We decided to stop here on a whim of driving around hungry...and it was the best decision! 5 stars for the food, the atmosphere and our server Thomas was exceptional and made the whole dining experience feel elegant. He was menu knowledgeable and friendly. They have a great selection of wine, and we got to sample until we found the perfect wine for us. The garlic clams were the perfect texture and taste. The sauce was amazing! Our Caesar salads were well dressed and tasty! I could go on and on but it was such a great choice and the next time we're back in Ruidoso we will definitely be back! read more

Worst restaurant on the planet. You want a salad with your meal, additional $2.50, you want more bread othe than the tiny two pieces they give you$3.50, you want to pay with a credit card 3.95%. Not to mention tiny portions. Order shrimp fettuccini Alfredo, server brings me I don't know what , then goes back and brings me fettuccini Alfredo, no shrimp, goes back and brings me 5 pieces of burnt shrimp. Ordered cabernate wine to have with my dinner, tiny pour and the wine was actually hot, must have been sitting in the window, who knows. They put a time limit on the amount of time you can have your table, the party next to us had just ordered ice cream for dessert, they waiter leaves then comes back and informs them their time is up so they have to leave (can't make this up). Fettuccine Alfredo. One star is extremely generous read more

I giving 1 star because the food was delicious BUT the service was horrendous. We made reservations outside and a down pour of rain started. Our table was drenched and if it wasn't for other diners that shared their outside table with us our food would have been soaked. The waitress Beth did not offer to seat us somewhere else. She did offer another table of 5 that was already finished eating to go inside but did not offer us table of 2 the same courtesy. She forgot our appetizers and then made it seem like she was doing us a favor by taking it off the check. We decided to go inside and sit at the bar because it was cold and wet, and then she goes to the hostess to talk crap because she thought we walked out without paying. Customer service training would be a good investment! read more

I have lived in the area for 11 years. This is hands down our favorite place to eat. The calamari steak is amazing but not on the menu. It's mostly a special. It's best to call ahead for a table. The staff is awesome and the food is better. The chicken piccata is also amazing. read more

The food was great, but the portions were small. The hostess seemed annoyed and it took a while before the waitress greeted us.

I've only been there once but the food was terrific. We had two starters plus entries then two desserts. All very good.

Be aware the prices on the online menu have INCREASED. Might ask the price before placing phone order.

This place is total rip off. They don't have pricing listed on the menu but shows up in final bill. Their menu says, all entree served with Caesar salad but they still charge extra in the bill. No menu listed for kids so when we asked waiter, he said any pasta can be kids portion. What is the pricing, he says minimal and to add veggies $3. The final bill comes with $21 to add veggies on kids pasta, $2.5 for salad, and they decided by themselves to give us 4 scoops of ice cream charging extra for that as well. Food is just like any other regular mediocre Italian place, nothing great. They are stealers and not ethical to run business. Be careful when you order, waiter says something and final bill shows up something else. read more

This place is not worth the money. They charge for large parties to reserve and we were told it would be returned if our party showed up on time. This is not the case, no refund. Do not go to this place with a large party. No so so meal is worth more than 300 dollars. read more

Tried twice to eat there. Had to pay 15$ per person to reserve. Time given to our group was an hour off. We showed up at the time given and were told we were late. Manager was so rude and hateful. (like she knew she was in the wrong). Never again. read more

Worse food and bad service! I have been many times and it keeps going down hill! Portions keep getting size keeps getting smaller. When I left another customer mention how they were disappointed as well. read more

I don't like bread.... I don't like bread an example of that would be me wanting a hamburger, ordering a hamburger and taking the bread off to eat everything else. Despite my disclaimer I found myself at Michael J's stuffing myself with the fresh warm bread that's provided to all its patrons. In the famous words of Notorious Biggs "If you don't know, now you know". To eat anywhere else outside of MJ's would be a great disappointment for you. I recommend you call in advance before you even touchdown in Ruidoso to make reservations so you have your table. Chef Brian went above and beyond to accommodate your family when everything else was packed and close due to baseball tournament. His staff was very friendly and respectful and just some of the nicest folks we ever meet. Our 5 year old that's picky totally at his entire meal and tried to lick the bowl... my 12 year old who is even more picky literally at his adult plate and bread. That's how legit it was. This is hands down the best experience that I have ever had. And I have scene and done a lot in my life. Please Please go try.. I promise you you want be disappointed. read more

Michael J's - Nice quiet meal - Italian Near Me - Ruidoso, New Mexico

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Last night was the second time I called to make dinner reservations. Each time I have done so Michael has been rather rude. I'm sorry you cannot accommodate 3 people for dinner. It's a small venue I get it. Work on your tact & professionalism when addressing people. I not only dine for food but customer service. Thank you for the opportunity to spend my money elsewhere. read more

