Si Señor Restaurant — Restaurant in Las Cruces

We stopped in for a late dinner (8:30) and were seated immediately. First,I would be negligent if I didn't mention Si Señor was unexpectedly very pretty inside and made for a "nicer" than expected quick New Mexican dinner or would have if the food lived up to the ambience. Cocktails: I ordered a draft beer which could've been a bit colder and my husband enjoyed a standard Don Julio Anejo margarita which he said was "perfect". Our waitress was very helpful with suggestions for dinner but at the end of it, I felt That she could've steered us away from my husband's entree choice (as we did ask her her opinion and for guidance). He ordered the 10 oz ribeye topped with a green Chile smothered in an overly thick helping of cheese. First and foremost, We should've 100% known better than to order steak at a Mexican restaurant!!! It was very low quality with so many tendons running through it, my husband literally chewed (and spat out) an entire half of the steak as it was inedible. The waitress had to have known, but never asked a single question as to whether there was a problem with it or why there was half of a steak, clearly chewed and spit out onto a side plate. GROSS!!! Moving on, I enjoyed the gorditas combo but only had room for one after snacking on the free chips with 4 salsas: green chile, red chile, bean and chorizo and crema with jalapeños. The sauces were presented in little plastic cups, which felt like we were at a food truck, and not a sit down dinner inside of a nice restaurant. Not that there's anything wrong with the little plastic cups at a food truck but you expect that at a food truck. Our food, in my opinion, generally, could use a bit of upscaling on the presentation. After all, we eat with our eyes first. That being said, the Gorditas were all good and I would order the ground beef Gorditas again should we decide to give them another try. Undecided on that one! I feel they could upscale the Gorditas a bit as they were a bit boring and uninspired. Note: if you are a large eater, the portion size of the Gorditas may not satisfy your appetite as they are small (equaling, perhaps one and a half tacos). That being said, they were more than enough for me as I could only finish one; which was actually a good thing, since my husband's meal was inedible. The Gorditas are little (maybe 3-3-1/2"), soft "tacos" tucked in a red chile masa soft shell. I ate the entire ground beef Gordita, and took a small bite out of the other two: shredded beef and shredded chicken (both had moist meat inside, although relatively unseasoned). I felt that they could do "more" With this entrée, even if it was a simple Christmas crema drizzle. I preferred the ground beef. The hubs ate the chicken and topped it off with a sample of the mole! Yum! While, I didn't order the mole enchiladas, their Molé was one of the best interpretations we have experienced in a restaurant setting although a bit too thickened (perhaps do to us arriving just prior to closing). Each meal comes with a sopapilla, either plain or cinnamon and sugar. We shared a cinnamon and sugar, which was exceptional. They are served with little packets of honey sauce which was astoundingly, high fructose corn syrup and NOT honey. Are you kidding?!!! They should offer REAL honey in a squire bottle rather than a rip open sugar packet, which cheapens the entire experience. All in, we spent $100 including tip and although the margarita, chips, salsa, gorditas and sopapillas were "good", the steak was inedible. With its hefty $25 price tag, it should have and could have been better. Yes, I realize they don't specialize in steaks nor is it a steak house and that $25 for a 10 oz ribeye WOULD be an exceptional price for a great steak. But it wasn't good but supremely poor quality meat. Best takeaway...never order steak at a Mexican restaurant unless it is skirt steak, flap steak or flat iron. In fact, Si Señor, you would be serving your customer base better with either flap or flat iron instead of the...

My first visit to Si Senior was an absolute revelation, solidifying its place as the premier destination for southern New Mexican cuisine. The crowd of locals eagerly awaiting its opening was the first clue I had chosen wisely.

Stepping inside, I was immediately captivated by the sheer beauty of the entryway and the dining area's decor, which evoked the grandeur of an old-world hacienda.

Despite having eaten a large breakfast, I was determined to experience Si Senior before leaving town. I ordered a green chile chicken enchilada, a southern New Mexico staple, along with a crispy taco and a side of fresh pinto beans. My delightful server, Luisa, shared her deep affection for her workplace and, especially, for the owners, a testament to her 15 years of loyal service. This indicated a family-owned establishment that treats its staff like kin. The palpable pride and love the staff exhibited for Si Senior, a true credit to the Castillo family, instantly elevated it to the highest tier of Las Cruces restaurants.

Si Senior has been proudly owned and operated by three generations of the Castillo family. I had the pleasure of meeting Gabe Castillo, who radiated pride as he explained that the recipes originated from his grandmother. He emphasized that the secret to the restaurant's exceptional food lies in preserving his abuelita's traditional methods of preparation. I witnessed Gabe and other waitstaff greeting patrons by name and inquiring about their families. Even with its bustling atmosphere and numerous tables, Si Senior maintains a wonderfully familiar and cozy vibe.

My food arrived, and every bite was a delight and reflected the respect for the ingredients and the careful adherence to age old ways of preparing each dish. The green chile had the perfect amount of kick, and the chicken was cooked to perfection. The ground beef taco was like a dance of favors among the perfectly crunchy shell. The beans were fresh and possessed a unique flavor, an artfully curated blend of spices that I've dubbed "Frijoles Castillo." The "Arroz Castillo" (Spanish rice) was equally impressive, perfectly cooked with an artisanal blend of spices and ingredients that gave a rich almost smoky flavor which surpassed any other Spanish rice I've ever tasted – the meal was truly fantastic.

Though I wished I could have eaten more, I will undoubtedly return to what I consider the absolute best southern New Mexican restaurant in the state. For honest, traditional, and elegantly prepared New Mexican food, Si Senior is an...

Si Señor on 1551 E Amador Ave. is certainly a pleasant, Mexican place with prodigious welcoming doors that open up to a superb dining area spread out to four different rooms circling around an immense stone water fountain. Bright green plants with purple flowers frame the cascading steps around the fountain and liven the vivid painting of the Chihuahuan desert behind it. The surroundings, though crowded with families, are clean and well taken care of. Soft Mexican music is heard in the background although the atmosphere is overly tumultuous, for almost each table was filled to its extent with laughing Las Crucians. As the rooms cleared towards the end of our visit, the environment quickly changed to calmness. I noticed our server was hurried and slightly careless but nearer to the end, when people started to leave, he paid more attention. He called us ‘ladies’ or ‘madams’ and always greeted us with such politeness that I had to smile back at him gratefully. Our waiter first served us a tray of chips with a variety of delicious dips, four in total. Each dip was unique, having a different level of spice. My hamburger was cooked just to the right extent, and I regret not being able to finish it. It was juicy with grease- just exquisite from my perspective. The bacon, with melted cheese on top, was just the right amount of crispy. The hamburger bun was golden-brown from being cooked on the stovetop after being lavished with a generous amount of butter. The french fries were carefully cooked, though lacking in salt, and were served with an excellent queso sauce with chopped jalapeños. The hamburger was served with sliced onions, pickles and tomatoes on the side. The tacos were filled with a flavorful chopped sirloin and a slice of avocado carefully placed on top of this delicacy. The tortillas were grilled in grease to make them soft but not easily torn. This is a restaurant I would recommend for spice-loving guests. It is a splendid place for going out to breakfast, lunch or dinner. Sincerely, Maria and...