Showed up as they were getting ready to close.. Owner invited us in nonetheless... Great guacamole dip.. Their sopapillas with honey were delicious.. All around Good food and great, friendly service.. Would go back If ever passing thru again in future and I will certainly pass the word around!!
(5)
Trang N.
Great little place! Everything was delicious and hit the spot! We were escaping from the snow storm on our way to Albuquerque and food here was just perfect! They had the best Sopapillas I've ever had! Loved them so much I had to get some to-go! Made fresh, fluffy, and soft, it was like an Indian fried bread with honey except square and with a unique taste! We will definitely be back again some time! Staff was friendly and fast!
(5)
Howie K.
Don't worry about it, you're getting a good dose of Grants at this hometown hub. El Cafecito embodies everything a small town cafe should own. The menu is simple, traditional New Mexican, and the plates deliver the basics, as does the service. I have an affinity for eateries like this, the kind of place where you'll overhear conversations varying from this year's crop yield to the next big festival downtown. Grants, like so many townships built on the fortunes of the railroad and mining boom, is a community filled with earnest, honest people who are desperate to reinvent the present without losing a grip on the past. As I approached the front door I saw a sign in the window, Line Cooks Needed. I'm guessing a lot of aspiring, great people skip town around here, and that's a shame. But a quick glance of the menu perhaps presents a clue to the urban flight. I wanted a salad. Surprise, no salads at El Cafecito. I eventually settled on a beef, cheese and chile burrito, and it was... well, exactly what I expected. I'm thinking the place could definitely expand its selection and incorporate a few unusual, fun dishes, instead of just sticking to the tried and true. If I were faced with these options day in and day out, I'd probably jump ship, too.
(3)
Woodson S.
Flavorless "New Mexican" food. I tried this place twice as it was recommended by locals. I will not be back. From the watered down ice tea to the flavorless hot sauce to the odd chef boyardee marinara on the rice, I was not impressed either time. Although very busy when I was there, they won't be getting my business again.
(1)
Anthony B.
Great service, prices and food. Nice local eatery. I often travel 40 miles to eat there! Food tastes as good as it looks.
(5)
Charles Q.
Five stars. The food was delicious, prices were ridiculously low, and best of all, they seated us after they had already hung up their closed sign! I had the tacos, some of the best I've had, and I lived in Arizona for 35 years. My girlfriend had tostadas. Be sure to order a side of green chile salsa to go with your meal. It's only an extra buck and well worth it.
(5)
R. H.
What a great place in a small town on route 66. The restaurant is clean and nice, the service good, and the food is great. Traditional New Mexican. They may have the best green chile of anyplace! I would come back here anytime!
(5)
Ashley S.
I ordered the soft chicken tacos. I thought they were delicious and also priced right. The only thing that would have made it better is a margarita. There's no alcohol served here.
(4)
Madison B.
To start I asked for a burrito with rice, beans, guac and green sauce in my burrito, standard order. The burrito came out with only the meat in it, on a pool of some terrible looking sauce with rice in a red sauce that I can only describe as ravioli from a can. The beans were decent nothing special. Another member of my party had a chicken burrito with sauce, lettuce, tomato, and guac in the burrito, rice on the side, standard order I would think. Instead the same set up as the previous burrito was brought. But we were very hungry and did not complain about the mistake until we open the burrito and the chicken smelled like dog food. Neither of us ate our meals and we simply wanted to leave. We complained told them we did not touch our food and did not want to pay for it. What I assume was the owner came out and said if we did not pay he would call the police. At this point we are just amazed at how ridiculous the situation was and told him to go ahead and we would show the police our untouched plates. As we wait for the police I bring up the fact that the orders had not even came out right and he told us that they do not make burritos like that, That what he makes is " New Mexican" cuisine. Well I did not know that by "new" he was making food that does not resemble any type of Mexican I have ever had. The police came and well it's a small town so they told us to pay or we would be arrested for dine and dashing. So we start to pay the bill and notice they over charged us on both items and refused to change it. I wish we would had just stopped at Taco Bell. If your not from this town and like real Mexican stay very far from this place. Did I mention they showed up with three cop cars... Mind blown.
(1)
Chris S.
Is this the best place to eat in Grants? I'm afraid so. Meanwhile, if you've eaten at any of the good New Mexican style restaurants in Santa Fe, Taos, Albuquerque, etc, El Cafecito falls way short of expectations. The flavor here is bland, salsas are average and while the price is right, the flavor doesn't rival it's in-state competitors. Meanwhile, if you're an out-of-towner stopping through you might like this place. In fact, with large portions, exceptional value and fair service you might rave about it, as long as you aren't a New Mexico resident where you're used to be spoiled with incredible local flare. Come expecting average food and you'll leave thrilled. Simple as that. And, this place beats all the other greasy spots in town.
