Del's Restaurant

Terrific spot in a hard hit town. Friendly waitress and great, rib sticking breakfast. Eggs perfectly done, awesome bacon, an atmosphere right out of another age. My heart bleeds for this town, hit by so-called progress and the need for speed of the same. If you’re ever in the area, please stop and visit Del’s and any other local business. You won’t be disappointed - a throwback to easier, slower, times gone by.

Stopped in for lunch and a cold one during our 10-day Route 66 road trip, and this place did not disappoint. Our server, Renee, was an absolute gem—friendly, helpful, and full of great recommendations. The $11 lunch special (chicken fried steak) was roughly the size of a hubcap and absolutely delicious. The bar’s got that classic roadside charm, the bathrooms are clean and come with some hilarious reading material, and the gift shop is delightfully kitschy in all the right ways. Tucumcari, you haven’t seen the last of us!

We came in here passing through. I chose this restaurant based on the high reviews. While dining in it's obvious it has such high reviews because it's probably the best restaurant in such a small town. We started with the beer battered green Chile strips and they tasted only like batter. Our food took way too long for it to come out cold. Food sat on hot plates but was less than room temperature. The only thing hot was the mashed potatoes. Everything is frozen canned or bagged nothing was fresh. Worst part was for an app, a kids meal and 2 entries we paid with tip $73. Service was friendly but the waitress clearly got overwhelmed the more people that came in and neglected us for awhile . The restaurant is clean and you'll be fed is all I can positively say.

This was a delicious stop for dinner! Everyone was friendly and the food was outstanding! I had the chicken parm sandwich which was delicious. My husband had their grilled chicken which was juicy and tasty. We didn’t have enough room left for dessert - but we wish we did because others talked about how amazing they were.

Was in town on a business trip and was told this is the place to stop, so I did. I'm glad that I did. The service was great. The food was really good. I got the stake, loaded mac and cheese, and loaded mashed potatoes. I recommend the loaded mac and cheese. It was super delicious. The loaded mashed potatoes was better once I added some salt and pepper. I understand the kitchen can't put that seasoning in it due to food allergies. I'm not knocking them for that. The stake was season well and had a great taste to it. I was too full for dessert. It did look good but was completely full from dinner. Definitely will be back if I'm in the area.

Sometimes the most popular places are the most mediocre in taste. Del's is touted as the best spot to eat in town! I can say they offer some fantastic prices for a meal, and the service and atmosphere is quite good (cute store!). The food however, caters to everyone. That is to say, unremarkable, bordering on bland or over seasoned. Chips n Salsa: chips were fresh and warm, but the salsa had 0 spice and bordered tomato paste (a hit with the kids for sure!) Taco: it was OK, I think a spicy salsa would have made this decent Enchilada: this had flavor but was over seasoned. Rice: not a fan Beans: good for dipping your chips in, but OK. Liver & Onions: Meat was tender and was pretty good, could have used more onions. Salad bar: OK Taco soup: No, and not to sound intentionally mean but I prepare a nice slow cooked beef and chicken and veggie for my dogs (without seasoning) and this soup reminded me of that.

Called in for lunch. A good menu with plenty of choices. I had Teriyaki chicken and my husband had liver and onions, both were very enjoyable. Staff were very friendly and service was quick.

A friendly quant little restaurant on Route 66. I ordered the Brisket Quesadilla and was pleasantly surprised. The chips and salsa were nice with some unexpected heat. The Margaritas were spot on. If ever in Tucumcari again I would definitely stop by.

Our waitress was amazing! We enjoyed dinner and beer on the patio and she brought a water bowl for our dog. Food was delicious. A great find

We diverted to Business Route 66 and among several derelict buildings parked here because this resto sounded interesting in Yelp reviews, and it boasted a menu of broad choices for lunch. Diane opted for a French Dip with a slice of Provolone, and French Fries, while I selected a Guacamole Salad and a Ground Beef Chalupa that was served on a plate with Mexican Rice and Refried Beans. The Guac was authentic, with tomatoes and onions, but somewhat bitter, and served with thin Tortilla Chips. The Fries tasted dead. Our server twice forgot to bring requested napkins. And a fly hovered near our table. The ambiance was that of a festive cantina. XXX-1/2 Stars overall!

My wife and I stopped here for dinner. The waitress was attentive at the start, but was hard to find later. She was nice enough to bring us a little sampler of their chile beers (see photo). I opted for the chile relleno because of the positive reviews. I was not quite so enamored - it is breaded and deep fried with a crispy crust, not at all like the typical eggy coating most people use. It was like eating a mozzarella stick. You may like it and conclude it's the best relleno you've had but I didn't. My wife had the salad bar, which she thought was just OK. Nice selection of prepared salads, but she thought they were a bit lacking in flavor. The interior of the place is interesting with lots of Route 66 artifacts, etc. Overall, not bad, but we didn't find it outstanding either.

