big daddy’s diner (cloudcroft nm)

Sometimes the name of a place captures its soul, and “Big Daddy’s Diner” does just that. The word “Diner” tells you the vibe and a bit about the menu while “Big Daddy” tells you something about the proportions. And given that Big Daddy lives in New Mexico, maybe the locale provides hope that there’s chile on the menu. If you guessed at all these things from the name, then you would not be disappointed, ’cause Big Daddy delivers.

My favorite meal from a diner is breakfast, and breaking fasts at Big Daddy doesn’t disappoint. Orders are plate- and tummy filling. The huevos rancheros (photo topside) come with a choice of red or green and, for the red, hot or mild. And the hot is blessedly hot, making it my go-to morning menu choice. Ditto on the enchiladas where everyone at the table marveled at the spiciness of the red (it seems to be more and more difficult to get spicy chile in New Mexico these days). The biscuits and gravy were superb with toasted biscuits a nice crunchy touch. Similarly, the enchiladas were delicious and delightful with hot red chile.

Big Daddy’s has sandwiches and burgers, BBQ, and more traditional diner fair, but when we are in New Mexico, we almost always go for New Mexican food since we can’t get it in Texas.

web&where: Big Daddy’s Diner; 1700 James Canyon Highway 82, Cloudcroft, New Mexico; (575) 682-1224
what’s the deal? diner with BBQ and NewMex (table service)
overall: *** (food***; drink**; atmosphere**; service***; instagrammability**)
cost: $$

our scale:
–          meh [think twice]
*         OK [it’ll get the job done]
**       good [solid neighborhood joint]
***     damn good [we’ll definitely be back]
****   yippity-yikes that was amazeballs [fantastic; one of the best]
***** holy sh!t [transcendental; best of the best] each $ = $10; cost is based on a typical dinner entrée and appetizer (no drinks)

each $ = $10; cost is based on a typical dinner entrée and appetizer (no drinks)