(3)
Lynn B.
We stopped here on our way headed out of Santa Fe. The food was really heavy an had weird flavor. I LOVE New Mexican Food (like it is a SERIOUS problem, now that I've returned to NJ) and I just couldn't eat this stuff. It was heavy and really did not take very good at all. The service was mediocre. We stopped here only because it was convenient and on the side of the road. I would not return here again. It was a HUGE disappointment.
(2)
Frances F.
While traveling across the country, we stopped by El Calecito after reading some other yelp reviews. The manager was incredibly friendly and we had a great experience! The beef burritos were excellent and came with some fantastic chile sauce. This meal was very filling and definitely recommended!
(5)
Robert S.
Great New Mexican food!!! Rolled through town for the Fire and Ice Bike Rally. Arrived early and wanted breakfast. El Cafecito was open and you could smell the food cooking. Was surprised they were open since the sign said they were closed Sunday's. But for the rally they were open. Thanks for the extra effort. Waitresses were very friendly and helpful. They even helped each other take care of the customers. (Not something you see every day.) Had a wonderful meal! It was as good as home cooked. Tortillas are hand made fresh daily. Chili was very tasty and not too hot. Only thing I would add is more detailed description of the house specials in the menu... Will definitely visit again as we pass through!
(4)
Laura P.
What a wonderful find in tiny Grants NM!! El Cafecito serves excellent New Mexican style food - fresh and handcrafted in a brand new building on old Route 66. Both red and green chile were on the medium heat side, with excellent flavor and balance. We tried the Chiles Rellenos platter which wet fried perfectly and not greasy at all. The red enchilada plate was delicious, as was the Mexican Steak platter. You can always order the chile on the side, but why would you when it is so delicious??? BONUS: platters come with 2 sopapillas, which are made to order and arrive steaming hot, ready for butter and honey :) EAT HERE!!
(5)
A W.
This was just horrible. Myself and 5 others stopped here last month and only one person agreed that the food was good, but I suspect he was trying to save face as he was the one that suggested it. The waitress was uninterested in serving us, was appaled that I am vegetarian, told me that the beans and the chile sauce were both vegetarian which according to another reviewer on here, they weren't. There was a funky smell while we were there, then as we were leaving, we saw that the kitched floor was being mopped with putrid water while the chefs were cooking. Luckily we found a nice steak house during our stay in town that was was more accomodating. The place was packed and the food was awesome.
(1)
Leilani B.
We were driving between Santa Fe and Sedona and decided to take a detour onto old Route 66. It also happened to be just about lunch time. We were driving along and I wanted to take a look at our maps so when we saw El Cafecito, we decided to give it a try. The building and parking lot are really large, and you can tell this place has been around a while and has some history behind it. We figured "this'll be our last Mexican meal in New Mexico" ...LOVED all the Mexican food I had in New Mexico ... well, except El Cafecito. It was, as the Yelp rating says just "A-ok" ... it wasn't horrible but it was really nothing I'd write home about. The rice was not the normal rice we had grown accustomed to in New Mexico. it was rather flavorless and seemed like it had been mixed with tomato paste. My enchiladas were good and since I was driving and it was lunch time, I had an iced tea that was nice as well, and free refills to keep us hydrated in the desert. The server did a great job, and when we checked out the cashier did a great job explaining what there was to see on Route 66 and at what point we would be happier getting back onto the Interstate. In short, if you happen to be along this stretch of Route 66 during your travels, it's probably worth it to stop by (not sure there's much else to eat in the small town), but I wouldn't make a special trip for El Cafecito.
(3)
Ian B.
I was hoping for a plate of authentic Mexican food. I was really disappointed by what arrived - sub-standard rice, passable refried beans, flavorless ground beef.. It was by no means terrible, but it certainly felt like a lackluster attempt in the kitchen. No heart, no bite, nothing unique or memorable. I'm going to write it off as a hurried meal served just before the restaurant closed, but I don't think I'll be back anytime soon.
(2)
Public B.
Nice inexpensive lunch, like the spanish rice. Portions are good and all the sauces have bite; flavor but no flame thrower. Place is clean plenty of locals.
(4)
Cody K.
The owner came to my table and scolded me because I had asked for no cheese on my enchiladas due to my allergies. Came to my table plopped the plate down and said "any mexican restaurant ive ever been to puts cheese on there enchilladas, and in front of a lobby full of costumers confronted her waitress in a very aggressive manner. If one plate of food makes that much of a difference, business must not be so good! terrible service! will never go back
(1)
Kim I.
