On a recent trip to Santa Fe, we walked all around the downtown area looking for a place to eat. Nothing was really appealing to us until we walked by the Thunderbird Bar and Grill and decided to give it a shot. We were pleasantly surprised at the decor and the friendly staff. We ate inside because it was a little hot outside but they do have some seating out on an upstairs patio where you can watch the excitement around the square. My daughter got the barbecue flavored chicken wings and I got the wedge salad. I love trying a wedge salad wherever I go and the salad itself was good but the relish or whatever it was that came with it was too spicy for me! Thankfully it comes on the side. The bacon was nice and crispy and overall I would give the salad a 7 out of 10. My daughter was surprised at how many wings she got and I ended up eating a couple because she could not finish them. They were not the best wings I've ever tasted but they were very good. We were not rushed in any way and it was nice and cool in there and we were both very happy with the decision to stop there. read more

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Fun impromptu lunch today during our Santa Fe visit! Our server took great care of us and we all enjoyed our food! I got a local Pilsner and my husband a Dr. Pepper. The BLT Wedge salad was absolutely delicious! I loved the green chiles! My husband enjoyed his portobello sandwich and shared some of his fries with me. Will definitely remember Thunderbird next time we visit! read more

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Pretty sure this place is still open because of the location. Frito pie was super greasy and gave us the runs. I ordered the steak and enchiladas and it was pretty good! Service was a bit weird but we were there on a random Tuesday. read more

Thunderbird Bar & Grill - Steak and Enchiladas - American Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Great location. Sit in balcony if you can. Food was good. We got the sliders and the New Mexican burger. Service was very nice. Thanks Willie. And nice who i presume was the owner stopped by tables to check in. Nice touch. Worth the fun view. read more

Thunderbird Bar & Grill - Sliders - American Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Quick seating, lovely location, nice staff bar!!! I have the most amazing salad wedge... I chose the chorizo dressing as a savory... Fabulous read more

Thunderbird Bar & Grill - lovely place that has a full bar and lovely lunch menu... Worthwhile stop. - American Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

If you love a jalepeno and/or prickly pear margarita this has the best in the country - and I have margaritas everywhere! These were MUY PERFECTO! read more

Thunderbird Bar & Grill - Prickly pear and Spicy margarita - American Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

In town with family looking to grab some drinks. Stopped in to Thunderbird Bar where the bartender promptly greeted us and provided drink menus. This bartender was obviously swamped but was trying his best to tend to everyone. He asked the female bartender to help out with grabbing a few of our drinks. She looked back at us and declined to help. Another bar back was walking past and I attempted to ask him a question to which he said "yes" before I finished the question. The initial bartender managed to get our drinks. The other 2 less than helpful staff never smiled and appeared to be hating the job. The drinks came and the margarita was awful- so tart with what seemed to be spoiled mixer none of us could drink it. People were starting to fill up the bar area, we left disappointed. read more

We were here for the week of Thanksgiving and stopped in for a casual dinner. We chose to sit on the heated balcony that overlooks the plaza. Note: dogs are welcome! It was a bit chilly but the heater was nice. All of the food (&margaritas) were delicious... we each had a bowl of soup... I had tortilla and my spouse had the pork chili. We also tried the margarita shrimp appetizer and it's the best thing we've eaten in town so far. I NEED this recipe, because I'll dream about this dish!! Note 2: it's on the 2nd floor so you do have to climb a set of stairs. read more

We popped in here for an afternoon Margarita to kick off the Margarita trail of Santa Fe. My Margarita was a classic with fresh lime, so it was tart and tasty. Our server was quick. We got to sit on the cute little balcony patio that overlooks the plaza. Apparently it's the only one! But holy cow we got the check and the margarita was $18.50. It was just your normal margarita. I understand tourist pricing is generally higher, but yikes! $18.50 is next level. read more

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The food and drinks were delicious with very friendly service! I can't wait to go back! read more

Thunderbird Bar & Grill - House Margarita, Margarita Shrimp, & Caesar salad - American Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

We came in two separate times while in Santa Fe- thank you to bartender Rick for a great experience! He was super friendly and made a yummy prickly pear margarita! read more

Thunderbird Bar & Grill - Prickly pear margarita - American Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Nice place for lunch. Ambiance was high, plenty of customers. The food was good, ordered the chicken sandwich and wilted salad. Unfortunately their service was horrible. Our waitress was no where to be found when it came to paying. Had to flag 3 different servers before someone could help us. read more

Second time here! We stop in for beers and frito pie and a really great patio seat overlooking the plaza. Love it here. Good service decent prices. read more

