Tune-Up Café

A very nice and cozy place. With food out of this world with different flavors and textures I have never hade before. With it not being a bad price with the consideration that we got appetizers, drinks, as well as dessert with wonderful service.

WOW!! Reddit did not lie, this was one of the best restaurants we visited in New Mexico. Definitely try the specials. I got the Red Fettuccine, which I've never heard of the before. Like regular Fettuccine Alfredo, but honestly?? SO much better. Definitely try this place, and get a piece of one of their AMAZING pies and cakes when you leave!

Tune-Up Cafe was a good experience! I remember this place as Dave's Not Here growing up. So I wanted to reminisce and see what its like! I got a green chile cheeseburger and it was good! Definitely was having some nostalgic moments eating there and seeing what's different. It's definitely busy and definitely cramped at times. But that's a good thing! Will be back again to try other options! The only reasons not 5 star is that i waited quite some time for service. My server was busy. But I spent an hour and 15 min here for a burger and glass of wine. The ketchup bottle also had built up pressure and tasted a little off. I meant to mention it to my server, but with the busy-ness, I forgot to say something. But I want to comeback and try again for 5 star meal!

Absolutely love this place. Delicious food (Pictured: squash flower casa dolls, veggie tamale, and fish tacos) excellent staff and cozy digs.

We had an amazing lunch at Tune-Up Cafe. The space was cozy, welcoming, and full of charm, with both indoor and outdoor dining options. It’s vibrant yet low-key, with a laid-back, local vibe that I really appreciated. The setup is simple—you order at the counter, get a number, and they bring the food to your table. I tried the lamb burger with sweet potato fries, and it was absolutely delicious. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful, which I loved. I also had a margarita that perfectly complemented the meal and hit the spot. If you’re ever in the Santa Fe area and looking for great food at reasonable prices, Tune-Up Cafe is a must-visit!

Absolutely love tune-up cafe! We have been going there for years and trying their specials never disappoints. I really enjoy that they bring us a salad before the mains and their desserts are scrumptious. Yesterday we had a particularly good run where I ordered the chicken liver with marsala wine, bacon, spinach and caramelized onions (I can’t stop thinking about it!! Will have to go back for more), and the shrimp and halibut pasta. As usual, it was perfect.

Fantastic little spot with papusas, Salvadorian food AND lots of GF options to include PIE. Loved this spot, very comfortable, lots of local regulars and friendly staff.

Service was fast and the house salad was really good. I had my hopes so high on this place because of being featured on an episode of Triple D, just to get my palate attrofied for 2 weeks. I ordered the mole enchiladas, and the mole is super sour. The rice was a long grain rice, sour as well. The platano fríto is a normal platano- banana and not platain, as it is supposed to be. The salvadorian plate was decent because of the flank steak puspusa, but the masa from the tamal didn't have any flavor or seasoning. The most decent thing was the chile relleno. The hostess and waitress gave us a very good service.

We had an amazing lunch at Tune-Up Cafe. The space was cozy, welcoming, and full of charm, with both indoor and outdoor dining options. It's vibrant yet low-key, with a laid-back, local vibe that I really appreciated. The setup is simple--you order at the counter, get a number, and they bring the food to your table. I tried the lamb burger with sweet potato fries, and it was absolutely delicious. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful, which I loved. I also had a margarita that perfectly complemented the meal and hit the spot. If you're ever in the Santa Fe area and looking for great food at reasonable prices, Tune-Up Cafe is a must-visit!

