend them. Not nice experience.
(2)
Carl P.
A quaint little place that, truth be told, isn't so little...I agree with other reviewers on here that from the outside it looks like a diner, but it's really a cozy little restaurant with delicious food. We did the Dinner For Two special and were extremely pleased with the quality of the cooks work. From the salad, soup (a corn, crab bisk I believe), crisp chicken with mushroom sauce and doughnuts/coffee desert, everything was wonderful...even the service. I do wish more restaurants would enforce policies restricting cell phone use, it ruins an otherwise enjoyable ambiance.
(4)
Jim E.
Just had dinner tonight with a large group from out of town at Dinner for Two. It was a really dissaponting experience. Even though we'd had a reservation for 2 weeks, we still had to wait to be seated even though the restaurant wasn't very full. The most amazing thing was they were out of everything from the wine we iniitally ordered to one of the beers they listed on their menu to bananas for the bananas foster we ordered. Really incredible for a restaurant charging the prices they do! Service was poor and fairly unattentive. They forgot to bring one of our group member's dessert order. I'd really expected much more from Dinner For Two. It's possible they were just having a bad night as some reviewers have obviously had a good experience. Bottom line: there are too many good restaurants in Santa Fe at this price point to have this type of bad evening.
(1)
Daniel C.
Very enjoyable meal. Wine selection, soups and wait staff were all great.
(5)
Michael S.
The dinner, I had stuffed chicken, was very good. It had a red wine reduction sauce, with mashed potatoes underneath. Yummy! Our dessert, "coffee and doughnuts" was really good too. However, not 5 stars because we (as well as everyone else around us) had to wait way too long for every little thing. Water...a menu...the check...etc.
(4)
Mary Ann W.
We were here in August for our wedding anniversary and had a great meal. The lamb chops with a balsamic reduction were as well done as any of the other fine restaurants in Santa Fe. The rest of the meal was very good, also. It's kind of a quirky place. I don't think the name helps them as it's a place geared for more diners than 2 at a time, and I would not call it romantic. The service was just OK and the excuse seemed to be that they were "new". But, the food is very good and worth a visit.
(4)
Linda M.
Went for Valentines day it was pretty pricey and nothing was great $225 for three people 2 appetizers, 3 entrees, 2 deserts, 1 wine.
(2)
Nancy S.
Went back to D-4-2 last night for the first time in at least three years. We used to go often, but it was getting tired. Well, they are back, and so are we! The menu has changed, and the food was superb. We had per-ordered the soft shell crabs, which were fresh and perfectly prepared. Appetizers and salad were both delicious, and happily they still had their "coffee and donuts" on the dessert menu. The waitstaff were all courteous and knowledgeable. The restaurant was packed, so they pitched in to help each other as it started to get busy. We were extremely happy with our entire experience, and will go back soon.
(5)
David I.
We had a very nice Valentine dinner with Pam and her staff and family. The service was friendly and efficient and the food was as good as ever. One of the best aspects of Dinner for Two is that the wine prices have always been reasonable and well below average for Santa Fe. A great place for that special dinner or just a nice, well prepared upscale meal at reasonable prices.
(4)
Bruce B.
Don't be deceived by outside appearances - I'll admit I wouldn't go here during several summer visits because the place looks sketchy from the outside. It took the recommendation of a total stranger on the airport shuttle to prompt me to go. Well, I wish we had gone sooner. We'll be back! Nicely appointed interior, attentive waitstaff, greetings from the cashier - we were off to the right start. We enjoyed Qupe 2006 Syrah as recommended by our waiter - excellent choice. We both decided to choose the sampler size portions for the evening - an excellent choice as we left feeling full but not stuffed. Having seen others choose the full-sized portions, doggy bags would have been in order. I started with the seared tuna with sauteed calamari and hot peppers - yum! Secondi was the veal piccata with mashed potatoes (infused with onions), another hit. My lovely wife had the veal Marsala - she raved about it as well. We finished by sharing a dessert of creme brulee that capped off a delicious evening. This place is worth your time and money!
(5)
Eddy S.
This was my splurge meal for the visit and was surprised at the value - not cheap, but well worth what you get. Service was pretty good, seems like they might need a bit more training on the menu. Food was near flawless in its preparation.
(4)
Randy T.
Went to this restaurant per Yelp's rating and found it good. We went to celebrate our anniversary so I wanted a romantic quiet setting. We got a quiet setting but for romantic not so much. The lights were low but it is open sitting and people are arm length away. The waiter was ok but too busy to be friendly, the person who fixed the cesar sald at the table appeared disgusted with preparing the salad. I tried to create a dialog to no avail. The salad was extremely bland/flavorless. The same gentleman then came back to fix our chateubriad and he was better but never appeared to be enjoying his job. The entre was very good. The food was at a good temperature to enjoy but got cold quickly. Probably brcause the room was cold. The dessert was wonderful, butterscotch pie and about the size of a silver dollar. All in all, it was good. Don't know that we would go back. Oh by the way make sure you have 2 hours to sit and eat because it took that long.
(4)
Thighmaster M.
Well, it's strange. The food was quite good, but the ambience threw me a little - wish I could be more specific. Four of us went and all had different dishes. I think we agreed the food was worth 4 stars at least, but pricey. But I dunno, I left feeling like I wouldn't go back - the overall vibe just isn't my thing, from the servers in dull moods and tight clothing, to black cloth everywhere and cold air running down my neck. But to be clear, they know food... no problem there...
(3)
Randy D.
Went there while on our corporate retreat and was impressed. We had the whole dining room reserved and they took great care of us. Really good eclectic menu and a great wine list. Highly recommend. Don't let the outside fool you this place is a diamond in the rough.
(4)
Penelope B.
D42 (as the outdoor sign shows) is good - this review only applies to the special menu served on Thanksgiving. It was far more reasonable than many other Santa Fe restaurants and had a wide variety, plus some less elaborate elements that were suitable for the 4yo. They are accommodating to (well-behaved) children - providing some toys and such. Our munchkin wasn't interested in the toys and would have been happier if her main dish of salmon had arrived faster, but we were overall quite happy with our meal. The turducken wasn't quite what I expected, but I'll try it again before I make up my mind. Seriously, how many places can you actually try turducken!? That alone gives them a star. I'd be interested in comparing their regular dinner service with the special event, as they seemed to have called all hands on deck and perhaps weren't running as tightly as they could have been. Good food though, and friendly service, with good ingredients, for a good price. Oh - the caesar was terrific, as were the rolls, and the Maryland-style crab soup, SO good!
(4)
Stacey B.
This place is wacko. I went here because I was on a business trip and the host at our B&B recommended it and made a reservation for us. The entrance does not face the street, so if you are walking the direction we were, you have to look behind you in order to see it. Good thing I looked behind me. We walked in and were greeted by messy papers all around, and restaurant supplies, and a computer at a little table/desk. Did we walk in the back door by mistake and land in the office? No. Next is the open kitchen. Someone yelled over that they'd be with us shortly. Hmm. Ok. This woman comes over and brings us in. We were seated with some formality and I asked for water with no ice. I was brought water with ice. I opened the menu, and the prices were hefty. Didn't seem at all like a fancy/pricey restaurant from the outside or from the entry area. It seemed like the opposite, in fact. Weird. I didn't immediately see anything vegetarian, and then I started to see a couple of the small plates. That's the other odd thing -- y'know those chinese places where you pick the family meal with two things from column A and three from column B? That's like this place. They do a small plates/tasting menu, where you can get the Tasting for $24 (one thing from each of four columns), Magnificent for high-$20s (one extra thing from a particular column), or Decadent for $30s which allows one more thing. It is possible to order an entree instead, and the entrees are just the same things as the small plates, probably in larger portions. You can also order individual small plates ala carte. These small plates are not the kind that are made for sharing. I got the standard Tasting menu, and for my starter, the Chilled Avocado Soup special sounded good. I explained to the server that I was vegetarian, and asked if there was a meat base to the soup. She came back and said that there was no meat but some chicken. I believe chicken is meat, because it is a dead animal that people eat, but I suppose in some people's worlds there is a big difference between meat and poultry. Whatever. I ordered the crispy vegetables spring roll instead. Man, was that thing hard to eat. There was no indication on the menu that it was spicy, but the thing had dried red chilis in it and was hot. Also, do you pick this thing up or cut it? It was rather unwieldy to pick up with the fingers, and since it wasn't an enclosed roll, stuff started sliding out. Ok, let's try knife and fork. Well, then the whole thing falls apart and the crispy outside crumbles and gets messy. Given that the restaurant was fancy and I was with my boss, I opted for knife and fork, but it was pretty hard getting the thing into my tummy. For my second thing I ordered the multiple kinds of mushroom "purse" (pasta pouch thingy) with cream sauce. I asked if it was vegetarian, and my server came back and said it was. Figured it sounded it, but best to be on the safe side. Well, the darn thing was covered in caviar. Since when is that vegetarian? Ok, I guess technically they are eggs and vegetarians eat eggs, but since you have to take a fish and scrape out her insides to get these things, I wouldn't consider them vegetarian. I mean, that's like killing a mammal and scraping the ova out of the ovaries and eating them. Sure, it's eggs, but it's not vegetarian. It's also a really gross concept. I took one bite, realized what they were, and couldn't eat the rest. I tried scraping the caviar-infested sauce off the thing (sauce tasted gross too -- overly creamy), but that didn't work. Not having such great luck. But I was really looking forward to the third thing -- a potage of white beans, heirloom tomatoes, herbs, etc. Definitely vegetarian and sounding filling and yummy. Well, it had a ton of cheese on it, so I could hardly enjoy the flavors of the other ingredients. There was more cheese than non-cheese. For a healthy veggie type, this place was totally striking out. Finally I got my key lime pie. Can't go wrong with that, right? Well, you can if you completely surround and smother the thing with whipped cream, which they explained they had done because the pie is so tart. Ok. I avoided the oodles of cream as best I could and ate the pie, which was small, but tart and pretty yummy. Less sweet than most, but still good. Throughout, the server was overly polite and very much making sure to take the plates away from the correct side and serve them from the other side and other snooty nonsense, without actually being a good server in any way. At least the bathroom was clean and colorful, with red/yellow/green/blue bright tiles and little plaques with the history of chocolate, honey, and rosemary. My colleague tells me the men's room had a freaky motion sensor flopping singing fish on the wall, that was literally quite disturbing. Overall, I would not recommend.