Will update after we eat. It was painfully obvious that the waitress was in a hurry to start her night. The food came to our table literally 5 minutes after we ordered it. It was decent. But the waitress tried cleaning our table before we were even finished with our food, and the place was suppose to stay open for another hour! She asked us if we were going to have dessert, and my bff said yes...she was not too happy. She sat at the bar and stared at us until we finally decided to leave. Not gonna go back there!!!
Great food!! All fresh made. We arrived at the height of the lunch rush but we're greeted and seated quickly & cheerfully. We had a slight wait for our food, but could tell the entire staff was hustling to feed the crowds. The food was hot and delicious. Top notch all around!
(5)
Brandi P.
I'm shocked at how many four stars this place has. The word my husband used to describe this place was "vomitous". Literally took 1 bite and was done. Meat was incredibly dry. The rice looked like chopped up Spaghettios. The beans were like paste. But, the place is clean and the waitress was nice. That's why they get the one star.
(1)
Leonardo I.
We had read the Yelp reviews and proceeded with caution to El Cafecito. The restrooms were very clean, as was the restaurant. Reviews claiming that there was an unusual smell in the restaurant left us baffled. The owner was affable, approached our table and engaged us in humorous talk. The food was really good. The soppapillas were fluffy and hot, a real treat. I ordered the chile rellenos which were lightly battered and smothered in both red and green sauce. I loved every bite. The rice had a tangy tomato taste that was unfamiliar to me but delicious. The beans were spot on, and I'm a bean fanatic. Overall, I had a great experience. The only reason I couldn't give it a five-star is because the ice tea I ordered was a little watered down and the waitress frowned when we asked for separate tickets for the different parties I was traveling with. Other than that, if you are a family looking for a quick, delicious, New Mexican dining experience, this is the place to go in Grants.
(4)
Tim A.
I'll go so far to say this is a high 3, 3.5 if that existed. The presence of Indian tacos made me very happy. They weren't as good as the awesome ones I've had in South Dakota, but they're hard to find so I can't be too picky. Sopapillas are badass, though, and most of the menu looked pretty cheap. Unfortunately, across the table, my GF's steak was a tad gristly. Some ups and downs; I would probably hold out for Albuquerque next time for Mexican food.
(3)
Alvin M.
The restaurant and bathroom were really clean, our waitress was very nice and attentive to our needs. The food came out quick! I ordered the combo plate, it was average. It didn't look or taste like authentic mexican food. The spanish rice seemed to have too much tomato sauce in it. We spent under $20.00 for 2 adults. It was plentiful, i would try something different next time i'm in Grants again.
(3)
Warren L.
OK, I'm not suggesting that you travel to Grants to eat here. Grants makes Gallup look metropolitan by comparison. Sorry Grants, it's just pretty obvious. Although Grants does have a Walmart, probably the only large market in a 100-mile radius. If you happen to be in Grants, or you're passing by on Interstate 40, there are a few good places to eat here and El Cafecito may be at the top of the list. Some fine examples of New Mexican dishes; tasty, moderately spicy (some subjectivity there) and satisfying. I had the sopapilla stuffed with meat and covered in New Mexican green chile. The restaurant counts itself among those that makes a point of emphasizing the use of local chiles. I also had the chile cheese fries, with red chile, milder. Haute cuisine? Nope, but it really really hit the spot for less than $10. The place is clean and service is friendly.
(4)
Niki H.
We stopped in for a quick bite to eat, and were not disappointed! The food was delicious at a fair price. And we were excited to try the green chili, which was excellent! The restaurant was clean, cute, and quaint. The staff was exceedingly friendly and efficient. It was perfect, just what we were looking for!
(5)
Becky W.
What a great lunch stop on our way from Flagstaff to Albuquerque! Thanks to Yelp we found out about this place. I don't understand any of the negative reviews, perhaps different circumstances. What we experienced on a Friday afternoon at 2 pm was friendly staff, quick service and really good food. My boyfriend an I each ordered the stuffed sopapilla, filled with seasoned ground beef, beans and guacamole topped with red chile sauce. We wanted to try the green sauce, too, so we got a side of that and one extra plain sopapilla each. Both sauces are really really tasty and not too hot. We kept a small piece leftover to top with honey to give that a try too. Delicious! This was my very first taste of NM chile and I was impressed. Perhaps I will eat better examples during this vacation but this experience did not disappoint. I completely recommend this quaint little diner in an easy to pass by town. It's worth the stop!
(4)
Bruce F.