My unfinished review was a 5-star. Going with 3 stars after our dinner last night (2/1/25). This place is hit or miss. Saturday night was a miss. We were there before the 20 minute rush that they used as an excuse for slack service. 20 minutes after the rush almost all tables in the front room were empty, so not really a rush at all. Service - Server was nice and all, but inattentive and slow. They appeared overwhelmed, but then we watched all of the servers/ back-of-house socialize and play on their phones. Nobody came to ask if we wanted more drinks or how the food was. We were right in front of the cash register, but felt invisible. Food - Salmon tacos: totally unimpressive. Not bad, but not very good either. Not recommended. - Green Chile Cheeseburger: WAY undercooked. Medium was raw. Servers were too distracted by their phones to get their attention to inform them of the poor cooking job. Chile had no flavor and no heat, at all. Bun was a dry, crumbly disaster. Meat was flavorless. I guess they only care about serving a quality meal if you geta high priced entrée. We came here specifically to try the green chile cheeseburger, and this one was among the worst found in the state. We've had some great brunches and lunches at Tune-up, but will probably never go back. Shame because we have a home a mile away. I'll drive to Albuquerque for a GCCB before I go here again. Sadly, I can no longer recommend Tune-up, which I've been recommending to friends for a couple years now.

Been fan's of Tune-up when it was Dave's ... but last week we had one of the worst meals we've ever had in Santa Fe !! Not only was the food lukewarm,, it looks like the food had been thrown haphazardly thrown on the plate. The service was terrible! One entrée delivered in 15 minutes , 2nd entree showed 20 minutes later ... Dirty tables everywhere... food & napkins on the floor ..., gross !! The owner was not in attendance. The staff look brand new ... we average going that once every 10 days ....at least! Very disappointing !!

It was a cold night and I wanted to get a bite to eat before heading back to Albuquerque so I stopped by Tune Up, sat in the back by the bar and enjoyed my solitude. The empty tables filled up quickly and still things were low key. The server was good yet I found that I had to wait a bit longer to get her attention. Still, she was cool I ordered the bell pepper soup with coconut milk, cup size. You know those times when the soup is so delicious that you wished you had ordered the bowl? And I also had one chicken tamale. It was all I needed but then I decided to order a desert. Oh lawn! Tres Leches was huge. As I told some patrons nearby whose desert was enough to make friends from strangers with, it was so huge that they could have invited me over to help them out with it. Delicious. I like the Tune Up and visit when I remember to. I'll be back soon and take photos next time.

Tried a little more of the menu for lunch. The salmon tacos were amazing. The salsa verde just took it to another flavor level. We also ordered a Reuben from the "specials" board by the register. The only knock on our Reuben was that the pastrami wasn't sliced across the grain, but with the grain, which made it chewy. But the flavors were on point for the sandwich. We also ordered a side of sautéed veggies. Delicious! As alway, the staff was friendly and attentive. This is a great local joint that is welcoming to groups or individuals dining alone.

The chile rellenos were excellent service was great and our waitress Diana was an absolute delight. Highly recommend this place for a great experience in Santa Fe.

Had the French dip. Awful....dried out overcooked meat. Not stacked like most roast beef dips. So disappointing I won't be back.

Great margaritas and absolutely delicious fish tacos. I was looking for a place that had fish tacos that had fish other than tilapia, of which I'm not a fan. These were delicious and had red trout as the fish. Spice level was on point! Servers were excellent, and everything that came out of the kitchen looked fresh and delicious. I will be back!

Tune-Up Cafe is a hidden gem in Santa Fe that truly exceeds expectations. With its shaded outdoor seating, you can enjoy your meal al fresco, surrounded by the charming atmosphere of this welcoming establishment. The moment you step onto the patio, you're enveloped in a sense of tranquility that sets the perfect backdrop for a relaxing dining experience. The menu is a delightful fusion of New Mexican cuisine and Salvadoran dishes, offering a wide array of options to suit every taste bud. The Green Chile Beef Stew is a must-try, with its rich flavors and tender meat that warm you from the inside out. And don't miss the Salvadoran Pupusas, cooked to perfection with a satisfyingly crisp texture. What truly sets Tune-Up Cafe apart is its inviting atmosphere and friendly staff. Whether you're dining alone or with friends, you'll feel right at home here. The attentive service and genuine hospitality make every visit a memorable one. So if you're in Santa Fe and craving a meal that's both delicious and soul-nourishing, look no further than Tune-Up Cafe. With its shaded outdoor seating and welcoming ambiance, it's the perfect spot to relax, unwind, and indulge in culinary delights that will leave you craving more.

