Review of Posole Mio in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Formerly a Little Anita's franchise, Posole Mio continues to serve the same menu in the same location, but business suffered after the name change. Former customers think it's a wholly different restaurant. They might consider renewing their acquaintance, because Posole Mio has a lot to offer locals and tourists who arc looking for a good, affordable meal in an appealing atmosphere. Almost everything is tasty, well-cooked, and smothered in red or green chile and cheese, Northern New Mexico style.

The owners, Venezuelan husband-and-wife team Miguel Santeliz and Maria de las Casas, came to the United States because they wanted their five daughters to learn English. They like American culture, and they loved the sophisticated small-town feel of Santa Fe. Previously, they had cooked only at home, but training at Little Anitas set them up with the menu. They work continually to improve the food, and the remodeling they did two years ago makes the ambiance pleasing. Saturated apricot, mustard yellow, turquoise, sage green, and reds mix with soft salsa music. Green plants, art, and large windows are accents that make the sunny, open room attractively tropical. Smiles from Santeliz, de las Casas, and the staff make guests feel at home.

Posole Mio serves microbrews along with some of the more well known Mexican and domestic beers and Mexican wine to complement the chile dishes. The fiesta platter is a visually beautiful, delicious appetizer of nachos with jalapenos, petite yellow-corn beef taquitos, and blue-corn bean taquitos, a cheese quesadilla, guacamole, sour cream, bean dip, and salsa; it's enough for four. An Arizona specialty, the chicken chimichanga (a fried burrito) comes smothered with red chile and white cheese. The moist shredded chicken inside the crisp flour tortilla is well-seasoned with a little chile. A sprinkle of scallions on top is a nice finishing touch.

Posole is a signature dish at the restaurant, but it was not available either time I ordered it. Perhaps it's out of season. Fried ice cream is the only dessert, and remembering our recent humiliation with the monstrous ball at Guadalajara Grill, we decide to pass. Posole Mio is located at 2811 Cerrillos Road, 473-4505. They are opened from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Wednesday to Monday and closed on Tuesdays. The alcohol selection consists of wine and beer, takeout is available. The noise level is calm and relaxing and all major credit cards are accepted. Enjoy your meal!