Cafe Rio Pizza equals awesome pies in Ruidoso, NM

Cafe Rio is a quirky little pizza and sandwich shop smack-dab in the middle of mid-town Ruidoso, NM. There are all sorts of interesting things tacked to the walls. They serve hands-down the best pizza you can get in Ruidoso, maybe the best in the region, and are very popular with both locals and tourists. The lines can get pretty long so I recommend eating at odd hours during the busy seasons, since the place isn't very big. They used to serve spanakopita, a Greek spinach and feta pie, but it isn't on the menu anymore. They do have roasted garlic bulbs and some other unexpected items on the menu. We ordered a jumbo 18" pizza  that was half "white"and half "meat".  A regular sized pizza is 12". The white has mozzarella, ricotta, olive oil and garlic and the meat includes pepperoni, Italian sausage, beef, salami and Canadian bacon with cheese and tomato sauce.

Jumbo size half white and half meats

The crust is tender and on the thinner side but comes out with a nice crisp on the bottom. Toppings are generous and fresh.  The pizza was perfectly cooked and not rushed.  That being said don't be in a hurry to eat. It takes a while to create the pie. We also shared a HUGE chef's salad with the house dressing.Way too much food for two people. The jumbo specialty pizzas run from about $19.50-$24.50.  You can also just grab a slice of cheese or pepperoni on the go during the tourist season.

Service was good. We ate during the middle of the afternoon on weekday and were the only customers.

Cafe Rio also has ice cream and home-made desserts.


Cafe Rio--Facebook
2547 Sudderth Dr.
Ruidoso, NM 88345
575-257-7746
Menu
Hours Vary
CASH or local check only--no plastic accepted (ATM in the building)

Comal serves delicious and authentic New Mexico style food in Ruidoso, NM

Guacamole tostada, chicken enchilada and chile rellano with green chile

Chimichanga with red chile and chicken enchilada with green chile

My husband and I were looking for some authentic New Mexico style Mexican food and that means chile-- green, red or both. We found it at Comal. A family run restaurant in mid-town Ruidoso. When you walk in the place looks very small but they have additional seating inside around the corner from the front part of the restaurant and outside as well. The meal started with the traditional chips and hot sauce. The chips were a bit on the thick side for my taste but the hot sauce was spicy and made with red chili, very tasty. We began our meal with a bowl of the sopa Azteca which is a chicken tortilla soup with red chili...absolutely delicious! For my entree, I ordered a combination meal with a guacamole tostada, chicken enchilada and chile relleno with green sauce, rice and beans. My spouse ordered the same except he substituted a beef chimichanga with red sauce for the chile relleno. What really stood out was the quality of the sauces. They were spicy, aromatic, authentic and perfectly wonderful.  I particularly enjoyed the guacamole. It was very fresh and had a hint of sweetness to it. I am still trying to figure out what the secret ingredient was...maybe some agave. The owner also sent out complimentary sopapillas for us.

The service was very attentive. We ate at 3pm in the afternoon so only the owners, a husband and wife team, were working. Before leaving town on our last day, we stopped a second time for lunch. I ordered the enmoldas which are chicken-stuffed corn tortillas with mole sauce on top, an interior Mexican dish. That mole was the best I have ever eaten! I could smell the cinnamon in it. I also couldn't resist getting another guacamole tostada. The chile relleno my husband ordered was too cold and greasy but the rest of his meal was very tasty. He went with the chimichanga and chicken enchilada both with red chile sauce. We left stuffed and happy.

I highly recommend Comal if you are traveling to Ruidoso, NM. The atmosphere is cozy and the prices are extremely reasonable. All the entrees were less than $10. It can be a bit hard to spot from the street but it is worth the search. No alcohol is served.

Comal

2117 Sudderth Dr
Ruidoso,NM 88345-6137

575-258-1397

In the Gazebo Shopping Center 

Open 11am-8pm Wednesday through Monday, Closed on Tuesday