Great local eatery with elevated and ever changing specials. Such a gem. Thank you! My fav are the Venezuelan platter and the duck hash.

I'm staying nearby and this place was recommended by my host. Big menu and they had a lot of specials so made it hard to decide what to order. Ended up getting sweet potato soup and buffalo enchiladas. Big portions and food was very good. I'm sure I'll be returning while I'm here.

My friend and I were on a roadtrip and I had found this place via yelp for a low key lunch. We came in and the place is very unassuming. You stand in line to order and then find a seat, and they'll bring you your food. I ordered a cup of the green Chile stew which was fine, and the lamb tacos, which were delicious (as were the rice and beans - totally simple, but amazing). My friend ordered the tofu mole enchiladas. I'm not a tofu person, but she suggested I try the mole, and holy mother of god! The mole was the best mole I've ever had. I repeat, I'm not a tofu person, but I regretted my order (albeit it was rather delicious) immediately, and wanted to order a jar of mole to go! We also got two slices of pie to go - I got the chocolate cream and my friend got a key lime pie. These were good, but the mole just blew everything away!

Tune-Up Cafe is one of my favorite Santa Fe restaurants - creative, affordable, and delicious. For this visit, we both went with burgers. My lamb burger was fantastic - cooked perfectly, and the manchego and sauteed mushrooms I chose to top it with combined beautifully. My husband had the classic Tune-Up burger, topped with manchego and green chile. Tune-Up gets a lot of tourists, so the chile was really mild; my husband described the heat level as "Canadian." It had flavor, just no heat. Service was a bit slow, but we weren't in a hurry and they were busy, so it was fine. We'll be back!

The food was delicious and the service was quite efficient. I've been there before and will go back again. I think the next time I will check into something else different just to sample their variety

Another late Saturday evening, and hungry yet again, I knew I just wanted a burger. When we arrived, all seats inside were filled, but the weather was good and we happily sat outside. Every table was just as colorful as the lights adding even more warmth to the atmosphere. I ordered the lamb burger with sweet potato fries. The service was efficient for the traffic. I didn't get the opportunity to try the dessert, but the options looked delicious! At a future visit for sure!

This is a small local business. I have to tell you the food is delicious and amazing! Loved the chili relleno was the best I have had. A must when visiting!

I came here during my road trip as i wanted a taste of New Mexicos famous cuisine. The El Salvadoran Combo was excellent! I loved the pupusa. The banana leaf tamale was so fragrant. The red cabbage slaw was delicious and so spicy. I ordered to go and even after 20 minutes it was still hot and delicious. The server was super kind and attentive to me and updated me about order progress as it took about 20 min to come out. She even threw in a free house salad and a slice of their delicious banana cream pie. I will be back again next time Im in Santa Fe! This place is sooo good and def one of the highlights of my trip.

different but good chili relleno with Modelo especial sorry didn't get a picture before I dive in. Cubs had a chicken Molay enchilada with rice and plantains. Very good but again didn't get a picture.

Service was PROMPT. I ordered a beer, had one sip and then my food came out. I ordered the Las Enchiladas with green sauce. It was good, not great. 5/10. The inside and outside are a bit run down but everyone was kind.

This place is about a mile from the Santa Fe Plaza. It's way cheaper than many of the restaurants in the plaza too with incredible flavor and great service. The entrees come with a side salad, rice, and beans! The plates are huge and there's so much food! The guacamole was very citrus forward but yummy. The staff was very young but seemed to be on it! They were friendly and quick. The place even had a huge dessert menu to choose from!

A friend recommended this place as we wanted a good brunch time Meal while driving thru Santa Fe Had the smoked duck hash, it is really tasty!!! Service was good, we enjoyed the meal!! It gets busy, so be prepared.

Do you know how it is when you find a place that you like and you don't go anywhere else? Well, I've been to Santa Fe three times and I've eaten here 3 times. I might be in a rut, but the two dishes I've had here we're both delicious. Chile Relleno & Chicken Piccata This restaurant is an old house in a neighborhood. Not very fancy, but it seems very popular because every time I've been here it's been pretty crowded. This is a very cool place, I'll be back!

