In categories celebrated only in this anniversary year, we celebrated employees and restaurants who have been in the industry for decades at our 2016 Hospitality Industry Awards.
Employee Legacy winners were nominated by their community and exemplified a legacy of service and have at least 30 years of service for the same restaurant, or at least 50 years of service to the industry. The following were recognized at the event:
Ann Fisher-Ives – Range Café/Freight House
Eddie Montoya – Frontier Restaurant
Veronica Ortega – Garcia’s Kitchen
Bonnie Reardon – Cattle Baron
Pete Vellegas – Frontier Restaurant
Restaurant Legacy – The following restaurants were recognized as having been in business in New Mexico for over 40 years. A few have been open 70 years—as long as New Mexico Restaurant Association has been active. Not all were in attendance, but those that were present at the awards received a certificate to honor their legacy.
A & B Drive In – T or C
Abe’s Cantina y Cocina – Arroyo Seco
The Alley Cantina – Taos
Annie’s Soup Kitchen – Albuquerque
Billy Crews – Santa Teresa
Bode’s General Store – Abiquiu
Blake’s Lotaburger – Statewide
Buckhorn Burgers – San Antonio
Buckhorn Saloon – Pinos Altos
Casa de Benavidez – Albuquerque
Cattle Baron – Southern NM
Charlie’s Spic & Span – Las Vegas
Chope’s – La Mesa
Circle T Drive In – Belen
Colfax Tavern – Cimarron
Comet II – Santa Rosa
The Compound – Santa Fe
Cuban Café – Cuba
Del’s Restaurant – Tucumcari
Dick’s – Las Cruces
Doc Martin’s – Taos
Dog House Drive In – Albuquerque
Double Eagle de Mesilla– Mesilla
Earl’s Restaurant – Gallup
El Bruno’s– Cuba
El Camino Dining Room – Albuquerque
El Farol – Santa Fe
El Farolito – El Rito
El Mirador – Deming
El Modelo – Albuquerque
El Paragua – Espanola
El Parasol – Northern New Mexico
El Pinto Restaurant – Albuquerque
El Rancho – Gallup
El Sombrero – Las Cruces
Elkhorn Café – Chama
Felipe’s Tacos – Santa Fe
Frontier Restaurant – Albuquerque
Gabriel’s – Santa Fe
Garcia’s Kitchen – Albuquerque
Go Burger – Las Cruces
Golden Pride – Albuquerque
Grandma’s K & I Diner – Albuquerque
Hi–D–Ho Drive In – Alamogordo
High Noon – Albuquerque
Hotel Bernard – Taos
Joseph’s Bar & Grill –Santa Rosa
Kathy’s Carry Out – Albuquerque
La Cocina Hot Stuff – T or C
La Cosina – Raton
La Fiesta – Hobbs
La Fonda – Santa Fe
La Placita Dining Room – Albuquerque
La Posta De Mesilla – Mesilla
La Salita – Albuquerque
Laguna Vista Lodge – Eagle Nest
Lindy’s Diner – Albuquerque
Los Ojos – Jemez Springs
Luna Mansion – Los Lunas
Mannie’s – Albuquerque
Mary & Tito’s – Albuquerque
Mine Shaft Tavern – Madrid
Minnie’s Dairy Delight – Springer
Monroe’s Restaurant – Albuquerque
Mr. Powdrell’s BBQ – Albuquerque
Murphy’s Mule Barn – Albuquerque
Nopalito – Las Cruces
Oasis – Raton
Owl Bar Café – San Antonio
The Pantry – Santa Fe
Pappas Sweet Shop – Raton
Pastian’s Bakery – Albuquerque
Pete’s Cafe – Belen
Pie-O-Neer – Pietown
Plaza Cafe – Santa Fe
Rancho De Chimayo – Chimayo
Roberto’s – Las Cruces
Sadie’s of New Mexico – Albuquerque
Santa Fe Bite – Santa Fe
The Shed – Santa Fe
Shohko Cafe – Santa Fe
Silver Moon Cafe – Santa Rosa
Taco Box – Clovis, Portales
Taco Sal – Albuquerque
Tecolote – Santa Fe
Texas Reds – Red River
Tia Sophia’s – Santa Fe
Tomasita’s –Santa Fe
Town House Lounge– Albuquerque
Twin Cronnie Drive In – Clovis
Victor’s Drive In – Penasco
Virgie’s – Gallup
Western View – Albuquerque