Santa Fe’s Top Three Family-Friendly Restaurants

From Indian food to donuts to New Mexican classics, let’s give our kids something to smile about this summer

By Heather Hunter

Summer is the perfect time to slow down, spend more time outdoors, and celebrate that our families made it through another school year. Whether you head out with the family for a hike, a visit to the library, an outing to the dog park, live music at the Plaza or Railyard, or a walk in the neighborhood, summer is all about family time. And what better way to spend quality time together than over a delicious meal that brings everyone joy.

Santa Fe is home to more than 300 restaurants, but many are more aligned for tourists than families. That’s why we have selected three of our top favorite family-friendly spots. These restaurants are ideal for kids of all ages and provide a warm environment that makes our young people feel seen and valued. And that’s what we all want for our children, so let’s dive in and discover three of Santa Fe’s most beloved and fun family restaurants.

India House

Parents are responsible for introducing their children to foods beyond the standard and often boring kid’s fare of chicken nuggets and French fries. By opening our young people’s palates to ethnic cuisines, they have a greater chance of becoming curious eaters as adults—and curiosity is essential in life.

Since 1991, India House on Cerrillos Road has been serving curious and hungry guests’ flavorful northern Indian food. Three years ago, the original owners, Kewal Dhindsa and his sons, sold the restaurant to Kewal’s nephew, Gurpal Singh, who was also a former employee, and his son, Gaganpreet Sidhu.

Today, this father and son proudly continue the delicious legacy of sharing their cultural cuisine and hospitality with Santa Feans. Passing the torch of ownership to extended family indicates their commitment to their own family and their customers—of whom they estimate a third are families.

Gaganpreet said, “Many of our customers are second and third generation—they came with their parents and now they bring their own children. It’s beautiful to see this and our staff is so good with the young ones. I would say that the most popular dish for kids is the chicken tikka masala with garlic naan.”

One of my friends, David, has been a long-time customer and enjoys taking his grandson to celebrate the herbs and spices that make India House a treat for all ages. David recently told me that after he gave his two-year-old grandson, Cole, a taste of the tandoori chicken, Cole enthusiastically reached over to David’s plate, grabbed a whole piece of chicken and devoured it. It is moments like this when you are thrilled to have exposed your children and grandchild to exotic flavors that make everyone smile. Food is a connector that builds beautiful memories.

Gaganpreet added that the vegetarian dishes, including paneer makhani and saag paneer, are also very popular. And kids of all ages love the samosas, which can be eaten with your hands. Crispy, triangular-shaped pastries filled with a savory mixture of spiced potatoes, onions, peas, and coriander make these a popular appetizer. Enjoying the flavorful Indian dishes while sipping a mango lassi is a classic combination.

But if you really want to expose the kids to something amazing, Gaganpreet said, “It’s best for families to come to the lunch buffet and sample lots of different Indian dishes.”

Craft Donuts

Who said donuts? At Craft Donuts, kids and those young at heart will be fascinated with made-to-order cake donuts while you wait. What started in 2020 as a food truck parked across from the state capital that quickly gained a cult following has grown into a brick-and-mortar location on the south side of Santa Fe.

Whether you visit the location off Zafarano or the food truck downtown, it is the smell of freshly made donuts that pulls you in. Once you try a Craft donut, you will know why it’s such a popular spot for families.

Owners Craig and Michelle McGregor have had lots of fun bringing Craft Donuts to life. The cake donut is “crunchy on the outside,” said Craig. The menu features nine classic donuts including plain, sugar, cinnamon-sugar, and powdered sugar, and five glazed options. But their creativity shines with a dozen signature donuts on the menu and four monthly special donuts, to keep you coming back for more.

The classic cinnamon-sugar donut is one of the top sellers, along with the cinnamon roll signature donut which has a vanilla drizzle on top. “If anyone is never quite sure what they want, I suggest the cinnamon roll donut because it’s a crowd-pleaser,” said Craig.

For kids, the top three donuts are the Unicorn, dipped in vanilla glaze with fruity pebbles, the S’mores, a chocolate-glazed donut dipped in graham crackers with a marshmallow drizzle and a freshly torched marshmallow, and the Homer, covered with strawberry glaze and rainbow sprinkles.

But what’s even more exciting, especially for kids, is the option to create a custom donut. This is a great way for kids to use their creativity and critical thinking skills to combine flavors and textures for the perfect donut.

Craig proudly said with a grin, “The highlight for our youngest customers is that they get to watch everything happen when they visit the store. At closing time on Saturdays, the glass fronts along the donut making station are covered with tiny fingerprints and we love that.”

The next time you need a unique treat for your child’s birthday party or graduation, think Craft Donuts. Craig added, “Some parents even bring in their own sprinkles to make the exact donut their child wants for their special occasion.”
Anytime it is donut time is a special time.

Plaza Café Southside

Established on the Plaza in 1905, Santa Fe’s oldest restaurant is the Plaza Café. This family-owned restaurant recently celebrated the 75th anniversary of ownership by the Razatos family, who took over in 1947. This longevity brings great pride to the entire community. The family opened a second location on the south side in 2003, geared more toward locals. No matter which location you choose, the Plaza Café is and always has been a restaurant that loves families and that families love.

Andy Razatos, manager of Plaza Café Southside, estimates that 65% of the customers are families. Families love the big menu with well-priced dishes that appeal to all ages. But Plaza Café is known for serving hearty breakfasts until 4 p.m.

And while they do have a kid’s menu, created for kids 10 and under, it doesn’t include the typical chicken nuggets and fries and that is a good thing. Some of the top-selling dishes from the kid’s menu include breakfast favorites like buttermilk pancakes and French toast and grilled chicken with vegetables for lunch and dinner. Chicken quesadilla is another favorite. The Sticky Sticky Buns with caramel and toasted pecans are also quite popular with families and kids of all ages love the milkshakes that come in eight creative flavors—cajeta, red velvet, biscochito, mango, strawberry, raspberry, chocolate, and vanilla.

Known for their sensational homemade desserts, Plaza Cafe takes the traditional tres leches cake up a notch to make a Cuatro Leches Cupcake—dulce de leche is piped in the center for an explosion of flavor.

Whether you visit for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the Plaza Café’s expansive menu features New Mexican, American, and Mexican dishes, as well as a few Greek dishes that play homage to the Razatos’s Greek heritage, along with plenty of vegetarian options, so everyone in the family will be happy.

Heather Hunter is a marketing and communications consultant who puts words in people’s mouths. She enjoys sharing her favorite recipes at thecowgirlgourmetinsantafe.com. When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about food and can be found at the farmers market, cooking for friends, celebrating life at a local restaurant, on a hike with her dog, or finding peace and movement on her yoga mat.