Clean cozy environment. Quick service. And the food is really good. My BF got the sausage breakfast burrito smothered Christmas. He said it was one of the best breakfast burritos he's had in NM. I had the Al pastor tacos which were delicious but the star of the meal was the refried beans. Damn! So good.

Maybe we got them on a bad day since they have consistently higher reviews. However, some of our order was burnt. Several things we asked about on the menu were not available. What I did have was burnt and rather ordinary stuff I could have just made at home or picked up at the convenience store and made in the car. Again, hopefully, we just caught them on a bad day.

This is a cute casual spot for any meal. Service has always been friendly and easygoing. You order at the counter and pay then get a number and seat yourself wherever you like. Their menu is actually a bit intimidating because there are so many specials that sound really good--it's a much larger and diverse menu than the more typical New Mexican spots. I've tried a few dishes from them. I enjoyed the breakfast burrito with sausage (smothered Christmas style)--the eggs were softly scrambled and there was plenty of sausage. I think I generally prefer their green chile over their red; their red chile tastes fairly dark and smokey. Another time I had their pork belly al pastor tacos. There was plenty of meat in the two tacos but the tortillas did fall apart a bit. Good but not as flavorful as the lamb barbacoa tacos! Tried their famed tres leches cake ($7) which was a perfect slice to share with plentiful cream and a restrained level of sweetness. It's definitely a good ending to a meal!

The food and service here were amazing!!! Even though our party of 6 walked in during a busy time, about 7 pm during holiday season, we were seated within a few minutes. My nachos were the best I've ever had - crisp, crunchy, thick tortilla chips with no salt added, refried beans, fantastic grilled chicken, and spicy salsa on the side - with plenty of melted cheese. The portion was not small but I wished I had more!!! Everyone else also loved their food and the kids really enjoyed their spaghetti and meatballs, from the specials board. The fresh tortillas were fluffy and hot, super good and not to be missed! I wished I could come back the next day but alas our schedule did not permit - but next time I will for sure! The service was really friendly and quick, and it was just the perfect first meal in Santa Fe!

This is one of my favorite places in Santa Fe. The atmosphere is fun and the people there always take care of your needs! This morning I ordered a breakfast burrito with green sauce and I thoroughly enjoyed it! If you have never been to the Tune-up cafe, what are you waiting on?

We came here for lunch on a Friday, and though it was busy, we were able to get a table right away. We started with chips and guac. The guac was good, but watery, I assume from the pico they put on top. My main complaint here was that the majority of the chips were smashed into crumbs. I had the chorizo breakfast burrito smothered with red Chile. It was good overall. The red chile was different than I'd had before. It had a Smokey almost a week flavor to it. My husband got the Al pastor tacos, which we both agreed were dry/tough. Service was good, and our water was refilled regularly.

Second visit - can't believe I didn't write a review the first time last autumn. Great little neighborhood place with good food. My friend comes here quite often and was excited to show it off. Key word to describe Tune Up is 'casual' - reminds me of a laid back place on the Outer Banks. You order at the counter and your food is brought to you when ready. They have a robust menu with everything from sandwiches to Tex-Mex and Christmas enchiladas. Portions are generous to say the least, so word of caution, don't let your stomach listen to your eyes. I most recently had the Local Lamb Barbacoa Tacos which were incredible. Highly recommend those, served with rice and beans. Perfect lunch or dinner. The last cool thing about Tune Up is that you can sit outside with your dog. Really ties the place together as a 'local haunt' and gets you away from touristy places. Do come - you won't regret it.

The BEST gluten free waffle I have ever had!! (Subbed extra fruit instead of bacon) the butter may have had honey or cinnamon, not sure. Either way it was delicious

Amazing local place. We like to explore local places while traveling. This is one amazing local place. Large special menu. We had Breakfast Quesadillas with Squash flowers and also beef tocos. The deserts are over the top. Worth exploring.

