Sazón was a phenomenal experience. To start, our waiter, Osiris who was extremely welcoming and attentive throughout our entire experience. Not only was he incredibly knowledgeable, but pleasant. The head shaft welcomed everybody and took the time to sit with each customer and make sure everybody was satisfied. This will be a regular restaurant for us now.. And try the chef's dessert! read more

Another pretty great find... An unforgettable dining experience at Sazón in Santa Fe with the legendary Chef Fernando Olea, a James Beard Award winner. Meeting the chef made the evening even more special! We enjoyed the incredible Pulpo, the famous Sopa de Amor, crispy Pork Belly, the unforgettable Enmolado de Pato (Muscovy duck with sweet potatoes and Chef Olea's signature mole), and ended with the iconic Dulce Sinfonía dessert. Every dish was a masterpiece of flavor, artistry, and passion. If you're visiting Santa Fe, Sazón belongs at the top of your list. Wonderful Ambiance! Must be dressed at least business casual. #SazonSantaFe #ChefFernandoOlea #SantaFe #JamesBeard #FineDining #Foodie #PrettyGreatFinds read more

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Hmmm...food was not as impressive as the first time. This was our second time at Sazon--my partner brought me here for a surprise birthday dinner. The atmosphere is upscale and beautiful--love the decor and artwork. The service was on point; our server was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. The food this time was just ok, except for the Sopa de Amor: Chef Olea's signature soup--that was heaven in our mouths. The steak (Popocatepetl: spicy black pepper crusted aged angus beef tenderloin / red cabbage and snow peas in cilantro vinaigrette / jasmine rice) we shared looked nothing like the description. Either our server was clueless regarding gluten-free, because this wasn't up to our standards for a high-end restaurant--the flavor wasn't the same as we remembered from several years ago, and the steak (medium rare) inside was colder--not room temperature, so I ended up not eating all of mine. Plus we had to ask for rice--which should have come with our meal since there isn't flour or any ingredients that would have made this harmful to me. Also, the side of asparagus it came with wasn't bright green and crispy--it was yellowish and flimsy-looking and tasting. For the price, this should have been more on point than what it was. We had split a steak, shared a soup, had a bottle of wine, two glasses of champagne, and a dessert--oh, and a $12 split change (something they suggested--even though my partner and I were fine eating from the same plate)...the bill was almost $400 with tax & tip. The dessert however, was presented beautifully with mixed berries and a liquor which was then lit on fire--a festive dessert option since I have a gluten allergy. There are so many wonderful restaurants. Unfortunately, the food did not leave us craving to come back for more. If the service and decor wasn't so impressive, Sazon would have received one stars. read more

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We had a lovely meal here with friends. The decor gives off Mexico and New Mexico vibes. The moles are definitely the star of the show, It would be nice if they could be bottled up to be taken home, which apparently they did at one point in time. The service was good after we got settled in, our waiter was attentive and the chef stopped by several time to check-in on us. My husband loved the pork dishes he tried, including the pork belly and the pork with your choice of mole. I agree that they did a nice job with the pork. The Azteca (yellow fin tuna crudite) was tasty, but a bit saucy and a little too salty. The Soup de Amor is a must get! And if you are a fan of tequila, they do flights with sangrita. I read a review that this place would benefit from having a set tasting menu, and I am in agreement. But for now the option is to share multiple dishes if there is a larger group. read more

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From beginning to end, perfection in both food and service! From the warm welcome to the knowledgable staff to the excellent food, it couldn't have been better! An extremely highly recommended experience!!! Muchas gracias por una velada perfecta! read more

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I have concerns about anyone who would give this restaurant less than 5 stars. Service-impeccable. Food- I'm going to dream about for a long time. We got the poblano soup (soupa amore?), shrimp enchiladas, and tiramisu. And the mole flight they brought out- just wow. I don't even like mole and I was obsessed with every single one of them. We will definitely be back! read more

