Sunrise Family Restaurant ~ Santa Fe, New Mexico

Latest visit: Apr 2022

First visit: Aug 2016

We're back for our annual review. Sunrise has been reliably one of our top New Mexican breakfast houses since first discovering it 6 years ago. Not so much on this visit. The green chile was a bit watery and the red only covered 40% and not very much of it. Neither were particularly spicy and the temperature was about 80% of what it should be. The dish to the right (from last year's visit) shows potatoes (no longer offered) and a lot more cheese. The restaurant was mostly empty though service could not have been better. I fear to say inflation is going to put all these places out of business. First COVID, now this. $30 breakfast for 2 is not sustainable and it certainly won't suffice for those on a fixed income, who usually represent a large audience for breakfast meals. The RJG is fortunate to still be in his money making years, but otherwise every meal is becoming a splurge meal. And because of this downward spiral, restaurants are having to cut back on everything while raising the prices. We'll definitely return next year, presuming the business survives. It was certainly good, but not awesome as we are accustomed to.

---original 2/15/21 review

I had this gnawing feeling I'd never entered anything about Sunrise Family Restaurant. It was 2015 when I went on a tear about Santa Fe restaurants. But we came back again in 2016, and that's when we first discovered Sunrise. Psst - let the RJG give you a little tip. Everyone goes on about The Pantry. We've gone on about The Pantry as well, and there's an entry here on this blog. But it's always crowded, and it will be especially now (if they're even open beyond take out). You want The Pantry, but actually want to eat immediately? Go to Sunrise. Other than last year when we weren't allowed to visit New Mexico, we've gone once a year and made Sunrise our primary breakfast destination. I go right for the smothered (Christmas) breakfast burrito with eggs and bacon. Also comes with whole beans and fried potatoes. The green was particularly excellent on this visit, very spicy and flavorful. Their red is also delicious, not quite as hot, but with an excellent flavor and velvety texture. The whole beans are perfectly cooked, something Mrs. RJG is an expert cook with, and she was also very impressed. Mrs. RJG had the Huevos Rancheros, also Christmas, with beans and rice. The latter was perfectly cooked and delicious (I snuck in a bite). The service has consistently been very friendly over the years. The restaurant itself is quite spacious, so you have a real chance of getting seated right away. And given it has become one of our favorite restaurants in Santa Fe, that's no small feat.

Managed to get in a quality photo of my meal before chowing down. Mouthwatering isn't it? Tastes even better.

8/5/16; 2/15/21 (new entry); 4/13/22