(2)
Lynne H.
I'm giving it two stars not because it was bad per se, but because it was so disappointing. Considering the high rating this place got on Gayot.com , I was expecting this place to be one of the best, and it wasn't anywhere near that. The good stuff: From the outside it looks like a cheap diner, but the decor inside is very nice and upscale. Also, the classical guitarist they hired was quite good. All in all, a nice, romantic atmosphere. The grilled meat entrees were expertly done. The disappointing stuff: Did they recently lose their pastry chef? The bread texture was off (crumbly), the cheese pastry wrapping the grilled figs was meh, and the chocolate-filled mini-beignets weren't even as good as Winchell's donut holes. The $9 glass of wine my husband got was the smallest I've ever seen. (The couple at the table next to ours got wine glasses that were filled almost 1" higher than ours.) And the sesame-crusted shrimp appetizer had a really boring/bland dipping sauce. Overall impression: Very nice atmosphere, but unimpressive food especially for the price.
(2)
Tony Y.
This was the first visit here for my wife and I. While we've been to Santa Fe several times, this trip was one where we were determined to make it all about food. We booked a reservation for 2 (plus a sleeping baby) for Sunday night. Parking was a bit confusing to figure out at first, as they have a shared lot around the side of the block. As it was dark outside when we arrived, the sign was hard to see at first. We were promptly greeted by a friendly hostess upon entering, and service remained excellent throughout this experience. We had brandy glazed figs, veal picatta, and the special for the night, Lamb T-bones. Dessert was key lime pie and chocolate ice cream. The figs were one of the most deliciously entertaining experiences we've had recently. The sweetness of the fig combined with the saltiness of the cheese pastry was wonderfully done. The texture was also a nice combo of the flaky pastry and the chewiness of the fig. The veal picatta was well done, although not spectacular. The Lamb was very well prepared though, cooked to perfection. Dessert had nice presentations, and also walked a great line between too sweet or too bland. This was a great dining experience, and we hope to return for another night out soon.
(4)
Alice K.
This is the best meal I've had in Santa Fe since that French restaurant on the second floor on San Francisco Street and Escalera closed. Wonderful food!
(5)
Hunter Y.
It is not difficult to impress someone with a dish made with caviar, monkfish, and whatever else rare sea creature. However, to impress me with a well-made chicken breast - well-made meaning tender and juicy, yet still flavorful - is very tough (pun intended). The lamb T-bone is great, crispy chicken breast is crispy on the outside yet tender and juicy on the inside. And the chanterelle and what seems like porcini sauce is spectacular. Service is great too!
(5)
Nancie P.
What a great, unexpected pleasure. We went twice in our 3 evenings. The ambiance is lovely, food delicious and the service extremely good. Wish I had saved room for the Bananas Foster!
(5)
Josh d.
3 stars is not an insult. The service was great. And the food was good. I just wasn't impressed with the whole meal in general - While it was good, my meat was over cooked and it was a bit over salted. Fine... Whatever. The highlight of the meal, is that they still do table side ceasar salad, which is what would have me coming back here. All in All, I like Dinner For Two, but I won't be fantasizing about it any time soon.
(3)
Janine B.
Amazing... We used Open Table for reservations. Waited nearly 50 minutes for their first available spot. We arrive and I guess they wanted to close early. The kitchen guy greeted us warmly but I guess the waiter/host wanted to go home. Sooo... Who knows what the food was like. Very Rude!! We then went to Tune Up Cafe who were happy to serve an amazing meal.
(1)
M T.
We had a group dinner reservation of 13 people last week, and the restaurant did a fantastic job of accommodating our entire group. The food was great - our favorite dishes were the pureed pea soup, filet, and chocolate cake for dessert. The service was also run very effectively, which is no small feat considering how large of a group we were. The price for the meal made it a phenomenal deal ($20 for a three-course meal on Sundays; a little bit extra if you order the steak) - great place if you want to sample some local cuisine without breaking the bank! Thanks D42!
(5)
Anthony R.
I go for the Sunday price fix which includes soup, select entree and dessert. The wine list left a little to be desired for me. There was no decently priced Cabernet. No bottles to my liking in my price range. Who wants to pay the price of two dinners for a bottle of wine? It would be nice to have a little more choice on the appetizer even if there was an up-charge. Food is very good. The bread was a highlight, which I never thought I would hear myself saying.
(3)
Dan G.
The service was attentive and friendly but not obtrusive; very professional. We particularly appreciated the waiter being knowledgeable regarding the extensive wine list. The food ranged from good to excellent. My dinner companion's lamb was excellent, my ribeye steak, however, was cooked a bit more than the medium rare I ordered. The calamari ceviche was excellent;it was more akin to a Japanese salad than a traditional ceviche (no complaints because it was great). The ambience was romantic with Spanish guitar music played at a level that easily allowed for conversation.
(4)
Thomas S.
At a conference in Santa Fe and was at this recommended spot with three colleagues. Two of us had the excellent caesar prepared tableside by someone who really knew how. Two people had the lamb and loved it; my veal marsala was relatively tasteless. Overall, good experience, fabulous service.
(3)
Bill S.
Great restaurant / Sunday limited menu but great, fantastic mushroom soup- must have an excellent mushroom source as you won't find anything sooo flavorful anywhere else. Seafood sampler and ribeye were excellent followed by a wonderful desert selection.
(5)
Jesseca T.
6/15/13 back again for an early father's day dinner, Brad was our excellent waiter's name, we lucked out and got him again so now that we know his name we can request him as our server- he timed our dinner like a professional and didn't hover but provided privacy and consistently good service. Kudos Brad! Dinner was a great value at $140 and included a bottle of sauv blanc (NZ), caesar made tableside , shrimp app crusted in sesame with orange zest and a mole type sauce (interesting combo and good too) -bread was fresh, crunchy on outside, with carmelized onions and softened butter= salty goodness our entrees were both fish- Ahi tuna seared and served with slightly steamed sweet peas that retained a nice crunch, wasabi emulsion and soy drizzle- i had combo plate with more of the same appetizer shrimp, calamari ceviche with wakame, a crabcake with a panko like crust, and a piece of fish that was lightly steamed - generous portions dessert etc - husband had the chocolate cups with ice cream, very generous portions of coffee, blackberry and chocolate homemade ice creams in dark choc. cups - with a cappucino, I had the Framboise from Bonnny Doon, we used to go to their tasting room and get this all the time when we lived in san jose, it used to be served in little chocolate cups- so it was nice to see that again. Live music, two musicians this time- All in all another excellent experience and a pleasant surprise that the tab was so low for a fabulous 4 course meal. I'm looking forward to celebrating our anniversary here in August!
(5)
Jen G.
Came here again and delish as always. I was starving so I opted to get the french onion soup, which was pretty good. Also got the crab cake caprese, which I probably would not get again because I'm not really a fan of tomatoes and those were huge. My friend got the baby spinach salad, which she said was the highlight of her meal. She also got the Sampler entree of Hawaiian Mahi Mahi / Coconut Shrimp / Crab Cake. Bread was the highlight of my meal. The bread- OMG it was like melt-in-your-mouth goodness. I could have eaten three loaves- but alas, they only give you one. They actually asked if we wanted a second loaf but my soup had just arrived so I was working on that. Bread paired with the fluffy butter-- mmmm, yum. Just make sure your bread is warm when you get it, and eat it while it's hot! Next time I come, I'll probably get the Filet Mignon or try the Caesar Salad- everyone around us was getting that and seemed incredibly satisfied. -1 star for service being a bit slow. Food service was actually quite prompt, which I appreciated. But then we had to wait awhile to get the dessert menu (about 15-20 minutes after we had finished eating), then wait a longer while to get the check. My water didn't get refilled until after the check arrived. Bonus points for the guitar player playing - it was Friday night. Reservation for 6pm was easy enough to make - we called same day in the early afternoon to make the reservation.