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I was hoping for more based on the menu and reputation. The bar was closed for renovations when we arrived and our hope to get a pre-dinner cocktail was not possible. We ended up sitting at the table early and having a drink there instead. We picked a pinto noir from the very extensive and well-composed wine list so it could open up a bit. A tasting of five moles was then brought to the table along with mini tacos to sample and choose which we wanted with our entre. I was partial to the red and New Mexico. As an appetizer I chose the foie gras which was slightly undercooked and had a bit too much berry compote. My entree was the seared duck breast which was also undercooked and difficult to cut. I was hoping for a crispy skin and it was rather soft and chewy. The dessert was good from the couple of spoonfuls I had but I was expecting much more overall. read more

This is one of the greatest restaurants I've ever been to. It is a higher end restaurant and interior is nice, but still maintains a very cozy vibe. The food was absolutely spectacular. The staff and the overall experience made it even more INCREDIBLE!!! You have to eat here when you're in Santa Fe! Our Server was Gabrielle. I think she was the best server I have ever had!!! She was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and seemed to love her job. We trusted her guidance on a cocktail and dinner, and she did not disappoint. We even asked her for some recommendations for other spots in Santa After being seated you get the chef's mole samples to start. This was delicious and really assed fun experience. The chef came out and walked around to every table. We shared the Xochimilco appetizer, fish entree, and the chef's signature dessert. Everything we ate was phenomenal. If nothing else just visit here for this dessert. It was amazing!! read more

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This is an incredible experience. Feels like service one would expect in a cosmopolitan city. The food is not only served with several waitstaff but explained in detail. Friendly chef who checks on every table. The art work alone is breathtaking. Not to be missed. read more

I was really looking forward to this dinner because I'd heard so much about the food and the chef. We'd been to Santa Fe before but never realized this restaurant was here and had actually walked past it before. Since we were back in NM, we decided to try it out. PARKING: Parking was nearly impossible unless you luck out with a street spot. After circling a few times, we opted for their valet. There's no price listed, but they told us it was simply whatever we wanted to tip--super convenient given we were close to being late for our reservation. Dress Code & Ambiance They do have a business-casual dress code, though some diners were a bit more relaxed. There's also a sign outside before you walk in. Inside, the vibe is dimly lit and romantic, definitely not a place for kids. It feels more refined and intimate. Service & Drinks We were brought a variety of moles with mini tortillas to sample, which was a nice start. Our server was friendly. My husband ordered a mezcal flight, but they didn't initially explain what each mezcal was, we had to ask. I had the sangria; it was decent but not the best I've had. Food Flores de Calabaza: These were delicious, fried zucchini blossoms stuffed with various cheeses. Highly recommend. Moles & Entrées You pick your mole and then your protein. I love mole, but the traditional brown one was a bit too sweet and cinnamon-y for me. I chose duck as my protein. I was expecting a duck breast but they brought it out already sliced for me. would've liked to have sliced it myself. I ended up taking the rest of my mole and duck to-go. The busser took my plate to pack it in the back, and good thing the lid was transparent because I quickly noticed the mole was missing, only the duck was inside. I mentioned to the server, "I think it's missing the mole," and he responded, "Oh, that's a funny way of asking for more mole...I'll get you some." I thought that was an odd thing to say. When he came back with a side of mole, another server who witnessed the whole thing came over and said, "I'm glad you asked for mole. I saw the busser packing your food and asked if he was going to scrape the mole off the plate, and he said no." Our server then realized I wasn't the one who packed the food, and that's why he thought my comment was strange. Apparently, customers usually pack their own leftovers, but this night the busser did it for me. The mole itself was very good, so definitely check your to-go boxes before leaving. Sopa de Amor This was my least favorite. I love crab soups, but the chocolate shavings and cinnamon on top were such an odd combination w/the seafood, IMO. The flavors didn't work together in my opinion and would've been better without all the extras. DESSERT: We shared The Symphony, and it was amazing, unlike anything I've tasted. I won't spoil the magic, but watching the older gentleman at the next table react with wide eyes like he'd just tasted the best thing ever was adorable and honestly matched how good it was. Chef Presence & Atmosphere While the food was enjoyable overall, there was an odd air about the chef. He would come into the dining room and just...watch. He never approached our table (until the very end), which made it feel a bit strange given how intimate the restaurant is. The part that really threw us off was when he got loud with a couple of the staff members IN THE DINING ROOM, loud enough that I turned around to see what was going on b/c hubby told me 'chef doesn't look happy'. He seemed upset about a table arrangement, and the dining room was not the place for that conversation to be flapping his arms in the air in anger. If that's how he speaks to staff in front of guests, I can only imagine the kitchen dynamics. It felt very unprofessional. Toward the end of dinner, he did stop by our table while I was in the restroom. read more

This place is really unique. Before ordering, you get to try all their mole with mini corn tortillas. And you can combine multiple moles on your protein. The mole comes without any accompaniment, which I did think was a bit odd. But overall this was an enjoyable experience. read more

Sazon - Duck with mole - Mexican Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

I'm giving this place five stars because the food and the service were amazing. However warning warning warning this is a meat broth heavy location. If you are a vegetarian or vegan I suggest you look elsewhere. Even the dishes that may look vegetarian are prepared with chicken or pork broth. This also includes the sauces that they serve as an appetizer and the salad dressing. They do have a couple of vegetarian sauces if you ask, but you may be a bit hard pressed to create a vegetarian meal here. I was told that they could make me some tofu when I asked about vegetarian dishes. That said, I'm not a vegetarian though I order that way on many occasions and like to explore the vegetarian and vegan options. So this worked out alright for me. I had the stuffed eggplant (chicken broth) and we also had the squash blossom appetizer. As mentioned above the food was delicious and the service was outstanding. My real concern is that they don't make it clear on the menu (perhaps I missed it) that things are not vegetarian. If you're in the area and that works for you then give this place a try, it's quite good. Prices are Santa Fe normal pricing for finer dining. read more

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The food, service and ambiance were exemplary. The staff was attentive and ever present. Michelin class all the way around. The Sopa de Amor is perhaps the best soup I have ever eaten. I would highly recommend and I will be back next time in SF! read more

Sazon - Mexican Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Sazon, Chef (who checks on guests), staff (especially Gabrielle!) were attentive professional, friendly & fun. Do yourself a favor, take their suggestions! A few of the mezcals & dishes we never would have picked & were so glad we did. Absolutely everything was an experience, beautifully served in a romantic restaurant. The famous awards are easy to understand. read more

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Delectable food! Neat atmosphere. The service was a little dispondent and the chef came out frequently, but only spoke to one table of people. Orherwise, we loved Sazón. read more

Overall, this was a very underwhelming experience. The restaurant presents itself as fine dining, but it struggled to execute the fundamentals. We were seated immediately but waited about ten minutes before anyone greeted us. When our server finally arrived, he wished us a happy anniversary--even though it wasn't our anniversary. While not a major issue, it's the kind of detail a restaurant at this price point should get right. After ordering drinks, water, and our meals, we were told everything was available except the duck. My wife ordered the sopa de amora and the halibut special. I ordered the frijole negro and attempted to order the Popocatépetl, only to be told it was unavailable that evening. Instead, I was offered a $90 Wagyu steak. For a restaurant of this caliber, the menu should be updated or guests should be informed of major changes upfront. It felt like a bait-and-switch. Our drinks arrived, but after finishing our water, we were told more would be brought out. It never arrived until dessert, when I had to ask again. The frijole negro was excellent--the best dish of the night. Unfortunately, my wife's soup was disappointing. We were told it had to be eaten from top to bottom or bottom to top for the flavors to work properly, and this explanation was delivered in a somewhat condescending manner. Despite being described as "the best soup in the state," the flavors simply felt off. For the entrées, my steak was good, but the rice was overcooked and mushy. My wife's halibut was completely under-seasoned, and her rice was equally inedible. Dessert was better. The crepes were enjoyable, though the walnuts were noticeably burnt. I don't usually nitpick, but when a restaurant charges premium prices, the food and service should justify the cost. Unfortunately, both were mediocre, and the overall experience fell far short of expectations. read more

