ANDIAMO!

Andiamo, tucked away on Garfield Street in the same modest house that was once the Garfield Grill, is a favorite dinner spot for locals and a word-of-mouth surprise for visitors. Open only for dinners, seven nights a week, this self-described "neighborhood trattoria" offers a balanced menu that includes nine appetizers, a selection of pizzas, and thirteen entrees that range from fish of the night to vegetarian lasagna. Acoustics were never an outstanding feature of this building, especially when the three rooms are crowded with diners (almost every night) , but modifications have been made and you can now hear everyone at your table but can't eavesdrop on your neighbor. The wine menu has a depth and variety to mirror the menu which, we can honestly say, does not have a weak link. On one weekday night, four of us enjoyed the chicken parmesan, the linguine with spicy grilled shrimp, the vegetarian risotto with sautéed baby spinach and zucchini, and rack of lamb with sweet potato gratin. Service is efficient and friendly, portions are generous, and most entrees are around $15. Dessert selections are limited but adequate. Andiamo sometimes feels a bit LA-ish-servers all wear black, and are young and very thin-but there's no snobbishness here. Olive oil is served with delicious bread from Sage Bakery, but if you ask for butter, no one raises a brow. This is a comfortable, trustworthy place to bring out of towners. By concentrating only on dinners, not changing a nearly perfect menu, and retaining the same wait staff year after year, you have the feeling that management is in control.

Andiamo!
322 Garfield Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Tel: 505-995-9595