If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, Shotgun Willie's Cafe makes a strong case for starting it on West Main Street. The cafe sits at 403 West Main Street, at the corner of Main Street and Pioneer Road, and it describes itself as a Red River institution of more than 20 years. On a chilly mid-October morning like this one, with temperatures starting in the upper 30s, a hot, made-to-order breakfast and a cup of coffee are an easy way to ease into the day.
Breakfast is served daily from 7:00 to 11:00 a.m., and the menu leans hearty. The signature B.O.B., short for Breakfast on a Bun, layers bacon or sausage, scrambled egg, cheese, and diced green chile on a bun over a bed of hashbrowns. The breakfast burrito wraps scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, and cheese with a choice of bacon, sausage, or brisket, and can be ordered smothered. Biscuits and gravy, French toast made with Texas toast, and chicken fried steak and eggs round out a morning lineup built for hikers, anglers, and anyone heading out for a drive around the Enchanted Circle.
Lunch takes over from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and barbecue moves to the front. The cafe specializes in barbecue and fresh, never-frozen hamburgers, with sliced and chopped brisket sandwiches, a brisket and sausage platter served with coleslaw, beans, and Texas toast, and a barbecue burrito. Loaded baked potatoes stuffed with brisket, chicken fajita, or chili, plus catfish, chicken fingers, wraps, and a kids corner, keep the menu broad enough for the whole table. Service is friendly counter service, the cafe is open year-round, and the business describes itself as family and pet friendly.
Today is a good day to plan that stop early. Red River is forecast to reach a high near 53 degrees, with a chance of afternoon showers and gusty south to southwest winds, before skies clear tonight and temperatures fall to near 28 degrees. Thursday stays cool and mostly sunny, with a low in the mid-20s, part of the first notable cold front of the season moving through northern New Mexico. A warm breakfast before the wind picks up, or lunch before the showers arrive, fits the rhythm of the day.
The timing also suits a quieter midweek in town. The 21st Annual Red River Oktoberfest wrapped up in Brandenburg Park on Sunday, leaving Main Street calmer for a few days of fall color and unhurried browsing. Ski season is getting closer, too: Red River Ski and Summer Area season pass prices rose today, October 14, with Opening Day set for November 26. Whether you are in town for the week or just passing through, Shotgun Willie's is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 403 West Main Street, and can be reached at 575-754-6505.