Santa Fe, New Mexico - Best Late Night Dining Spots in

Two of the DeVargas Center's four major restaurants are open after 9 p.m. Santa Fe Bar & Grill seats more than 200 and includes a bar. The flash-fried breaded oysters are a favorite, as are the burgers. There's a nice list of two dozen tequilas, a half-dozen good draft beers, and a very good dry martini. Jinja Bar & Bistro offers dishes from all over Asia adapted to American tastes. Recommended: the lettuce wraps, the tempura, and the Singapore noodles. Shaking Beef is popular, too, and the bar is consistently good.

College of Santa Fe sites and The Film Center
These venues are cióse to two restaurants that are open late. Chow's Asian Bistro is better than ever, with a number of new dishes that have moved away from traditional Chinese cuisine. Popular standbys include firecracker dumplings and the spicy noodles which both remain outsanding. Newer dishes include quail with mango salad, walnut shrimp and coffee chicken. The wine list is modest; beers are reasonably priced.

The Green Onion is a neighborhood sports bar with multiple televisions going at the same time. The servers, cheerful and efficient, look as if they can handle anything. The bacon burger is nice and juicy, topped with about half a píg's worth of piping-hot, crisp bacon. Steak fries are fresh and full-flavored.

El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe, Jean Cocteau Cinema
The Guadalupe district has the most choices for later-inthc- night dining. The Railyard Restaurant & Saloon specializes in simple, robust steaks, chops, ribs, seafood, comfort-food side dishes, and desserts - served in an atmosphere that's upbeat and fun. This happening restaurant is ensconced in a refurbished Railyard building nestled beside the tracks, and ihe bar scene is one of the liveliest in town.

Tomasita's, located ín the former station house of the Chili rail line, is a favorite of chile-addicted Santa Feans and visitors. The food is predominantly New Mexican in flavor, with the requisite rellenos, tamales, enchiladas, and burritos, and several vegetarian versions of those dishes. Fatso's (inside Willie's Blues Club) is heaven on earth for pizza lovers with an appetite. From burgers to sub sandwiches to pizza to pasta, there is nothing "spa" about this menu - and no salads, either. Build your own pie, or try one of Fatsos eight specialty pizzas.

Zia Diner has two dining rooms, including one next to the bar, with lovely windows along two walls and an upper room divided into three levels. If you can handle the chill, the shakes are exemplary. There are nightly specials and a menu of classic dishes like meatloaf. The full bar is a plus, as are the freshly baked pies.

Cowgirl BBQ & Western Grill is a popular local watering hole. Recently remodeled, it now sports an expanded indoor dining area, pool tables, and nightly entertainment. Besides offering steaks, burgers, and shredded pork and other barbecue specialties, the always-hopping restaurant serves a mean Frito pie.

Pranzo Italian Grill offers pastas, pizza, fresh salads, and other Italian speciakies daily. The pizzas are ahvays a good bet Thanks to proprietor Michael O'Reilly's 25-year background in the wine business, the broadly priced wine list is impressive The restaurant offers a special "family style" deal on several entrees for two or more diners and half price bottles of wine from 1 to 10 p.m. on Sundays; specials on Monday and Tuesdays; and a new light bar menu daily.