My wife and I were celebrating our anniversary. We have been to Ruidoso many times but never tried Michael's. What a treat. Our waiter, Johnny, was friendly, helpful and attentive. My wife ordered orange roughy. It was light, flaky and served on a bed of angel hair pasta with kalamata olives, sun dried tomatoes, and artichoke hearts. I ordered the jumbo pan-seared scallops. They were perfectly cooked, tender not rubbery. They were perched atop a white wine risotto which was a perfect pairing with the lightly chili power-dusted scallops. The Caesar salads were light, with just the right amount of real Caesar dressing, not the heavy-handed drenched salads that some restaurants serve. From the friendly reservations, the smiling faces when we walked in the door, to the wait staff and the food, our trip to Michael J's was a very enjoyable way to celebrate our anniversary. Highly recommended. read more

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We were celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary the food was delicious I had the linguine shrimp scampi my husband had the special scallops with lobster risotto scampi was so delicious made with plenty of sauce the scallops were seared perfectly we ordered bruschetta for our appetizer it was not very good plus it was super cold served on tiny little triangles. Sorry I wanted to take pictures but I forgot my phone. After our delicious dinner I wanted dessert no cheesecake just tiramisu and a butter cake overall dinner was very delicious service was excellent everything came out in a timely manner one other thing that I wished I would have ordered was garlic bread it looked and smelled better than plain bread without we were given at start of dinner. read more

We sat outdoors. We double-stacked the chairs because they were too low. Really think they could update their patio seating! We were looking for a good salmon dish but this isn't the place. Over-cooked and dry. The drinks were great and we will give it another try. Like all restaurants in Ruidosa, call for a reservation. They are struggling with staffing. read more

Had a wonderful dinner. I had the salmon and my husband had the filet. Both were excellent. The waitstaff was attentive and professional. Our reservations were for 5:30 and it was full when we arrived so be sure to call ahead. read more

It's hard to spot this place on the road but once you do you'll want to go! It was about a 45 min wait but it was worth it! the waitress was super polite and our food and appetizers came out at a reasonable time. i got the chicken parmesean and it was the best! i also tried the peach butter cake and the terimasu. THE BEST PLACE IVE BEEN TO IN RUIDOSO read more

Excellent!! We had 8 people at our table. Everyone made the comment that the food was incredible. Mine in particular had very fresh seafood. Dessert was so good. The service was great. We visit Michael J's every chance we get. read more

While in Ruidoso for our anniversary, we ordered takeout from Michael J's. It was a Saturday evening and they were very busy with the governor shutting down dining in the restaurant. I highly recommend ordering as soon as they open at 3:30. Otherwise, you may have to wait until you get through the phone line. Once you get through, pick up of the food was a breeze. The food was delicious. We ordered the lasagna and chicken parm. Highly recommend the lasagna! Dinner came with salad and fresh bread/olive oil. Dinner was delicious and we will definitely be back!! read more

We love eating at Michael J 's. As locals, it's one of our favorite date night spots. The food is always excellent, and so is the service. They offer really yummy specials and great drinks too. read more

Ya know the food is fine, but if you could ever get them to answer the phone it would be a miracle. An hour wait for a reservation. I ordered a special that was suppose to have artichokes and sun dried tomatoes on it. It had neither. When I asked the waitstaff if I had received the correct meal, she assured me yes and that it was on there...I just could t see it. So it was magically invisible. I guess that's a reason to go. If you want to eat magically invisible food. Give me a break. read more

Staff and food were fantastic! The lobster cake appetizer is a must! Deducted 1 star as we were seated in the patio are with a small heater that warmed 1 of the 3 people. The rest of us were very cold from the December weather. read more

Tried Michael J's for the first time yesterday. Food was good, but service was slow. Our waiter seemed to have forgotten about us, as we watched other tables, who were seated after us, get waited on before us. Garlic bread was very tasty. My lasagna was good, but a bit salty. My wife's chicken piccata was very good. Overall, the food was good, not great. The slow service, which I attribute to our assigned waiter, put a damper on the evening. read more

Reservations are meaningless. We waited more than 30 minutes even though we arrived on time & were only a party of 4. We were then seated at a table in the bar, only 3 feet from the bathroom doors, and the smell was atrocious. After 15 minutes, the server dropped off waters and a plate of bread (6 tiny presliced 2" pieces) but no napkins or utensils. We gave it another 15 minutes then left without so much as a glance from staff. I cant comment on the food since, after an hour wait beyond the reservation, we never even got to order. read more

