If you are looking for excellent Mexican food, try El Parador on White Sands. We've lived here a year and have had pretty good Mexican food
but this place is incredible.
We've lived here a year and have lived in CA most our lives. This place has avocado fries, which are awesome. The food is served on trendier plates and are a little different than your typical Mexican but I'll tell you, you will NOT be sorry. They are waiting for their alcohol license so be patient....beer soon. It's great, go! 

We like going there on the weekends because they have live music, the kids love it! Oh, by the way nice name, we share the same name. 

I had some at the Garden Show on HAFB and it was pretty good :) 

Yikes didn't know that, then again I don't let my kids out of my sight. Hehe, guess I'm a little overprotective. 

I love that place. and the way its decorated is beautiful! Which one is the sex offender? 

As a New Mexico native and also as a Hispanic, I would have to say that this was not my favorite restaurant. My husband and I thought it was BLAND BLAND BLAND...I can honestly say that I've never had red chile with no flavor, but they had it. We've had some great Mexican food, but this is not it. The decor was great and the hospitality so, so. I'd give it an overall 2 out of 5. Some better restaurants in NM:
Church Street Cafe in Old Town, Albuquerque
Modelos, Albuquerque
Andele's, Las Cruces
Si Senor, LAS CRUCES NOT ALAMOGORDO The Si Senor here is fair at best.
I hear Roberto's is also good in Las Cruces, but have not had the opportunity to try myself as we keep going back to Si Senor and Andele's LOL
Blessings,
Dee 

Ah well .. I live on base and won't drive to ABQ just to eat some Mexican food LOL 

There's good Mexican resturants in El Paso: El Malinche, Los Bandidos de Carlos & Mickey's, Julio's. We even found a good one in England: The Texas Emabssy Cantina...... of course that has nothing to do with this thread..... 

I have heard that the EL PARADOR has had to lay off workers there because they do not pull in enough money to pay them. I really do not see them lasting much longer. The prices are high and the amount is tiny. does not make for a good business here 

Yeah...I wish Maximinos would come back instead. That was my favorite place to eat Mexican. They were there before El Parador came in the picture. The owners were great, it was a family owned business. 

Tricia/All,

Seems there's lots of mixed reviews about El Parador. I've never eaten there, but checked out their menu once.

And the prices IMO were outrageous. Way out of line with prices. I like mexican food, but am not at all comfortable paying prime rib prices for chicken, and pork dishes.

I can understand when a place pours a lot of money into rennovation, that they would of course like recouping that money, but they would fare better with more realistic prices.

Not at all surprised that help is looking scarce there. Whenever I pass there, I do see cars in the lot. Now whether they are the employees-manager, I just don't know?

Places like this will not survive, when they cannot get the support-patronage of the local folks. The occasional straggler-passer through just isn't going to cut it for them.

With the economy tanking, it's a double edged sword. Amigos Bakery wasn't too bad, but they too raised prices on everything.

Once in a blue moon, I would buy a cup of Salsa from Amigos, and the price for a small cup was $1.50. That price has doubled to $3.00, and they have gotten so cheap, they don't even fill the cup. My take, is if they think it's gold, they can keep it. I'll make my own, or buy the few brands that aren't too bad from the store jarred. 

I have not eaten there either after talking to a friend that has eaten there and talking to a friend that worked there I was like well im just not gonna give them the business I can go to applebees or chilis or las cruces to red lobster if I wanna pay higher prices but I can go to applebees and get a dinner for me my mother in law and my husband and pay $50 for all of us to eat have an appetizer to share one of us to have an alcoholic drink and all of us to have a dessert (share)! 

their prices are high but its worth it if you get the buffet. Its ten dollars for all you can eat. 

Can you tell us what are the menu items on the buffet?

I know quality of taste is paramount, what good is tons of different food, if it doesn't taste good.

But if all it is, is items like ground beef, enchiladas, beans-rice, and such, $10 is IMO still not cheap.

At Casa du Suenos for lunch buffet, ther prices are what, $6.00, or $6.50 per person? They used to also serve a tasty blackened fish on friday's buffet, but haven't been there lately, so not sure if they still do?