This place is so delicious!!! We are a touring band and make it a point to eat here every time we come through. Finding a great place to eat and relax can be a challenge while on the road, but El Cafecito makes it so easy when driving through New Mexico. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner the food is amazing (try the sopapillas), everyone is friendly, and the place is always spotless!
(5)
Ray B.
Depends what you get. Breakfast burrito is awesome.
(4)
Diner T.
This restaurant is great. We make a point to have lunch here when we drive through on our way to Arizona. We were pleasantly surprised this year to see that they had completely torn done the old building and replaced it with a beautiful expanded and well designed venue. The food here is wonderful. We always look forward to the Mexican menu but the also offer an American as well. We'll be back again when travels take us through Grants.
(5)
Albert P.
I had the nachos ,they were chips out of a bag with ground beef and bean over them, lettuce, a scoop of sour cream and guacamole, the melted cheese was caso out of jar,this was like nachos at 7/11, not what you expect out of a cafe in New Mexico. They were not bad just disappointing. For good Mexican food this is not the place.
(1)
Al L.
Good prices, great sopapillas, decent enchiladas but everything else was pretty average. Very curteous staff, with quick service. Worth the stop on the way through Grants!
(3)
Julie V.
Best food for the price in Grants. The restaurant is updated and the staff is always friendly. I love the sopapillas with guacamole and green chile. Can't go wrong.
(5)
Fran P.
Great find off Hwy 40 in the new section of town, historic route 66. Good sopapillias with honey. Had the chili rellanos with red and green chili on top. Remember, this is New Mexico, so the chili is way different than you might think and it is HOT.
(5)
Jed B.
Ok, I'm generous. Should be one star but it is Grants New Mexico. My advise is eat in Albuquerque or Gallup. In order to keep my mind off the food I was drafting this review in my mind. Let's start with the lack of chips. Well you could get a nice basket of tostitos for $2. We ordered the burrito plate and enchilada plate. Burritos were flour with chopped ground beef. No seasonings I could detect. Like they took a hamburger patty and fried it and chopped it up. The cheese enchiladas were very bland as well. All those folks who raved about the green chili have no clue what green should taste like. I was reminded of cream of chicken soup with a can of chilies added. The beans were unremarkable but the Spanish rice was amazing. Take severely overcooked rice and add a can of tomato sauce. The piece de resistance were the sopapillas. They were well cooked but the containers of 'honey' was the same stuff KFC uses for honey. Simple syrup with honey, but no way this was 100% honey. Oh, and bring cash since they don't take plastic or checks. Truly the best part of our meal were the waitresses. That didn't come out quite right but you get the idea.
(2)
Bobby S.
El Caf is o.k. Grants isn't really known for it's culinary delights. To be honest I would take the extra hour to head to Albuquerque or Gallup depending on what direction you were heading to go eat. But if you are staying in Grants and don't want fast food this place will suffice. The Relleno plate is probably your best bet.
(3)
Kate K.
Shocked at how GOOD this food was!! I am a chile snob and I LOVED it!! Kickass place ina podunk town! Worth stopping off I-40 for! Better than MOST NM restaurants in Albuquerque!
(5)
Penelope W.
If you are in Grant Nm this is probably the only non fast food or dennys in town. The proportions are good. The food is really inexpensive and not bad to boot. The green chili is not the best I have had but not bad it is mild but probably the best in Grant.
(4)
D M.
My wife and I had lunch here today. For a non-fast food this cafe is probably the best in town. Other places we looked for are closed or out-of-business. There were a lot of locals here today and what we had was very good. The prices are very reasonable and the amount of food you get is plentiful. The green chile is very good as well as the red chile and chips. I had a bean & beef burrito and it was very flavorful and tasty with the meat fresh and done just right. My wife had the sopapilla filled with beans and beef and it was very good as well. I got a 35 cent sopapilla it was excellent with drizzles of honey from the squeeze bottle that is on every table. We will stop here any time we are in the Grants, NM area.
(4)
Carly L.
I really like this place and, to be honest, I'm not 100% sure why. There's just something about it. The food is pretty good, especially the green chile. There isn't much "atmosphere" and they don't serve alcohol. But it's not expensive at all, the food is consistently pretty good, and the customer service is consistently pretty good. Also, the sopas are excellent.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Monique P.
Showed up as they were getting ready to close.. Owner invited us in nonetheless... Great guacamole dip.. Their sopapillas with honey were delicious.. All around Good food and great, friendly service.. Would go back If ever passing thru again in future and I will certainly pass the word around!!
(5)Trang N.
Great little place! Everything was delicious and hit the spot! We were escaping from the snow storm on our way to Albuquerque and food here was just perfect! They had the best Sopapillas I've ever had! Loved them so much I had to get some to-go! Made fresh, fluffy, and soft, it was like an Indian fried bread with honey except square and with a unique taste! We will definitely be back again some time! Staff was friendly and fast!
