Good service and ambiance. A must have appetizer is fried avocado, amazing steak and salmon. read more

Grill Caliente - Filet Mignon with green chili mashed potatoes - New American Near Me - Ruidoso, New Mexico

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We had a wonderful dinner here with excellent service! Very clean restaurant! We had the trip appetizer and really enjoyed the queso- salsa- guac in that order. Husband got the cheese enchiladas with chicken and red sauce and says it was great with bit of heat. I had the beef nachos for my dinner and the portion was HUGE!! That is definitely something to split with at least three more people! But, it was very tasty. We will definitely be back! read more

Grill Caliente - Cheese enchiladas with chicken and red sauce - New American Near Me - Ruidoso, New Mexico

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We have never had a more bizarre experience in our life before walking into Grill Caliente. It's maybe 1 of 3 restaurants open on Tuesday and we had a party of 10. 5 adults, 5 kids (ages 8-13). There was a total of maybe 10 tables occupied, but the majority of the restaurant was open. Including the pretty large outdoor patios. When we walked in the hostess / manager, not sure which, asked how many we had in our party. I said 10 - he then pointed to a table that fit 8 at most and said our only option was to add 2 chairs to that table. I told him that wouldn't be big enough and too crowded and asked if we could split into two tables, or maybe push some together since 3/4 of the restaurant was empty. He then walked me to another part of the restaurant and said another option was another 8 top with the sun beaming down on it and said "that probably wouldn't be comfortable". I said we are happy to split up if you can't move tables and he told me our only option was to squeeze into an 8 top. I politely commented that the restaurant was basically empty and I didn't understand what the problem was and he insisted our only option was a crowded tiny 8 top. We decided to leave and I turned to him and told him this could not be good for his business. Which he shrugged his shoulders to. My husband proceeded to tell him that this was a little ridiculous and told him that he's surprised he's passing up on business. The employee told my husband "we have money flowing in daily" - in the most condescending way as if our money was no good there. We've never experienced anything like it in our life. We were in a family vacation in a town that has lost so much business and tourism due to the rundown city, fires and floods. And something about our party made him completely turn us away. It was insane. Highly recommend you avoid this place at all costs. read more

If I could give it zero stars I would! We didn't even get to eat here. We walked in the door with my family of 10 and they wouldn't see us even though the restaurant was empty. The man who attended us was very rude and wouldn't sit us! There was two families in the restaurant, and the rest of the restaurant was empty. There was at least 30 seats where me and my family could sit. Never come to grill Caliente if you wanna have a good time, this place is terrible so bad. read more

This numbnut employee was the absolute dumbest person ever!!! Me and my family of 10 came here looking to get some food. And we came across this employee who would not sit us I an empty resteraunt! The only thing he would let us do is sit at a table of 6 and and pull up 4 chairs! He would not let us pull split a kids table and adult table when it empty. He was also the rudest person in the village of Ruidoso! He yelled at my mom and dad for trying to get their family a meal. Overall NEVER come to this crappy, no good, restaurant read more

We enjoyed a fabulous, friendly and delicious lunch here! We were greeted by Dallas who kindly directed us to a table. Later, he made recommendations when he found out it was our first visit to the restaurant and to Ruidoso. We took his recommendation of trying the small (which is actually huge) portion of chile rings. Best appetizer ever! Kaitlyn was our server and she did a fine, professional and pleasant job of serving us. Thank you Kaitlyn. The stuffed avocado appetizer we tried was also very good. I would reorder it but I would perhaps add some salsa or hot sauce next time. My chile and bacon toasted cheese sandwich was really fun and delicious. Hatch chiles from New Mexico are the best! My wife's chile burger was tasty but nothing over the top. Our fries were fresh but like most fresh fries, could have been a little crispier. That's fine. They were fresh and tasty and next time, we'll order well done fries! We look forward to returning if we are ever in Ruidoso again! Life is good with chile rings! read more

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We've been coming to Grille Caliente for years--it used to be one of our go-to favorites in Ruidoso. Since the change in ownership, it's felt a bit different. They still haven't gotten their liquor license, which was a bit of a letdown--we really missed having a glass of white wine with our meal. That said, we still ordered our longtime favorite: The GCGC (grilled cheese with bacon and guacamole). It's a delicious and unique sandwich that we crave every time we're in town. This time, the bacon was unfortunately soggy, which took away from the usual crispness we love, but it still hit the spot overall. We're hoping they get everything dialed in soon--this place has so much potential and so many good memories for us. read more