Thunderbird Bar & Grill - American Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Saturday night 5:00 p.m. dinner was excellent, especially the tilapia and red chile rice and salmon! Good service, good atmosphere, will be back for sure. Great anniversary dinner for us! read more

First time visit to Thunderbird. Suuuper good food. We all got something different that suited our tastes. The very best part of our experience was our server, Isaiah, who was friendly and engaging throughout our visit. Thanks, you rock! read more

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Only dropped by for a few drinks on the balcony and it was wonderful! Sadly we already had dinner plans.. but all of the tables next to us seemed pleased read more

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A Disappointing Shift After Years of Loyalty I've been coming to Thunderbird Bar and Grill since December 2012, and over the years, it has become a staple for me in Santa Fe. The outdoor patio overlooking the Plaza has always been one of my favorite spots, and I've consistently enjoyed the friendly service, yummy food, warm smiles, and welcoming atmosphere. Unfortunately, my experience today--June 29, 2025--was a stark departure from the standard I've come to expect. My husband and I arrived around 3:00 PM, during a quiet time with very few other guests present. We were greeted with a smile by a gentleman at the front and specifically requested a booth, which he said was fine. While I stepped away to use the restroom, my husband was approached by another staff member--who turned out to be the bartender--and was abruptly told we could not sit there. When my husband politely explained we had already received approval, the bartender responded in a rude and dismissive tone: "Well now I'm telling you that you can't." When I returned and was informed of what had happened, I approached the bartender to clarify. He responded with the same condescending attitude. I asked another staff member to speak with a manager, and I was told that the bartender was, in fact, the manager on duty. This kind of treatment was deeply upsetting, especially given our long history with the restaurant. I'm not seeking anyone's removal from their position, but I do expect those in leadership roles to model professionalism and respectful communication. Authority should never be used to diminish a guest's experience. Unless I receive a direct response from management or ownership acknowledging this incident and outlining how it will be addressed, I will not be returning to Thunderbird. I believe in accountability, growth, and second chances--but today, for the first time in over a decade, I left Thunderbird feeling disrespected and disappointed. -- A once-loyal patron read more

Thunderbird Bar & Grill - Staff member that was rude to us and apparently is the manager yikes - American Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Food was delicious but the service is sloooooooow, no refills, had to waive a waiter down to get another drink. read more

Thunderbird Bar & Grill - Beer menu - American Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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Upstairs dining overlooking the square in downtown Santa Fe. Great food and service at a relatively reasonable price. House margaritas are $10, half the price elsewhere in the area. My wife and I both ordered lunch off the soup menu, as we've been on the road for nearly 2 weeks and are tired of fried food and burgers. She had chili, while I had the chicken tortilla soup. Both were served with a hot tortilla on the side. Both were very tasty, and a perfect portion size for less than $12. We enjoyed so much so we had lunch there again the next day, though this time I had the green chili pork stew, while she had the chili again. I would have both the green chili pork stew or chicken tortilla soup again in a heartbeat. Enjoyed the food and service and the upstairs outside view of the square is great. Definitely recommend. read more

(June 2025) After celebrating mass (Saturday vigil) at The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, my wife and I came here for dinner. I ordered the Atlantic Salmon, which came with sautéed spinach and mashed potatoes (with green chili mixed in) ($23.45), and my wife got the Roasted Chicken Breast, which came with mole sauce, broccolini, and rice ($21.45). The chicken breast is boneless. The hotel we stayed in recommended Thunderbird as one of the best places for dinner in the plaza. It was definitely a good call! read more

Get the fried calamari. It's excellent. Nicely fried with lots of calamari as well as small pieces of onion and red and green peppers. Served fresh and hot. We shared it between 2 people as a small entree with a side salad and it was more than enough. Plenty for the table as an appetizer. Margaritas were unremarkable. The Flaca was particularly unimpressive. It's supposed to be a premium margarita but all I could taste was lime juice . Super sour and no detectable tequila. Not worth $15. Our server was good, brought the food out fast and was pretty friendly. read more

We visited Thunderbird Bar and Grill for a quick bite on a weekday afternoon. It was not crowded, and we opted to eat inside because the patio was a bit warm. It was not a good experience, more of a disappointment. Service was slow and inattentive, and we had to ask for drinks and refills more than once. We got the trio of dips and chips, which consisted of tortilla chips, guacamole, salsa and queso. The chips were decent, the guacamole was not seasoned well, the salsa was pretty good, the queso not so much. It's a nice space with a long bar, TVs, etc. Perhaps the service and food were not up to par because it was slow. It was hard to tell. We don't need to go back! read more

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After walking around several churches and shopping places, we came here hungry and thirsty! The good- smelling host led us to an outdoor seating overlooking a park. Service is excellent- she made sure we had everything we needed. Lastly, the food was divine. Check out my pictures- enjoy! 4.8 stars! read more

