Hearty and Reasonable
DESCRIPTION: While I was in the 4 corners area, I wanted to sample mutton stew and frybread. (Blame Tony Hillerman!), and Jean's looked appealing. Service was quick and friendly, the coffee was great; I had extra frybread with the soup, and ice cream to top it off. Having not had it elsewhere, I didn't know what to expect with regard to the stew. It was not as rich as I imagined it, but I doctored it with salt and tabasco and thought no more of that. The actual bits of meat are delicious, but the broth is thinnner than the word "stew" makes me think of -- more of a soup. I've been assured by others that this is exactly what I *should* have expected.
DATE: 2004-07-17
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : mutton soup, frybread

Very Yummy and Quaint
DESCRIPTION: La Fiesta is one of the places in Farmington you can get really good food at fair prices. And if someone in the family isn't into the Mexican cuisine, there's things on the menu for them as well.
DATE: 2003-12-24
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Stuffed Sopapillas

Not bad
DESCRIPTION: The food is alright, but they got a little chincy, The portions have been reduced from what they were and the prices went up, Expect to pay what you would at a high dollar restaurant for mid dollar food and service. The food and service use to be better than what they are now. I was disapointed the last time I ate there and will probably never return due to the poor quality of food, portion and service.
DATE: 2004-07-10
FOODRATING : 2
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4

A Great Steakhouse and also the Best Pasta in Town
DESCRIPTION: I have been enjoying the steaks and seafood at this great restaurant for some time, boy was I pleasantly surprised when I ordered a pasta dish. It was perfect! I 've tried the pasta at the chain next door (Jonnie Carinos) and it was horrible, so I usually stay home when I need a pasta or Italian fix. The chef at The Bluffs is awesome. I had a simple stuffed shell pasta, and it was absolutely delightful. Don't bother with the chains, The Bluffs is the best and affordable too.
DATE: 2003-07-23
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : steaks, seafood, pasta

The Only Real Dining in this Town
DESCRIPTION: As we were traveling from California through the southwest we unfortunately had to stay two nights in Farmington, NM. We were not happy campers until we found The Bluffs Steakhouse. This town is full of mediocre chains, and me being pregnant, all were too smokey for me. We happened to find The Bluffs by fluke, and ended up dining there two nights in a row. Stellar service and wonderful food. Don't bother with smokey chain restaurants, this one is a true gem in a town lacking in dining.
DATE: 2003-09-30
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : filet, salmon, Ahi tuna

Don't Bother
DESCRIPTION: Ate dinner here Friday, 03/12/2004. A big mistake. The waiter had an attitude from the start. I ordered a steak, which was OK. My wife, however, ordered the "Chef's Special", which was a crusted halibut dish. She made the mistake of asking for more vegetables and less potatoes, and was told "the chef does not alter his special dishes". She received a huge serving of potatoes hiding a miniscule serving of fish - about half what was advertised. When asked by the manager how the meal was, she expressed her displeasure. He appeared to be shocked that anyone would criticize their food, and said he would "talk to the chef." From that point on we were persona non grata - totally ignored by the staff. They could not wait for us to leave. And I thought restaurants were in the business to please their customers - not The Bluffs. Go to Burger King for more courteous service.
DATE: 2004-03-15
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 4
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : steak and taters

A Decent Place
DESCRIPTION: My wife and I ate there on New Year's Eve. Everything was fine, but not spectacular. I am going there again tonight with some business cohorts. I think its probably the finest in Farmington. KB Dillon's is good, but I can't stand cigarette smoke. The mashed potatoes were a little too garlicy (and I LOVE garlic), and the server wasn't the most knowledgeable and professional server, but she was nice.
DATE: 2005-02-17
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 6

A Pleasant Surprise
DESCRIPTION: I am in sales and travel throughout the country. This restaurant is in the same league as many restaurants in Denver, Portland, Salt Lake City and Phoenix. The food is excellent and the service is great. It was a pleasant surprise to find a quality experience like this in Farmington, NM. Try it!
DATE: 2005-11-30
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Prime Rib

