Diners enjoy the nice weather at Boese Brothers Brewery. Courtesy photo

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Los Alamos and White Rock eateries and bars are working hard to keep serving residents and abide by the governor’s order.

It can be a tough order to serve since the only thing predictable, it seems, about COVID-19 is that it is unpredictable. As a result, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s public health order is in a constant state of flux. One week it will be able to permit the state to progress into a next phase in the reopening plan only to have to retreat to an earlier phase the next.

Likewise, the services that local restaurants can provide are always changing. One week, indoor services are permitted, and then the following week, indoor dining is out.

For instance, Boese Brothers Brewery, 145 Central Park Square, offers outdoor dining not only on its patio but diners are encouraged to utilize the lawn located next to the brewery.

Co-owner Sam Boese said they obtained a permit through Los Alamos County and a second one through the state’s Alcohol Beverage Control. Basically, he said, these permits allow the brewery to provide temporary seating for outdoor dining.

“It’s helped our business a ton,” he said.

The permits, Boese explained, “basically allow people to do outdoor seating … with obviously 6 feet minimum between tables, but they are allowing you to do this on a temporary basis due to COVID-19.”

The tables the brewery allows for a maximum of six of occupants
The menu is also changing weekly. Boese said something new is added each week. He said they do cookouts on the lawn Fridays and Saturdays all day and serve burgers, fries, hotdogs and grilled sandwiches.

He described the menu similar to a food truck – there is something a little different every time. New menu items are announced on Boese Brothers Brewery Facebook page.

The public has turned out to support the brewery, Boese said.

“It seems like they have,” he said. “I am sure that all the restaurants and breweries up here would agree things have definitely been slower … it’s been picking up a little each week and we totally appreciate everyone coming out.”

Boese Brothers Brewery is open 4-9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 4-10 p.m. Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3-8 p.m. Sunday. For more information or to order takeout, visit https://www.boesebrothersbrewery.com/ or call 505.500.8325.

Pajarito Brew Pub and Grill, 614 Trinity Dr., also has expanded its outdoor patio dining. General Manager AJ Gordon added the restaurant is still taking to-go orders and offering curbside pickup.

Owner Patrick Mockler-Wood said other services include:

• Keg sales
• Growler Fills
• Take-Out
• Online/phone ordering
• Delivery in Los Alamos
• Free Delivery to Bathtub Row Brewing

“We are doing our best to survive,” Gordon said. “…it’s been very trying to the team (but) we got a lot of stick-to-it-ness.”

Gordon said the community is asked to support the restaurant as best it can.

“It’s not just us,” she said, “it is all of us – we are all in this together.”

Due to the changes in the public health order, Gordon said the Brew Pub and Grill abbreviated its menu but also have some great additions including favorites such as its truffle mac n’ cheese and the Stuffed Pajarito Burger. Mockler-Wood said the Stuffed Pajarito Burger won second place last summer in an edible magazine’s green chili cheeseburger challenge. He said his restaurant planned to compete again this year, but the challenge was canceled due to COVID-19.

Gordon credits the staff and the community for staying flexible and strong through these uncertain times.

“The employees – everybody is such a strong team,” she said. “There is such a strong family here … I think everyone has learned quite a lot about safety and they are reminded to just be kind and keep cleaning!”

Mockler-Wood agreed.

“We are very grateful to our amazing staff who diligently work every day to keep our work area clean, sanitized, and safe for ourselves and our customers,” he said. “We are also grateful to our loyal customers who have continued to eat with us through these trying times.”

He also urged the community to help support local restaurants.

“…Pajarito Brewpub and Grill is one of the more popular places in town even during these trying times, however we only serve .035 percent of the Los Alamos population in a seven-day week. With 17 other locally owned restaurants currently an operation that’s still less than 1 percent (0.61 percent) of Los Alamos is eating out in a given week,” Mockler-Wood said. “If our local community truly wanted to save small business restaurants all they would have to do is eat out once a month at their favorite restaurant in town. I would guarantee all 17 restaurants would not only survive these trying times, they would thrive. And many more restaurants would want to come into Los Alamos for a piece of that kind of action.”

Pajarito Brew Pub and Grill is open 4-9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and noon to 9 p.m. the rest of the week. Online ordering is available at https://www.pajaritobrewpubandgrill.com/ or call 505.662.8877.

Pig + Fig, 11 Sherwood Blvd. in White Rock, has worked hard to follow the public health order.

“Although we miss seeing all of our regular customers sitting in our dining room, we completely support all the efforts our governor is making to keep New Mexico safe and we would never want to do anything to compromise the health of our neighbors,” Owner Laura Crucet said.

“We have enhanced our outdoor patio area with more tables and shade and we are proud to be able to provide a space where friends can still safely meet for coffee, lunch or a glass of wine,” she added.

Takeout is another popular option, Crucet said.

“We have always done a robust take out business but now it comprises over 90 percent of our sales,” she said. “In general, we do not deliver because it does not make sense with our business model. We have been offering a weekly comfort food dinner package (which we have been delivering to Los Alamos or White Rock) and people love them because they’re usually enough for dinner and a couple of days of leftovers!”

For more information about Pig + Fig’s hours, menu or to place an order, visit https://www.pigandfigcafe.com/ or call 505.672.2742.

Trying to navigate through this “new normal” is foreign to everyone and restaurants are no exception.

Bosese said, “I was talking to my brother (Co-Owner George Boese) last week and we were joking that this is not something they teach in business class.”

He said he learned how important it is to gather as much information as possible and respond quickly and in an informed manner to all the changes.

Two good references, Boese said, are here and here.

Los Alamos And White Rock Restaurant Listings: