ABOUT

Mission

Restaurant Martin is the embodiment of a 20-year dream to create the perfect balance of refined and comfortable. Chef Martin Rios, and his wife, Jennifer, envisioned a certain ambiance where people from the community as well as Santa Fe’s many visitors could enjoy Chef Rios’ award-winning progressive American cuisine. Martin and Jennifer are long-time Santa Fean’s with a commitment to locality – Martin volunteers for Cooking with Kids, and Jennifer is president of The Horse Shelter. This family-owned restaurant caters not only to tourists, but to a large and local clientele. Chef Rios, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico grew up in Santa Fe starting in the restaurant business as a 17-year-old dishwasher, eventually working his way up to Executive Chef at several restaurants and hotels. Chef Rios received his formal training at the Culinary Institute of America and supplemented that with experience and training in some of the world’s most honored restaurants and with well-known culinary masters.

Jennifer and Martín in collaboration with acclaimed food writers, Cheryl and Bill Jamison and remarkable photographer, Kate Russell, released Chef Martín's cookbook in 2015, entitled Restaurant Martín - Sophisticated Home Cooking From the Celebrated Santa Fe Restaurant.
Call to order your copy or find online.

Accolades

Chef Rios has been repeatedly honored for his innovative and pleasing combinations of flavors, colors and presentation. His unique style emphasizes fresh, local produce and organic meats and poultry, and reflects not only Southwestern and Asian influences but also his classic training in French technique. His list of accolades include the following:

Finalist in 2015, 2017, 2018 and now 2022 for the James Beard “Best Chef of the Southwest” Award
Semi-finalist for the 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022 James Beard “Best Chef of the Southwest” Award
Semi-finalist for the 2010 James Beard “Best New Restaurant in the US” Award
Appeared on PBS’ “Moveable Feast”
Appeared as a contestant on “Beat Bobby Flay”
Appeared on the Cooking Channel “United Tastes of America”
Appearing on the BBC America’s “Chef Race: UK vs. US”
Named one of SAVEUR Magazine’s 2012 top 25 Nation-Wide “Tastemakers”
Featured on “Iron Chef America”
The only chef from New Mexico to have won the Robert Mondavi Culinary Award of Excellence
Under his leadership the Old House Restaurant was listed by Zagat’s Restaurant Survey as the best dining experience in New Mexico, and one of the best restaurants in the United States.
Nominee for 2024 DiRōNA (Distinguished Restaurants of North America) 'Award of Excellence'
Chef of the Year by the City of Santa Fe
Chef of the Year twice by the State of New Mexico
Chef of the Year twice by the New Mexico Lodger’s Association
Named “Celebrated Chef” by the National Pork Council Featured in the Bon Appétit Magazine cover story “The American Restaurant: Our Favorite Places.”
Named Santa Fe Professional Business Woman of the Year 2014, Jennifer Rios