Hit or Miss
DESCRIPTION: My wife and I dined here for two consecutive nights while in Farmington, having heard and observed that it seems to be the only option for fine dining in Farmington. The atmosphere is very nice. It feels like an upscale restaurant that you might encounter in a much larger city. The bread that is presented shortly after you are seated is accompanied by herbed olive oil and balsamic vinegar, which is nice, but the bread itself is mediocre at best. The ahi tuna I had the first night was spectacular, and my wife immensely enjoyed the Las Vegas sushi roll she ordered. The only small problem was that her jasmine tea was oversteeped and bitter, but they willingly replaced it with green tea that was much more satisfactory. Inspired primarily by the good food, we decided to dine there again the next night. This time, the green tea that had been satisfactory the previous night tasted bitter and oversteeped. I ordered a crab cake appetizer, which was presented nicely and looked appetizing, but was in fact bland. My wife ordered two sushi rolls that turned out not to be what she expected. Since she did not like them, she ordered the same roll she'd had and enjoyed the previous night. No manager came by our table to see what the problem was. When the check came, all three rolls were listed. My wife went to seek out a manager to see what could be done, and had to argue with the manager on duty to get the items removed from the check. The waiter later informed us that he'd mentioned my wife's dissatisfaction to the manager, who would not permit him to remove them from the check. He mentioned to us that the waitstaff and the manager who was on duty often had conflicts. You may argue that it's not the restaurant's fault that the rolls that my wife ordered ended up not appealing to her, and you would be correct in this assertion, but clearly The Bluffs does not respect its customer base enough to make keeping them satisfied a priority. Perhaps this is only a problem with the particular manager who was on duty, but it was enough for my wife to vow that she would not be returning to the restaurant. She is a sales representative who visits the area monthly, and who takes clients out for meals. So, in defense of what might have been a $10 profit, The Bluffs has lost any potential profit it could have turned from her return visits, and perhaps any from potential customers who she might relate her story to. Alas, the large chains will get her business when next she returns to the area. Perhaps the loss of a few customers does not concern the management of The Bluffs, especially considering how it is the only option for independent fine dining in the area, but it seems a bad way to manage a restaurant.
DATE: 2006-01-12
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 4
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Ahi Tuna; Las Vegas sushi roll

Hit or Miss???
DESCRIPTION: I think I was dining the same night the previous reviewer and his wife were in. Their disatisfaction was the result of a soft shell crab roll not having any crab meat in it. They couldn't believe you're supposed to eat the shell. Being a local, I've had good and bad at The Bluffs but in the last year and a half it's all been great. The sushi is the best in the area.
DATE: 2006-01-16
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Sushi, steaks and seafood

Don't eat there!
DESCRIPTION: Apparently they don't know how to cook mahi mahi! My fiance ordered the pesto stuffed chicken and there was WAY TOO MUCH PESTO! I can't imagine anyone eating all of that. I have lived in Farmington for over 20 years and expected better.
DATE: 2006-04-17
FOODRATING : 2
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : The salad

They do it all!
DESCRIPTION: We live in Durango, a town with more upscale restaurants than Farmington. Not one of them compare to The Bluffs. We enjoy the many menu selections: Steaks, Seafood, Sushi plus a kid's menu. They cook their fish properly, not overdone and dried out like most other places. I usually order their steaks, certified Angus beef, which will cost you tremendously more up the road in Durango. They are absolutely the best! I'm a cattle rancher so I know my beef. Ask Mark the wine guy about what to drink and you will not only get a great bottle of wine, you will also get the story behind the grapes and the winemaker. Heck, he probably knows the guy who picked the grapes. This is one fine restaurant with a great staff. We will continue to dine there everytime we shop in Farmington.
DATE: 2006-05-01
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Angus Beef, The Specials