Maria's New Mexican Kitchen

About

Restaurant and lounge located in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Story

RESTAURANT

The Maria's tradition began in 1952 when Maria and Gilbert Lopez started a small take-out kitchen in the area that now houses our bar and fine kitchen. Maria's traditional Northern new Mexico cooking soon became such a hit that Gilbert built a patio. But the rains were relentless that year, so Gilbert covered the patio with the very vigas and roof that are still in place today, in what we now call "The Cantina." This was the beginning of a restaurant which has built a history unto itself and has become a Santa Fe landmark and showplace.
In 1985, Laurie and Al Lucero bought Maria's and have since tried to make the restaurant the same as it was when Al, a Santa Fe native, was growing up here int he late forties and early fifties. Since the Lucero takeover, Maria's has re-established itself as one of Santa Fe's premier restaurants, constantly receiving local, national and international praises for its ambiance, cuisine and hospitality. We hope we earn yours.

The dinner menu contains over thirty items, including fajitas, steaks, soups and salads, and New Mexican dinners, with an average price of approximately $8.50.


MARIA'S REAL MARGARITAS

At Maria's, we have over 100 REAL Margaritas from which to choose! But, what is a "real" Margarita? Simple. It's one that's made with "REAL" tequila, "REAL" triple-sec and "REAL" lemon or lime juice (we use fresh-squeezed lemon juice instead of lime, because of it's year-round consistency). Real Tequila is a liquor made ONLY in Mexico, which has been distilled from the sugary juices extracted from the cooked heart of the Weber blue agave plant. To be considered true tequila, it must contain at least 51% of this agave juice (sugar). Most off-brands or "cheap" tequilas sold in the USA do not contain the required 51% agave sugar and by regulation, are not considered tequila.

The Mexican government maintains strict regulations for producers of tequila and issues a "NORMA" number to those Mexican distillers who meet their tough requirements. A bottle of real tequila will have the three letters, "N-O-M," followed by four numbers on the label... if it doesn't have a "N-O-M" number on the label, then it is simply NOT real tequila. PERIOD! AT MARIA'S, WE USE ONLY REAL TEQUILA IN ALL OF OUR MARGARITAS!

Real Triple-sec is a clear orange liqueur made from the skins of exotic orange peels, which have been sun- dried, then reconstituted with distilled water, fermented, then triple-distilled. Maria's uses BOLS brand triple-sec, which is made with all natural premium ingredients (many commercial brand triple-secs use artificial flavoring -- check the label). (NOTE: Most of our Margaritas are made with COINTREAU, which is an ultra-premium triple-sec imported from France, or GRAND MARNIER, another French import made by blending premium triple-sec with premium Cognac that is then aged for a minimum of 18-months).

We use fresh-squeezed lemon juice with no sugar or preservatives added, and finally, our ICE is an important component of our Margaritas because it subtly adds just the right amount of water to the Margarita, by breaking the corners and edges into the concoction when our bartenders shake the drink. (Using a blender adds too much water and over-dilutes the flavors).

Visit Maria's in Santa Fe and see why THE SEATTLE TIMES called Maria's "THE MOTHERLODE OF AMERICAN MARGARITAS!" Maria's has been voted BEST MARGARITAS IN SANTA FE (Santa Fe Reporter Newspaper, 1998, 1999, 2000) and BEST MARGARITAS IN NEW MEXICO (Crosswinds Magazine, 1999 only year of poll)!

For more information about margaritas, read THE GREAT MARGARITA BOOK BY AL LUCERO, WITH A FOREWORD BY ROBERT REDFORD.