Corner Office Food & Wine — Restaurant in Taos

4 friends and I - all local to Taos finally made it in to Corner Office. I’ve been anticipating my visit, following them on Instagram since before they opened, learning about the history of the husband and wife owners and watching the biz settle in. This special place is a unique and stellar addition to the local food scene and they did it disappoint. We arrived early and before long the place was filling up nicely. The gorgeous and informative wine wall, a library filled with books on natural wines, etc., stunning decor and open kitchen are welcoming, homey and contemporary. The servers were lovely, attentive and helpful and they seemed happy to be there. I started with their As Seen on Instagram champagne cocktail which I highly recommend. Perfect balance and not too sweet. We all Shared an Italian Red with plates of the Crudite and the Frico. That flavor layered white bean sauce with the crudite was my favorite bite of the evening with the scallion pancake that was more of a perfect buttery and textured bread. With farm fresh seasonal veggies - Wowza! The Frico was about simple, layered flavors - crispy, cheesy with a brightness to it. Next the mushroom curry - silky curry with ample chunks of sweet potato under a flawless array of mushrooms with Brazil nuts and herbs. We were fans. Lamb pita - that sausage was next level! Chicken paillard with a classic wine butter sauce - someone has major chef skills here- loaded with micro greens which I was grateful for. They are delicious and really good for you! We would have tried the bistro steak which I was looking forward to but it was unavailable at that early hour. 8 small plates for 5 people for dinner and we were happily stuffed. We engaged with the two diners next to us who were way into a beautifully presented Lazy 6 bone marrow and the fennel sausage carpaccio with honey fermented figs which were apparently delicious. It’s exciting to It is a gift to have these young, talented creatives with distinctive experience taking a chance here with a high end concept, elevated menu and casual vibe restaurant! Looking forward...

A real turn off right off the bat with the mandatory 20% (forced tipping) sign at the bar. The gall. There is no table service. You have to go to the bar to order yourself which is absolutely FINE but don’t charge us a bogus fee forcing us to pay for something you didn’t earn! Apparently tipping is not bc you earned it it’s because the owners want to tack on something extra, undeserved. I will warn my friends.

The food was good and fresh and the flowerless chocolate cake was delicious but there are only 3 gf small plate options. Tiring.

The wine glasses are sample size not a quality experience for the boasted quality wines. The cheap dollar store utensils (literally!) are just one step above plastic. I had to remove the piles of plates on our table. We had a bottle of wine which was dumped on our table again with of course no wine service.

The owner’s dog roaming the cafe and begging at our table was extremely annoying. My husband had to get up and ask the owners to deal with their (service) dog.

The fried rice crab bowl was good but it was way too hot spicy and way too salty. We ordered a second one bc of the limited gf menu and the chef got all bent out of shape with the request to please cut down the salt and heat. The restroom was kind of ikky. No upgrades there. I’d give it a 2 out 5. Call me old fashioned - i can’t stand going into an all gender restroom and finding the man before me has missed the toilet. Ewe.

We were excited to try it and the positive take away is that at least the food is good. We enjoyed our wine choice. But the mandatory tipping is...

Corner Office is, hands down, one of the best casual restaurants that I’ve been to anywhere. They have raised the bar! The eclectic menu, diverse (and extensive) wine list, and laid back friendly atmosphere are all punctuated by the underlying professionalism and deep experience of the staff and owners. It is a different kind of restaurant experience for Taos in that it is not anchored by Southwestern cuisine and beverages. Having said that, many of the menu items have superb New Mexican protein and vegetable ingredients. I have an extensive and diverse wine collection but I was never a big fan of “organic” wine because it didn’t seem to cellar well. The diverse and well curated natural wine list at Corner Office changed that for me. The owners are remarkably knowledgeable about European vineyards, winemakers, producers, and distributors. As a result my knowledge regarding grape varieties, winemaking, and regions has grown immensely. Keep an open mind, ask for a wine recommendation, and try a varietal that you’ve never had before. The Taos restaurant scene is amping up with some great chefs, staffs, and ingredients. Corner Office is certainly a cornerstone in this Northern New Mexico...