(4)
Susan L.
Delicious meal in beautiful cozy restaurant. We had coconut shrimp, crab/corn chowder, squash salad, stuffed squash blossoms, crab cakes! All yummy, attentive service. Many of the vegetables are locally grown, some by the waiters themselves. Wonderful find close to our hotel.
(5)
James B.
service was great. Execution of the meals was excellent. Wine choices were stellar. All in all a first class dining experience in Santa Fe. My wife and I commented that Santa Fe wasn't as welcoming as we anticipated ...until we came here. We arrived 15 mins before our scheduled reservation and they gladly seated us. We were greeted by smiles and attentive service even on a very busy day of the year...
(4)
Mike E.
Our first time at Table for Two was New Years Eve which is a little unfair when it comes to judging a restaurant for the first time. Nobody really has their "A" game on that day. We ordered from a Prix Fixe menu and overall it was very good but not spectacular. Food was warm but certainly not hot. The service was pretty good considering how crowded they were. We will go back on a "normal" night and order from the standard menu and I'm sure that will give a more accurate representation of what they are all about.
(4)
Jes W.
We came back to Santa Fe after two years and dined here again. The food is very good and the staff very attentive. A great Caesar salad at the table. The Maryland blue crab crab cakes were not up up Maryland standards, but the waiter gave me fair warning of that, so I won't fault them for that! My husbands chicken was delicious.
What a way to end a week! My friends and I gathered around the bar and sampled all of the appetizers and were in pure heaven. Delicious and comforting food, while being innovative and served with flair. We watched some of the most beautiful entrees come out of the kitchen, but were stuffed to the gill and unable to enjoy a full meal. Can't wait to go back for a full dinner. It's my friends' favorite fine dining spot, (great value!) so I'm assured an opportunity on my next visit. Everyone had their favorite appetizer - mine were Fried Squash Blossom and the Fish & Chips.
(5)
Phil F.
Had dinner with my wife. Had accommodating service. Food was good to very good. Caesar Salad was good but I've made better at home from Good Housekeeping Cookbook circa 1950. They put Heinze 57 sauce in it. WTF ? No lemon juice, red wine vinegar, or mustard, and too many coddled eggs. Should use just one egg. Preparation was fine otherwise. Judging against original by Ceasar Cardini in Tijuana Mexico. Bill was too expensive $175.00 w/ tip including a $36 bottle if red wine. I've checked this place off my bucket list.
(2)
Phil K.
My wife and I have had previous good experiences at D42, but last night's experience may be our last. We tried the Thursday night prime rib special. For starters I had a salad. There were three options on the menu. One included Brussels sprouts, but the vegetable for the evening was Brussels sprouts so I didn't want to be redundant. Another offering was Caesar salad for two. My wife wasn't interested in salad do I passed on the Caesar. The final option was a concoction of red chard, carrots, tomato, and diced chorizo topped with a poached egg. The egg was done nicely and added an interesting element to the salad, but I didn't find much else about the dish I enjoyed. Finally our prime rib arrived. We both ordered medium/rare. My wife's meat had a slight hint of pink which may have qualified as medium. My meat was entirely brown/gray--definitely medium/well or well done. It was dry, dry, dry. Also, the prime rib was prepared in a smoker instead of oven roasted as I anticipated. Too salty and too smokey--flavors more suited to a brisket or some tougher cut of beef. The slices of prime rib were presented on a blob of something called mashed potatoes. Not sure how these were prepared but they were brown, way too salty, appeared like yesterday's leftovers, and totally unappealing. We should have sent our meals back to the kitchen, but we hadn't eaten all day, and considering how long it took to get our orders, we didn't want to wait. D42 will not come to the top of our list of restaurant options next time we are deciding where to go for dinner!
(2)
Ron D.
This restaurant always slips our mind when considering where to go. Now we know why. We always have high hopes that eating there will be memorable but in the end it is mediocre. We met dear friends there for dinner and again had hopes for a wonderful meal. In the end, it was just OK - not great and I am afraid- forgettable. I had swordfish that was bland tasting despite the chef's creative attempt to add flavor through a cranberry sauce. Another dish was the filet mignon which was better tasting but subpar to say, the melt-in-your mouth filet at Midtown Bistro. The desserts were pedestrian and again fairly tasteless. We had a cinnamon pumpkin coffee cake that was dried out and dense. It reminded me of our home coffee cake after sitting out for several days. We will again forget about this eatery not because we want to but because it has not given us reason to remember.
(3)
Thomas H.
This is an excellent small, intimate restaurant. The service was friendly and helpful, the food creative and well-prepared. We shared the chateaubriand, grilled peach and a salad. A special feature: the wine list is varied and fairly priced.
(5)
Hugh G.
Y'all know I don't give FIVE Stars easily.... This was an exceptional meal and the live guitar was just right! Eat here in Santa Fe, New Mexico!
(5)
Kim S.
Dinner was excellent as was the service. Small family run operation. Will go back if I'm in Santa Fe again.
(4)
Barton F.
Very nice. The hostess is the mother the father hand makes you caesar salad ( not to be missed) and the son cooks the food. the entrance buy the kitchen is not great and I almost did not go in because of it but this restaurant just a little off the center of Down town is excellent. the food is very good. Better than some of the big name places we ate and the prices are reasonable.
(4)
Karla M.
We celebrated our anniversary dinner. It was outstanding I had the New York strip which melted into mouth and husband had shark. Service and food was outstanding.
(5)
Lee W.
Hmm, our experience was just OK. We had the much loved Brad and while he was very competent, we found him a bit stiff. The food wasn't special. The flavors didn't really hit you except for the Caesar salad which had a little chili spice in it to kick-it-up a notch. The wine was served properly and at the right temperature. Not as common an experience as I have come to realize. Would we go back again? No. Too many other places to try!
(3)
Stacy S.
Excellent food, great service! Caesar salad is delish and surely adds to experience. 4 course meal with 3 drinks was only $115!!! A must try restaurant!
(5)
Elle F.
We frequent D42 twice a month for their three-course $19 special on Sunday. It's even a lovely place to come to for Christmas. I would highly recommend making a reservation because this place is always packed. My favorite item on the menu is the Cocoa-Coffee-Garlic encrusted Grass Fed, Organic Filet Mignon, which comes with mashed potatoes. The balsmic reduction served on the filet mignon is just to die for. My second favorite is the Frenched' Crisped Chicken Breast, which comes with sun dried tomatoes and gruyere stuffed inside a breast with cabernet sauce lightly drizzled on the chicken. My boyfriend usually orders the braised lamb shank. We've tried: Double Thick Cut Lamb T Bones, which comes with a white wine cream sauce of some kind. Veal Marsala with Marsala Oyster Mushroom Sauce Crap Cake Caprese House Made Pies (they change, but are always tasty) Beignets & Ice Cream Cookies & Ice Cream Warmed Chocolate Fudge Cake House Made Sorbet As regulars, my bf and I enjoy seeing variety on the menu. They add desserts, run out of things, and make substitutions. The wait staff is the best, treat us well when we come in, and are generous in pouring glasses of wine when we choose not to buy a bottle. If you love a solid red, a tasty, dry Malbec, then I highly recommend the Viña San Esteban Malbec 2011. It pairs nicely with the chicken, lamb, and filet mignon. I normally do not like drier wines, but this one is at the top of my list in terms of a favorite because it pairs nicely with chicken and steak. Feel free to come dressed casually. Since we come to D42 often, sometimes we dress up and most of the times we do not. Also, do not let the name fool you. We mostly see parties of four at D42.
My husband and I tried this place for the first time during Restaurant Week of this year. Terrible to so-so food, and poor service for an upscale restaurant. We had a not very attentive server, who didn't bother to scrape the white crumbs off of their jet-black table cloth before we had dessert. Theme of our dinner: Over or undersalted. My husband's lamb dish was terribly oversalted. His Asian style shrimp appetizer was terribly undersalted. My entree, which I can not even recall, was nothing to write home about. Not a fine dining experience here, in a fine dining restaurant with fine dining prices. The spring roll dessert was also not thrilling. The only thing possibly worthy of a return visit is the truffle bisque, which is fantastic. I would only give them my business again if I could get it to go!
(1)
Andrew R.
