D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
May 2010
Springs Time
At Silver City's Adobe Springs Restaurant, the byword is "fresh."
By Peggy Platonos
On the Adobe Springs Restaurant menu, there's a comment printed under the heading "Today's Soup" that sums up the policy and commitment underlying all the dishes offered by owners Larry and Cynthia Shylo: "Yes, we make it here from fresh ingredients!"
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Adobe Springs Restaurant owners Cynthia
and Larry Shylo. (Photo by Peggy Platonos) |
The "we" in that statement refers to the owners themselves, who are both as hands-on in their approach to business as any owner can possibly be. Larry, a native of the Czech Republic, brings an international flavor to the food as chef, handling both meal preparation and line cooking. Cynthia serves as hostess, waitress and cashier and generally enlivens the front-of-house atmosphere with her buoyant personality. She also somehow finds the time to produce such memorable desserts as chocolate-walnut pie, seasonal fruit pies and a crme brle that one well-traveled customer has called "the best in the world" and another has dubbed "the quintessential brle."
The couple bought the restaurant in 2007 and did a swift but thorough sprucing up of the premises, which had once served as the lobby of a motel and spa where some customers have said they spent their honeymoon. Three weeks after the sale was finalized, Larry and Cynthia opened their doors for business, throwing themselves, heart and soul, into creating an upscale but unpretentious restaurant.
"We set out to create a place where customers could find quality food made with fresh ingredients, and enjoy a leisurely meal in pleasant surroundings," Cynthia says. "We believe, from our customers' comments, we've succeeded in doing that."
The breakfast, lunch and dinner menus all advise customers: "We do not serve frozen, prepared meals. Our dishes are fresh and individually prepared. Please allow time for proper meal preparation."
But Larry and Cynthia are constantly seeking ways to better serve their customers. So, to address the needs of people who require a quick lunch, they have recently added an Adobe Express Menu, with items that can be speedily served and consumed. On weekdays, they are also now offering economical "Sack-and-Go" takeout lunches, all priced at $5.95 or less, with each bag lunch consisting of a sandwich selection and a cookie.
The couple has designated Thursday night as "Leonardo's Italian Night" with authentic Italian dishes as dinner specials. And on Saturday evenings, Adobe Springs now provides live music from 6 to 8, with local musician Tom Marrish and his son Zach playing a wide range of selections on handmade guitars produced by a Serbian craftsman.
Breakfast, lunch or dinner, all items at the Adobe Springs Restaurant are high in quality and reasonable in price.
Breakfast selections range from traditional egg-and-meat meals to unusual three-egg omelet choices, Texas-style Migas, pancake options, breakfast burritos and French toast stuffed with seasonal fresh fruit.
The lunch menu includes several types of hand-packed burgers cooked to a customer's specifications, a selection of meal-sized salads, and sandwiches such as turkey-bacon-avocado, hot pastrami, hand-breaded fresh fish fry and Southwest grilled cheese.
The dinner menu features a variety of steaks, fresh seafood and pasta dishes.
In addition to the regular menu items, there are daily lunch and dinner specials. And, of course, appetizers, side dishes and desserts are available, many of which are truly memorable in their own right. The sweet potato fries served at the Adobe Springs Restaurant, for instance, are worth a visit all by themselves.
Beer and wine are also available, including a number of New Mexico wines.
Adobe Springs Restaurant, 1617 Silver Heights Blvd. in Silver City, 538-3665. Open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, with lunch served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and a special dinner menu in effect from 4 to 8 p.m. On Saturday, the hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with breakfast and lunch options available from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., lunch only available from 2:30 to 4 p.m., and dinner from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday hours are 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with breakfast and lunch items available throughout. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.