Restaurant Martin

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Dream Two Decades in the Making

Restaurant Martin on Galisteo Street is the realization of a 20-year vision shared by Chef Martín Rios and his wife Jennifer: a place where refined cooking and genuine comfort exist in equal measure. The goal was straightforward — to create somewhere that Santa Fe locals and visitors alike would want to return to, drawn not by spectacle but by the consistency and creativity on the plate.

That vision is grounded in a remarkable personal story. Chef Rios, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico, grew up in Santa Fe and entered the restaurant business at 17 as a dishwasher. He went on to receive formal training at the Culinary Institute of America, then deepened his craft at some of the world's most respected kitchens, working alongside well-known culinary masters before rising to Executive Chef at several restaurants and hotels.

Progressive American Cuisine with Depth and Roots

Chef Rios' cooking is defined by a style that layers Southwestern and Asian influences over a foundation of classical French technique. Fresh local produce, organic meats and poultry, and an attention to flavor, color, and presentation are the constants. The result is a progressive American cuisine that feels both rooted in place and genuinely ambitious — something that has earned him repeated recognition as a finalist and semi-finalist for the James Beard "Best Chef of the Southwest" award across multiple years, most recently in 2022.

His accolades extend well beyond a single guide. Chef Rios is the only chef from New Mexico to have won the Robert Mondavi Culinary Award of Excellence, has been named Chef of the Year by both the City of Santa Fe and the State of New Mexico, and was featured in a Bon Appétit cover story on America's favorite restaurants. He has appeared on PBS, the Cooking Channel, BBC America, and competed on "Beat Bobby Flay" and "Iron Chef America." The restaurant's wine program earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, a recognition that reflects the same care applied to every other aspect of the dining room.

Family-Owned, Community-Minded

Restaurant Martin is genuinely a family enterprise. Jennifer Rios, named Santa Fe Professional Business Woman of the Year in 2014, co-manages the restaurant and has served as president of The Horse Shelter. Chef Rios volunteers with Cooking with Kids. Together, they have built a restaurant that serves a large and loyal local clientele alongside the many visitors who make their way to Santa Fe — a balance that is harder to achieve than it sounds.

In 2015, Martín and Jennifer collaborated with food writers Cheryl and Bill Jamison and photographer Kate Russell to publish Restaurant Martín: Sophisticated Home Cooking From the Celebrated Santa Fe Restaurant, bringing the restaurant's approach to progressive American cuisine into home kitchens.

Dinner is served Wednesday through Sunday, with the kitchen open from 5pm.