The expanse of Frontier’s five adjoining dining rooms is decked out with a range of unique Western artworks, including a wall piece of John Wayne made entirely from metal nails and colorful paintings of New Mexican life by Fred Cleveland.
Try this: Based on the Texas-favorite Manske rolls, the Frontier sweet rolls ($2.75) are baked fresh daily. “It’s still one of our signature items,” Dorothy says.
- Founded: 1971.
- Region: Central.
- Price: $.
On any day of the week at the Frontier Restaurant, you’ll find college students devouring chile-topped burritos, families gathered for a celebration, and longtime friends sipping coffee, eating sweet rolls, and reminiscing as they look out the big picture windows on Central Avenue. “We’ve been known for great people-watching,” says Dorothy Rainosek, who owns the Frontier with her husband, Larry. That includes cooks sporting classic paper hats in the open kitchen while whipping up fresh tortillas, cheeseburgers, and cups of green chile stew. “In New Mexico, we quickly learned you better have green chile,” says Larry, a Texas transplant. The expanse of Frontier’s five adjoining dining rooms is decked out with a range of unique Western artworks, including a wall piece of John Wayne made entirely from metal nails and colorful paintings of New Mexican life by Fred Cleveland. “You just come in, and you’ll see somebody you know,” Larry says. “It’s a comfortable gathering place.”