Absolutely awful service, we got up and left after being there 45 minutes here are the details. Decided to give the place a try last night since I had two out of town friends looking for a restaurant nearby their hotel. Wanted one with a good wine list as my friend Greg is a huge wine connoisseur. Made reservations for 8pm, arrived on time. We were greeted right away but the table wasn't ready, no big deal. We were moved past the open kitchen area to a small area where the staff is moving from kitchen to main dining room and waited over ten minutes for the table dodging the staff. OK, not a big deal (yet). We move into the main dinning room and it's really hot, like well over 80 degrees. The room is filled. I notice a waiter sweating like a pig (poor guy) while making a table side Caesar. NOT appetizing. We were hoping for a rather quiet location to talk, this isn't the case with this area. We sit down and get no attention other than water for 15 minutes. No bread, no drink order, nothing. Finally the waitress comes by to take our wine order. Greg isn't at all impressed with the wine list, shocked that Wine Spectator supposedly gave this place any attention let alone merits. He find a Pinot that looks OK (at $110 which Greg says is high even with a good market-up) and decides to order it but the waitress walks away to another table before he can ask for it. Finally she comes back and he orders the bottle. Another 15 minutes go by, still no bread. The wine comes and it's not the same vintage and in fact, not even the same wine! It's not the reserve but a far cheaper bottle that should have been no more than $50 even with a decent restaurant markup. She tries to tell Greg it's the same wine. Bad move, Greg's not the guy to try to fool about wine. That's when we get up and leave. Shocking. Didn't get to try the food which may be really good but considering the piss-poor service and having someone try to peddle off a cheap and different bottle of wine at those prices is unforgivable. I read the reviews here before booking and decided that maybe the service complaints were just some rare occurrence but not last night. Don't care how wonderful the food may be, whoever is running this restaurant doesn't have their act together and worse, trying to rip off customers on wine is unforgivable. Avoid this place like the plague!
(1)
Candace C.
We tried Dinner for two after reading so many good reviews and learning of the Sunday dinner special advertised on their website -- here's the results: - the sunday dinner special is NOT as advertised on the website!!! A major problem since it is also mentioned in many of the reviews. Now the special is simply an entree and dessert for $19.00, with substantial upcharges for many of the entrees....so basically what they are doing is offering their regular menu and giving a free dessert....they should just call it what it is! - service was awful ... we never saw our waiter after ordering. Had to ask for more wine, would have had more if only someone had asked. The hostess seemed to be trying to pick up the slack, handling our dessert order and tab, but she was running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Other tables seemed to be getting much better service than ours... - the food was quite good, very good. So its unfortunate that the front of the house isn't better managed and the website is out of date.
(2)
Nick S.
Not quite good enough to choose this over the so many great restaurants in Santa Fe. If you're voting for white table cloth restaurants walking distance from the plaza...then maybe. Went after reading the article about the Sunday nite special, seemed like a good way to try it. The $19 special doesn't go with the ribeye they show in the article, but still it's a cheap enough dinner to try for yourself. Personally, we didn't like the sauces they dump on the plate, not delicate at all, very pedestrian almost barbecue sauce. Too many choices here, and you can have as food a meal at places you pass getting there.
(3)
David R.
My wife and I had a wonderful meal with great service. Could not ask for more.
(5)
Wanda Harper O.
We haven't been to D42 in quite a while because we live quite far from Santa Fe, but when we do go...we enjoy the entire experience so much- each and every time. Service is consistently wonderful, food is consistently wonderful! Anytime I read a bad review I wonder if the people writing them truly went to THIS restaurant...because I can just not fathom what they are writing is true. We have been to D42 at least 10 times in the past few years. We highly recommend it!!!!
(5)
Alexandra Z.
Not bad. My bf and I went there for the Sunday special. The meal was artistically displayed, and flavors were nice, but I would not pay full price for it. Although it is an upscale restaurant, the staff was not snobby at all. I enjoyed the Lilikoi sorbet for dessert.
(3)
Jay M.
2 of 5 noses! I really hate to give a rating of 1 or 2, but the truth is important as I want to ensure other average Americans like me receive their top value for their hard-earned dollar. This place was highly recommended by Los Palomas, and after experiencing this dinner, I would not recommend in the near future. Let's get to my review: Atmosphere: Quaint restaurant with a upscale interior. After entering you walk past an open kitchen (remember this for later). From the tables to the guitar player, I was impressed and the place started off on a high note. Service: This is where I would have given a 1! The servers seemed overwhelmed as we sat for over 10 minutes before our waitress stopped by. To make our wait even more awkward, it was disturbing that our waitress looked at us twice and continued to walk by. She should have said "will be with you in a minute." Once she was there, we were never asked what we would like to drink. As the meal progressed, she did not come back to refill our drinks or, in a timely manner, take away our dirty plates or inquire about the all inclusive dessert. We did notice the hostess being very attentive and helping deliver plates, etc. Please train your servers and this restaurant will earn a better reputation. Food: What do I say? The salad or soup first course started off ok. Both soups were served luke warm. The "fancy" salad with heirloom tomatoes was sad... it was arugula and petite cherry tomatoes cut in half. As the entrees approached, the filet experienced a personality disorder. The taste was fantastic, a set of in-depth flavors //// but it was cooked from well-done to medium in one little filet. I am not sure if the most experienced chef could do this on purpose. The chicken stuffed with cheese and sun-dried tomatoes was overpower with salt and should not have been served. As for the crab-cake caprese... nice concept, but no real powerhitter here. OVERALL: We wanted this to be the enjoyable dinner we were expecting from the culinary mecca of Santa Fe, instead it was over 2 hours of poor service, average food (except for the taste of the filet) and some sub-par pastries. ONE LAST THING: As we were leaving, one would think the chef would greet the customer and inquire what they thought. He did not. Hence, I recommend the chef enclose the kitchen, if he does not want to hear the truth.
(2)
Annie S.
I'm really shocked by the negative reviews of D42! We went for a dinner before Thanksgiving and had a lovely meal. The service from the beginning to end was perfect and the food was really tasty. The restaurant does look small from the outside but it's pretty large inside. I do think it's a nice romantic place but also fun for a girls night. We decided to do the 4-course meal for only $29 dollars (soo cheap!). It was one appetizer, soup or salad, entree and dessert. We had the tuna + calamari appetizer, green salad, organic lamb chops and raspberry chocolate cake for dessert. I thought every dish was fresh and high quality. They have an expansive wine list but it's also affordable. I didn't know this but you can buy a bottle and re-cork it to take him! There's wine for 20-30 bucks so it's worth the money to get one. They also had live music and it was a great touch- not too loud. I really recommend this restaurant!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
David R.
This place is special. Family owned and operated and it feels like it. We moved to Santa Fe almost a year ago and have been here four times. Each time we have loved it. The food is delicious and the staff is top-notch in that the service is spot-on and incredibly friendly but still professional. Everything from the caesar salad and bananas foster both made table-side, to the quality of all of the meats and produce grown at the restaurant's own farm or sourced from local farmers/ranchers prepared in simple yet imaginative ways, the food is terrific. We will continue to frequent this place for many years to come. I just got home and am already looking forward to going back.
(5)Bob B.
This is another great place in Santa Fe... Been here a week - exploring restaurants / art and shopping - Dinner for Two is a great place to eat - Rib Eye was killer - Cesare Salad was unreal
(5)Matt A.
These guys are so amazing. Just strolled in an hour after they closed (and didn't even realize it). They insisted we try the dessert and had killer peach pie with a whole dose of love. I love these guys long time.
(5)Sue R.
First, the food was very good! The kitchen turns out quality and creative dishes that are visually appealing. The mushroom soup alone is worth the meal. However, the service, which started out strong, went steadily downhill during the evening. The host was friendly and helpful and made excellent suggestions. However, our wait person didn't offer us a choice of water (the other wait staff did) didn't seem to have much knowledge of the wine list, and was put off by our dinner pacing (the Caesar salad is a huge serving and it took us awhile to finish). My companion's coffee was cold, and our server topped off her coffee without replacing it. In the end we were given a check without any breakdown and were overcharged a few bucks. Just seems like they are missing the little things that could make this place great.
(3)Kathy H.
You could TOTALLY walk by this place. No clue, from the outside, how wonderful it is. Happened in on Sunday eve, $19.95 for 3 course meal special. Great!! Very classy but comfortable. Staff very proud of their restaurant, with good reason. I want to go again.
(5)Susan V.
We had a great meal. The mushroom soup really is award winning. Crab cakes and coconut shrimp were good - sauces were homemade and good compliments. Veal piccata was a little tough which could have been the cut of meat. Get the vanilla ice cream and ginger snap! Ask for an extra chocolate chip cookie to share! Service was a little slow and we sat next to a wall mount A/C unit that wasn't ideal.
(4)Crystal K.
Treated like celebrities. Literally. Yummy dessert, killer service. Would highly recommend checking this place out.
(5)Ink B.
Came here with my wife. The service is perfect, the staff is kind and on the ball. There is good atmosphere, and even when the house is packed the noise is not too bad. I had the filet, it was like 10,000 angels having an orgy in my mouth. We will be back.
(5)Robert F.
