The Legal Tender

“Whether you’re a Santa Fe local or a tourist just passing through, you simply have to experience this amazing venue at least once. This historical treasure of a building has been immaculately restored and the charming ambience created by the interiors, decor, and memorabilia that surround you once you enter is so evocative of an Old West Railroad town that you almost feel as though you’ve traveled back in time. While the atmosphere alone is reason enough to dine here, the exceptionally attentive, friendly and welcoming service and simply exquisite food and beverage offerings are what make Legal Tender a must. We thoroughly enjoyed the green chile stew as well as the fries, but the green chile cheeseburger and the onion rings were literally the best that we’ve had anywhere! Oh, and if you’re in the mood for a cocktail I highly recommend the Tender Palabra which tasted as great as it looked.”

“We’ve been frequenting the legal tender since moving New Mexico and we have yet to be disappointed. The food is consistently exceptional, and the green chili cheeseburger is the best in Santa Fe. The Key lime pie is better than Florida’s. The bartenders take pride in creating fantastic drinks and the atmosphere is quirky yet welcoming. The building’s fascinating history makes this restaurant an experience worth the short drive from downtown. And, props to Dillon, our favorite server in Santa Fe.”

“I recently had the privilege of photographing a wedding reception at the Legal Tender and I have to say this is one of the most incredible spaces I have ever worked in. The amount of character, vintage art and true western heritage is unmatched. When you walk into the space you feel like you're enter a time capsule. It made for an amazing place to host a wedding dinner, party, live band and dancing till the lights turned out. If you're looking for a venue for your wedding or reception dinner (or both) I would highly recommend the Legal Tender Saloon & Eating House. The staff was also very professional, kind and timely. The food was delicious and the ambiance and overall atmosphere is truly one of a kind.”

“We were visiting friends in Santa Fe and they took us to Legal Tender for dinner. We loved the ambience with the railroad memorabilia and antiques. The bar is handsome. We had the green chili Stew, green chili cheeseburger, Cesar salad and arugula salad. Everything was well prepared. Oh! We shared the onion rings which were crispy and warm. Service was attentive and friendly. We look forward to visiting our friends again and will definitely return for dinner.”

“The atmosphere is Excellent. It's like stepping back in time and reminded me of a fancy Tombstone establishment. Excellent service from my first call, and throughout the evening. I asked for a specific table, I got the perfect table.* Reservations are very advised here, especially if a musician is playing on a Saturday evening. The food did not live up to my expectations but I did leave full and happy. The salads were quite good. I wish the bacon on the wedge salad was warm. Their goddess dressing is delicious. The goat cheese and beet salad was great, I loved the vinegrette. Main course was where things dipped a bit as the plates were a tad sparse. Our trout and NY strip were of a good a quality and taste. The steak was a bit undercooked. The mashed potatoes were watery but I loved the green chile on it. Asparagus was cooked perfectly. Desserts were very good. I would go back for the rhubarb crumble every day if I could. The key lime pie was tart and rich. Do not miss this restaurant and overall experience. I can't wait to return. You can tell a lot of effort and love went into creating such a unique and special place. Parking is easy. If you like you can go earlier and check out the old train station across the street.”