Best Outdoor Dining '97

Best Outdoor Dining

The Cottonwood Café
60 N. Alvernon Way

READERS' PICK: An occasional midday indulgence is good for the soul; and the pleasure is all the sweeter when the restaurant chosen is The Cottonwood Café. With its lovely, shaded outdoor patio and indoor Taos ski-lodge ambiance, its elegant nonchalance is a class act all the way: neither too stuffy nor too casual. Just be sure to inform the staff if you're on a schedule, or they'll treat you as if they expected you for the afternoon. If you have the time, start your lunch with one of Cottonwood's signature fresh-fruit margaritas, a wicked adult version of the Slurpee. (See Best Margaritas for details.) Lunch entrees cover demure salads of exotic mixed greens, with heartier entrees reflecting a Southwestern or Native American influence.

READERS' POLL RUNNER-UP: Café Terra Cotta, 4310 N. Campbell Ave.

A REAL SCREAM: Thousands of little white lights twinkle in the dusky trees at La Cocina, 186 N. Meyer Ave. The skyscrapers of downtown peek over the thick adobe courtyard walls, framed by vibrant fuchsia bougainvillea. Mellow jazz and the soothing gurgle of a half-dozen sculpted clay fountains hang in the air. A crisp waiter brings your perfect margarita as the intoxicating scent of mesquite-grilled chicken wafts to your table. Nestled in the heart of the historic El Presidio district, Cocina at Old Town Artisans is a wonderful place to bask in Old Pueblo charm.

1998 Winner: Café Terra Cotta
1996 Winner: The Blue Willow
1995 Winner: Café Terra Cotta