This is what dining out should be. We go to Dinner For Two as one of our regular stops when eating out because the service is excellent and so is the food. It's cozy, a great experience, and I just wish they had a larger area for things like receptions and bigger gatherings (even though Dinner for 25 doesn't have the same ring) as we would have done that here. The filet mignon is perfect. So is the grilled swordfish (when available). The menu changes depending on what is available and fresh, but there are staples as well. Highly recommended!
(5)Gretchen P.
Last night was my second night to eat there. It is close to the hotel where I stay when I am in. The first time in October, I would have given it a 3.5 star, but last night was awful. Food was cold and mediocre. Crab cakes tasted like hockey pucks. Likewise with the heaviness. Fish was inedible. Usually, I will send food back, but I was with a table of four more. Everyone commented that the food was "just mediocre." Waitress was a zombie. Not very attentive. We had to ask her, after an hour, about our entrees. There were 5 of us. They were not unduly busy for a Friday night. The ultimate insult: Gratunity was added on for meal. Fair enough since one woman was paying for whole meal on business account (we are here on business) Individually, three of us got check for a glass of wine because it was not covered by business, of course). Gratuity for 5 was added on for each one of us. So, my class came to 7.50, and she gave me check for 10.51. She had added on gratuity after tax. I left 10. The manager came to pick it up and when she saw the 10, said "It's 10.51." I kid you not. Perhaps the defintion of grauitity has changed. I felt held hostage. We had NO demands at our table, no one was rude. When our director went to pay the food bill, the manager said, "Aren't you going to give her extra gratuity?" Seriously. needless to say, I will not darken their doors again, nor witll I recommend them. Not nice experience.
(2)Carl P.
A quaint little place that, truth be told, isn't so little...I agree with other reviewers on here that from the outside it looks like a diner, but it's really a cozy little restaurant with delicious food. We did the Dinner For Two special and were extremely pleased with the quality of the cooks work. From the salad, soup (a corn, crab bisk I believe), crisp chicken with mushroom sauce and doughnuts/coffee desert, everything was wonderful...even the service. I do wish more restaurants would enforce policies restricting cell phone use, it ruins an otherwise enjoyable ambiance.
(4)Jim E.
Just had dinner tonight with a large group from out of town at Dinner for Two. It was a really dissaponting experience. Even though we'd had a reservation for 2 weeks, we still had to wait to be seated even though the restaurant wasn't very full. The most amazing thing was they were out of everything from the wine we iniitally ordered to one of the beers they listed on their menu to bananas for the bananas foster we ordered. Really incredible for a restaurant charging the prices they do! Service was poor and fairly unattentive. They forgot to bring one of our group member's dessert order. I'd really expected much more from Dinner For Two. It's possible they were just having a bad night as some reviewers have obviously had a good experience. Bottom line: there are too many good restaurants in Santa Fe at this price point to have this type of bad evening.
(1)Daniel C.
Very enjoyable meal. Wine selection, soups and wait staff were all great.
(5)Michael S.
The dinner, I had stuffed chicken, was very good. It had a red wine reduction sauce, with mashed potatoes underneath. Yummy! Our dessert, "coffee and doughnuts" was really good too. However, not 5 stars because we (as well as everyone else around us) had to wait way too long for every little thing. Water...a menu...the check...etc.
(4)Mary Ann W.
We were here in August for our wedding anniversary and had a great meal. The lamb chops with a balsamic reduction were as well done as any of the other fine restaurants in Santa Fe. The rest of the meal was very good, also. It's kind of a quirky place. I don't think the name helps them as it's a place geared for more diners than 2 at a time, and I would not call it romantic. The service was just OK and the excuse seemed to be that they were "new". But, the food is very good and worth a visit.
(4)Linda M.
Went for Valentines day it was pretty pricey and nothing was great $225 for three people 2 appetizers, 3 entrees, 2 deserts, 1 wine.
(2)Nancy S.
Went back to D-4-2 last night for the first time in at least three years. We used to go often, but it was getting tired. Well, they are back, and so are we! The menu has changed, and the food was superb. We had per-ordered the soft shell crabs, which were fresh and perfectly prepared. Appetizers and salad were both delicious, and happily they still had their "coffee and donuts" on the dessert menu. The waitstaff were all courteous and knowledgeable. The restaurant was packed, so they pitched in to help each other as it started to get busy. We were extremely happy with our entire experience, and will go back soon.
(5)David I.
We had a very nice Valentine dinner with Pam and her staff and family. The service was friendly and efficient and the food was as good as ever. One of the best aspects of Dinner for Two is that the wine prices have always been reasonable and well below average for Santa Fe. A great place for that special dinner or just a nice, well prepared upscale meal at reasonable prices.
(4)Bruce B.
Don't be deceived by outside appearances - I'll admit I wouldn't go here during several summer visits because the place looks sketchy from the outside. It took the recommendation of a total stranger on the airport shuttle to prompt me to go. Well, I wish we had gone sooner. We'll be back! Nicely appointed interior, attentive waitstaff, greetings from the cashier - we were off to the right start. We enjoyed Qupe 2006 Syrah as recommended by our waiter - excellent choice. We both decided to choose the sampler size portions for the evening - an excellent choice as we left feeling full but not stuffed. Having seen others choose the full-sized portions, doggy bags would have been in order. I started with the seared tuna with sauteed calamari and hot peppers - yum! Secondi was the veal piccata with mashed potatoes (infused with onions), another hit. My lovely wife had the veal Marsala - she raved about it as well. We finished by sharing a dessert of creme brulee that capped off a delicious evening. This place is worth your time and money!
(5)Eddy S.
This was my splurge meal for the visit and was surprised at the value - not cheap, but well worth what you get. Service was pretty good, seems like they might need a bit more training on the menu. Food was near flawless in its preparation.
(4)Randy T.
Went to this restaurant per Yelp's rating and found it good. We went to celebrate our anniversary so I wanted a romantic quiet setting. We got a quiet setting but for romantic not so much. The lights were low but it is open sitting and people are arm length away. The waiter was ok but too busy to be friendly, the person who fixed the cesar sald at the table appeared disgusted with preparing the salad. I tried to create a dialog to no avail. The salad was extremely bland/flavorless. The same gentleman then came back to fix our chateubriad and he was better but never appeared to be enjoying his job. The entre was very good. The food was at a good temperature to enjoy but got cold quickly. Probably brcause the room was cold. The dessert was wonderful, butterscotch pie and about the size of a silver dollar. All in all, it was good. Don't know that we would go back. Oh by the way make sure you have 2 hours to sit and eat because it took that long.
(4)Thighmaster M.
Well, it's strange. The food was quite good, but the ambience threw me a little - wish I could be more specific. Four of us went and all had different dishes. I think we agreed the food was worth 4 stars at least, but pricey. But I dunno, I left feeling like I wouldn't go back - the overall vibe just isn't my thing, from the servers in dull moods and tight clothing, to black cloth everywhere and cold air running down my neck. But to be clear, they know food... no problem there...
(3)Randy D.
Went there while on our corporate retreat and was impressed. We had the whole dining room reserved and they took great care of us. Really good eclectic menu and a great wine list. Highly recommend. Don't let the outside fool you this place is a diamond in the rough.
(4)Penelope B.
D42 (as the outdoor sign shows) is good - this review only applies to the special menu served on Thanksgiving. It was far more reasonable than many other Santa Fe restaurants and had a wide variety, plus some less elaborate elements that were suitable for the 4yo. They are accommodating to (well-behaved) children - providing some toys and such. Our munchkin wasn't interested in the toys and would have been happier if her main dish of salmon had arrived faster, but we were overall quite happy with our meal. The turducken wasn't quite what I expected, but I'll try it again before I make up my mind. Seriously, how many places can you actually try turducken!? That alone gives them a star. I'd be interested in comparing their regular dinner service with the special event, as they seemed to have called all hands on deck and perhaps weren't running as tightly as they could have been. Good food though, and friendly service, with good ingredients, for a good price. Oh - the caesar was terrific, as were the rolls, and the Maryland-style crab soup, SO good!
(4)Stacey B.