Menu has a wide variety of choices from homemade to burgers and Mexican. Service is friendly and quick. Place was very busy with a small bar off in a smaller room. Good choices of beers. Plenty of parking. Consistent food and service.

Wow! This place is worth the detour off the highway. To start the salsa was spicy delicious I actually had to buy a couple jars from the gift shop it was so good. My chicken Sope was so good too! Juicy chicken, perfectly cooked sope dough, flavorful and spicy sauce. Even the rice on the side had chiles in it - YUM! We were able to sit outside with our dog and eat. Our waitress was on top of everything and took such great care of us even when the whole place was packed with other diners. Y'all gotta go check out this place!

Food was okay. Service was good but the restaurant was busy. The ambiance was vintage. Didn't seem to be a community, "Cheers" type of place. Maybe customers more from highway.

Good food, good service. We like mom and pop type places and this one fits. Nothing fancy but a good hearty meal with real service. Good stop in Tucumcari.

Excellent food... I had the Chili Rellenos with the green sauce! Lots of flavor and not too spicy!

Groovy spot Nice folks on Route 66!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!! Nice stroll down Route 66 in a cool town

Fantastic food and excellent service from Tinicka! Loved the chicken fried steak and fried okra.

We parked our huge truck in their generous parking lot. Upon walking inside for lunch we were greeted immediately with a smile. Once seated our sweet waitperson arrived taking our drink order, which was iced tea. It was delicious, crisp and freshly brewed. We both ordered steak fingers. Oh my gosh -- they arrived piping hot after just being prepared perfectly. I've never had steak fingers but this dish was somehow fried, not greasy at all, and served with milk gravy on the side for dipping. I loved this heavenly concoction! We each had different sides. Coleslaw, pinto beans, onion rings, and French fries. Each accompanying side was perfect. That is why we decided to order brisket and chicken fajitas to heat for tomorrow's supper since we're driving 8-hours. I explained that. They packed them so reheating will be easy and the veggies won't be a mess. The ambiance of the restaurant/bar was eclectic. An player piano was near us. The lights were all different and there was something to see everywhere. It wasn't overdone just interesting and clean. They have a wee gift shop and I noticed a meeting/banquet room on the other side. The menu also offered a variety of adult refreshments. One of my favorite things was seeing the regular customers come in and being warmly greeted by the waitstaff by name. We highly recommend this place and will return when in the area! UPDATED: 8 August--we ate the chicken and brisket fajitas for supper. Everything was absolutely delicious. We're glad we ordered them for today!

Very kitschy Route 66 eatery with good food. It was a little pricey but the decor offered lots to look at.

Had a very pleasant dinner. The place was packed, which is always a good sign when traveling. It is a rustic location that appers much smaller from the outside than it is inside. The staff was very friendly and offered their opinions when asked about an entrée choice. My chicken fried steak was very good, and I could tell it is something they know how to make. My wife had the chicken parmigiana, which was very tasty and a very large portion. We finished off the dinner with lemon meringue pie!

This restaurant has a cute decoration during Christmas. The price was fair and the food was ok. We didnt except high quality food from this restaurant. The waiter who was helping us was lil bit nervous and 0 customer service. Salad bar was ok and it didnt have many choices. I loved okra only. My main course was a grilled checked nothing special. It had a plain taste. My husband had the phily steak and he didn't like it as always.

Delicious food, service and atmosphere. I had the veggie fajitas. It's not on the menu but they make them. Loaded with squash, peppers.

We spent the night in Tucumcari on our way back to Corrales and went to our favorite go-to restaurant for dinner. Del's has always been great, and tonight, I decided to write a Yelp review. The food was, as always, superb. The salad bar is top-notch, and the homemade guacamole was a nice addition. My wife had both, and I confess that I snuck a bit of the guac from her plate. Good stuff. Our server, Renee, was a kick and knew exactly how to please her customers. She got a nice reward. I asked for a recommendation on a main course and was very satisfied with the chopped steak with onions and mushrooms smothered in brown gravy with a side of mashed potatoes and fried okra. Excellent. We love the delightful atmosphere and enjoyed meeting a local couple celebrating their 68th wedding anniversary. Del's will remain our favorite lunch or dinner place when passing through town. Highly recommended. Wait, I forgot the desert. You MUST try the Chocolate Eruption. Probably the most decadent, sinful, and delicious dessert I have ever had. How could I have forgotten?

What a fun place. At first we thought it was a stuffy steakhouse... Nope. Here's a clue it has its own gift shop.... I had the stuffed sopapillas our waitress recommended the chicken with the green scauce. I cheated and had both green and red... go with the green. My wife is gluten free (not by choice) she had the fish tacos, they were some of the best she ever has had. Two bonus rounds. 1) THEY HAVE CANDY CIGARETTES!! 2) my wife wanted a sopapilla so the chef fried her a corn tortilla to put honey on!!!