Grill Caliente - The GC GC sandwich - New American Near Me - Ruidoso, New Mexico

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Everything was delicious from the green chile chicken enchiladas to the skillet chicken breast with green chile mashed potatoes to finishing our meals with warm chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream. We will be back! read more

What happened to Grill Caliente? Since it has changed ownership, the food and service has gone from bad to worse. The green chicken enchiladas were horrible. Dried out mess with no green chili sauce and no flavor. The rice was a steaming tasteless pile of rice. The beans had been over seasoned and not worth eating. I will never go there again after trying two times to get an edible meal. I wish I could stand outside and warn unsuspecting tourists. read more

We go here every time we're in Riudoso but what it was not good this time. No alcohol! Evidently the new owner hasn't received his license yet. The girl we had was inexperienced and the glasses were filthy! There was lipstick on my husbands glass! There were only 3 tables occupied and the service was terrible. The fried peppers were good but the chip, guac, queso and hot sauce tray was extremely lacking in quantity and taste. She brought our ticket and we had ordered a burger she hadn't brought. Oh well. Maybe an off night. Probably give it another chance. When they get their liquor license!! read more

We tried grill caliente for supper this evening. We came a little to Earle to enjoy the entrees on the menu. We came early to avoid the crowds. We ordered the fried chile rings to start. They were delicious. I ordered the mahi fish tacos with the black beans and rice. My husband ordered the boss burger and fries. The beans were not as stove hot as I would have liked and the rice was pretty bland and clumpy. My husband asked for his burger medium and got it well done, but the fries were delicious. Overall it was just an ok meal. read more

Grill Caliente - The boss burger and fries - New American Near Me - Ruidoso, New Mexico

So good! We ordered the fried chile rings (small) as an appetizer, which are served with a chipotle ranch. They were crispy and hot! Additionally, we also got the chips and trio and I probably wouldn't get this app again. The queso was a weird texture and not hot and the salsa could've been spicier. The guac was great though! My husband got the GV burger and it was great. I got the New Mexico classic salad, as pictured. I'd was so good! The bean and corn salad was so flavorful and the pico was a little spicy. The chicken on top was moist and flavorful. It was served with the same chipotle ranch that came with the fried chile rings. Overall, would return!! read more

Grill Caliente - New Mexico classic salad - New American Near Me - Ruidoso, New Mexico

Good service and even better food. This was our first time here. The Chicken Wrap was delicious. Had just the right amount of spice and perfect flavor! read more

Staff was friendly and wonderful, but unfortunately, the quality of the food was not. The tortillas for our tacos were hard and very stale, and basically the consistency of thin cardboard and essentially inedible. The enchiladas were just a few corn tortillas stacked on a plate and covered in sauce. The best part of our meal were the black beans. read more

Flavorful enchiladas. I love the Green Chile Chicken enchiladas, they are always packed with delicious flavor and have a spicy kick to them. The black beans and rice that accompany them are also flavorful. I love them. The Mushroom Swiss burger is a crowd pleaser, hearty and delicious. The Chile Rellenos were also satisfying and delicious but they do pack a kick so if you don't like spicy food, pick something else. They are really good though. This place offers various alcoholic drinks, the margaritas are a personal favorite. They have a variety of local and imported beers on bottle. There's plenty of seating indoors and on their patio area, which is enclosed so you're not really sitting outside. The service has always been friendly and fast and the restaurant is always clean. It's kid friendly, group friendly, and also has a small selection of vegetarian options. Both my family and me enjoy this restaurant and have never been disappointed with the food, it's tasty and satisfying. read more

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Grill Caliente offers some really great dishes! The chili rings were absolutely amazing--crispy, flavorful, and packed with a kick. The green chicken enchiladas were fantastic as well, with the perfect balance of flavors. The fish tacos were delicious, though they could have been served a bit warmer, and the beans, while tasty, also came out a bit cold. Overall, a solid experience with amazing service and just a couple of minor setbacks. Would definitely come back for the chili rings and enchiladas! read more

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Quiet nice restaurant: food was interesting and service OK, ambiance was a little sad. read more