(5)Howie K.
Don't worry about it, you're getting a good dose of Grants at this hometown hub. El Cafecito embodies everything a small town cafe should own. The menu is simple, traditional New Mexican, and the plates deliver the basics, as does the service. I have an affinity for eateries like this, the kind of place where you'll overhear conversations varying from this year's crop yield to the next big festival downtown. Grants, like so many townships built on the fortunes of the railroad and mining boom, is a community filled with earnest, honest people who are desperate to reinvent the present without losing a grip on the past. As I approached the front door I saw a sign in the window, Line Cooks Needed. I'm guessing a lot of aspiring, great people skip town around here, and that's a shame. But a quick glance of the menu perhaps presents a clue to the urban flight. I wanted a salad. Surprise, no salads at El Cafecito. I eventually settled on a beef, cheese and chile burrito, and it was... well, exactly what I expected. I'm thinking the place could definitely expand its selection and incorporate a few unusual, fun dishes, instead of just sticking to the tried and true. If I were faced with these options day in and day out, I'd probably jump ship, too.
(3)Woodson S.
Flavorless "New Mexican" food. I tried this place twice as it was recommended by locals. I will not be back. From the watered down ice tea to the flavorless hot sauce to the odd chef boyardee marinara on the rice, I was not impressed either time. Although very busy when I was there, they won't be getting my business again.
(1)Anthony B.
Great service, prices and food. Nice local eatery. I often travel 40 miles to eat there! Food tastes as good as it looks.
(5)Charles Q.
Five stars. The food was delicious, prices were ridiculously low, and best of all, they seated us after they had already hung up their closed sign! I had the tacos, some of the best I've had, and I lived in Arizona for 35 years. My girlfriend had tostadas. Be sure to order a side of green chile salsa to go with your meal. It's only an extra buck and well worth it.
(5)R. H.
What a great place in a small town on route 66. The restaurant is clean and nice, the service good, and the food is great. Traditional New Mexican. They may have the best green chile of anyplace! I would come back here anytime!
(5)Ashley S.
I ordered the soft chicken tacos. I thought they were delicious and also priced right. The only thing that would have made it better is a margarita. There's no alcohol served here.
(4)Madison B.
To start I asked for a burrito with rice, beans, guac and green sauce in my burrito, standard order. The burrito came out with only the meat in it, on a pool of some terrible looking sauce with rice in a red sauce that I can only describe as ravioli from a can. The beans were decent nothing special. Another member of my party had a chicken burrito with sauce, lettuce, tomato, and guac in the burrito, rice on the side, standard order I would think. Instead the same set up as the previous burrito was brought. But we were very hungry and did not complain about the mistake until we open the burrito and the chicken smelled like dog food. Neither of us ate our meals and we simply wanted to leave. We complained told them we did not touch our food and did not want to pay for it. What I assume was the owner came out and said if we did not pay he would call the police. At this point we are just amazed at how ridiculous the situation was and told him to go ahead and we would show the police our untouched plates. As we wait for the police I bring up the fact that the orders had not even came out right and he told us that they do not make burritos like that, That what he makes is " New Mexican" cuisine. Well I did not know that by "new" he was making food that does not resemble any type of Mexican I have ever had. The police came and well it's a small town so they told us to pay or we would be arrested for dine and dashing. So we start to pay the bill and notice they over charged us on both items and refused to change it. I wish we would had just stopped at Taco Bell. If your not from this town and like real Mexican stay very far from this place. Did I mention they showed up with three cop cars... Mind blown.
(1)Chris S.
Is this the best place to eat in Grants? I'm afraid so. Meanwhile, if you've eaten at any of the good New Mexican style restaurants in Santa Fe, Taos, Albuquerque, etc, El Cafecito falls way short of expectations. The flavor here is bland, salsas are average and while the price is right, the flavor doesn't rival it's in-state competitors. Meanwhile, if you're an out-of-towner stopping through you might like this place. In fact, with large portions, exceptional value and fair service you might rave about it, as long as you aren't a New Mexico resident where you're used to be spoiled with incredible local flare. Come expecting average food and you'll leave thrilled. Simple as that. And, this place beats all the other greasy spots in town.
(3)Lynn B.
We stopped here on our way headed out of Santa Fe. The food was really heavy an had weird flavor. I LOVE New Mexican Food (like it is a SERIOUS problem, now that I've returned to NJ) and I just couldn't eat this stuff. It was heavy and really did not take very good at all. The service was mediocre. We stopped here only because it was convenient and on the side of the road. I would not return here again. It was a HUGE disappointment.