This place is wacko. I went here because I was on a business trip and the host at our B&B recommended it and made a reservation for us. The entrance does not face the street, so if you are walking the direction we were, you have to look behind you in order to see it. Good thing I looked behind me. We walked in and were greeted by messy papers all around, and restaurant supplies, and a computer at a little table/desk. Did we walk in the back door by mistake and land in the office? No. Next is the open kitchen. Someone yelled over that they'd be with us shortly. Hmm. Ok. This woman comes over and brings us in. We were seated with some formality and I asked for water with no ice. I was brought water with ice. I opened the menu, and the prices were hefty. Didn't seem at all like a fancy/pricey restaurant from the outside or from the entry area. It seemed like the opposite, in fact. Weird. I didn't immediately see anything vegetarian, and then I started to see a couple of the small plates. That's the other odd thing -- y'know those chinese places where you pick the family meal with two things from column A and three from column B? That's like this place. They do a small plates/tasting menu, where you can get the Tasting for $24 (one thing from each of four columns), Magnificent for high-$20s (one extra thing from a particular column), or Decadent for $30s which allows one more thing. It is possible to order an entree instead, and the entrees are just the same things as the small plates, probably in larger portions. You can also order individual small plates ala carte. These small plates are not the kind that are made for sharing. I got the standard Tasting menu, and for my starter, the Chilled Avocado Soup special sounded good. I explained to the server that I was vegetarian, and asked if there was a meat base to the soup. She came back and said that there was no meat but some chicken. I believe chicken is meat, because it is a dead animal that people eat, but I suppose in some people's worlds there is a big difference between meat and poultry. Whatever. I ordered the crispy vegetables spring roll instead. Man, was that thing hard to eat. There was no indication on the menu that it was spicy, but the thing had dried red chilis in it and was hot. Also, do you pick this thing up or cut it? It was rather unwieldy to pick up with the fingers, and since it wasn't an enclosed roll, stuff started sliding out. Ok, let's try knife and fork. Well, then the whole thing falls apart and the crispy outside crumbles and gets messy. Given that the restaurant was fancy and I was with my boss, I opted for knife and fork, but it was pretty hard getting the thing into my tummy. For my second thing I ordered the multiple kinds of mushroom "purse" (pasta pouch thingy) with cream sauce. I asked if it was vegetarian, and my server came back and said it was. Figured it sounded it, but best to be on the safe side. Well, the darn thing was covered in caviar. Since when is that vegetarian? Ok, I guess technically they are eggs and vegetarians eat eggs, but since you have to take a fish and scrape out her insides to get these things, I wouldn't consider them vegetarian. I mean, that's like killing a mammal and scraping the ova out of the ovaries and eating them. Sure, it's eggs, but it's not vegetarian. It's also a really gross concept. I took one bite, realized what they were, and couldn't eat the rest. I tried scraping the caviar-infested sauce off the thing (sauce tasted gross too -- overly creamy), but that didn't work. Not having such great luck. But I was really looking forward to the third thing -- a potage of white beans, heirloom tomatoes, herbs, etc. Definitely vegetarian and sounding filling and yummy. Well, it had a ton of cheese on it, so I could hardly enjoy the flavors of the other ingredients. There was more cheese than non-cheese. For a healthy veggie type, this place was totally striking out. Finally I got my key lime pie. Can't go wrong with that, right? Well, you can if you completely surround and smother the thing with whipped cream, which they explained they had done because the pie is so tart. Ok. I avoided the oodles of cream as best I could and ate the pie, which was small, but tart and pretty yummy. Less sweet than most, but still good. Throughout, the server was overly polite and very much making sure to take the plates away from the correct side and serve them from the other side and other snooty nonsense, without actually being a good server in any way. At least the bathroom was clean and colorful, with red/yellow/green/blue bright tiles and little plaques with the history of chocolate, honey, and rosemary. My colleague tells me the men's room had a freaky motion sensor flopping singing fish on the wall, that was literally quite disturbing. Overall, I would not recommend.
(2)Lynne H.
I'm giving it two stars not because it was bad per se, but because it was so disappointing. Considering the high rating this place got on Gayot.com , I was expecting this place to be one of the best, and it wasn't anywhere near that. The good stuff: From the outside it looks like a cheap diner, but the decor inside is very nice and upscale. Also, the classical guitarist they hired was quite good. All in all, a nice, romantic atmosphere. The grilled meat entrees were expertly done. The disappointing stuff: Did they recently lose their pastry chef? The bread texture was off (crumbly), the cheese pastry wrapping the grilled figs was meh, and the chocolate-filled mini-beignets weren't even as good as Winchell's donut holes. The $9 glass of wine my husband got was the smallest I've ever seen. (The couple at the table next to ours got wine glasses that were filled almost 1" higher than ours.) And the sesame-crusted shrimp appetizer had a really boring/bland dipping sauce. Overall impression: Very nice atmosphere, but unimpressive food especially for the price.
(2)Tony Y.
This was the first visit here for my wife and I. While we've been to Santa Fe several times, this trip was one where we were determined to make it all about food. We booked a reservation for 2 (plus a sleeping baby) for Sunday night. Parking was a bit confusing to figure out at first, as they have a shared lot around the side of the block. As it was dark outside when we arrived, the sign was hard to see at first. We were promptly greeted by a friendly hostess upon entering, and service remained excellent throughout this experience. We had brandy glazed figs, veal picatta, and the special for the night, Lamb T-bones. Dessert was key lime pie and chocolate ice cream. The figs were one of the most deliciously entertaining experiences we've had recently. The sweetness of the fig combined with the saltiness of the cheese pastry was wonderfully done. The texture was also a nice combo of the flaky pastry and the chewiness of the fig. The veal picatta was well done, although not spectacular. The Lamb was very well prepared though, cooked to perfection. Dessert had nice presentations, and also walked a great line between too sweet or too bland. This was a great dining experience, and we hope to return for another night out soon.
(4)Alice K.
This is the best meal I've had in Santa Fe since that French restaurant on the second floor on San Francisco Street and Escalera closed. Wonderful food!
(5)Hunter Y.
It is not difficult to impress someone with a dish made with caviar, monkfish, and whatever else rare sea creature. However, to impress me with a well-made chicken breast - well-made meaning tender and juicy, yet still flavorful - is very tough (pun intended). The lamb T-bone is great, crispy chicken breast is crispy on the outside yet tender and juicy on the inside. And the chanterelle and what seems like porcini sauce is spectacular. Service is great too!
(5)Nancie P.
What a great, unexpected pleasure. We went twice in our 3 evenings. The ambiance is lovely, food delicious and the service extremely good. Wish I had saved room for the Bananas Foster!
(5)Josh d.
3 stars is not an insult. The service was great. And the food was good. I just wasn't impressed with the whole meal in general - While it was good, my meat was over cooked and it was a bit over salted. Fine... Whatever. The highlight of the meal, is that they still do table side ceasar salad, which is what would have me coming back here. All in All, I like Dinner For Two, but I won't be fantasizing about it any time soon.
(3)Janine B.
Amazing... We used Open Table for reservations. Waited nearly 50 minutes for their first available spot. We arrive and I guess they wanted to close early. The kitchen guy greeted us warmly but I guess the waiter/host wanted to go home. Sooo... Who knows what the food was like. Very Rude!! We then went to Tune Up Cafe who were happy to serve an amazing meal.
(1)M T.
We had a group dinner reservation of 13 people last week, and the restaurant did a fantastic job of accommodating our entire group. The food was great - our favorite dishes were the pureed pea soup, filet, and chocolate cake for dessert. The service was also run very effectively, which is no small feat considering how large of a group we were. The price for the meal made it a phenomenal deal ($20 for a three-course meal on Sundays; a little bit extra if you order the steak) - great place if you want to sample some local cuisine without breaking the bank! Thanks D42!
(5)Anthony R.
I go for the Sunday price fix which includes soup, select entree and dessert. The wine list left a little to be desired for me. There was no decently priced Cabernet. No bottles to my liking in my price range. Who wants to pay the price of two dinners for a bottle of wine? It would be nice to have a little more choice on the appetizer even if there was an up-charge. Food is very good. The bread was a highlight, which I never thought I would hear myself saying.
(3)Dan G.
The service was attentive and friendly but not obtrusive; very professional. We particularly appreciated the waiter being knowledgeable regarding the extensive wine list. The food ranged from good to excellent. My dinner companion's lamb was excellent, my ribeye steak, however, was cooked a bit more than the medium rare I ordered. The calamari ceviche was excellent;it was more akin to a Japanese salad than a traditional ceviche (no complaints because it was great). The ambience was romantic with Spanish guitar music played at a level that easily allowed for conversation.
(4)Thomas S.
At a conference in Santa Fe and was at this recommended spot with three colleagues. Two of us had the excellent caesar prepared tableside by someone who really knew how. Two people had the lamb and loved it; my veal marsala was relatively tasteless. Overall, good experience, fabulous service.
(3)Bill S.
Great restaurant / Sunday limited menu but great, fantastic mushroom soup- must have an excellent mushroom source as you won't find anything sooo flavorful anywhere else. Seafood sampler and ribeye were excellent followed by a wonderful desert selection.
(5)Jesseca T.
6/15/13 back again for an early father's day dinner, Brad was our excellent waiter's name, we lucked out and got him again so now that we know his name we can request him as our server- he timed our dinner like a professional and didn't hover but provided privacy and consistently good service. Kudos Brad! Dinner was a great value at $140 and included a bottle of sauv blanc (NZ), caesar made tableside , shrimp app crusted in sesame with orange zest and a mole type sauce (interesting combo and good too) -bread was fresh, crunchy on outside, with carmelized onions and softened butter= salty goodness our entrees were both fish- Ahi tuna seared and served with slightly steamed sweet peas that retained a nice crunch, wasabi emulsion and soy drizzle- i had combo plate with more of the same appetizer shrimp, calamari ceviche with wakame, a crabcake with a panko like crust, and a piece of fish that was lightly steamed - generous portions dessert etc - husband had the chocolate cups with ice cream, very generous portions of coffee, blackberry and chocolate homemade ice creams in dark choc. cups - with a cappucino, I had the Framboise from Bonnny Doon, we used to go to their tasting room and get this all the time when we lived in san jose, it used to be served in little chocolate cups- so it was nice to see that again. Live music, two musicians this time- All in all another excellent experience and a pleasant surprise that the tab was so low for a fabulous 4 course meal. I'm looking forward to celebrating our anniversary here in August!
