Recommended restaurants around Las Cruces
(borrowed heavily from Joni Johnson, NMSU Astronomy Department)

Lemongrass: 2450 El Paseo (one block north of University), phone 523-8778. A fine Thai restaurant. Smaller menu at lunchtime, but there are still many choices. Wine and beer available, geared to things that complement Thai food.

The Mix: 1001 E. University. Pacific Rim cuisine. Fish are flown in daily so that the sushi is nice and fresh. Slightly more expensive than most Las Cruces restaurants but still affordable. They will sometimes have sushi happy hour.

Taste of India: 1001 E. University, next door to The Mix. Indian cuisine, obviously. The full dinner menu has many choices, but you shouldn't miss the lunch-time buffet. Selection varies, though it always includes their tandoori chicken plus vegetarian options.

Lorenzo's: Two locations: one at 1753 E. University near the NMSU campus and the other at Mercado de Mesilla (located on Avenida de Mesilla). Both locations have good Italian food, from eggplant parmigiana to calamari. The individual-sized pizzas come with a wide selection of toppings.

SI Italian Bistro: 523 E Idaho Ave., 523-1572. Also a good Italian restaurant with a different range of offerings than Lorenzo's. Wood fired pizzas. Meat and seafood entrees in addition to pasta. Owners used to run a dessert-only shop but have continued their dessert expertise. The creampuffs are a local favorite!

International Delights: 1245 El Paseo Rd. Good Mediterranean food, well worth the drive. Falafel, gyros, etc., as well as sandwiches and salads. On Fridays, they add cous-cous dishes to the menu.

Red Mountain Cafe: 1120 Commerce Drive (just off Telshor). Recently under new management, they have a diverse menu that changes with the seasons. An extensive wine and beer list means you're sure to find something to go with your meal. See the website at www.redmountaincafe.com for current selections, as well as info on their cooking classes and wine dinners. Open for both lunch and dinner.

Milagro: 1733 E. University: Excellent coffee, breakfast and lunch place. Sandwiches are served on toasted bread with a wide variety of fillings. Large selection of coffees from around the world.

El Comedor: 2190 Avenida de Mesilla. Traditional Mexican and New Mexican food. Here you can find items like tacos al pastor that aren't available at more Americanized Mexican restaurants. If the weather is nice, the outdoor patio is a relaxing place to eat.

Andele!: 2184 Avenida de Mesilla. Another traditional Mexican place. Highly recommended for their tacos al carbon and carne adovada. The serve-yourself-salsa bar allows you to mix and match to suit your tastebuds. Beer is available. They also have an outdoor patio in the back.

La Posta: 2410 Calle de San Albino (in the Old Mesilla Plaza). Mexican and New Mexican food. A favorite place to take out-of-town visitors, with a fine set of traditional dishes on the menu. They are well-suited to dealing with large parties. The waiting room is enlivened by parrots and piranhas.

Double Eagle/Peppers : On the Old Mesilla Plaza. Upscale (but not necessarily pricey) New Mexican food. They also age their own steaks, and have featured drinks in the bar area. Try a mango margarita while you wait. This is one of the oldest buildings in Mesilla, and the staff will happily tell you about the resident ghosts.

St. Clair Bistro: 1800 Avenida de Mesilla. Phone: 524-0390. Newly opened in Las Cruces, but had been around in Albuquerque for awhile. It's also a tasting room. You can get glasses of Blue Teal, St. Clair and Lescombes wines. The menu has a nice selection of dishes, many featuring their wines, such as the cabernet pot roast. It has a good number of tables, but reservations are recommended if you have a large group. The outdoor patio has a fine view of the Organ Mountains.