(2)Frances F.
While traveling across the country, we stopped by El Calecito after reading some other yelp reviews. The manager was incredibly friendly and we had a great experience! The beef burritos were excellent and came with some fantastic chile sauce. This meal was very filling and definitely recommended!
(5)Robert S.
Great New Mexican food!!! Rolled through town for the Fire and Ice Bike Rally. Arrived early and wanted breakfast. El Cafecito was open and you could smell the food cooking. Was surprised they were open since the sign said they were closed Sunday's. But for the rally they were open. Thanks for the extra effort. Waitresses were very friendly and helpful. They even helped each other take care of the customers. (Not something you see every day.) Had a wonderful meal! It was as good as home cooked. Tortillas are hand made fresh daily. Chili was very tasty and not too hot. Only thing I would add is more detailed description of the house specials in the menu... Will definitely visit again as we pass through!
(4)Laura P.
What a wonderful find in tiny Grants NM!! El Cafecito serves excellent New Mexican style food - fresh and handcrafted in a brand new building on old Route 66. Both red and green chile were on the medium heat side, with excellent flavor and balance. We tried the Chiles Rellenos platter which wet fried perfectly and not greasy at all. The red enchilada plate was delicious, as was the Mexican Steak platter. You can always order the chile on the side, but why would you when it is so delicious??? BONUS: platters come with 2 sopapillas, which are made to order and arrive steaming hot, ready for butter and honey :) EAT HERE!!
(5)A W.
This was just horrible. Myself and 5 others stopped here last month and only one person agreed that the food was good, but I suspect he was trying to save face as he was the one that suggested it. The waitress was uninterested in serving us, was appaled that I am vegetarian, told me that the beans and the chile sauce were both vegetarian which according to another reviewer on here, they weren't. There was a funky smell while we were there, then as we were leaving, we saw that the kitched floor was being mopped with putrid water while the chefs were cooking. Luckily we found a nice steak house during our stay in town that was was more accomodating. The place was packed and the food was awesome.
(1)Leilani B.
We were driving between Santa Fe and Sedona and decided to take a detour onto old Route 66. It also happened to be just about lunch time. We were driving along and I wanted to take a look at our maps so when we saw El Cafecito, we decided to give it a try. The building and parking lot are really large, and you can tell this place has been around a while and has some history behind it. We figured "this'll be our last Mexican meal in New Mexico" ...LOVED all the Mexican food I had in New Mexico ... well, except El Cafecito. It was, as the Yelp rating says just "A-ok" ... it wasn't horrible but it was really nothing I'd write home about. The rice was not the normal rice we had grown accustomed to in New Mexico. it was rather flavorless and seemed like it had been mixed with tomato paste. My enchiladas were good and since I was driving and it was lunch time, I had an iced tea that was nice as well, and free refills to keep us hydrated in the desert. The server did a great job, and when we checked out the cashier did a great job explaining what there was to see on Route 66 and at what point we would be happier getting back onto the Interstate. In short, if you happen to be along this stretch of Route 66 during your travels, it's probably worth it to stop by (not sure there's much else to eat in the small town), but I wouldn't make a special trip for El Cafecito.
(3)Ian B.
I was hoping for a plate of authentic Mexican food. I was really disappointed by what arrived - sub-standard rice, passable refried beans, flavorless ground beef.. It was by no means terrible, but it certainly felt like a lackluster attempt in the kitchen. No heart, no bite, nothing unique or memorable. I'm going to write it off as a hurried meal served just before the restaurant closed, but I don't think I'll be back anytime soon.
(2)Public B.
Nice inexpensive lunch, like the spanish rice. Portions are good and all the sauces have bite; flavor but no flame thrower. Place is clean plenty of locals.
(4)Cody K.
The owner came to my table and scolded me because I had asked for no cheese on my enchiladas due to my allergies. Came to my table plopped the plate down and said "any mexican restaurant ive ever been to puts cheese on there enchilladas, and in front of a lobby full of costumers confronted her waitress in a very aggressive manner. If one plate of food makes that much of a difference, business must not be so good! terrible service! will never go back
(1)Kim I.
Will update after we eat. It was painfully obvious that the waitress was in a hurry to start her night. The food came to our table literally 5 minutes after we ordered it. It was decent. But the waitress tried cleaning our table before we were even finished with our food, and the place was suppose to stay open for another hour! She asked us if we were going to have dessert, and my bff said yes...she was not too happy. She sat at the bar and stared at us until we finally decided to leave. Not gonna go back there!!!
(2)Sage T.