During my first couple of years on Yelp, I expressed embarrassment a few times at how many Guy Fieri-endorsed restaurants we were visiting while on vacation. (Sometimes we knew about the Fieri connection going in, and sometimes I'd find out only later that the restaurant had been featured on his show.) Those were also the early years of Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, and it was initially hard for me to get past the surface with that guy: the '90s peroxided spiky hair, bowling/surf-punk wardrobe, and goofball California slang was simply a bit buffoonish. Still, it didn't take long to realize that Fieri was serious and knowledgeable about food, and that, despite the wise-cracking and brashness, he almost always treated the proprietors of the restaurants he visited with dignity and respect. In general, he seems like a solid citizen and good guy. Besides, I realized I wanted to visit about 85 percent of the restaurants that appeared on DDD. Anyway, one of the early ones I remember from the show--from back when he was featuring actual "diners," "drive-ins," and "dives," among other modest eateries--was the Tune-Up Cafe, which came off terrific on TV. A decade-plus later, the reality of the Tune-Up Cafe was mildly disappointing if still quite good. The menu(s)--the hard copy you get at your table plus the chalkboard one inside the main dining area--is intimidatingly large and varied. But "lamb barbacoa" is just about impossible to get in Cincinnati, where we live, and it was screaming at me to order it, so lamb barbacoa tacos it was. While they were quite flavorful, they had a couple of flaws: First, there was a rather large strip of inedible cartilage in one of the tacos. I realize the low-and-slow cooking of barbacoa is going to result in mass of meat, bone, tendon, and cartilage, something this big ought to have been removed. Second, the tacos came with wilted spinach, and while that gave them a nice bitter flavor facet, they also produced enough water as to make the tortillas soggy--no way to finish these tacos off before they fell apart. Despite these problems, this was some good eating. (Rice-and-beans accompaniment was not very memorable, though.) The wife ordered a green chile cheeseburger, the first either of us tried during 8 or 9 days in New Mexico. Perfectly cooked and delicious, and it convinced me to order one of my own the next day. The restaurant was packed, even on a Wednesday evening in October. Our young server was pleasant and making the effort, but the chaos seemed to prevent her from getting by our table more than a couple of times.

Very tasty combinations of flavors. Several interesting options I'll be interested in trying next visit.

A friendly neighborhood cafe, with traditional New Mexican food. You can find most of the New Mexican dishes here at a reasonable price. The place is not big has couple tables outside that you can bring dogs. Order from the counter and take a number then find a table they will bring food to you. It's more like a self service You clean up your table after. I had a cup of green chili beef stew, which is literally just a cup. Flavor is good but a bit oily and not very spicy can't taste the chili flavor. The Chile Relleno is a bit lack of flavor. They are very big portion so you won't leave hungry.

Went here tonight and waited 30 minutes for the wrong order. A burrito with a side salad and a hamburger. Turned into two hamburgers somehow. A big difference in price so I was basically ripped off. I expect a refund.

We definitely had a wow this is great time here! We live in ABQ and came up for the day. A friend reminded me of this spot we went to with our then kids about 10 years ago. I would say it's definitely a must stop. Are there more well known and more "trendy" spots? Yes. And have been to most over the decades. But if you want real New Mexican hospitality go here. Menu is Central America based with New Mexican flavors. My hubbie had the chicken quesadilla and said it was best he ever had. We moved to New Mexico from San Diego Co. So that is saying a lot. My daughter had a pizza which was a truly really wood fired oven pizza. I had the green chile stew. A slightly different style than traditional NM but excellent. My hubby said when we got home "so we drive back tomorrow for breakfast?" Well at least next trip.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I first walked into this establishment. The menu seemed really huge. I ordered the chicken piccata companion ordered the Carne Asada pizza. I have to say that pizza was the best I have ever had and I've had a lot of pizza! The chicken piccata was perfectly prepared and excellent as well. I highly recommend Tune-Up Cafe! I didn't get to try the large selection of different desserts so I will be back. Save room if you can

The place was small and casual, but cold as they didn't seem to have the heater on even though it was snowing outside. The bathrooms were clean and actually warm though. The food was good. We had the mole enchiladas, the nachos, the shrimp tostado, the lamb burger and the pork belly tacos. We were not a fan of the sweet potato fries as they were mushy and bland. The best thing though was the banana and coconut cream pie. It was amazing! The sodas were cans so no refills or ice. You also order at the front and then take a seat, which is fine since the prices aren't too high. Overall, a nice experience.

