El Rincón Café

Review summary

1. S

   Sarah

   Dallas

   40 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   40 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   El Rincón Café (previously Estevans) might have a new name but retains the authentic charm and flavors we know and love. The calamari is the best we've ever had. Also, don't miss out on the Carne Adobada Ravioli. The Shepherd's Lamb Shank Stew is not only great for this cold weather but the flavors are unmatched. So decadent and the lamb was cooked beautifully. Don't skip dessert. The flan and almond cake were absolute perfection. Our server Zach and the support staff were top notch. He was very knowledgable, accommodating and attentive. If you are looking for a bona-fide and elevated new Mexican culinary experience with above and beyond service, El Rincón Café is a no-brainer.
   

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2. M

   Martin

   Houston

   5 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on November 11, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Holy wow, was this place ever good! We will be talking about the lamb stew, pastel de guacamole and rainbow trout for a loonnggg time! It deserves all the accolades it can get. We’ll be back.
   

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3. S

   Stephen

   Tallahassee

   5 reviews

   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on November 10, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Samuel took great care of us, the turnip soup special was fantastic, wonderful ambience and food.
   

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4. R

   Ryan

   San Francisco

   14 reviews

   5.0

   14 reviews

   Dined on November 4, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Wonderful experience. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The food was fantastic and the combinations/presentations were unique. We had a wonderful experience.
   

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5. J

   John

   New Mexico

   7 reviews

   3.0

   7 reviews

   Dined on November 2, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The appetizers were excellent (salad and potato+leek soup). The entrees were average in quality (the fish special, a very small portion). The dessert (lava cake) was excellent. The atmosphere is wonderful; the service high-quality. The prices are extreme - really just gouging so based on the quality of the food and prices, I don't recommend this restaurant.
   

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6. C

   Cathy

   New Mexico

   32 reviews

   vip
   3.0

   32 reviews

   Dined on October 25, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 4

   This restaurant used to be Estevan, but he passed away this year, and the new name is El Rincon. Due to the name change, they don't have a liquor license yet. We could get a drink downstairs but couldn't bring it to our table, but we were okay with that. I ordered the Chile Relleno, Estevan's salad, and the lamb rib chops. My husband ordered Estevan's Enchilada, which he rated 7 out of 10. The Relleno wasn't breaded; it was cold, and the stuffing was bland. After a few bites, I pushed it aside. The server came by and said snidely, "So you didn't like the Relleno." I said that was correct and asked if he would like to discuss it, but he said he wasn't interested in hearing my thoughts. He already overheard me say it was cold and bland. I told him I wanted their establishment to succeed and that the chef would probably appreciate my feedback. It's possible that my message made it to the chef. The lamb rib chops were cooked around the edges, as I asked for them to be rare, but they were quite rare. I enjoyed them, but I would ask for them to be cooked a bit longer next time. The flavors were unremarkable. Without alcohol, we expected our check to be smaller, but it wasn't a cheap date. The server took the Relleno off the bill, but we still spent more money on this meal than it was worth.
   

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7. M

   Michael

   New Mexico

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on October 20, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   no alcohol kinda sucks but awesome food and great location
   

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8. S

   Susan

   Los Angeles

   15 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   15 reviews

   Dined on October 11, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Had a delightful dinner on our last night in Santa Fe. The food was excellent. The restaurant recently underwent a name change and is awaiting its new liquor license but we didn’t miss wine with the meal. The servers were very attentive. Will definitely return next time we are in town.
   

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9. I

   Irv

   Portland

   1 review

   2.0

   1 review

   Dined on October 7, 2024

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   We decided to sit outdoors, which was a mistake. The tables are too small for a party of four, and the chairs are very uncomfortable. The tables and chairs inside looked much more comfortable. The food varied from just okay to terrible. The salads were quite small and not tasty. I had the arugula special, and it was mostly a small pile of greens with some very thin apple strands and a few sliced nuts. The tomato salad specials were not impressive either. Three of the entrees were considered merely okay, but the Lamb Shank Stew I had was terrible. I should have sent it back to the kitchen, but I did not want to taint an evening with friends we haven't seen in months. The lamb shank was over-cooked and tough. There were very few vegetables in the stew. Mostly this was a big bowl of a thick brown soup that was far too salty. All-in-all, the food was the worst I've ever had at a restaurant in Santa Fe. Combined with the uncomfortable table and seating, this review should have received only one star, but the service was very good, so I gave it an overall two star rating.
   

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10. C

    Cheryl

    Denver

    11 reviews

    4.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on October 5, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3

    It was a lovely night to set outside on the balcony. The seating was uncomfortable, small metal chairs. I enjoyed the fresh salad with apple. goat cheese and a light vinaigrette. The ravioli and chicken enchiladas were very good.
    

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