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The food was very good. Service was a little slow but it was very busy so all in all, good service. We got the mole enchiladas which had really good flavor and unique corn tortilla, would totally order again. Also a pulled pork sandwich, little messy but hey, messy is good!!! Finally also got a burger which had really good seasoning and flavor. read more

Thunderbird Bar & Grill - Chicken mole enchiladas - American Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

We were hot, tired, thirsty, hungry and standing right in front of this place in Santa Fe. Lunch decision made! It's on the second floor of a corner building on the Governers Square. They have a nice balcony, but it was so hot we chose to eat inside. The inside was open and bright, and we were served water without even asking for it (a rarity). Our server was bright and friendly and our food came out fairly quickly. They specialize in sandwiches, and my cousin got the sliders from the appetizer menu. She asked to substitute onion rings for the fries, and said everything was good. Her husband liked his burger, and I enjoyed my grilled chicken sandwich with tomato and mozzarella. At my request, they brought it with half the cheese, which was plenty. There were lots of crisp-enough fries on the side, and there was more food than I could eat. I think they were pretty busy, because our server never had the chance to return to the table to see if we needed anything (I could have used more water on that hot day). Honestly, nothing was spectacular, but it was just what we needed. The prices were right, though, and I'd definitely return for a quick, filling lunch. read more

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Stopped in for a quick snack and a few drinks. Ordered the mahi-mahi tacos. They were absolutely mouth-watering. The service was on point. Even though it was busy he never seemed to rush. Rick has a great talent for creating a lively and relaxed vibe. read more

This is such a fun patio to enjoy views of the magnificent Santa Fe square and people watching! I had the green chile pork stew and my husband had the chicken tortilla soup. Both soups were really fresh and piping hot with good seasoning. I had the orange-chili margarita that was pretty delicous. However, the rim was sweet when I would have preferred a saltier rim. I would ask for that next time. Just a personal preference. THEY BREW THEIR OWN TEA!!! That is important to us! The service was prompt and attentive. I would definitely return and would like to see what the view is like in the evenings. read more

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I don't know what all the fuss is about but I found the place to be food service quality fare. Chips seemed to be from bulk plastic bags from their supplier. Food wasn't really tasty at all. Service mediocre. Prices typical for tourist traps. Atmosphere was like 1980s sports bar... read more

Great food and great service! I had a wilted spinach salad with chorizo dressing which was really good and huge! We got to sit out on the heated patio and it was a really great lunch. We will be back next time we are on the square! read more

- nice rooftop overlooking town square - friendly service - they attract friendly customers - perfectly sized apps - quick service read more

The best aspects of Thunderbird are the balcony dining overlooking the plaza and the service. The balcony speaks for itself. Our server, Ari, was attentive, solicitous, prompt, cheerful and funny. She handled gleef our modifications to the order and got our ice cold beers out quickly. They lost stars for the food. The chicken wings were dry, chewy and small without much flavor. The dips were watery (how can you do that to a bleu cheese dip). They were also unremarkable in flavor and punch. I might go again to give them a second chance and to enjoy the people watching. I'll also ask for Ari in hopes she sticks around. read more

I came in on Sunday at about 2:00 PM for a quick snack and drink. I was able to be seated right away, and be in and out within a half hour. I ordered their spicy margarita, which was excellent. Heavy on the jalepeno, not to sweet and packed a pleasant punch. They nailed it. I also ordered their Tostada Tinga-the grilled chicken with the veggies and cheese on this was wonderful. It was the perfect afternoon snack. read more

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Walked in to a mostly empty bar and was greeted by a gentleman playing with the menus who asked us if we wanted a seat. This man never cracked a smile. When we sat, we ordered our drinks. I got the House Margarita and my husband got an Old Fashion. Both were atrocious. His Old Fashion was not made properly, they forgot the sugar cube and pulverized the orange to the point that little orange pulp was floating in the drink. The Margarita tasted like swill. We ordered the Dips and Chips Trio. The salsa was mediocre at best, the queso was Velveeta. The only decent thing was the guacamole and chips. Do not waste your money my friends. read more