Grill Caliente - New American Near Me - Ruidoso, New Mexico

This place was actually tasty! I went on a day were they were only taking reservations so we called in ahead of time and did it. People with no reservations had to wait until 8pm but the owner said it was just that day. Small cozy place, nice waiters, nice owner, polite people that greeted you and made sure everything was fine. The plate that I got was a hamburger with spinach, avocado, chipotle sauce, cheese and it came with a side of fries. It also had a side of lettuce, tomato and onions. The flavor and quality was really good! Tasty burger meat and sauce! Fries were good too! I also had a coke but it was a can and glass, so no free refills (you would need to order another one if you wanted it.) It's located in a nice area in the downtown of Ruidoso, New Mexico so it was an easy choice! (FYI: like I said it is in Ruidoso, New Mexico) read more

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Love their chicken skillet! The atmosphere here is great. The customer service was great as well. Always a joy to come here!

Disappointing. We arrived at 7:45 on a Friday evening and were told by the staff that the closing times posted on the door and their website (and Yelp) are not to be trusted. I can't discuss the food, but be sure to call them before taking the chance. The staff made it clear that the times they are open are arbitrary and can change on their whim. We went down the block. read more

Food was tasty, staff attentive. We will go there again. We really enjoyed their fried chile rings.

None of the food had much flavor. The chips and salsa were good and the outdoor dining was nice. I understand the previous owner had sold the place so maybe the new folks were still feeling things out. Don't cook Mexican food to please Texans!! read more

Really good! We made a reservation which I highly suggest, otherwise it can be a long wait. Staff was friendly and efficient, pleasant but not "entertaining"(as in they weren't trying to be the Star of our evening way). I started with the Pink Cadillac, it was very refreshing on a warm evening. note - almost all their seating is still basically outside. Ordered the Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas, comes with rice & beans. Rice & beans were ok, but the Enchiladas were great! Those green chiles were singing my song! Fresh and quite spicy but great flavor. Husband had the skillet Nachos which looked fabulous, but he was disappointed they contained so few toppings. (I think the green chiles migrated to my plate!). read more

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Service was great, our waiter was on top of refills but the food... My boyfriend and I both ordered burgers and they were half the size of the bun and burnt. Now I appreciate a charred burger, but this burger was burnt and dry :( I was VERY excited to eat my New Mexican green chili burger but could only take a couple bites. The fries on the other hand were undercooked as I bite into some raw potatoes. Would definitely recommend coming for dinner (after 5pm) and ordering a steak. Burgers are NOT the move. read more

Incredible service! I had a reservation for 10, but one of my business guests invited 2 more people. I kindly asked the front host if they would be able to accommodate 2 more people and they were able to work with us despite being very busy this afternoon for dinner and almost closing. Our server was also very attentive and friendly while dealing with our large group. The food was amazing! I highly recommend the fried green Chili's and their steak that comes with green chili mashed potatoes. Beautiful ambiance, excellent service and food, I will definitely come back. Make sure you make reservations. This place gets busy! read more

Grill Caliente - Fried green chile appetizer - New American Near Me - Ruidoso, New Mexico

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Good food great service & price point and many options. It was a quick stop for us on our way to Ruidoso to hike in the mountains l.

The last time I ate here was 8 years ago. I have no idea what my review was back then, but, today's lunch was stellar. Get the skillet salmon. It's packed with flavor and salmon is served sizzling, topped with a skillet serrano. I was a little disappointed that the kitchen was out of mashed potatoes. But they subbed white rice and a healthy portion of bell peppers. The service was kind, patient and apologetic. They checked on us several times during the meal, offered suggestions and made us feel welcome even though we showed up late for lunch. read more

Grill Caliente - Skillet salmon - New American Near Me - Ruidoso, New Mexico

Always a great experience here, had the Palisade peach steak salad special and it was delicious. Service was great as usual, Autumn is an absolute treasure and our server Enydia made our dining experience spectacular. Absolutely recommend to anyone in town, can't wait to see what they come up with next. read more

Such a disappointment! Last time we came, everything was wonderful. My husband ordered a steak medium rare, it came out well done. He had maybe 4 bites and the owner only discounted it 15%. I got the skillet chicken, it was dry, the veggies were so spicy they were hard to eat and the potatoes were gross. Apparently they have new owners and things are not what they used to be. They also do not have alcohol because the owner doesn't have a liquor license. read more