(5)Jen G.
Came here again and delish as always. I was starving so I opted to get the french onion soup, which was pretty good. Also got the crab cake caprese, which I probably would not get again because I'm not really a fan of tomatoes and those were huge. My friend got the baby spinach salad, which she said was the highlight of her meal. She also got the Sampler entree of Hawaiian Mahi Mahi / Coconut Shrimp / Crab Cake. Bread was the highlight of my meal. The bread- OMG it was like melt-in-your-mouth goodness. I could have eaten three loaves- but alas, they only give you one. They actually asked if we wanted a second loaf but my soup had just arrived so I was working on that. Bread paired with the fluffy butter-- mmmm, yum. Just make sure your bread is warm when you get it, and eat it while it's hot! Next time I come, I'll probably get the Filet Mignon or try the Caesar Salad- everyone around us was getting that and seemed incredibly satisfied. -1 star for service being a bit slow. Food service was actually quite prompt, which I appreciated. But then we had to wait awhile to get the dessert menu (about 15-20 minutes after we had finished eating), then wait a longer while to get the check. My water didn't get refilled until after the check arrived. Bonus points for the guitar player playing - it was Friday night. Reservation for 6pm was easy enough to make - we called same day in the early afternoon to make the reservation.
(4)Susan L.
Delicious meal in beautiful cozy restaurant. We had coconut shrimp, crab/corn chowder, squash salad, stuffed squash blossoms, crab cakes! All yummy, attentive service. Many of the vegetables are locally grown, some by the waiters themselves. Wonderful find close to our hotel.
(5)James B.
service was great. Execution of the meals was excellent. Wine choices were stellar. All in all a first class dining experience in Santa Fe. My wife and I commented that Santa Fe wasn't as welcoming as we anticipated ...until we came here. We arrived 15 mins before our scheduled reservation and they gladly seated us. We were greeted by smiles and attentive service even on a very busy day of the year...
(4)Mike E.
Our first time at Table for Two was New Years Eve which is a little unfair when it comes to judging a restaurant for the first time. Nobody really has their "A" game on that day. We ordered from a Prix Fixe menu and overall it was very good but not spectacular. Food was warm but certainly not hot. The service was pretty good considering how crowded they were. We will go back on a "normal" night and order from the standard menu and I'm sure that will give a more accurate representation of what they are all about.
(4)Jes W.
We came back to Santa Fe after two years and dined here again. The food is very good and the staff very attentive. A great Caesar salad at the table. The Maryland blue crab crab cakes were not up up Maryland standards, but the waiter gave me fair warning of that, so I won't fault them for that! My husbands chicken was delicious.
(5)Kami G.
I don't know how this place stays in business. Surly waiter, weird décor and ambiance, and terrible food. Bland Caesar salad with soggy croutons, gristly lamb I am not convinced was actually lamb. Cheesecake dessert seemed days old, definitely not freshly made. Wine was sub-par. Christmas day menu was exactly the same as the regular menu but price was tripled and we were not allowed to order off the regular menu. I have lived in Santa Fe for almost thirty years and eat out a lot at restaurants at all price points, being somewhat of a foodie. This was a miserable experience saved only by the good company of my dining companions.
(1)Kae M.
What a way to end a week! My friends and I gathered around the bar and sampled all of the appetizers and were in pure heaven. Delicious and comforting food, while being innovative and served with flair. We watched some of the most beautiful entrees come out of the kitchen, but were stuffed to the gill and unable to enjoy a full meal. Can't wait to go back for a full dinner. It's my friends' favorite fine dining spot, (great value!) so I'm assured an opportunity on my next visit. Everyone had their favorite appetizer - mine were Fried Squash Blossom and the Fish & Chips.
(5)Phil F.
Had dinner with my wife. Had accommodating service. Food was good to very good. Caesar Salad was good but I've made better at home from Good Housekeeping Cookbook circa 1950. They put Heinze 57 sauce in it. WTF ? No lemon juice, red wine vinegar, or mustard, and too many coddled eggs. Should use just one egg. Preparation was fine otherwise. Judging against original by Ceasar Cardini in Tijuana Mexico. Bill was too expensive $175.00 w/ tip including a $36 bottle if red wine. I've checked this place off my bucket list.
(2)Phil K.
My wife and I have had previous good experiences at D42, but last night's experience may be our last. We tried the Thursday night prime rib special. For starters I had a salad. There were three options on the menu. One included Brussels sprouts, but the vegetable for the evening was Brussels sprouts so I didn't want to be redundant. Another offering was Caesar salad for two. My wife wasn't interested in salad do I passed on the Caesar. The final option was a concoction of red chard, carrots, tomato, and diced chorizo topped with a poached egg. The egg was done nicely and added an interesting element to the salad, but I didn't find much else about the dish I enjoyed. Finally our prime rib arrived. We both ordered medium/rare. My wife's meat had a slight hint of pink which may have qualified as medium. My meat was entirely brown/gray--definitely medium/well or well done. It was dry, dry, dry. Also, the prime rib was prepared in a smoker instead of oven roasted as I anticipated. Too salty and too smokey--flavors more suited to a brisket or some tougher cut of beef. The slices of prime rib were presented on a blob of something called mashed potatoes. Not sure how these were prepared but they were brown, way too salty, appeared like yesterday's leftovers, and totally unappealing. We should have sent our meals back to the kitchen, but we hadn't eaten all day, and considering how long it took to get our orders, we didn't want to wait. D42 will not come to the top of our list of restaurant options next time we are deciding where to go for dinner!
(2)Ron D.
This restaurant always slips our mind when considering where to go. Now we know why. We always have high hopes that eating there will be memorable but in the end it is mediocre. We met dear friends there for dinner and again had hopes for a wonderful meal. In the end, it was just OK - not great and I am afraid- forgettable. I had swordfish that was bland tasting despite the chef's creative attempt to add flavor through a cranberry sauce. Another dish was the filet mignon which was better tasting but subpar to say, the melt-in-your mouth filet at Midtown Bistro. The desserts were pedestrian and again fairly tasteless. We had a cinnamon pumpkin coffee cake that was dried out and dense. It reminded me of our home coffee cake after sitting out for several days. We will again forget about this eatery not because we want to but because it has not given us reason to remember.
(3)Thomas H.
This is an excellent small, intimate restaurant. The service was friendly and helpful, the food creative and well-prepared. We shared the chateaubriand, grilled peach and a salad. A special feature: the wine list is varied and fairly priced.
(5)Hugh G.
Y'all know I don't give FIVE Stars easily.... This was an exceptional meal and the live guitar was just right! Eat here in Santa Fe, New Mexico!
(5)Kim S.
Dinner was excellent as was the service. Small family run operation. Will go back if I'm in Santa Fe again.
(4)Barton F.
Very nice. The hostess is the mother the father hand makes you caesar salad ( not to be missed) and the son cooks the food. the entrance buy the kitchen is not great and I almost did not go in because of it but this restaurant just a little off the center of Down town is excellent. the food is very good. Better than some of the big name places we ate and the prices are reasonable.
(4)Karla M.
We celebrated our anniversary dinner. It was outstanding I had the New York strip which melted into mouth and husband had shark. Service and food was outstanding.
(5)Lee W.
Hmm, our experience was just OK. We had the much loved Brad and while he was very competent, we found him a bit stiff. The food wasn't special. The flavors didn't really hit you except for the Caesar salad which had a little chili spice in it to kick-it-up a notch. The wine was served properly and at the right temperature. Not as common an experience as I have come to realize. Would we go back again? No. Too many other places to try!
(3)Stacy S.
Excellent food, great service! Caesar salad is delish and surely adds to experience. 4 course meal with 3 drinks was only $115!!! A must try restaurant!
(5)Elle F.
