Located in the corner of a shopping center just across Westheimer from the Galleria, you can spot this place by the fire torches out in front. Valet parking is available, probably because this parking lot gets very crowded on weekends. Before you venture up the stairs to the actual restaurant, you can check out the menu at the foot of the stairs.

Once upstairs, you'll notice that the whole restaurant is decked out in Southwestern fare. The exposed pine interior is covered in antique saddles, ropes, and blankets; all in Santa Fe colors. The restaurant was about two-thirds full and we were quickly seated. Being New Year's Eve, some people were dressed up, but the majority of the patrons (couples & adults) were in more casual clothes.

Looking over the menu, it was hard to steer clear of the large selection of hand-shaken margaritas, but we did (saving ourselves for later in the night). I finally decided on the pasta dish w/ penne pasta, shrimp, and vegetables in a spicy creamy tomato sauce. It was a little spicy for me, but delicious. My friends had the Chile Rubbed House Sirloin with mashed potatoes and a side of vegetables and the Portabella mushroom & Spinach quesadillas with a salad instead of the side of beans & rice, but ended up getting the Chicken quesadillas. She really enjoyed her food and didn't even really notice that it was the wrong meal until she was almost finished.

Before the meal, breadsticks and a spread that looked like reddish butter, but tasted like fire-roasted red peppers and cream cheese, was brought out with our drinks. The breadsticks were soft and warm and the spread was very yummy.

The service was excellent. But, this also brings up the story of my only "downfall" of the meal. I had ordered a glass of water and after drinking more than half of it, my friend noticed that there was a screw in the bottom of it! As my friends joked that "a screw in your water means good luck for the new year," I called the waiter over and he was just as perplexed as we were about the screw. He immediately brought me a new water and at the end of our meal, he brought out a Banana Burrito Desert "on the house." It was delicious: A warmed banana wrapped in a couple soft flour tortillas covered in cinnamon with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and the whole thing drizzled in chocolate. As we finished the desert, the manager came over and apologized profusely claiming he had no idea how a screw even got into their kitchen! Anyways, we had a good laugh about it and didn't hold it against the restaurant - I will definitely be going back!!