This restaurant has amazing food! The papusa was the best I've ever had! The rice and beans were dreamy and My husband loved his tacos too. We sat outside for dinner, which was low lit and beautiful, a perfect way to start the night. Our server was very kind. Will definitely be back next time we are in town.

I ordered the chile relleno and my wife got the tamale. We also got some chips with salsa , my chile relleno was pretty good. I would order it again, but the tamale the wife didn't care for it. The salsa and chips were good aslso. If in the area we'd come back. They need to fix their tables. We tried sitting at a couple of them and the most unbalanced tables ever. Service was good

I read about this place in an older Diner, Dives and Drive Ins article. The banana wrapped tamales were mentioned and did not disappoint. Great flavor. Lots of interesting options on the menu.

A bumping spot with a lot more seating than I would have initially expected! I liked the ordering at the counter setup, it enabled a lot quicker and streamlined service. I went with the Tune Up dish, which was very tasty and had good portions. The only reason they're not getting 5 stars from me is that my chai was very possibly the worst chai I've ever had. No flavor whatsoever and a disappointment and waste of money, so don't order that! Otherwise, a solid breakfast spot :)

These guys are absolutely on top of their game. The food is amazing and comes out fast. 100% on point, even when it's a packed house (which is often). I've never had bad food, or a bad experience here. Shout out to the Tune up team! Only one time in the dozens and dozens of times we've been there, they lost one our orders. They comped the dish immediately. The manager came out and personally apologized and then offered a desert on the house on top of the dish (which we didn't take but really appreciated the gesture ). Chicken Piccata and the Beef Stew are tops!

So INCREDIBLE. Started off the trip setting an extremely high bar for our standards for Southwest fare. The specials board knocked it out of the park in terms of creativity/ variety. Guacamole & Chips ($8.95) - house made, thick crunchy chips and fresh guac Al Pastor Pork Belly Tacos ($17.95, Special) - perfect crispy char on a good amount of protein, fresh toppings. Rice and refried beans were also amazing. Mole Enchiladas ($16.95) - the mole was some of the deepest, richly spiced mole I've ever had. Entrees come with a nice house salad. Staff was very nice and attentive.

The quality of food has seriously gone down hill at the Tune-Up. The past three times I've eaten there and ordered take-out have left much to be desired. Tonight I ordered the Tune-Up burger and a slice of key lime pie. The burger meat was dry and flavorless. The sweet potato "fries" were about as wet and wimpy as a noodle. The flavor of the pie was decent but the "whipped" cream on top was as flaccid as Joe Biden's debate performance. They say 3rd time is a charm but for me in was the nail in the coffin.

Tune Up was a pretty flavorful joint for brunch! I really liked their cappuccino, it was well made and just the right amount of sweet and flavorful. The breakfast meals were also phenomenal, full of flavor and just delicious. But... Yelp... there is a star of the show here and it's none of the above. The star here is the Tres Leches cake... Hands down the best I've ever had. I was absolutely not expecting it to be as good as it was, but wow, wow, wow. I'll be thinking about that cake for long, long time. Give this place a try and don't skip dessert!

Cute atmosphere, good food, great service. We got the burro with flank steak and both sauces and the barbacoa lamb tacos. Both weee excellent, beans and rice were proper too. Starter salads were fresh and perfectly dressed. Great spot!

We are staying just down the street at an AirBnB and this place is so convenient but not only that, it's fantastic. Prices are reasonable and service is excellent. We have eaten breakfast lunch and dinner multiple times. I am going to miss this when we go back home

This place is the whole package. We went there in 2010 and made a return trip in 2024 and it was as good as we remembered it.