Tasting menus, Michelin stars and the chefs redefining El Paso.
Tasting menus, Michelin stars, and the kitchens redefining what fine dining means in El Paso.
1700 Steakhouse inside Hotel Paso del Norte in downtown El Paso serves prime dry-aged beef under chef Andres Padilla, in the 1912 hotel's restored marble.
Order: Prime dry-aged ribeye with bordelaise sauce
Tip: Reservation required for Friday and Saturday evenings. The bar area can take walk-ins for a la carte steak orders.
Cafe Central at 109 N Oregon Street in downtown El Paso has operated since 1918 and earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for its wine list, pairing.
Order: Miso Chilean sea bass or the dry-aged New York strip
Tip: The Wine Spectator award list covers over 500 selections; ask the sommelier to guide by region.
Ambar Restaurante in the Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park is El Paso's most ambitious dining room with an open wood-grill kitchen and 1,100-plus agave spirits.
Order: Wood-grilled whole fish with heirloom corn tortillas and an agave flight
Tip: The agave spirits curation is among the largest in the United States. Book the Thursday jazz evening for the full experience.
Casa Pantera on Pershing Drive brings elevated contemporary Mexican to Five Points with premium beef over a wood grill and an Oaxacan mole selection.
Order: Mesquite-grilled tomahawk with agave-morita glaze and roasted bone marrow
Tip: Book the outdoor grill-side seats. The chef-sourced mezcal list rotates monthly.
ELEMI is the James Beard Award semifinalist restaurant of chef Emiliano Marentes in east El Paso, centred on daily-ground heirloom corn masa and craft.
Order: Chef's selection of masa-based dishes with heirloom corn tortillas, or the braised short rib taco
Tip: Walk-ins welcome but dinner can fill on weekends; arrive at 17:00 for best selection.
Editor picks in El Paso include 1700 Steakhouse, Cafe Central, Ambar Restaurante, plus the full fine dining chapter on TableJourney.