Lick The Knife

La Iguana

I am pretty excited about this week’s blog! One of the reasons I write this blog is to get my readers to try out new local restaurants in the Las Cruces community. I like to discover and experience new restaurants and I was thrilled when I heard about La Iguana restaurant.

La Iguana is located in the middle of the Downtown Mall in Las Cruces. You can enjoy your lunch either inside or outside. They have a huge patio area where you can dine and watch the traffic of the Farmer’s Market.

The interior space of La Iguana has a modern feel to it. There are plenty of artwork scattered across the walls. The one thing that stands out is the ceiling. It looks like a jigsaw puzzle where they left most of the ceiling tiles in place but cut zig zags around exposing the inside of the roof. I would have to say the interior is one of the most aesthetically appealing places in Las Cruces.

La Iguana has a breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner menu consisting of fresh food. La Iguana prides themselves in offering gluten free food items as well as minimally processed ingredients. La Iguana also has a full coffee and tea menu and also has a wine and beer list.

My visit to La Iguana was during their lunch menu hours. During lunch, they offer mostly sandwiches and salads. I ordered the Mike’s BLT which consists of bacon, lettuce, tomato on white, wheat, or a gluten free roll. It’s a classic sandwich and you can’t go wrong by ordering a BLT. It was very fresh and satisfying. You also have your choice of a side (house salad, pasta salad, potato salad, or fresh fruit).

You can visit La Iguana online at http://www.laiguanalc.com

La Iguana is open Tuesday 8:00am to 2:00pm, Wednesday - Saturday 8:00am to 8:00pm, Sunday 8:00am to 2:00pm.

La Iguana is located on 139 North Main Street, Las Cruces, NM 88001.

Boba Cafe

One of the most unique experiences you can find in Las Cruces is dining at the Boba Cafe. I say unique because the Boba Cafe offers the only dinner cabaret in the city. Besides the entertainment experience, Boba Cafe offers a wide range of entrees and I can’t forget to mention, they serve Boba Tea.

Boba tea, or bubble tea, is a beverage consisting of flavored tea containing tapioca pearls, or boba. The tiny bobas have the texture of rubber and take on the flavor of the tea. Boba Cafe offers a variety of fruity flavors of boba teas. My favorite boba tea is the mango with soy milk. You can either order your boba tea with soy milk or without.

Boba Cafe has a great entertainment lineup. You can catch musical performances, plays, and comedy shows. I suggest you arrive early for the cabaret performances because they are always packed.

The menu at Boba Cafe has soups, salads, sandwiches, and wraps. You may want to ask for a few extra minutes when ordering because there is so much to choose from. Last week during my visit, I ordered the California Club. It consisted of turkey, bacon, avocado spread, mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomato on a croissant. The highlight of the sandwich is the croissant, it was warm, buttery, and flaky. You also have your choice of sides such as: cole slaw, french fries, salad, or potato chips.

You can visit Boba Cafe online at http://www.bobacafelc.com/

Boba Cafe is open Monday - Saturday 10:30am to 8:45pm and closed on Sundays.

Boba Cafe is located on 1900 South Espina Street, Las Cruces, NM 88001.

Katana Teppanyaki Grill

Most restaurants you will find in the City of Las Cruces are Mexican restaurants which menus consist of burritos, enchiladas, tamales, beans, and Spanish rice. When you’re tired of Mexican food and feel like trying something new, check out Katana Teppanyaki Grill.

Katana Teppanyaki Grill is an Asian themed restaurant. You either have a choice of dining at a table or sitting around the Teppan grill. The Teppan grill is an iron, griddle like stove where the Teppan Chefs cook your entrees. If you have never experienced a Teppan grill I suggest sitting near the grill, it is definitely an experience.

Katana is located in the East University shopping mall. The inside of the restaurant has Asian themed decor. Large bamboo murals along the walls of the grills, bamboo plants in every corner, and along one of the walls there are Japanese arcade games that light up the corner of the restaurant with flashing neon lights. The Teppan grills take up most of the restaurant are the items that stand out in the restaurant.

Katana’s menu consists of mostly items that can be cooked at the grill such as steaks, chicken, fish, and shrimp. Also on the menu is sushi, soups, and vegetarian friendly items.

Last week I went during their lunch hours to check out their All-You-Can-Eat Mongolian grill. In the middle of the restaurant there is a vegetable cart where you take your plate and load it up with your choice of 12 different vegetables. The vegetables are your typical stir fry type vegetables: onions, mushrooms, carrots, cabbage, baby corn, etc. etc. Next, you choose the type of protein meat that you want: beef, chicken, fish, shrimp, or mixed seafood. Then the Chef gives you your choice of sauces to add flavor to your dish: Mongolian sauce, teriyaki sauce, Japanese BBQ, Chinese BBQ, Korean BBQ, sweet chili, Amakara sauce, and Yakisoba sauce. The chef then takes your vegetables, protein meat and sauce and grills them up on the Teppan grill. It is served with a side of miso soup and a side of either steamed or fried rice.

Below is a picture of one of the three different plates I had. Yes, I had three separate servings. My excuse is it was an All-You-Can-Eat grill! I tried three different protein meats: shrimp, chicken, and beef. The beef was my favorite. I mixed the beef with vegetables and the Japanese BBQ sauce. I would suggest going during lunch to try out the Mongolian All-You-Can-Eat grill menu.

Katana Teppanyaki Grill is open during lunch Monday - Friday 11:00am to 2:00pm and dinner 5:00pm to 9:00pm.

Katana Teppanyaki Grill is located on 1001 East University Avenue #E1, Las Cruces, NM 88001

Mesilla Valley Kitchen

There’s no question which restaurant in Las Cruces serves up the best breakfast. With a burrito on the menu called the ‘Hangover’ burrito, there’s no doubt that Mesilla Valley Kitchen is the place to go to after a night on the town.

Located in the Arroyo Plaza shopping center, Mesilla Valley Kitchen serves up both Breakfast and Lunch entrees. The inside of the restaurant has gone through a makeover in the last year or so. MVK is heavily promoting their famous ‘Hangover’ burrito with t-shirts hanging from the ceiling to large murals that say, “Home of the Hangover Burrito.” It still has that same feel that it used to have with a few touch ups.

Even though they are home of the ‘Hangover’ burrito, MVK should be home of the best pecan pancakes in Las Cruces. When visiting MVK, you have to order a side of pancakes with your order. They’re fluffy, golden, and the pecans add a taste of Las Cruces.

During my visit this weekend, I ordered the Carne Adovada breakfast plate. It comes with two eggs any style, a side of beans and spuds, cheese, and a flour tortilla. This dish is a great alternative when not ordering a ‘Hangover’ burrito. The servings are huge and leave you satisfied. I saved enough room for a side of Pecan Cakes!

You can visit Mesilla Valley Kitchen online at http://www.mesillavalleykitchen.com/

Mesilla Valley Kitchen is open Monday - Saturday 6:00am to 2:30pm and Sundays 7:00am to 1:30pm. Breakfast and Lunch is served all day.

Mesilla Valley Kitchen is located on 2001 East Lohman Avenue, Las Cruces, NM 88001.