by Heather Hunter
315 Restaurant & Wine Bar brings across-the-pond delights to Santa Fe diners
MORE THAN 200 YEARS AGO, the Santa Fe Trail was a commercial highway connecting its namesake town with Missouri. Today, this historic street connects locals and tourists to some of the best places in town and leads to the Plaza. This is where the Roundhouse is, the oldest church in the U.S., a few unique hotels, and the revered 315 Restaurant & Wine Bar, serving quality French food for nearly three decades.
Chef and owner Louis Moskow uses local ingredients to guide the menu, which includes modern and contemporary dishes. The lively bar scene offers something for solo diners, romantic dates and groups. The patio attracts people from near and far because who doesn’t love dining under the stars on a summer night?
Guests are hard-pressed to choose between the seafood and regular menus. With limited seafood options around town, this well-curated selection fuels pescatarians. Think classic mussels, tender fried scallops, jumbo shrimp cocktail and the recent addition of sesame-crusted ahi tuna with a sticky coconut rice cake for something a little heartier. “It is precisely these venerable seafood items that can never come off the menu,” Moskow says.
For dinner, classic French staples include steak frites, 315’s signature French fried chicken, plus the rack of lamb is a seasonal addition. “Duck is always on the menu,” Moskow says. “We buy whole ducks and use all the parts. We have a duck confit empanada, and for our French onion soup, we use duck bones for the stock, which is unique. And we make pâté with the livers.”
Unsurprisingly, this French bistro has a wine list to match the elevated cuisine. An avid oenophile and wine collector for the last three decades, Moskow has built an extensive collection.
He added well-seasoned hospitality guru Julian Martinez as a partner, who has augmented the already excellent guest and wine experiences. “Burgundy and Bordeaux are not the only wines in the world, but they are the best and get better with age. I prefer to buy wine and sit on it,” Moskow says. “As we near our fourth decade in business, we have intentionally created that depth of the collection of wines that are appropriate for the restaurant. Thankfully, Julian is acutely aware and enchanted with less popular but equally fantastic wines, and we are excited to share this with our customers.”
From happy hour to a light summer dinner to a hearty but relaxed three-hour French dining experience, 315 exudes hospitality and ensures everyone feels right at home.