My friend and I had a short stay in Santa Fe and was recommended to have dinner at Sazon. We were lucky enough to stop by during restaurant week in Santa Fe and we were able to sample different things on the menu. We can both agree every dish was amazing. We were all attended to, our waitress was very sweet answering all our questions and catering to our needs. I even asked for tortillas and she quickly brought some to our table. Each dish had so many good flavors and depth to each bite but our favorite was the crepes. I was not able to try the sopa de amor due to an allergy to crab but my friend said it was very delicious and it was she would recommend. The restaurant was very intimate decorated with beautiful paintings. It's safe to say this was the best meal I've ever had. I would return to New Mexico just for this restaurant. read more

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This place is a very overrated. Chef Fernando Olea, best Chef of the Southwest 2022 James Beard Award Winner created a very interesting menu. but nothing really stick to my palate. We started the meal with the tasting of different mole, some are too sweet to our taste. the red mole and green chile are the favorite. there's also an option of icecream before the meal. which i highly recommend you to try. it's a very interesting taste which supposed to open your palate. it contains five flavors. but i think the caramel is a bit overpowering , i was not able to catch the avocado flavor which is already pretty mild by itself. our table of 5 ordered couple things to share. actually nothing really impressed us. Cholula being the weakest, the only one dish the whole table couldnt even finish. I had their chef's signature crab soup, i was pretty disappointed. the combination of cold foam and lukewarm soup makes it not enjoyable, and the crab flavor is very weak. for main i had an appertizer Pulpo as main as i was not hungry. they messed up the order at first and i had to wait while eveyrone else was enjoying their main course. when Pulpo was served , I was very confused that on the menu it says octopus sautéed in olive oil with pork belly and thai chili. i looked through my bowl i couldnt find a single piece of pork belly or thai chili, i asked the waiter about the pork belly, and i was told that the pork belly was infused. (???) what does that mean? that's not called with pork belly , it's false advertising and i was really disappointed. the service was a bit overdone. it was trying to do white glove but they kept messing things up. we were sitting at the corner of the restaurant it was really hot and no airflow because the AC vent was blowing out and no air circulation in our corner. We asked about if there's any fan, the waiter said he will check but didnt do anything or say anything after. our table everyone was sweating the whole time couldnt wait to get out of there. it was a terrible experience in summer. read more

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Easily our favorite dining experience in Santa Fe. I made a reservation in advance, which I highly recommend. Wonderful meal, we had the Duck breast with mole, Seared Tuna, Chicken Enchiladas, Suzanna's Salad, and the Flores de Calabasas (stuffed zucchini blossoms). And the dessert, Dulce Sinfonia was incredible, it had a beet chocolate coating, avocado ice cream with pine nuts, and chile kick at the end - my favorite part of our meal! The in house Horchata both alcoholic, and non-alcoholic were delicious. Everything was excellent. Beautiful interior and nice service as well. Pricing is about $150 per person. read more

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tldr: THE SOUP This is a place where a tasting menu would be amazing because I'm sure everything is that good. Before they even bring the menu they bring out 7 moles to taste. Apparently moles aren't all dark chocolate spicy sauces ... ?!?? Loved the education and samples. I'm typically not a mole fan, but they were fun to try. We had the octopus but to me the sauce was too oily. The actual octopus was tender and delicious. Also had the duck skin tacos which were more of a minced duck meat taco and delish. The 5 stars go for impeccable service and the SOUP. This soup is not to be missed. Nothing on paper makes me think it should work but it totally does. It's a big lump of blue crap topped with creamy poblano pepper soup with whipped cream and amaretto and then topped with a spicy kick. Someone said cinnamon but for me it tasted more like hot red chili powder. Sounds incredibly weird but it was the best dish I've had in forever. Waitress was extremely knowledgeable and the chef was very welcoming and present in his cowboy hat! Space was cozy with amazing art. Perfect date night spot but plan to spend a bit of $$$ read more

