Destination Dining at The Shed- Santa Fe, NM

Not far from the Palace of the Governors in downtown Santa Fe hides a 2003 James Beard award winning restaurant recommended to us by my brother-in-law. We spent our second day in Santa Fe operating on midwestern hours in a mountain time city, and we arrived ahead of the crowd to be seated with our party of four without any trouble. While we sat with our drinks and meals, the line grew so long outside it spilled into the mercado. I have never been so happy to get so hungry early.

We were seated toward the back of the restaurant’s interior, and I ordered my first margarita of the trip made with a Herradura Anejo tequila. There are few better liquors on the planet than a well aged tequila, and this was one of them. The Shed’s margaritas lean toward the tart end of the spectrum, just how I like them. ​

​The group decided to start the meal with chips, salsa, and queso. They arrived before we even had a chance to put in our order for our main courses, and they kept us occupied while we waited. The salsa in this part of the country kicks harder than that in the upper midwest, spicier in a way where the heat lingers on your tongue long after a sip of your margarita and switching in the queso for some potential relief.

​Which, speaking of, you do not find in the queso. While it is not as potent as the salsa itself, there is enough chile incorporated into the queso to keep the heat at a steady simmer while you gorge on fresh fried tortilla chips. The thinner consistency of this white queso made it a good companion to the thicker salsa that the Shed provides.

We all had our own ideas of what made a perfect southwestern lunch, and with my appetite already well in the service of our appetizer, I ordered a bowl of corn chowder to further my quest in search of new things to eat. The northeastern inspired corn chowder that I have made previously on the blog pales in comparison to the warmth and comfort of this little bowl. The carrots, cream, and corn temper the heat of the chilis used to flavor the chowder, and if that’s still a bit much, bread is provided for dipping to help cleanse the palette.

The rest of the table had far greater appetites and pushed them to their extremes with the tamale plates and various enchilada preparations available at the Shed. I’ve included their pictures as well to give you an idea of what’s available. Each plate made me envious of those that can eat more than I can, but I knew I managed myself well with the chips and chowder combo for the day. I didn’t feel weighed down afterward in the heat of the day, but I did get a great nap afterward.

The crowd that we passed on our way out reminded me of how lucky we were to arrive when we did. The Shed remains a location that tourists flock to for their meals while visiting Santa Fe’s beautiful downtown, and making it a priority for another trip in the future will be assured. There is so much more to experience in town, however, that the sight of a long line may make anyone want to move on to the next good thing.

You’ll want to get in early if you’re uninterested in a long wait. Looking at all the plates that my family had around me, I know that this one is a destination for a reason. The Shed contains beautiful, tasty food inside of a rustic locale unlike anything a midwestern gal like me has dined in before that day. Put it at the top of the list for when you get hungry wandering through the shops along the plaza.