Shipman's favorite Socorro (NM) restaurants

Below are some reviews of area restaurants that I find generally pretty decent. This list by no means includes all the places I eat; it is just an attempt to reward the places that I feel are consistently a cut above the local norm.

• Socorro Springs Brewery: Best kitchen in town. [WiFi]
• Stage Door Grill: Fine dining, opened in October 2007.
• Acosta's, San Antonio: Best Mexican food in the county, in my opinion.
• Owl Bar and Grill, San Antonio (burgers)
• El Sombrero (Mexican)
• El Camino Coffee Shop, on the main drag in the middle of town: clean, decent, ample, reliable, full-service, open 24 hours. [WiFi]
• LJ's Branding Iron is a barbecue shack located at 102 Calle de San Miguel, on the short street between California and the Catholic church. Opened in March 2007; nice selection, pretty good meats.
• Roadrunner Truck Stop is on the west side of the Lemitar exit, 6 miles north of Socorro on I-25. Good, trucker-oriented food, solid value, tasty. Standard menu with some nicely done Mexican specialties. My usual order is the taco salad with chicken, but their club sandwich is the best version in the county, and their onion rings are huge.
• Manzanares Coffeehouse, between the main drag and the Plaza, at the former location of Martha's Black Dog. Pluses: real gelato, espresso machine, pastries, some breakfast choices. Not a full-line restaurant.
• La Pasadita (Mexican)
• `Vegetarian food in Socorro, NM'
• Casa Cuisine is a tiny trailer parked next to Romero Tire on Spring Street just west of California. Short menu, decent Mexican food, big portions for the price. Downside: al fresco dining with a great view of the tire pile.
• ...and if all else fails, there's always home cooking

Disclaimer. No two people have the same taste. Your mileage may vary. None of these places are flawless; on any given day, you may be happy or unhappy. If you have had an unpleasant experience at one of these restaurants, or I didn't mention one of your favorites, please post or send me e-mail; I'm always interested.

Gone but not forgotten

Here's some nostalgia for restaurants that have Passed Beyond.

• Martha's Black Dog: Nine years of ecstasy. Closed at the end of June 2005.
• Hong Kong: closed October 2005.
• The Coyote Moon, located at the Lemitar exit six miles north of town, closed in October 2005.
• The Valverde Steakhouse has closed. For many years, Lewis and Mary Gillard ran the fine dining place in town at this location.
• `Eat at Dan's, Socorro, NM': Closed in early November 1999, unfortunately.
• For those who remember Socorro in the 1950s through the 1970s, there will never be a place like La Casita. The flakiest sopaipillas, the definitive chile relleno in a batter of beaten egg whites, and heat to melt the wax in your ears.
• Copa Cabana Restaurant: Another promising newcomer bites the dust in the early summer of 2000. There are two restaurant locations in Socorro that have killed more restaurants than remain in the town today. One is this location, atop the Days Inn (former Golden Manor), but with no handicap access. The other is the dumpy little building on the east side of California just north of Southwest Feed and Supply, home of the late lamented Hungry Dragon, the Schnitzel House, and many more.

Last updated: 2007/11/10 00:45:46
URL: http://www.nmt.edu/~shipman/food/socorro.html