Las Cruces, New Mexico | Where to Eat | Best Restaurants | La Nueva Casita | Zeffiro's | Caliché

In late July I visited Las Cruces, New Mexico with my parents - and we searched out the best places to eat: A Bite of Belgium, Café de Mesilla, Las Cruces, Bosa Donuts, La Nueva Casita, Zeffiro’s Pizzeria, and Caliche's Frozen Custard. Las Cruces, Spanish for "the crosses", is the second-largest city in New Mexico with a population of 100,000. Upon entering the city from I-10, we found a large “recycled roadrunner sculpture” that overlooks the Las Cruces area and the beautiful Organ Mountains. Las Cruces is home to New Mexico State University and just a short drive to the mesmerizing White Sands National Park. It also hosts offices for Virgin Galactic and the nearby Spaceport America, the world’s first purpose-built commercial launch facility for suborbital space flight. This is where Richard Branson launched his recent inaugural trip to space.

Instagram: @crisandcale_adventures (Cris-Cale)

CONTENTS
00:00 Intro & Teaser
00:48 Las Cruces Overview
01:48 A Bite of Belgium
03:42 Café de Mesilla
05:32 Bosa Donuts
06:04 La Nueva Casita
08:50 Zeffiro's Pizzeria
11:01 Caliches Frozen Custard
12:40 Outro

A Bite of Belgium brings authentic and tasty Belgian cuisine at an affordable cost. Their Belgium waffles are not the familiar simplified version, but a Liège (pronounced 'lee-age') style that is richer, denser, sweeter, and chewier. Chunks of pearl sugar caramelize on the outside when baked. And the Bavarian cream - well let’s just say it’s melt-in-your-mouth creaminess will satisfy you. For Lunch, a mouth-watering “Belgian Burger” with caramelized onions and Gouda cheese may be paired with their award winning tomato basil soup.

Café de Mesilla is a classic adobe eatery offering a vast and creative menu of New Mexican breakfast and lunch dishes. The food’s presentation is only surpassed by it’s fresh ingredients and delicious execution. They have coffee shop origins, so be sure and check out their specialty macchiatos, cappuccinos, and lattes while dining on their simply charming patio. And don’t forget to say hello to Pink Floyd.

Bosa Donuts provides a quick stop for some truly awesome donuts. Their customers rave over the tasty treats and our experience was no exception. Although they provide a variety of flavors, their original glazed is to die for. From customer comments, it sounds like their burritos and tamales are outstanding grab-n-go meals.

La Nueva Casita Café was established in 1957 in the Historic Mesquite District, the original town-site of Las Cruces. Inside they provide authentic, made from scratch Mexican cuisine, at a great value. From tacos to flautas to chile relleno, their plates harken to a taste of days gone by. Don’t forget to try their homemade horchata, a traditional cinnamon rice drink of Spanish origin. And on the weekends, they serve up fresh menudo, an authentic Mexican broth soup made with cow's stomach and red chili pepper.

Zeffiro’s Pizzeria is a retro-modern casual eatery crafting Neapolitan-style pizzas with a 900-degree oven. You can take a seat inside or dine “al fresco.” Either way, you can enjoy the famous wood-fired artisan pizzas, tasty pasta dishes, delicious Italian entrees, or fresh salads. An ample beer and wine selection will complete any meal. If you save room, you can indulge in one of their Italian lemon cream cakes, strawberry cheesecakes, or ice cream sundaes.

Caliche's Frozen Custard is a local favorite for frozen treats - as was readily demonstrated by the long lines on a Sunday night. They originally occupied a renovated burger joint - and now boast three locations in the Las Cruces area. The name "caliche" is a Spanish term for natural cement found in desert soil. This is a local adaptation of the midwestern term “concrete” that is used for their blended frozen treats. Notably, Caliche’s is home to a “sweet and spicy” green chile sundae known as the “New Mexican.”