Pete's Cafe — Restaurant in Belen

Pete's has magic. The Magic Kitchen that creates and prepares the wonderful food, the Magic Ambiance and Venue which can at times include a meal outdoors in the protected, shade-tree patio, and the Magic Staff who are on top of your order and table at every turn.

I have been eating Mexican food since 1969 when I first lived in Denver. Soon thereafter I moved to Arizona and for the last 50 years have enjoyed eating at the best of the best in Arizona's Mexican food scene. Oaxaca in downtown Phoenix was my all-time favorite in the 1970's; El Charro in Tucson (since 1922, the oldest in the USA, and the birthplace of the Chimichanga) for the 1980's; and El Rincon at Tlaquepaque in Sedona for the 1990's; and for the 2000's, Las Michoacanas in modest little Mammoth, Arizona. I still eat at the last three and have great appreciation for the families and staff of these excellent restaurants. Still, Pete's beats them all, so far.

I'll admit, I've only just eaten at Pete's for the first time in May.2022. I met a firend from Belen there and I had the #2 combination plate that featured a Relleno, a beef taco, cheese enchilada, with rice and calabacitas. Each entree portion had a distinct, different taste and sauce, and the chili relleno was encrusted with a crunchy batter that was deep fried. The cheese with the relleno was inside the crisp rollup that looked like a corn dog and tasted like heaven on earth.

The ritual here for 70+ years, since Pete's opened in 1949, has been for the kitchen to daily make their own tortillas, wash, rinse, and cook fresh beans, and follow time-honored recipes that Pete and his wife originated back in the day. I hate greasy chili rellenos smothered in average cheese and limp and basically tasteless. My favorite rellenos, maybe not yours because it's unlikely you've had one encrusted and deep fried, are what Pete's family has made for decades. Oh man.........

I'll be back in the next month to sample the wares again and choose a different entree or combo plate. I cannot begin to express how their food was so tasty, perfect, and filling....

Our review of Pete’s Cafe was ready less than one star. From the movement we walked in the customer services was lacking. We quarted 20 minutes to be seating when we were told it would be within 20 minutes to be seated. A lady waked and said to the worker the table for 5 is ready too but she past us did not acknowledge our present. I am Assume she was the manager but never made the statement that she was a manager but continue to ignore us. Once we are seated we receive drinks from the lady that could not speak English so it was very hard to communicate with her. I took another 1015 minutes for somebody to come get her order once we were seated after we requested the route manager is somebody gonna take her order she never acknowledged or looked at as just said somebody will be with you. Then a lady dark complected I’m assuming his Spanish and I would say a little over medium built came to take the order and spoke to us as if we were her children and not customers. So I asked her to stop and to respect us and we were paying customers and all she said it was let me get my manager. So the short lady the rude one came and took her order we tried to explain and she did not let us finish explaining all she said is I’m not here to argue with you. Food was not up to par it was a five out of 10. As they would refill the drinks they would continue to bring the same glass over and over violating the governors Covid rules and wore masks that were appropriate to be worn as a company but yet they mandated the customers to wear the proper mask. I let the Root manager know when we are leaving that we usually give a tip at this time we were not gonna get one and they would be giving a Google review and all she said was I’m sorry she never tried to fix it from beginning to the end. Worst service ever gotten in Belen New Mexico or than likely will not...

First of all, the atmosphere of the restaurant is so vintage and enjoyable. This restaurant has its history of the past and who lived there back in the 1800s. It is such an authentic vibe. We have been there many times with our family. Great memories have been made there. We are so happy every time we go. The service is always great and the servers are so very friendly. We had a waitress tonight, and a waitresses helper. They were both great. I do remember Patty because she was the first server that helped our waitress. They were both friendly but Patty was exceptionally friendly. Patty dressed in an authentic mexican dress style. She was so lovely to talk to. The salsa and chips were wonderful. We were all very pleased with our meals. I have to tell you, they have absolutely the best chile rellenos that we have ever tasted anywhere. I had the enchiladas. The corn tortillas for their enchiladas are so delicious and the texture is wonderful. Some people had the stuffed Sopapillas and one had the combination plate. I have to tell you about their Italian cake or Mexican wedding cake, whatever it is called. It is to die for. There are some taste differences I noticed tonight that were different from the past. I was not pleased with the Spanish rice. I usually never have to add salt to the Mexican dishes there. Tonight, it seemed sort of bland and I did have to add salt. Not just me, there were some others at the table that also had to add salt. However, once we added the salt, everything was perfect. I just don't want the restaurant to change anything that used to be great for. Too many restaurants change something that's great. If it's already good and people love it, why change it? When you go to Belen, New Mexico, this is the place to...