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El Bruno's (Photos of the Old Restaurant)

6448 Main St.
Cuba, NM
(575) 289-9429

Gil Garduño  of Gil's Thrilling (And Filling) Blog  reported that on June 9, 2006, El Bruno's was consumed by a fire which destroyed one of the very best New Mexican restaurant in northern New Mexico. Gil's review of the restaurant made a convincing argument that El Bruno's was a state treasure that would live on in people's memory. Fortunately the restaurant was able to reopen in October 2006 in a smaller location directly across from the original restaurant. He states that "What was once a Frostee-Freeze restaurant and an old house next door was transformed over a period of two years into what is now a spacious restaurant with all the charm of its predecessor."

Since I was able to stop at the original El Bruno to buy some salsa (but not to eat a meal), I defer to Gil on expounding about the merits of the restaurant. However, I was able to take some photos of the old restaurant which might be of some interest to readers (particularly those who remember the old building).

The original El Bruno's in Cuba, NM

This is a view of the south side of the original restaurant (which was destroyed by a fire).

View of El Bruno's approaching from the south

This was the view from a half block south of the restaurant. The new restaurant is now located across the street (on the far left of this photo).

A view of El Bruno's from the north

A view of El Bruno's from the north.

El Bruno's patio

The patio was located outside the front door.

Another view of the patio

A mural on the patio

This mural survived the fire and is on display at the new restaurant across the street.