We were driving from LV to OKC and found this restaurant online which had great reviews for New Mexico food and decided to give it a try. We ordered takeout to bring to our hotel because we were exhausted and had our little dog as well. We were beyond impressed with the food. We tried the Batter Fried Hatch Chili Strips which were life changing. Literally, the best new food item I've had in years! Hubby had the Chicken Nachos and I had the Double Chili Relleños Plate and were the best I've ever had by far. Do yourself a favor and try Del's restaurant because you will not be disappointed!

We went to this restaurant on our first stop on a road trip; walked there from the Blue Swallow Motel. The hostess & servers were very kind! Our food came out SO fast, and the portions were large and delicious. They have a very big menu so it was hard to choose, but the asterisks next to certain items indicate the locals/tourists' favorites! We even went to the gift shop that's in the restaurant after dinner and bought a couple souvenirs. Would recommend this restaurant in Tucumcari!

Outstanding local restaurant in little Tucumcari. We ordered off the gluten-free menu and were thrilled with the many choices. We ordered beef tacos, pinto beans, green beans, chips and salsa, coleslaw, even a baked potato. Everything was fresh and delicious. Service was good.

We had a great dinner along Route 66 to cap off our Colorado/New Mexico trip. The food was classic, with lots of burgers, sandwiches, a salad bar and some entrees. I loved my catfish with roasted vegetables and very-lemony rice pilaf. My cousin chose the salad bar with her chicken and her husband had the chicken-fried steak, which seemed very popular. He cleaned his plate! The servings were large, and we did our best. I even had a reasonably-priced glass of wine. Our server was cheerful and probably the most helpful and knowledgable of anyone we encountered on our trip. We enjoyed the retro-style decor and had to make a trip to the gift shop on our way out.

Eat here every time when traveling through Tucumcari Always good food and service Outstanding Philly cheese steak sandwich

The Meatloaf and sides were perfect for lunch. The Service is spot on and the place looks upscale with a at Home Vibe. I recommend highly, do Yourself a favor and visit here. Thanx Bunch, Guys.

The burger was 7/10. The meat was good, but the meat:cheese ratio was kinda off. Next time I'd get double cheese and extra green chili. The green chili was pretty mild, and I prefer a bit more of a kick. The service was pretty slow that day, but it was mid afternoon. I think I want to try the salad bar next time-as it looked quite epic. Overall, I think it's one of the better restaurants in Tucumcari I've been to.

Wow. Just passing through and decided to give it a shot. Ordered from their Mexican menu. Everything was very good. The chili relleno was the best I've ever had - by a wide margin! Travelers - can't go wrong!

The food, portions, and staff are amazing! I highly recommend stopping by. I had the brisket burger and it was massive!

Locals told us that Del's is the best restaurant in town that serves alcohol. So naturally, that is where we headed. We happened to find their small bar towards the back and bellied up. We were impressed with the beer options, including four New Mexico craft beers on tap (soon to be six), and a tempting menu that features classic southern and Mexican dishes. We opted for lighter fare (we thought) ordering a sandwich and a salad. The Philly cheesesteak sandwich was possibly the best I've ever had. The addition of hatch green chili's with the usual vegetables was a nice touch. You can opt out of any of the vegetables (as I did with mushrooms) and the beef was flavorful and tender. My partner enjoyed a sliced tender fried chicken breast on top of fresh greens with other vegetables and half a boiled egg. We were very happy.

Came for lunch while passing through the town. So happy we stopped here. The service was great, food came out hot and fast, portions were huge and it made me sad that there isn't a Del's near my home town.

Food was ok. Service ok. No veteran or military discount. Owner should offer. Lot of Americans died to make this country free.

Awesome! Amanda was great and best chile relleno I've ever had, and as a Texan I've eaten a few!!

This place is so cute and super tasty for a trip through Tucumcari. I've been here twice and it has been delicious both times! Pretty large place with a small bar, waitresses are attentive. We sat at the bar and ordered drinks and food. Down home feel with cute decor... this last time it was decked out in Christmas decorations, super cute! I love that they have a fresh salad bar with a few other salad options (macaroni salad, potato salad, fruit salad). The ranch and honey mustard is top notch and my bf and I loved the crunchy fresh chicken tenders. There may be a wait, so be sure to call ahead (unsure if they do reservations - we walked in) or come at a decent time. We were sat within 10 mins both times. Would def stop here again!!!

nephew & I...smothered chicken; very tasty & cooked perfectly...sides adequate quantity well prepared. plentiful plate! Chicken Fried Chicken: spot on white paste gravy...baked potato perfect...green beans seasoned very good...chicken executed batter and cooked perfectly...Amanda was excellent...margaritas not really "mexican"...maybe "new" mexican...idk...vut for the prices they ask, they should be three times the size...food prices in line/average...ambiance was old school chic...about what to expect for a decades old place...go here & eat well...!