Always a great meal here! Staff is friendly and the food is hot, fresh and delicious! Love the fried green chili rings! Also love the indoor and outdoor seating areas! So there is something for everyone. read more

So I really enjoy coming here for the food, but I've got to tell you, even though it is good, some things are definitely overpriced for what you get. If they brought out free chips and salsa to start, that would be great... However, I know many don't do this. I would strongly recommend the fried chile rings to start IF you are going to purchase an app. They are amazing. We have ate here many times, because it does taste very good, but again, the price is always a little shocking dependent on the entrée you get. I got Portabella stack, off of the recommendation from the owner. It was tasty, but for a small bed of spinach, with some grilled strips of Portabella mushroom, and then having a little bit of grilled chicken on top, paying $18 just did not seem feasible. They definitely made a great profit margin on that dish, so I guess more power to them . Outside of some of the questionable prices, the only thing we encountered on this last visit (that was not totally great) was getting charged the wrong amount three times. Our waitress mixed up our credit card with our friends' credit card three times... Our bill was well over $100 and their's was only $40... It was comical at first, but then got a little ridiculous. Overall the food here is very good, but just know that you will be paying a hefty price by the end of the night. read more

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I have been here several times in years past while visiting town. Some things have clearly changed with this place and I want to warn others. I will start with the positive of my dine in visit today. The server was very friendly and took good care of me. She is the only reason this gets 2 stars and not 1. I reciprocated her efforts with a generous tip. Now for the "other" part of the experience. First off the owner/manager is very ungracious and standoffish towards guests. I called several different times this week and tried to arrange a simple to go order and he flat out refused to do it. He said "we dont do to go orders when we are busy". I called again a day later and got the same dismissive response. No "Oh lets work something out" No "tell me what you would like and we can get it ready for you later?" Nope none of that. Just straight up rude and refused to accommodate a customer, Which apparently he has a pattern of this behavior. I also saw him first hand turn other customers away on a Tuesday night because they did not have a reservation. It does not mention this anywhere online. Once again reflective of poor management not to issue any sort of advisory about this fact. I understand the need for it, times are tough in the industry and everyone is short staffed. I get it, but still you should try and make accommodations for customers who come in or at least make this policy clear online. I went in today at open for lunch to make sure I get there before it gets "busy". I sat down and ordered Chicken Enchiladas. There was literally zero chicken on them. Just green sauce and cream. I though about bringing it up with the owner but decided this place is a lost cause. Caliente has clearly suffered from bad management. It is not close to what it used to be and I urge others to avoid wasting time here. read more

My family went to day trip to the lake grindstone. Order food here and pick up. Food was ready pretty fast. There is no utensils and no asking also even if my order was to-go order. When i ask them the utensils. She said it's all running out. And she will check one more time. She brought it right after. Food was not bad. Kind a expensive than their quality. But it's understandable because tourists. They said no outdoor seat, they removed them couple years ago when i asked them over the phone. They have plenty of outdoor seat. read more

The food was excellent!! The chips, salsa, guacamole, queso was perfect!!! I had the green chili enchiladas and the flavor was amazing. The service was outstanding, atmosphere was very comfortable. I would highly recommend this restaurant. read more

We had a lovely dinner at Grill Caliente -- drinks were great, food was delicious, and the patio area was perfect for waiting on our table while enjoying a drink. We had the green chile chicken enchiladas and the queso and chips. read more

Good service. Average food. The chicken salad was disappointing. The roasted veggies on it were non- existent. The chicken was tasty. Chile Releno and enchiladas were smothered in sauce and little chicken in enchilada. I am sure other places in town are doing better. read more

Loved this place! Solid flavors and good nm comfort food and good prices. Id suggest dining in the main room since the inclosed porch is a tad chilly. I would highly recommend getting reservation since it's pretty busy on the weekends.. read more

Grill Caliente - Fried green chilies - New American Near Me - Ruidoso, New Mexico

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The food was amazing and so was their service! I would so come back again! Though I do wish they had more drink options. read more

Grill Caliente - New American Near Me - Ruidoso, New Mexico

Sent by a local, this is a great spot. Outdoor patio is peaceful. Green chile enchiladas with blue corn came with poblano rice and black beans. Every aspect of the dish was well seasoned and delicious. Good cheap beer too. Recommended. read more

Service was ok. Food had no flavor. Very bland. Nothing special. We ordered portabella stack. Portabella not fully cooked and had no seasoning read more