Wolf and Roadrunner at Hotel St. Francis
When I booked my first weekend getaway to Santa Fe, I knew I’d dine so fine! While I enjoyed typical New Mexican cuisine, my meal at Wolf and Roadrunner at Hotel St. Francis was divine.
Wolf and Roadrunner is a wood fired steak, game, and seafood house – Something that definitely stands out from the traditional New Mexican restaurants and cafes found throughout Santa Fe.
Even though I’m a newbie to the Santa Fe scene, I was aware that Hotel St. Francis is a landmark hotel in downtown Santa Fe. So, it’s no surprise to me that their restaurant, Wolf and Roadrunner, is in a league of its own.
I’m an appetizer and cocktail kind of girl, especially when I’m trying out a restaurant for the first time. I took Chef Gilbert Aragon’s suggestion and tried the Croquettes, Wood-Fired Prawns, and the Tiburoncita cocktail from the Secreto Bar. I was not disappointed.
Croquettes from Wolf and Roadrunner in Santa Fe, New Mexico
The Croquettes dish comes with chipotle hoisin braised bison, black bean puree, pickled plum, shiitake mushrooms, and peanut xo sauce. I’ll be the first to admit that when I read the description on the menu, I had no idea what to expect, but I love taking people’s recommendations, so I ordered it anyway. And wow. Just wow. It was like nothing I’ve ever eaten! Thankfully bison doesn’t have a gamey taste, so it paired well with the Asian flavor from the hoisin and peanut xo sauce.
Woof-Fired Prawns from Wolf and Roadrunner in Santa Fe, New Mexico
The Wood-Fired Prawns dish came with smoked prawn shell-infused butter, ibérico chorizo, herb salad, and grilled bread. This was my first time having prawns, but I figured they couldn’t be much different from shrimp, and I love shrimp, so I was excited to try this dish. The prawns themselves were good, but I really loved how they were sauteed in butter and other seasonings; it blended well with the herb salad and grilled bread.
Tiburoncita from Wolf and Roadrunner in Santa Fe, New Mexico
And the bartender was right, the Tiburoncita cocktail paired really nicely with both of my dishes. The Tiburoncita is made with artful tea chai infused Knob Creek Bourbon, unfiltered sake, absinthe, lemon juice, ginger syrup, simple syrup, egg white, and a pinch of salt. I had never heard of the Secreto Lounge, but they describe themselves as “Santa Fe’s premier craft cocktail bar” by bringing their guests “Garden-To-Glass” cocktails. They make their cocktails using fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, bitters, and local spirits.
I’m looking forward to going back to try other dishes from their menu. There was a couple sitting next to me and they asked their server to get the chef. This had piqued my interest because I wasn’t sure if it was good or bad. When Chef Aragon went to their table, the wife had proclaimed that the salad she ordered was one of the best she had ever eaten. Once Chef Aragon had walked away, I leaned over towards the couple and asked the wife about the salad. She had ordered the Desert Greens salad. The menu description says that it comes with tender and bitter lettuces, orchard stone fruit, roasted almond, bee pollen, gorgonzola, and turmeric cider vinaigrette. This salad isn’t something I’d normally go for; however, the way this woman hyped it up, I found it intriguing!
Overall, I had an amazing evening at Wolf and Roadrunner. From the food to the drinks, to the amazing ambiance of the historic Hotel St. Francis, my initial inclination was correct, I dined so fine.