Me and my family loved Michael Js and my husband even proposed to me there 5 years ago! The reason I left such a bad review is because I called to make reservations over a week ago and when I made them the lady on the phone asked if I wanted inside or on the patio ands he ended up talking me into the patio saying it was winterized and was very nice out there so I said sure. A day before our reservation I received a call saying I am so sorry but the patio equipment hasn't come in and it is not winterized yet but we can move your reservations for 5 or 8pm, when our original was for 6:30. I explained that we have already made plans for Saturday and 5 would be too early and 8 was too late because we have a 7 year old. The lady said I am so sorry let me talk to my manager and see what we can do. I get a call back 5 minutes later from the owner who said when they originally made the reservations the patio was the only available tables which was not true because the lady asked if I wanted inside or on the covered patio. I explained to her that I had called over a week ago to make these plans because my oldest daughter was coming in for the weekend with her boyfriend from college and it was going to be a special dinner. She was so rude and said I am sorry but due to COVID the equipment has been delayed for months ( I am so tired of places still using this as an excuse) I asked why they called a day ahead to tell me this because it would be hard for me to find another place to accommodate us and she said the equipment was supposed to come in today but they just got notified it wasn't going to. They said well we need to know if you want the table at 5 or not and if you have a bad taste in your mouth about this we do not need you coming in and treating our staff badly. First of all I was upset about this situation but quiet honestly I was being as nice as could be about the problem but she was the one who was very rude and said if you could quit talking I can tell you what your only option is. If you don't want the table we can just cancel your reservation. I said yes please cancel it because we will no longer go to your establishment if this is the way you treat customers. I luckily called Ranchers Grill explained the situation and they fit us in at 6! We will gladly go here from now on and spend our money somewhere we will be appreciated. We are also great tippers and always treat the staff kindly as long as we are getting the same respect!! Thanks Ranchers Grill for being Awesome!! read more

Why would a restaurant business leave 2 dilapidated benches outside for patrons to sit on as they wait for their reservation?!? We had a 7:45 pm reservation, but we were not seated. I sat on the bench to the left. Note: There were no signs saying not to use the benches. I sat on the left bench and fell to the ground. I cut my right elbow as I fell to the ground. It was very embarrassing. The others in line told me they were surprised the benches were there in such bad condition. A kind gentleman helped me to my feet. read more

We had a reservation for 5 o'clock on New Year's Eve. We started with mussels that were very good. The wine glasses are small and the pours are small. I ordered the elk and it was very tender and delicious. I was planning to order dessert when the waitress came to us at 6:10 to tell us that the people who had the table reserved were waiting!!. So they reserved our table every hour!?!. I thought it was very rude of them. So I spent $93 and was expected to leave within an hour. read more

We can't review the food quality because my wife's birthday dinner celebration didn't even get that far. Even though we had a reservation when they opened at 5 PM, arrived 15 minutes early, were the first customers there that day, and all but one of their 2 top tables were shaded for their Coronavirus outdoor only dining, they refused to seat us at any of the shaded 2 top tables. Furthermore, when I simply asked them to move the umbrella next to us about 6 inches so the sun wouldn't be shining in our face during dinner, they refused to even do that! To top it off, as we got up to leave at that point, a staff member very sarcastically said "I hope you have a nice birthday celebration"!! I'm almost 67 years old, and we've traveled extensively and dined out at many restaurants in many cities. We've never had a dining experience that was even close to being as horrible as Michael J's was on August 23, 2020!! We could never in good conscience recommend this place to anyone. Needless to say we will not be going back again!! read more

I love this place- very quaint and calm atmosphere. Get a reservation- there are very few tables. This is an Italian restaurant but no pizza- don't confuse it with michaelenas. I have had the ravioli and it is made in house and is delicious. Most recently I had the Fettuccini Carmella and it was great. Mixture of prosciutto, chicken and shrimp in a tomato/Alfredo sauce- there were veggies mixed in too. We also had the Tiramisu and it was light and amazing. Great evening and a wonderful date spot. read more

Michael J's - Tiramisu for my birthday! - Italian Near Me - Ruidoso, New Mexico

The food is still good after all these years but the service absolutely stinks. Completely inept and rude. I'll be looking for another lasagne fix because this place is off my list read more

Everyone in my party got food poisoning and the restaurant had a rehearsed response stating that we needed a doctors note. This is a tourist town, and it is not easy to just go see the doctor on the fly. Think it's pretty obvious this happens pretty frequently there. Do not go there!!!! read more

