El Paso, Texas

In article  [email removed] (AKAHugh)
writes:

>Would appreciate recommendations for somewhat upscale restaurants
>in El Paso.  No Italian or Asian.  Prefer TexMex or continental.  Many
>thanks in advance.

I agree, upscale and El Paso don't really go together.  But there are plenty of good places to eat.  I go their quite a bit on business, and hope my recommendations can help.

First, the big local debate is whether the Cattleman's or the Great American Steakhouse is the best place for steak.  I've eaten at both, and think the Cattleman's is overrated and not really worth the long drive. Great American is truely the best steakhouse I've seen.  Be advised, though, that if you go to their location on Alabama Ave. you'll wait close to an hour for a table.  Drive to the one in west El Paso near the state line if you don't want to wait.

As for TexMex, Forte's Mexican Elder used to be considered the best place in town.  The food's gone downhill in the past few years, but it's still good.  It's also relatively upscale (for a TexMex joint, which isn't saying much).  Alexjandro's on Gateway East is also good.  My favorite TexMex place, though, is a little joint on Montanna near the intersection with Hawkins called Frankie's .  It's hard to find, since their sign doesn't really stand out; look for a pet food store next door.  Frankie's has the best heuvos rancheros anywhere.

>>In article  [email removed] (AKAHugh)
>>writes:
>>Would appreciate recommendations for somewhat upscale restaurants
>>in El Paso.  No Italian or Asian.  Prefer TexMex or continental.  Many
>>thanks in advance.

>Howard,
>Very few upscale restrauants in El Paso with good food.  But if an
>outstanding
>steak is what you want I highly recommend Cattleman's Steakhouse at Indian
>Cliffs Ranch.  Cattleman's is located east of El Paso off I10 take the
>Fabens
>exit and go north.  You could call it a dude ranch.  I can honestly say
>they
>serve the best steak I have ever tasted.  And their beans and slaw are
>excellent too.  Good luck.

>Deb

Deb, what's that steak house, if Fabens is west (I think) then looking at the mountain from I-10 it's on a road that goes along the west side. They've got the big 36oz steak also.  It's an old house (I think) and the parking lots in the back after going down a steep drive.  Go in the back door up a flight of stairs, dining rooms small not near as big as the Cattleman's.  Do you know the place (Been a couple of years) bar downstairs?  I went here 4 times Cattleman's 2 times.  I think this place has better steaks for the buck, but at cattlemans you get japelenos before the meal.

There's a good BBQ place on the east side (?) on the border with N.M. that's real good too.  As far as TexMex every hole in the wall I ate at was pretty damn good, but I had great guides I was working with from Bell Atlantic Cellular (and I do mean hole in the wall).

I must say the people in El Paso are great, the only city in Texas I liked. I lived in Texas at one time, east Texas :-(

If you like to eat like I do Howard you'll love it.

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AKAHugh wrote:
>Would appreciate recommendations for somewhat upscale restaurants
>in El Paso.  No Italian or Asian.  Prefer TexMex or continental.  Many
>thanks in advance.

Upscale?  In laid back El Paso?!?  Well, try Forti's Mexican Elder.  There are literally dozens of excellent Mexican restaurants in El Paso.  It's billing itself as the Mexican food capital of the world.  There's also a nice little restaurant called Gonzalo's just north of downtown that's very good.