Not a place for vegetarians. We couldn't find much to eat, because both the green and red chile sauces are made with meat, the beans contain lard, and the rice is made with chicken stock. We didn't want to look for somewhere else to eat, so I had a naked relleno. yum? no. As we were leaving, the cashier asked if everything was ok, and I mentioned the sauce problem. One of the owners was nearby, and the cashier passed this on to him. He immediately got defensive, and when I mentioned that virtually no place in Taos or Santa Fe serves exclusively meaty sauces, he waved his hand dismissively and said, "Oh, you were up in Santa Fe," as though that got to the heart of the matter. He added that if they changed the recipes, they'd lose the customers who've been frequenting their café for 27 years, and with that, he walked off. What's so hard about keeping an extra pot of meatless green chile sauce on the back burner? Let them feed the local geriatric, sclerotically arteried, obese faithful their eventual last meals, and then quietly close the doors. A more viable business plan might be to do the simple things to try to please a more diverse clientele.
(1)T P.
Great food!! All fresh made. We arrived at the height of the lunch rush but we're greeted and seated quickly & cheerfully. We had a slight wait for our food, but could tell the entire staff was hustling to feed the crowds. The food was hot and delicious. Top notch all around!
(5)Brandi P.
I'm shocked at how many four stars this place has. The word my husband used to describe this place was "vomitous". Literally took 1 bite and was done. Meat was incredibly dry. The rice looked like chopped up Spaghettios. The beans were like paste. But, the place is clean and the waitress was nice. That's why they get the one star.
(1)Leonardo I.
We had read the Yelp reviews and proceeded with caution to El Cafecito. The restrooms were very clean, as was the restaurant. Reviews claiming that there was an unusual smell in the restaurant left us baffled. The owner was affable, approached our table and engaged us in humorous talk. The food was really good. The soppapillas were fluffy and hot, a real treat. I ordered the chile rellenos which were lightly battered and smothered in both red and green sauce. I loved every bite. The rice had a tangy tomato taste that was unfamiliar to me but delicious. The beans were spot on, and I'm a bean fanatic. Overall, I had a great experience. The only reason I couldn't give it a five-star is because the ice tea I ordered was a little watered down and the waitress frowned when we asked for separate tickets for the different parties I was traveling with. Other than that, if you are a family looking for a quick, delicious, New Mexican dining experience, this is the place to go in Grants.
(4)Tim A.
I'll go so far to say this is a high 3, 3.5 if that existed. The presence of Indian tacos made me very happy. They weren't as good as the awesome ones I've had in South Dakota, but they're hard to find so I can't be too picky. Sopapillas are badass, though, and most of the menu looked pretty cheap. Unfortunately, across the table, my GF's steak was a tad gristly. Some ups and downs; I would probably hold out for Albuquerque next time for Mexican food.
(3)Alvin M.
The restaurant and bathroom were really clean, our waitress was very nice and attentive to our needs. The food came out quick! I ordered the combo plate, it was average. It didn't look or taste like authentic mexican food. The spanish rice seemed to have too much tomato sauce in it. We spent under $20.00 for 2 adults. It was plentiful, i would try something different next time i'm in Grants again.
(3)Warren L.
OK, I'm not suggesting that you travel to Grants to eat here. Grants makes Gallup look metropolitan by comparison. Sorry Grants, it's just pretty obvious. Although Grants does have a Walmart, probably the only large market in a 100-mile radius. If you happen to be in Grants, or you're passing by on Interstate 40, there are a few good places to eat here and El Cafecito may be at the top of the list. Some fine examples of New Mexican dishes; tasty, moderately spicy (some subjectivity there) and satisfying. I had the sopapilla stuffed with meat and covered in New Mexican green chile. The restaurant counts itself among those that makes a point of emphasizing the use of local chiles. I also had the chile cheese fries, with red chile, milder. Haute cuisine? Nope, but it really really hit the spot for less than $10. The place is clean and service is friendly.
(4)Niki H.
We stopped in for a quick bite to eat, and were not disappointed! The food was delicious at a fair price. And we were excited to try the green chili, which was excellent! The restaurant was clean, cute, and quaint. The staff was exceedingly friendly and efficient. It was perfect, just what we were looking for!
(5)Becky W.
What a great lunch stop on our way from Flagstaff to Albuquerque! Thanks to Yelp we found out about this place. I don't understand any of the negative reviews, perhaps different circumstances. What we experienced on a Friday afternoon at 2 pm was friendly staff, quick service and really good food. My boyfriend an I each ordered the stuffed sopapilla, filled with seasoned ground beef, beans and guacamole topped with red chile sauce. We wanted to try the green sauce, too, so we got a side of that and one extra plain sopapilla each. Both sauces are really really tasty and not too hot. We kept a small piece leftover to top with honey to give that a try too. Delicious! This was my very first taste of NM chile and I was impressed. Perhaps I will eat better examples during this vacation but this experience did not disappoint. I completely recommend this quaint little diner in an easy to pass by town. It's worth the stop!
