The Shed – Santa Fe

The Shed

On a quick stopover in Santa Fe I wanted to find some food that was more authentic to the city. Every search I did kept coming up with the same answer, The Shed. The Shed has been open for nearly 70 years and is located just about a block away from Santa Fe Plaza, the most historic and walkable area of the city.

History of The Shed

The Shed has an amazing history dating back to when it opened in 1953. It was started by Polly and Thornton Carswell and is still family owned and operated. Currently, The Shed is under the 3rd generation of Carswell family management and is known for their world famous red chili, direct from the farm, and blue corn tortillas. In 1960, The Shed moved to its current location at Prince Patio. Prince Patio is an adobe structure that has been there since 1692! There is more about the history of The Shed that you can find here.

The Shed is also just about a block away Santa Fe Plaza, which is the most historic district in Santa Fe. The plaza is a walkable square that is full of shops and restaurants. While I was visiting, there was a concert and small festival going in the plaza and it was a great night to walk around. The plaza is also full of amazing historic architecture, the 400 year old (and still in use) Palace of Governors and the nearby New Mexico Museum of Art.

The Food

I absolutely love the history of restaurants like this. When you combine it with the architecture and charm of Santa Fe it makes for a perfect spot to eat. But this blog is about something much more important…the Food!!!

Salsa and Guac

I started off with some salsa and guacamole which came with yellow and blue tortilla chips. The salsa was so thick and chunky, exactly how I like it. The salsa could have subbed for a topping to burrito it was so thick! It also had a nice spice to it that hit me on a bit of a delay.

The guacamole was nice a creamy and flavorful. It was a perfect mix to the spice of the salsa. I also liked that The Shed added some diced tomatoes into the guac. Both of these appetizers really put me in the mood for the main course.

Enchilada Plate with Christmas topping

For my main dish, I ordered the Enchilada Plate with the Christmas Chili topping. Living in Denver I had always heard that Santa Fe was known for their green chili but the bartender told me that The Shed was known for their red. So I figured I couldn’t go wrong with both!

The red chili had a deep smokey flavor that I found to be really rich and stronger and more flavorful than any red chili I have had before. The green chili on the other hand was spicier but also very flavorful but in a lighter way. I’m glad I went with the combination to get both flavor profiles but I think I preferred the green chili!

I got one beef and one chicken enchilada. The blue tortilla’s were light and somewhat crisp which helped maintain the flavor of the beef or chicken despite being smothered in chili. The shredded beef had a really nice flavor to it but was lost a bit as that was the one smothered in red chili that was so rich. The chicken was lighter and was a perfect pairing with the green chili. Overall, both enchiladas were really enjoyable.

Sides and…Garlic Bread?

The enchiladas came with a side of pinto beans. Which aren’t my favorite bean but these were very good and I ate a lot of them. Way more than I would usually eat! But then another small plate arrived and on it was garlic bread!

I was told that each entrée came with garlic bread on the side. While I had never thought of garlic bread paring well with enchilada’s, this is kind of amazing. The bread helped quench some of the heat from the green chili and the garlic was just a perfect flavor profile to go with the chili’s.

Overall the flavors at The Shed are pretty fantastic. It was also a fun and lively place to take in a meal and I enjoyed every moment on a brief stop in Santa Fe.

Finding The Shed

The Shed is located just off the Santa Fe Plaza at 113 1/2 E Palace Ave in Santa Fe. Parking can be a bit of a challenge in the area and I had to drive around several times until I found a spot on the street and walked a few blocks to The Shed.

I have added this restaurant and all of the restaurants I have been to on my interactive map that you can find here. If you have a suggestion for a restaurant or any comments feel free to email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Bon Appetit!

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