Sazon - Blue crab, chili soup topped with an amaretto foam. The must order dish. Sopa de Amor - Mexican Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

My two brothers and I came here specifically for the tasting menu to celebrate two of our birthdays. Similar to another recent reviewer, the staff mistakenly thought we were celebrating an anniversary..... With a few exceptions, the dishes were quite average. The meal started with an avocado ice cream that was supposed to be a palate cleanser. We found it quite heavy and sugary. This was followed by a batter/fried shrimp that was just OK. There was a cucumber and yellowfin tuna ceviche sort of thing that was doused in an overpowering yet underwhelming Thai chili sauce. Two dishes later, we were served octopus with the exact same Thai chili sauce. Duck in mole poblano was overcooked and tough. A few dishes worth noting were crab in mole verde, foie gras in a raspberry sauce, and a deconstructed chile nogada. My brother and I got a "special" birthday dessert which was mascarpone layered with phyllo filled with berries, a sort of cheesecake. Nether of us cared for it. Our non-birthday brother received NO dessert. Does that mean that the tasting menu normally does not include dessert if it's not a birthday or special occasion? That would be very odd, but we did not bother asking at that point. The wine pairings were quite good and well planned. The dining room is certainly nice. The service was attentive, but our waiter was over the top. I stopped counting how many times he used the word "beautiful" to describe each course. We don't need to be told how great the food is if it is truly is great. The meal will speak for itself.... This restaurant receives rave reviews and was recommended by several friends when we told them that we were visiting Santa Fe. It is quite possible that the à la carte menu is a better choice. From our experience, I would not prioritize dining at Sazon. There are a lot of other great restaurants in Santa Fe and those often come at a more reasonable price point. read more

Went for a group meal for a work event. The service and food was a 10/10. Absolutely top notch attention from the chef and staff. The art of hospitality isn't lost here. Some of the chefs dishes are so memorable I will think about them for years until I return. Which I definitely will! read more

Sazon - Mexican Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

I knew I was in for a treat when my husband made a reservation at Sazón for our anniversary. He knows I love art and good food, and I was not disappointed. The setting is intimate, with a dimly lit, Mexican-themed décor (perhaps a bit too dim, as I needed my phone's light to read the menu) and beautiful paintings on the walls. The service was excellent. Our waitress was attentive, describing the dishes and even sharing some of the history behind the ingredients. The only drawback was the wait time for drinks. Whether it was our cocktails or the wine and beer we ordered, there was a very long delay each time. Out water was constantly refilled though. The menu offers creative interpretations of Mexican dishes, and we both really enjoyed our meals. I started with the Frida Kahlo cocktail, which was lovely. We tasted each other's appetizers, mains, and desserts, giving us a great sense of the whole menu. It was a unique experience, perfect for a special occasion! read more

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Every morsel of food made the clean plate club. I'm glad I ditched my coworkers for my reservation. You must try every mole! My favorite was the apricot mole and I had that with lamb chops as my protein. Along with the chops came a delightfully light sweet potato purée and a vinaigrette beets? The chef chose the sides and he chose wisely. The sopa de amor was... interesting. I don't think I've ever had anything like it! I'm not a fan of seafood but man, did this plate perform! I was lucky that I took the waiter's recommendation for my drink and had the spicy watermelon margarita. It was sweet, spicy and a perfect pairing for my meal. Overall vibe was classy, upscale, and artsy. read more

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We used to go to Santa Fe every year during the 90s but haven't been there since 2015 when we rode a Harley up the Sandia Crest and then into Santa Fe for an evening. Having just attended the Balloon Fest in Albuquerque, we spent four days in Santa Fe. I was researching the dining scene in Santa Fe and Sazon came to my attention having a James Beard award winning chef. We were lucky to get one of the last reservations on a Thursday night. We quickly learned that mole was the house speciality. We were presented with a palate of different moles to sample and choose from for our meal (see picture below). We choose the green one to go with our pork main. We started with the chef's special soup and were instructed to not stir the soup but scoop all the way down. Absolutely amazing. You get a different flavor profile in your mouth as you digest the many complex components to the soup (similar experience with desert). Our main of pork with the green mole was exceptional. Service was friendly and efficient. read more

