Looking for tasty Mexican cuisine without traveling to the southwest or south of the border? Then head to the tiny village of Tivoli and find what you're looking for at Santa Fe.
"We opened in 1987. Santa Fe began after a trip I took in college. I had bought a van for $200 and myself and some friends decided to drive to Mexico. I'd always worked in restaurants, but I'd never eaten Mexican food. I went back to Mexico a couple more times and each time I got more excited by a new kind of food, a new kind of bright flavors. After college I thought it would be really cool to open a restaurant and that was really the beginning of Santa Fe," said David Weiss, the owner.
Taking his passion for the Mexican fare to the Hudson Valley was an easy decision.
"I loved Tivoli and I've lived in Tivoli. It's been a great thrill to see the community grow. What we offer is homemade, handmade food where the flavors come through," said Weiss.
Quesadillas, burritos, enchiladas, and tacos are just some of the staples you'll find on the menu.
"My style of cooking is home style cooking. I really like cooking with fresh ingredients and that's one of the things I really like about here. We cook everything fresh every single day from our salsa verde, to our mole sauce, and things like that. Our enchiladas are very good. Our typicos and things like that. It's nice and saucy and has a pack of flavor," said Noelle Gushlaw, the head chef.
The ownership and staff hope that when you leave Santa Fe, you'll be leaving with more than just a satisfied craving.
"Obviously I want them to remember my food. If they're having a bad day I want the food the best part of their day," said Gushlaw.
"That they feel like they've come to a place that's warm and that cares. Because we really do. I think its privilege to serve people and to feed people and to be a part of their lives when they're not at work," said Weiss.