New Mexico is known for many things - beautiful scenery, historic Native American pueblos, and the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Perhaps the state's biggest claim to fame is its unique blend of the cuisines of the Pueblo Native Americans, the descendants of the area's Spanish settlers, and the modern Mexican nation. While there are countless places to get a good New-Mexican meal, we would recommend Rancho de Chimayó, a family-owned establishment located 27 miles north of Santa Fe in Chimayó. Nestled in a valley in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico, Rancho de Chimayó serves up delicious New Mexican fare within a Pueblo-style building.

Rancho de Chimayó, owned and operated by the Jaramillo family, was opened in 1965 and is housed within the late 19th-century home of Hermenegildo and Trinidad Jaramillo, themselves descendants of Spanish colonists who moved into the region from Mexico City in the late 1600s.

As you enter the building you will likely notice the adobe material used to build the former home and the chile ristras (or "chile strings") hanging from the roof, both of which are distinctly Southwestern.

The interior of the restaurant features several dining rooms complete with white-washed adobe walls, fireplaces, and Jaramillo family photos. There is additional seating available on Rancho de Chimayó’s covered terrace.

While you’d have a good meal here by ordering just about anything on the menu, we’d like to highlight a few items.

The blue-corn shrimp enchiladas - which come three-to-a-plate with white cheddar cheese and pesto green chile on top and black beans on the side - are an especially popular item.

A good drink to pair with your meal is Rancho de Chimayó’s signature beverage, the Chimayó Cocktail. This delicious alcoholic drink is made with tequila, apple cider, and the French liqueur creme de cassis.

If you’re still hungry at the end of your meal, be sure to check out the restaurant’s highly-rated flan, a custard-based treat with a caramel top. You can also munch on the puffy, fried sopaipillas that come with your meal (if you haven’t already, of course).

Don’t forget to visit Rancho de Chimayó’s Country Store on your way out of the restaurant.

This tiendita (or "little store") - which sells New Mexican food items such as piñon coffee, sopaipilla mix, and prickly-pear-cactus syrup - is the perfect place to pick up a gift or even just something for yourself.

A visit to Rancho de Chimayó offers diners a step back in time to the late 19th-century and a delicious meal to go with it. Whether you choose a chile relleno or a chicken-fajita salad it will be a meal you won't soon forget. Rancho de Chimayó is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit Rancho de Chimayó's website or check out the restaurant on Facebook to learn more about this delightful dining experience. Have you dined at Rancho de Chimayó? If so, let us know about your visit in the comments.