Sazon - Desert - Mexican Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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You can track the decline of society in time with this restaurant. Over the past seven years, the soup bowls and margarita glasses have shrunk twice. The black bean soup with all its ethereal silkiness is now pasty. No more sitting before a wood stove in the cozy bar area; first that table went, then all of them started to be regularly blocked off. The one reliably transcendent menu item -- oh, those squash blossoms -- was out on both of my last visits, which we were not informed of until trying to order them. Those two visits spanned two years as this is a special-occasions-only restaurant for me and most; it did not leave either of those occasions feeling honored, and the last attempt was likely my last. read more

James Beard Award winning chef (2022) + efficient and professional wait staff + phenomenal food= memorable dining experience. My wife and I were visiting friends who had tried to make reservations at Sazon since Fernando Olea won his James Beard Award for Best Chef/Southwest in 2022. Finally, we were in. But maybe not prepared for the astounding menu, flavor profiles and award winning service. Milk chocolate colors and conquistador lanterns greeted us from the bottom of the outside stairs - a warm invitation to vibrant southwestern and Mexican framed paintings and murals inside. We soon discovered how the ambiance set the mood for the evening. The hostess seated the five of us at a round table and soon we were greeted by Julian, our lively head server, and his well trained staff of assistants. Throughout the evening, Julian introduced each course as though directing the next act in a Broadway play. He teased the plot of the menu and credited the chef's creations. Each plate was delivered to the table- and removed from the table- by synchronized servers who took their cue from a head nod of the lead server or from Julian. We were enticed by an interesting specialty drink menu, wines, beers and sangrias. Several of us chose the sangria rojas, a slightly spicy, vibrant and refreshing blend of fruit and dry Spanish red wine. Authentically delicious. Bottled still water was offered as well. Two long sampler plates of several molé sauces were served with an explanation of their flavor profiles- including spicy, sweet and original. Entrees from the molé sauced side menu included your choice(s) of the sauces. That played to the chef's choice of the specific sides. The table ordered shareable starters; camarontini, colossal shrimp in a light crisp batter and served with sweet Thai chili aioli. Excellent. Small corn tortillas held crispy duck skin, cilantro and salsa verde to create a perfect Cueritos de Pato dish. I added the chef's signature soup; Sopa de Amor. Crab meat dotted a heavy cream over a puréed poblano base drizzled with amaretto. The chef encourages diners to taste each layer with spoonfuls from the bottom to the top. The best way to take a taste drive. Others had the silky black bean soup with jalapeños, white onion and crispy tortilla strips. My wife declared it to be a perfect balance of ingredients. I would agree. Our entrees included pork loin with molé, duck breast with a verde molé and a spicy molé with the chef's side of red cabbage and fluffy brown rice. Enmoladas de Pato was a wonderful dish of tortillas spread with silky smooth sweet potatoes, duck breast and covered with poblano molé. The chef's cholula was a masterpiece of ground lamb, beef and pork, nuts, dried fruits and spices served over a cold walnut sauce, pomegranate seeds and a balsamic reduction. It takes you to the edge. The shrimp enchilada married a creamy sauce of zucchini blossoms, poblano peppers and cheese. The final act was a true symphony of flavors that Julian suggested should be enjoyed with eyes closed. The chef's signature dessert, Dulce Simfonia, brought together flavors and textures that were unique to each diner's palate yet simple in their place in the dessert. Truly the exclamation point to a wonderful culinary experience. Bravo, Chef. Bravo ! read more

