D.H. Lescombes Winery and Bistro ranks among nation’s best

LAS CRUCES – Grab a corkscrew, because an area restaurant and winery has just been named one of the 100 best restaurants in the nation.

Yelp — the rating app that is particularly popular among diners — recently released its list of “Top 100 US Restaurants 2022.” D.H. Lescombes Winery and Bistro, at 1720 Avenida de Mesilla, was ranked No. 47 on the list. No other New Mexico restaurant made the list — including Santa Fe, a city known to pride itself on its cuisine and eateries.

“Helming this bistro are 6th-generation French winemaker brothers who inherited the family’s New Mexico winemaking business launched by their father in the 1980s,” stated a blurb about why the restaurant was chosen. “A true partnership between the vintners and a chef (each entree suggests a specific wine pairing), the menu features French inspiration such as steak béarnaise to be paired with ​cabernet franc, crème brûlée which pairs with St. Clair Kiva, and french onion soup made with a splash of merlot. Diners will also find American fare (often with a Southwest twist).”

According to Yelp, “diners love the baked brie drizzled with local lavender honey,” served with the winery’s Heritage Bellissimo sparkling wine.”

The restaurant is also known for its Pasta New Mexico — featuring sautéed chicken breast and Hatch green chile, the review stated, suggesting it pairs nicely with the winery’s heritage pinot gris.

One “Yelper,” identified as Alex W., left this review:

“I can’t express how good this place is. Come on a date or a double date with close friends. Bring the people who you love the most, as they will love you even more after showing them this restaurant.”

According to Yelp, the company’s methodology for creating the list involved contacting users about their favorite dining spots.

“Then, we ranked each by total number of submissions, ratings, reviews, and geographic representation, among other factors.”

Two El Paso restaurants made the list. Nomi, an Asian fusion/ramen restaurant on North Mesa, was ranked No. 57. The Kitchen at 150 Sunset, a restaurant specializing in breakfast and brunch on East Sunset Road, was ranked No. 63.