(4)Bruce F.
This place is so delicious!!! We are a touring band and make it a point to eat here every time we come through. Finding a great place to eat and relax can be a challenge while on the road, but El Cafecito makes it so easy when driving through New Mexico. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner the food is amazing (try the sopapillas), everyone is friendly, and the place is always spotless!
(5)Ray B.
Depends what you get. Breakfast burrito is awesome.
(4)Diner T.
This restaurant is great. We make a point to have lunch here when we drive through on our way to Arizona. We were pleasantly surprised this year to see that they had completely torn done the old building and replaced it with a beautiful expanded and well designed venue. The food here is wonderful. We always look forward to the Mexican menu but the also offer an American as well. We'll be back again when travels take us through Grants.
(5)Albert P.
I had the nachos ,they were chips out of a bag with ground beef and bean over them, lettuce, a scoop of sour cream and guacamole, the melted cheese was caso out of jar,this was like nachos at 7/11, not what you expect out of a cafe in New Mexico. They were not bad just disappointing. For good Mexican food this is not the place.
(1)Al L.
Good prices, great sopapillas, decent enchiladas but everything else was pretty average. Very curteous staff, with quick service. Worth the stop on the way through Grants!
(3)Julie V.
Best food for the price in Grants. The restaurant is updated and the staff is always friendly. I love the sopapillas with guacamole and green chile. Can't go wrong.
(5)Fran P.
Great find off Hwy 40 in the new section of town, historic route 66. Good sopapillias with honey. Had the chili rellanos with red and green chili on top. Remember, this is New Mexico, so the chili is way different than you might think and it is HOT.
(5)Jed B.
Ok, I'm generous. Should be one star but it is Grants New Mexico. My advise is eat in Albuquerque or Gallup. In order to keep my mind off the food I was drafting this review in my mind. Let's start with the lack of chips. Well you could get a nice basket of tostitos for $2. We ordered the burrito plate and enchilada plate. Burritos were flour with chopped ground beef. No seasonings I could detect. Like they took a hamburger patty and fried it and chopped it up. The cheese enchiladas were very bland as well. All those folks who raved about the green chili have no clue what green should taste like. I was reminded of cream of chicken soup with a can of chilies added. The beans were unremarkable but the Spanish rice was amazing. Take severely overcooked rice and add a can of tomato sauce. The piece de resistance were the sopapillas. They were well cooked but the containers of 'honey' was the same stuff KFC uses for honey. Simple syrup with honey, but no way this was 100% honey. Oh, and bring cash since they don't take plastic or checks. Truly the best part of our meal were the waitresses. That didn't come out quite right but you get the idea.
(2)Bobby S.
El Caf is o.k. Grants isn't really known for it's culinary delights. To be honest I would take the extra hour to head to Albuquerque or Gallup depending on what direction you were heading to go eat. But if you are staying in Grants and don't want fast food this place will suffice. The Relleno plate is probably your best bet.
(3)Kate K.
Shocked at how GOOD this food was!! I am a chile snob and I LOVED it!! Kickass place ina podunk town! Worth stopping off I-40 for! Better than MOST NM restaurants in Albuquerque!
(5)Penelope W.
If you are in Grant Nm this is probably the only non fast food or dennys in town. The proportions are good. The food is really inexpensive and not bad to boot. The green chili is not the best I have had but not bad it is mild but probably the best in Grant.
(4)D M.
My wife and I had lunch here today. For a non-fast food this cafe is probably the best in town. Other places we looked for are closed or out-of-business. There were a lot of locals here today and what we had was very good. The prices are very reasonable and the amount of food you get is plentiful. The green chile is very good as well as the red chile and chips. I had a bean & beef burrito and it was very flavorful and tasty with the meat fresh and done just right. My wife had the sopapilla filled with beans and beef and it was very good as well. I got a 35 cent sopapilla it was excellent with drizzles of honey from the squeeze bottle that is on every table. We will stop here any time we are in the Grants, NM area.
(4)Carly L.
I really like this place and, to be honest, I'm not 100% sure why. There's just something about it. The food is pretty good, especially the green chile. There isn't much "atmosphere" and they don't serve alcohol. But it's not expensive at all, the food is consistently pretty good, and the customer service is consistently pretty good. Also, the sopas are excellent.
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