We frequent D42 twice a month for their three-course $19 special on Sunday. It's even a lovely place to come to for Christmas. I would highly recommend making a reservation because this place is always packed. My favorite item on the menu is the Cocoa-Coffee-Garlic encrusted Grass Fed, Organic Filet Mignon, which comes with mashed potatoes. The balsmic reduction served on the filet mignon is just to die for. My second favorite is the Frenched' Crisped Chicken Breast, which comes with sun dried tomatoes and gruyere stuffed inside a breast with cabernet sauce lightly drizzled on the chicken. My boyfriend usually orders the braised lamb shank. We've tried: Double Thick Cut Lamb T Bones, which comes with a white wine cream sauce of some kind. Veal Marsala with Marsala Oyster Mushroom Sauce Crap Cake Caprese House Made Pies (they change, but are always tasty) Beignets & Ice Cream Cookies & Ice Cream Warmed Chocolate Fudge Cake House Made Sorbet As regulars, my bf and I enjoy seeing variety on the menu. They add desserts, run out of things, and make substitutions. The wait staff is the best, treat us well when we come in, and are generous in pouring glasses of wine when we choose not to buy a bottle. If you love a solid red, a tasty, dry Malbec, then I highly recommend the Viña San Esteban Malbec 2011. It pairs nicely with the chicken, lamb, and filet mignon. I normally do not like drier wines, but this one is at the top of my list in terms of a favorite because it pairs nicely with chicken and steak. Feel free to come dressed casually. Since we come to D42 often, sometimes we dress up and most of the times we do not. Also, do not let the name fool you. We mostly see parties of four at D42.
(5)Bonnie L.
Third time; we are charmed again...this time we took the Rail Runner from Los Ranchos to Santa Fe Depot & walked the 10 minutes to Dinner 4 2 - and again, simply put this restaurant is outstanding in friendliness, cleanliness, and deliciousness!!! Table side prepared Caesar for Two - a MUST!!! crested chicken dinner for my husband - leek tart and 3 figs wrapped in Filo for me....and for dessert -organic Grand Junction CO peach flambé...a 10 minute walk back to the station and we were on our way back to 'manyana land'....outstanding birthday dinner for me (they gift a $20 birthday but you must be signed up) AND Friday night date....
(5)Rachel S.
My husband and I tried this place for the first time during Restaurant Week of this year. Terrible to so-so food, and poor service for an upscale restaurant. We had a not very attentive server, who didn't bother to scrape the white crumbs off of their jet-black table cloth before we had dessert. Theme of our dinner: Over or undersalted. My husband's lamb dish was terribly oversalted. His Asian style shrimp appetizer was terribly undersalted. My entree, which I can not even recall, was nothing to write home about. Not a fine dining experience here, in a fine dining restaurant with fine dining prices. The spring roll dessert was also not thrilling. The only thing possibly worthy of a return visit is the truffle bisque, which is fantastic. I would only give them my business again if I could get it to go!
(1)Andrew R.
Absolutely awful service, we got up and left after being there 45 minutes here are the details. Decided to give the place a try last night since I had two out of town friends looking for a restaurant nearby their hotel. Wanted one with a good wine list as my friend Greg is a huge wine connoisseur. Made reservations for 8pm, arrived on time. We were greeted right away but the table wasn't ready, no big deal. We were moved past the open kitchen area to a small area where the staff is moving from kitchen to main dining room and waited over ten minutes for the table dodging the staff. OK, not a big deal (yet). We move into the main dinning room and it's really hot, like well over 80 degrees. The room is filled. I notice a waiter sweating like a pig (poor guy) while making a table side Caesar. NOT appetizing. We were hoping for a rather quiet location to talk, this isn't the case with this area. We sit down and get no attention other than water for 15 minutes. No bread, no drink order, nothing. Finally the waitress comes by to take our wine order. Greg isn't at all impressed with the wine list, shocked that Wine Spectator supposedly gave this place any attention let alone merits. He find a Pinot that looks OK (at $110 which Greg says is high even with a good market-up) and decides to order it but the waitress walks away to another table before he can ask for it. Finally she comes back and he orders the bottle. Another 15 minutes go by, still no bread. The wine comes and it's not the same vintage and in fact, not even the same wine! It's not the reserve but a far cheaper bottle that should have been no more than $50 even with a decent restaurant markup. She tries to tell Greg it's the same wine. Bad move, Greg's not the guy to try to fool about wine. That's when we get up and leave. Shocking. Didn't get to try the food which may be really good but considering the piss-poor service and having someone try to peddle off a cheap and different bottle of wine at those prices is unforgivable. I read the reviews here before booking and decided that maybe the service complaints were just some rare occurrence but not last night. Don't care how wonderful the food may be, whoever is running this restaurant doesn't have their act together and worse, trying to rip off customers on wine is unforgivable. Avoid this place like the plague!
(1)Candace C.
We tried Dinner for two after reading so many good reviews and learning of the Sunday dinner special advertised on their website -- here's the results: - the sunday dinner special is NOT as advertised on the website!!! A major problem since it is also mentioned in many of the reviews. Now the special is simply an entree and dessert for $19.00, with substantial upcharges for many of the entrees....so basically what they are doing is offering their regular menu and giving a free dessert....they should just call it what it is! - service was awful ... we never saw our waiter after ordering. Had to ask for more wine, would have had more if only someone had asked. The hostess seemed to be trying to pick up the slack, handling our dessert order and tab, but she was running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Other tables seemed to be getting much better service than ours... - the food was quite good, very good. So its unfortunate that the front of the house isn't better managed and the website is out of date.
(2)Nick S.
Not quite good enough to choose this over the so many great restaurants in Santa Fe. If you're voting for white table cloth restaurants walking distance from the plaza...then maybe. Went after reading the article about the Sunday nite special, seemed like a good way to try it. The $19 special doesn't go with the ribeye they show in the article, but still it's a cheap enough dinner to try for yourself. Personally, we didn't like the sauces they dump on the plate, not delicate at all, very pedestrian almost barbecue sauce. Too many choices here, and you can have as food a meal at places you pass getting there.
(3)David R.
My wife and I had a wonderful meal with great service. Could not ask for more.
(5)Wanda Harper O.
We haven't been to D42 in quite a while because we live quite far from Santa Fe, but when we do go...we enjoy the entire experience so much- each and every time. Service is consistently wonderful, food is consistently wonderful! Anytime I read a bad review I wonder if the people writing them truly went to THIS restaurant...because I can just not fathom what they are writing is true. We have been to D42 at least 10 times in the past few years. We highly recommend it!!!!
(5)Alexandra Z.
Not bad. My bf and I went there for the Sunday special. The meal was artistically displayed, and flavors were nice, but I would not pay full price for it. Although it is an upscale restaurant, the staff was not snobby at all. I enjoyed the Lilikoi sorbet for dessert.
(3)Jay M.
2 of 5 noses! I really hate to give a rating of 1 or 2, but the truth is important as I want to ensure other average Americans like me receive their top value for their hard-earned dollar. This place was highly recommended by Los Palomas, and after experiencing this dinner, I would not recommend in the near future. Let's get to my review: Atmosphere: Quaint restaurant with a upscale interior. After entering you walk past an open kitchen (remember this for later). From the tables to the guitar player, I was impressed and the place started off on a high note. Service: This is where I would have given a 1! The servers seemed overwhelmed as we sat for over 10 minutes before our waitress stopped by. To make our wait even more awkward, it was disturbing that our waitress looked at us twice and continued to walk by. She should have said "will be with you in a minute." Once she was there, we were never asked what we would like to drink. As the meal progressed, she did not come back to refill our drinks or, in a timely manner, take away our dirty plates or inquire about the all inclusive dessert. We did notice the hostess being very attentive and helping deliver plates, etc. Please train your servers and this restaurant will earn a better reputation. Food: What do I say? The salad or soup first course started off ok. Both soups were served luke warm. The "fancy" salad with heirloom tomatoes was sad... it was arugula and petite cherry tomatoes cut in half. As the entrees approached, the filet experienced a personality disorder. The taste was fantastic, a set of in-depth flavors //// but it was cooked from well-done to medium in one little filet. I am not sure if the most experienced chef could do this on purpose. The chicken stuffed with cheese and sun-dried tomatoes was overpower with salt and should not have been served. As for the crab-cake caprese... nice concept, but no real powerhitter here. OVERALL: We wanted this to be the enjoyable dinner we were expecting from the culinary mecca of Santa Fe, instead it was over 2 hours of poor service, average food (except for the taste of the filet) and some sub-par pastries. ONE LAST THING: As we were leaving, one would think the chef would greet the customer and inquire what they thought. He did not. Hence, I recommend the chef enclose the kitchen, if he does not want to hear the truth.
(2)Annie S.
I'm really shocked by the negative reviews of D42! We went for a dinner before Thanksgiving and had a lovely meal. The service from the beginning to end was perfect and the food was really tasty. The restaurant does look small from the outside but it's pretty large inside. I do think it's a nice romantic place but also fun for a girls night. We decided to do the 4-course meal for only $29 dollars (soo cheap!). It was one appetizer, soup or salad, entree and dessert. We had the tuna + calamari appetizer, green salad, organic lamb chops and raspberry chocolate cake for dessert. I thought every dish was fresh and high quality. They have an expansive wine list but it's also affordable. I didn't know this but you can buy a bottle and re-cork it to take him! There's wine for 20-30 bucks so it's worth the money to get one. They also had live music and it was a great touch- not too loud. I really recommend this restaurant!
(5)