Vegetarian Guide to Santa Fe, New Mexico

My top five picks of the best vegetarian restaurants in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

1. Vinaigrette is located at 709 Don Cubero Alley, Santa Fe, NM. Their phone number is 505-820-9205. You can visit their website at vinaigretteonline.com. Their hours are Monday through Saturday 11 am until 9 pm. Vinaigrette's innovative menu utilizes fresh produce from the farm and the best seasonal ingredients paired in exciting and unexpected ways. The Omega AKA Avocado-Pinon is the best salad they offer, in my opinion. It is leafy greens chopped and tossed with sweet corn, diced bell pepper, tomato, avocado, red onion, cilantro and toasted pine nuts. Dressed with blue cheese vinaigrette. It costs $10.95.

2. Tree House Pastry Shop and Cafe is located at 1600 Lena Street, Santa Fe, NM. Their phone number is 505-474-5543. You can find their website at www.treehousepastry.com. Their hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday 8 am until 4 pm. Closed Sunday and Monday. Stop by today and enjoy their irresistible sweets and savories made from organic, locally-grown ingredients!

Tree House serves amazing breakfast and lunch. My favorite breakfast item would have to be the omelet du jour. It is a three-egg omelet made with local seasonal veggies, fresh pestos and cheeses for $10.95. I would recommend the local tempeh wrap for lunch. It is a whole wheat tortilla filled with house made hummus, seasonal veggies, French lentils, marinated tempeh and sunflower sprouts. Served with a side salad for $10.95.

3. Blue Corn Cafe & Brewery is located at 133 West Water Street, Santa Fe, NM. Their phone number is 505-984-1800. You can visit their website at www.bluecorncafe.com. They offer lunch specials served dily from 11 am until 4 pm. My favorite meal was the Marinated Portobello Fajitas. They were served sizzling with grilled onions and bell peppers, hot flour tortillas, salsa, sour cream, guacamole and cheese for $14.25. My partner ordered the Burro Alley Burrito, which also looked tasty to me. It was a large tortilla stuffed with refried black beans and cheese, then smothered with chile for $9.75.

4. Backroad Pizza is located at 1807 2nd Street, Santa Fe, NM. Their phone number is 505-955-9055. You can visit their website at www.backroadpizza.com. Their hours of operation are Monday through Sunday 11:30 am until 9:00 pm. I love veggie pizza but sometimes I get tired of the same old pizza. I was happy to see this pizza that is called the kowk. It is the no-mozzarella, no red sauce alternative with pesto sauce, fresh spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh mushrooms, garlic and feta cheese. A small is $12.00, a medium is $15.00, a large is $20.00, and the extra large is $24.00. If you are more of a sandwich person they offer the veggie opened face sub. It has green and black olives, green chile, fresh mushrooms, sunflower seeds and feta cheese mixed together to form taste bud heaven, served with a side salad for $7.50.

5. Tune-Up Cafe is located at 1115 Hickox Street, Santa Fe, NM. Their phone number is 505-983-7060. You can visit their website at www.tuneupcafe.com. Their hours of operation are Monday through Friday 7 am until 10 pm. Saturday and Sunday 8 am until 10 pm. The Brown Rice Nut Burger which is a vegan house made patty on brioche bun with hand cut fries for $8.25 was my favorite dinner entree. Lunch also looks very good at the Tune-Up Cafe. I would recommend the Los Burros Veggie with grilled vegetables, rice, beans and jack cheese for $8.50.