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    Thunderbird Bar & Grill

    3.2 (600 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Mexican
    Open 11:30 am - 8:30 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Thunderbird Bar & Grill Photos

    THUNDERBIRD BAR & GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Prickly pear margarita
    Kally G.

    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!

    Telly W.

    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.

    Margarita trailer stop!
    Jamie S.

    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.

    Beer menu

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

    Margarita Shrimp
    Dean H.

    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!

    Staff member that was rude to us and apparently is the manager yikes
    Jonathan L.

    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

    Prickly pear margarita
    Mariel T.

    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

    Beer by the pitcher - Two individuals sit at a bar counter, with a large pitcher of beer in front of them and beer taps visible in the background.
    Jim N.

    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!

    Chicken mole enchiladas - A plate of chicken mole enchiladas served with rice and sautéed vegetables, garnished with a lemon wedge, on a wooden table near a window.
    Silvia A.

    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.

    Chili fish tacos
    Andrea T.

    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!

    Grilled chicken sandwich
    Mary Z.

    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.

    Happiness and an orange-chili margarita!

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    24 days ago

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

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    1 year ago

    Nasty nasty drinks. Absolutely horrible. The patio seemed fun but we could not get a seat

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    I came here for my birthday dinner. I was alone, so I took a bar seat, and I had a lot of fun…read morewatching the kitchen. They make it look so easy! The food was delicious, but I decided on Coyote Cafe because of the dessert menu, and the burnt honey cake absolutely lived up to and surpassed my expectations! You can really taste banana leaf, the shaved halva adds a lovely sweetness, and it just melted in my mouth. The service was impeccable. They called me by name the entire time and even though I look quite young for my age, they treated me with respect. Their timing throughout the meal was perfect too, very attentive, but not stiflingly so. I exceedingly enjoyed my meal here, and I'll definitely be back to enjoy all the other dishes I want to try here.

    Arrived in Santa Fe on Sunday and headed To this area of…read moretown to check out the area- heard great things about the coyote Café and it's rooftop bar. The vibe was eclectic, the view was nothing special, but we were definitely in a happening spot. We did not sample any food during our visit, but we did sample a margarita and a cold beer. Service was poor. It took a long time to place our drink order and an even longer time to get the Alice margarita and a bottled beer do not know what the hangup was but 10 to 15 minutes to get those drinks seems a little bit excessive. The margarita was nothing special, although you don't expect anything special from a house margarita, most of the time... They had a margarita filled with special and unique margaritas that looked interesting to say the least - overall it's on the list of places you must see... But I don't know why it has made the list. I was just disappointed.

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    Market Steer Steakhouse

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    i made reservations quite some time ago to celebrate a special occasion. we arrived and were…read morepromptly seated. the entire staff was incredibly friendly!! special shout out to Annette our server. started out with shrimp cocktail for an app, then a wedge salad. main entree was a rib eye. most of the plates are al carte so we ordered whipped potatoes. from start to finish the entire evening was a 10! the bill which included cocktails, appetizer, entrees and sides was $385.00 for two people. pricey, yes but worth it. i would do it again!

    This would be 5 stars if we were not greeted so extremely rudely by the hostess . She really I…read morebelieved felt we were there to serve her. I have never been treated so coldly and with such disdain upon entering or leaving an establishment . This was my first time there as recently bought a home here . My friend kept saying really we will get good food and good drinks and good service. My friend and I came for early happy hour then to have dinner as I live on the edge of town . We sat at the bar and I had the best dirty martini of my life . And I have been drinking them for about 4 decades . She was attentive, sweet and we didn't have to wait for our appetizers. Now I am old and beyond paranoid but this hostess woukd catch our eye and give us the most degrading and spiteful look. Anyway I said I am not spending anymore money here due to this wench supposed to greet people . I have to say the male host was very nice and she said nothing in front of him. He greeted us warmly as we made our way to the bar and again upon exiting . My advice : this establishment needs to teach this tall brunette how to greet customers warmly and kindly and not almost trip them as they try to enter and then never give a gracious word .

    Thunderbird Bar & Grill - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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