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I was very excited to have this classy dinner with my parents while visiting Sante Fe. I think there was alittle too high expectations, was the food good? Yes of course but as a whole did not blow me away. The staff are very friendly, we had reservations and were seated promptly. The place quickly became packed so reservations are a must. We started with the mole, which I had no idea translates to just sauce. That was fun and interactive. We ordered the octopus, shrimp, duck and rack of lamb. I think the lamb was the best dish, the sweet potatoes literally tasted like creme brûlée and that did blow my culinary mind. The other dishes were okay, nothing really exquisite sadly. There were weird moments when the staff would pick up your dirty plates. They would try to time it, to have two waiters pick them up at the same time. It just felt very awkward, not sure if anyone else had that same experience. A local explained to us that the chef is from Mexico and there is definitely a difference in flavors. I think for the authentic New Mexico experience this place will be a miss. read more

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Wow - so hard to describe the level of amazing that I just experienced with my family. We planned ahead (way ahead) and got reservations and it was so worth the wait! The service was superlative, the decor open, bright and full of life. But the food was like nothing I've had the pleasure of enjoying before! They have wonderful daily options that are incredible that showed off their imaginative chefs. The server recommended a few flagship options - their soup of love and their dulce simfonia that were just hard to explain. They included such an amazing combination of flavors, textures and combinations that I would never imagine combining but were absolutely perfect. This place deserves the hype - will definitely come back! read more

I happily snagged a last minute reservation and feel quite fortunate. This was an excellent experience. There is plenty to rave about. Remarkable blue crab, cinnamon, crème soup of the day. The Cholulo was a real treat and different than most anything I've ever eaten. The Mole Ice Cream with Sweet Potato and Beet chips was a perfect finish...however.... I did have three servers, a point that was never explained. All my neighbors held onto a single person. Probably my dining alone was the reason. Despite that hiccup, all was good. Highly recommend. read more

Sazon - Sazon - Cholulo - Mexican Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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First, the positives. The ambiance and artwork are beautiful, and the food itself is fresh, simply prepared, and very good. That said, the overall experience felt off. The service was attentive but came across as performative and a bit awkward. The synchronized plate clearing and the obligatory manager check-in felt more staged than natural. The food arrived very quickly, almost as if it had been waiting, which made the whole meal feel rushed. It didn't feel like a place that encourages you to settle in and enjoy a leisurely dinner. We were in and out in about an hour. For the price point, it didn't quite deliver. A straightforward sea bass with a few asparagus spears and rice for $65 felt excessive. On top of that, the reservation required a $50 fee, yet four menu items, including the only steak option, were unavailable. Overall, it was fine, but not somewhere I'd return. read more

My favorite! Went 2x in 3 days . Loved it. Chilean sea bass with green mole and pork with the red. Excellent ! Can't wait to come back read more

Sazon - Mexican Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

We came for the tasting menu, but it didn't live up to expectations. In hindsight, we probably would've enjoyed the regular menu more -- the tables around us who did seemed to be having a better time. It felt like we were a second priority, and the pacing was painfully slow since our meal moved only as fast as the slowest tasting table. Lots of waiting, especially before the first course. A few dishes stood out, but about half were bland or forgettable, and the drink pairings didn't add much. Overall, it felt more about ego than hospitality -- from the Corvette in the "manager" spot to being told not to take a bite until the narration started. Pretentious rather than refined, and for the price, we expected a much more polished and thoughtful experience read more

Refined take on Mexican food...so amazing! Best ever. Make sure to have a reservation as it is tough without one. Flight of mole to start and a tequila tasting, unique. Soup was unanimously incredible! Octopus starter was delicious as were the two mains we tried. Wish we'd had room for dessert. Decor is classy colorful, if that's a thing. Nods to Frida and Diego... Wonderful server who spaced the dishes so well that we wanted to try them all. read more

