about

Opened in 2006 by Chef/Owner James Campbell Caruso, La Boca is an intimate Spanish tapas restaurant in the heart of downtown Santa Fe. Influenced by his travels in Spain, Chef James cultivates synergies of authentic Spanish ingredients to create dishes both traditional and modern. Dishes such as smoky grilled eggplant topped with rich manchego, sweet saffron honey, and briny capers or thinly sliced tuna drizzled with blood orange aioli and topped with kalamata olives and smoked sea salt create a constellation of different flavors in every bite.

With the feel of a lively European wine bar, La Boca also features an extensive selection of carefully chosen mediterranean and South American wines. Knowledgeable and animated staff graciously guide customers to the perfect wine to complement their meals. La Boca also prides itself on being an ambassador of Spanish sherry culture, transporting its guests to Cadiz in the crisp cool flavors of Fino, or the deep fig-essence of a Pedro Ximenez.

Full to capacity almost every night since its opening, La Boca has been a hit with both locals and the world travelers that visit Santa Fe. La Boca has earned numerous awards both local and national, including the Santa Fe Reporter’s “Restaurant of the Year,” and the International Wine and Food Society’s “Award of Excellence.”

Chef James is a five-time James Beard Award Nominee and was one of only four chefs nominated to compete in the Sherry Council of America’s “Copa Jerez International Food and Sherry Pairing Competition.”

Prior to opening La Boca, Chef James served as Chef at La Casa Sena, chef/instructor at the Santa Fe School of Cooking, and Executive Chef at the legendary El Farol where he wrote the cookbook, El Farol: Tapas and Spanish Cuisine (Gibbs Smith, 2004).