I really wanted to like this place. We're having a lovely vacation in Santa Fe, and we stopped here on a whim after a long morning and afternoon for a drink and a snack. It was right on the Plaza, great location, with an outdoor second floor patio and very nice servers. Everyone who worked there was just lovely. How could I possibly give one star to a place where it was a nice setting with nice people? Because we ordered two drinks and two snacks and all four items were horrible: and we are not picky people. Give us some food or drinks and we're almost always happy. Almost anything is acceptable. We'll rave about something that's truly delicious, but we won't complain too much about meh food. So if we think all four items we ordered were truly bad, this has unfortunately got to be a one star review. My husband ordered an old fashioned and it was strangely sweet and spiced-- like they put the wrong ingredients in it. It was just bad. For his snack he ordered some chips and salsa. The salsa tasted and looked like something from a jar at the supermarket (Pace picante sauce-ish). For my drink I ordered a spicy margarita with muddled jalapeños in it. There was no detectable spice or heat or pepper flavor. There was not even any detectable alcohol. You might get a "dud" of a jalapeño pepper, but there's not really any reason to not have alcohol in your expensive drink. For my snack I ordered a bowl of pork stew. It was completely flavorless. It tasted like some bits of pork, celery and onions were floating in canned chicken broth. Except it really needed salt. And then, the price was the same as the last two (full) meals we had on this vacation, which were both delicious and both included alcohol. So we paid a lot for it compared to other places we've tried. So unfortunately I can't recommend this place. I'm sure with their amazing location on the Plaza, they'll continue to have a steady stream of tourists coming in. Maybe they don't need to have anything appealing to eat or drink. read more

Thunderbird Bar & Grill - Old fashioned which was strangely sweet; and spicy margarita which wasn't spicy and had no detectable alcohol in it. Tasted like limeade. - American Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Sat for 20+ minutes without anyone taking a drink order. We asked for a waiter three separate times.

Like so many of Santa Fe's hidden gems, Thunderbird is a second-floor establishment and therefore sits hidden back from street view. Thankfully, there was an enticing enough menu by the sidewalk that compelled my husband and I to spontaneously step in for a quick bite. I will never, ever turn down fried calamari if I see it on a menu, and the ones at Thunderbird are exceptional. Instead of just squid rings, there are also battered pieces of zucchini and deep-fried slices of red pepper. The cynical part of me wondered if the veggies were being used as a cheaper filler; the happy eater in me really couldn't care less. I also ordered the fish tacos. It's made with fat chunks of grilled mahi mahi, with two per order. When the server asked if I wanted mine on corn or flour tortilla, she was amenable to my having one and one. Both choices were good - the corn tortilla offering a slightly sweet grit and the flour tortilla acting as a soft case for the meaty fish. I'm not usually a fan of raw onions, but the pickled red onions provided a much-appreciated acidity, along with the most attractive splash of color. Service here is fantastic. We came in for an early lunch and were seated right away (though be warned - as we got closer to the dinner hour, seats and bar stools filled up quickly). Our servers were unobtrusive with their check-ins, and we liked the cozy and casual feel read more

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Fine overall. The enchiladas were what the young 20s today might refer to as 'mid.' The margaritas were margarific. The setting is good. The service is good. The location? Perfect. I recommend sitting outside so you can overlook the plaza. read more

Both balconies are fun, and my wife had a wonderful chicken tortilla soup for lunch one time, and then we returned another time for dinner, which I recalled we enjoyed, even if I can't remember what we had. We've eaten often across the street at the San Francisco Street Grill and were intrigued by couples dining in the back balcony of the Thunderbird directly opposite, so it was extra fun to dine there. read more

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience at Thunderbird Bar & Grill this evening. We had a table on the balcony overlooking the plaza. Our server, Matt was exceptional -- he was warm, polite, professional, attentive, and a true gentleman. We had the prime beef sliders and a house burger. The burgers were the best we've had in a long time, and the fries and onion rings were also cooked perfectly. Nice presentation as well. And the frozen margaritas were delicious and refreshing . We'll be back! read more

We were in Santa Fe for an art show and went to the Thunderbird for a late lunch and drinks afterwards. I'd remembered it was a nice restaurant upstairs from the Plaza w a nice balcony over looking the Plaza. The balcony was full and the weather was still hot so we ate inside which had plenty of open seating and comfortable. The inside was nicely decorated and clean. Our server was a young woman who was very nice and attentive. We started w the Nachos to share and they were ok - not great. Then we ordered various dinners of the fish tacos, chicken Mole', salad w grilled chicken and roast beef sliders. Everyone enjoyed their dinners but I'd like to get the Chicken Mole' next time in lieu of my fish tacos. Most dishes came w the standard beans and rice which were both ok - not great. I also had a Margarita rocks w salt and it was good. Our server was very gracious in splitting our tickets. I'd go there again for lunch or dinner and drinks. They do have a nice big bar to relax after doing a lot of sightseeing. Not sure if there's an ADA access for handicap people since it's upstairs. Because of the bland rice, beans, and nachos I dinged it 1 star. But I do recommend this restaurant. read more

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