We were seated an hour before closing & not only was our waitress on point, but the kitchen prepared our food fast! Kudos to our waitress on her excellent customer service with a smile! Huge variety of menu options, full bar and a good hometown feel.

Del's is my must-stop in Tucumcari - I literally plan road trips around being able to go here. The food was its usual divine self - chicken crispitos and my beloved green chile strips - but Rhonda, our server, was either having a bad day or isn't particularly fond of her job. She's served me previously and I just don't get too much of a happy vibe off her.

We travel a lot through NM and we decided to eat here. Probably the most rudest staff I have ever met! The food was great but everyone else were just so unwelcoming!! I got the feeling that this place is more of a local place and anyone else is shunned! Very awkward!

First impression was what a great waitress! She was so welcoming and responsive to our questions to make something work for our vegan needs. We ended up with a bean, veggie burrito without cheese. We added Christmas sauce (red and green) which was yummy. Burrito was so large that we shared which was perfect after a long day of being on the road.

I just ate here , its a no go. Beef taco was fried and greasy, hamburger was sparse , the worst ever refried beans were sour , the coffee warm not hot. The rice was not fresh but mushy . After driving 350 miles today. A big disappointment. $20.00 not worth feeding my dog . Sorry but the locals love eating there.

We had the grilled cheese & the patty melt. Both were very good. I also had delicious sweet potato fries that were good. Our waitress was pleasant & helpful. The restaurant was spacious & inviting. We enjoyed our time there.

Really good food. The catfish and the meatloaf was amazing and the sides. Fast and friendly service.

I had the exact same dinner twice while traveling back and forth. Once on Monday June 17th heading to Phoenix and once on Monday June 24th heading to Bentonville, Arkansas. I ordered a burger and onion rings. Both were excellent the first time and the second time it tasted just as good. I think it is a great way to really rate a place. We will always stop and eat there when we crisscross the country. The food was good- the onionn rings were crisp and not greasy. The hambuger was cooked to perfection and tasted great. I did not add any cheese because I did not want it to in any way affect the taste of the burger. The service was quick and efficient. It's a "down-home" restaurant --- no frills --- just good food and great service.

Ate here while staying at Blue Swallow. This restaurant was horrible. Came in with a group of six people. My medium rare burger finally came out when our group was paying their tickets and getting ready to leave. She literally walked out with the plate when everyone was standing up to leave. No apologies or updates on the burger. Horrible service. Unclean establishment.

Food service was good and I had the chicken fried steak it, was delicious. It is also dog friendly which is very nice.

Another mom and pop with good food. My husband had the liver and onions and he said it was very good. Apparently our server was also the bartender and cashier. She was a little slow at times.

Very good service and awesome place to visit in a cool town. The menu is huge though (seems to be a trend with touristy restaurants) As an indecisive person I think I may have choice the wrong choice (I got the Carne Asada Taco Plate) it was kinda bland but the rice and refried beans were on point. Very cool small town vibe with a gift shop in the restaurant. They have Beer and Cocktails but I'd definitely stick with the beer. Also was a bit expensive but was expected. I'd probably go with the burger or any other American food if I went back.

It was great! everyone working was incredibly nice. stopped in while traveling thru and staying at the KOA. Chicken fried Chicken was really good, with mash potatoes. Nachos were ok, mostly lettuce and tomatoes. not enough cheese. and my husband had the philly cheesesteak. it was good, but it was mostly onions and peppers, and almost no cheese. i like a lot of cheese on my phillys, so ask for extra if you do too! i would definitely eat here again on my way thru town

This cute and quirky restaurant is an absolute must stop when in Tucumcari! The taco salad was incredible--a beautifully crisp flour tortilla shell that was so flavorful... and the beans. How do you make pinto beans taste this good?! But the classic finish to any New Mexican meal is the sopapilla with honey. And Del's is the best I have ever had (and I lived in New Mexico for 9 years)! The fact that the staff, every single one, is so kind and genuine was just the icing on the cake. Do yourself a favor and grab dinner here!

Great diner. Dinner was great! We even had dessert. Only negative was the salad bar lettuce was rusty colored and wasn't replaced so we just avoided it.

This was my second visit here in about two years. Service was amazing! Food was piping hot and very tasty. I would recommend stopping here and trying something off their amazing menu! Look forward to stopping here again when I travel through!

One of the few places open in Tucumcari. We got the all you can eat salad bar and soup. It was OK. Service was good. Atmosphere was awesome with lots of local decor and gift shop.