Kaw-Lija's — Restaurant in Eagle Nest

The place seemed nice when we arrived. We were greeted and sat and had our drink orders taken. We arrived around 9:45-10:00am. We were looking over the breakfast menu we the waitress informed us they were out of a lot of breakfast items and asked if we wanted to look at the lunch menu instead, we agreed. As we were looking over the lunch menu she returned and said we couldn’t order lunch because they don’t serve lunch for another 30 minutes, so back to breakfast menu. We had wanted biscuits and gravy but they were out of those. We ordered a single pancake, chocolate milk, 2 waters, a toasted bagel with cream cheese, a hashbrown patty, 1 fried egg and a side of bacon.

While we were waiting for our food 4 staff members were hanging out at the counter talking and one was using vulgar language, we had our child with us and did not appreciate that. After about 10-15 minutes of them talking, the cook went back and began making our food. We overheard who we think was the manager talking to an employee about throwing out a nearly full can of green chilies and how there was no need to. The employee explained they sat out opened overnight and the manager still said he shouldn’t have thrown them away.

Finally our first plate of food arrived: 1 egg, 2 slices of bacon and 1 hashbrown patty. I was waiting for everyone else to get their food and also waiting on silverware. After about another 10 minutes of waiting I had to get up to ask for silverware. I ate my food and gave my kid my bacon since they were waiting on their pancake. Once I finished with my plate we went to ask where the rest of the food was and they said it never printed on the ticket. At that point we left and went somewhere else to get my wife and child some food. Our total for 2 slices of bacon, 1 egg, 1 hashbrown and a cup of milk was $12.22.

I do not recommend this place to other people. Take the drive over to red river and eat anywhere...

We were greeted and they were nice and inviting, with a group of 9 of us and 3 arriving about 30 minutes later we were very understanding with them. When we were told we could sit at a dirty table we really didn't mind. I cleaned it off and put everything on another dirty table and eventually the waitress came to wipe the table and get our drink order. We ordered 7 sweet teas 2 lemonades a soda and 2 waters. More than half of us got small cups cause they were out of big glasses, yet we were charged for large drinks and the water was not free!!!!! We ordered and got our food randomly, still trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. The food sucked, it's obviously diner food you can get anywhere, yet for 12 of us to eat we were charged $240! The gentleman up front could not use the tablet to ring our bill up correctly so the bill process took forever. Then, we finally left after leaving a fantastic tip and we're called back because our bill "wasn't paid in full". Went back in tried to understand, got angry and said whatever I'll just pay it. Paid another $70 something. I can't believe how much we paid, that the water isn't free, that even tho we didn't have large drinks we were charged for them. And I cannot stress enough, IT DOES NOT COST $240 FOR 12 PEOPLE TO EAT DINER FOOD! ESPECIALLY WHEN 5 OF...

Wow, I love small town cafes and restaurants, however this Espresso shop was sadly just surviving. Previous posters, a month ago in Aug.Sept.2023, mentioned similar observations. Maybe it sold, maybe the owner is not well, but whatever the ailment is there is a downturn apparent.

My friend and I stopped in on our way to Taos from Folsom where I spend my summers away from my winter home in a small town outside of Tucson. I had not ever stopped in Eagles Nest before but the sign out front that shouted "Espresso" was the tractor beam that drew us in. Again, sadly, the only employee managing the entire restaurant (!), ice cream section, and front checkout was a single woman who appeared to be real recently hired. Like yesterday.

She was definitely doing her best in a sinking submarine. There we 16 customers inside and one employee. The manager was in back, with his door open, doing nothing to help. Ouch!

Our "waitress" was a nice lady who needs a new job...