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I'll start with the positive: At my suggestion, our friend ordered the Chef's signature soup. It is truly a wonderful dish. (Though at $24 for a trifling amount a tad expensive) Our waitress was wonderful very warm, engaging, personable.exactly what you hope for. The negatives: When I arrived, I was told by the hostess, in a not very warm manner, that I could not be seated until our entire party of 4 had arrived. I know this is not particularly unusual, but the parking situation at the restaurant is problematic and my husband was circling to find a spot. Our friends were a minute away doing the same. Seems silly to make someone wait in the tiny entry when they could be comfortably seated instead. I ordered the Halibut. It was quite fine, but not special in any way. The asparagus spears had not had the ends snapped off before cooking, and there was a bit of brown rice on the dish. Unremarkable all around. My husband ordered the seared tuna dish. The waitress told him the chef prepares it raw inside and hubby said he would want it medium, not rare or even medium rare. When our dishes arrived, he took one bite of his and told me that his tuna filet was raw and cold inside...and also tough! A good pc of tuna, sashimi grade, would never be tough. He called the waitress and she was quite apologetic and returned it to the kitchen. The dish came back within 5 minutes and hubby said it was great; he said they prepared a new pc because it was tender, succulent and perfectly cooked to his instruction. But how did they get it so wrong the first time?? The last time we were at the restaurant he ordered a pork belly dish. The pork was so tough he only ate part of the dish. He told me then he didn't want to come back to the restaurant again. I told him it was a one-off and we should try again. After all, EVERYONE else raves about the place. Well, even though he was happy with the replaced tuna dish, he said it's just not worth it to him to come back again...hostess attitude, parking, etc. So I guess we're done with Sazon. Even though I wish I could replicate that soup!! read more

The Sopa de Amore and Sinfonia desserts are among the best things I've ever eaten and I have eaten at many great restaurants. Ambiance is wonderful and service was outstanding. The entrees were good but not up to the amazing standards of the soup and dessert. Pricey but worth it. read more

The restaurant business is very difficult because things can go wrong at any step in the process. Saxon was very charming. Nice staff, nice bar. Great tortillas and mole. However, I think that perhaps the problem may be with some vendors. Specifically the meat supplier. I ordered the lamb chops a few nights ago. They were substandard. Tough, chewy, not much flavor. I had difficulty cutting the lamb chops with a knife; yes, I had the correct knife. This was more like mutton. From a very mature sheep. What a disappointment. read more

We had such a fantastic dinner at Sazon tonight. We recommend the octopus and the duck skin tacos to start. Both of the soups are fantastic. The duck mole was a great main course. read more

Sazon - Mexican Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

What a wonderful dining experience! The food was fantastic. The staff was amazing. The dining experience begins with a tray of 5 different mole sauces and some mini tortillas for dipping. The staff encourages you to try all the sweet, savory, and spicy variations to prepare you for the dinner options to come. We had the Octopus appetizer that was wonderful. It is served in a broth and was extremely flavorful. The broth helped to prevent that dried out taste you get when the octopus is just charbroiled. The duct confit tacos were very good. The standout was the Sopa de Amor soup course . What a great blend of flavors with an Amaretto froth and cinnamon on top of an amazing chicken soup. This was the highlight of the meal and that is saying something given how all the courses excelled with flavor. The rack of lamb was excellent as was the fish special Halibut. Two different mole sauces paired to the specific meat. They also offered a very broad range of selections. Will have to return again just to try different variations of entrees with the different mole sauces. We were full but decided to have a desert based on the recommendation of a local couple we bumped into earlier in the day. The Helado de Mole Poblano was a great collection of flavors and was a wonderful end to a fantstuic meal. We also appreciated that Chef Olea stopped by our table at each course to make sure everything was perfect. Staff was amazing and very attentive. It was fun to watch them Orchestrate serving a table on 10. Obviously they practice their craft. It is not cheap to dine here but our old motto is: "There is no one better to spend money on than yourself" when it comes to dining. We have added Sazon's as our must go place in Santa Fe. read more

Chef Olea is a culinary master. He is thoughtful, thorough and magical. He is an alchemist that transforms the ordinary into the exquisite. Beautiful space, beautiful art and friendly, knowledgeable staff. Santa Fe has a glut of trendy, expensive, superfluous dinner options. Sazon is not one of these and is worth every cent. You will be delighted. Go experience the magic. You deserve this. read more