Michael J's is a revelation! After a very disappointing experience at a nearby restaurant that had been our family's "go-to" in Ruidoso for years, we decided to try some new places. We are so glad to have finally discovered Michael J's! My wife and I have enjoyed excellent Italian meals in many different cities and now we can add Ruidoso to that list. Everything was good. We had the caprese salad appetizer and loved it - the bufalo mozzarella was moist but not soggy and the tomato and basil were fresh and sweet. I tried the veal piccata entree and it was as good as any I've had - just the right blend of lemon and capers with the veal and perfectly cooked linguine pasta. My wife had the Carmela pasta dish and liked it so much she went back on our plan to share! We finished off the meal with the flourless chocolate cake, which could not have been better. The service and atmosphere were also excellent. We'll be back many times - we can't wait to bring some friends. read more

We found this place online and WOW! This gem doesn't disappoint. From the friendly voice taking our reservation by phone, to the time we walked in and walked out, everyone made our night extra special. We were warmly greeted with a smile by the host, then our waitress walked us to a table in the back room which was comfortable and charming. Our waitress was Alyssa (hope i spelled it correctly?) She was very attentive and engaging. A gentleman kept us hydrated by filling our water glasses throughout the evening. He grated as much cheese as we wanted on our meal, he even brought us more of their warm and delicious bread without us having to ask for more! The food was so good, we couldn't help but say mmmm throughout our meal. I had the lasagna and my husband had the shrimp scampi with angel hair. Both dishes came out hot and fresh. We can't wait to go back. At the end of our visit, we mentioned that we were celebrating our 30th anniversary and before we knew it, our waitress came around the corner with a candle on a strawberry glazed cheesecake! What a pleasant surprise to pair with a glass of their Italian wine. I haven't experienced that kind of above and beyond service in years! The atmosphere is so inviting, we didn't want to leave. They were very careful in not making us feel rushed. Another nice employee came over at the end and politely asked if she could remove the dinnerware and apologized because the next guests were here, which was a welcomed gesture. Ruidoso is so lucky to have such an amazing restaurant. 5 stars to every Michael J's employee! They truly make you feel at home. The Chef's name is on the sign, so you know the food is superb. Olive Garden doesn't have anything on this gem. read more

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This restaurant serves quality Italian food and a very smart atmosphere. The prices are fair, and I have not had a meal here yet that wasn't very enjoyable. The staff works hard and is highly efficient read more

Small portions for price. Crab cakes should be listed as crab cake, you get one. We went on Valentine's day with reservations. The hostess seated us with another couple, on Valentine's day, during a pandemic and without telling us beforehand. There were empty tables and tables for 4 with 2 people seated, must have been just us and the 1 other couple? The waitress did move us to another table on the patio which was closed off with tarps. February, it was cold seating. Bad experience! read more

PATRON BEWARE!! I'm giving this a 5-star review for the amazing food! We had a poor experience similar to the reviews on this site, specific to being on the clock. We knew that WE HAD 90 min to eat when we made the reservation, so no surprises. They told me that we had to be done by 6:30. We appreciated the heads up. HOWEVER, we arrived at 5pm, seated about 5:10-5:15. Server came to our table for the first time with water about 5:25 (clock ticking). We ordered drinks and dinner immediately, to be fair to the next reservation. Salads arrived about 5:40-5:45. Bread came a little after that. Dinner arrived about 6:10 (clock ticking). Our server did not come to our table to fill water, check on us, or at any point unless we waved her over. She was plenty attention to the tables around us. We ordered a 2nd glass of wine when our dinner came, and she brought them when she brought our check at 6:25. We kindly refused since we were done eating, and it was nearing 6:30. We would have loved ti order the special dessert and espresso. No such luck. We will be back but will have lower expectations. read more

We were vacationing in Ruidoso for a few days and tried Micheal J's one evening. WONDERFUL!!!!! Great food, wines and terrific service! Try the lobster cakes! Amazingly good! We will definitely be back!!!! read more

Great food. Great service and friendly staff Had an enjoyable evening. We liked the outside dining. Cannot wait to come back and try inside. read more

My boyfriend and I were in town for the weekend and stumbled upon this amazing, elegant, delightful little place. From the moment we entered, to the moment we left, their customer service (especially Thomas') was spot on. We enjoyed the house made lasagna, minestrone soup, caesar salad, and the wild berry buttercake dessert. Everything was absolutely amazing, but the dessert was hands down the prize winning dish. Imagine finding the most perfect, rich yet refreshing, sweet, delectable, perfect little cake. Add in a cute mountain town, and you've got the perfect dinner date! You must try this place out. It's simply the best! We went back for round two the next night. We can't wait to be back again in the future. read more