By Dani Staley
There’s nothing as entertaining as a good story, unless it’s a good story accompanied by a
glass of fine wine and dinner, both of which Chef Louis Moskow will happily provide should
you be inclined to pay him a visit at 315 Restaurant and Wine Bar in Santa Fe.

Our tale begins with our friend, Louis, a native East Coaster from Westchester. Cooking by age twelve, Louis saved enough money to attend the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, New York. After graduating in 1989, he had the extraordinary opportunity to hone his culinary skills working with world-renowned chefs, Alfred Portale, and Emeril Lagasse.

It was in 1995, while working at Park Avenue Café with David Burke in New York City, Louis received an offer for a position as a sous-chef at a restaurant in Santa Fe. Southwestern food wasn’t his niche, but this particular establishment was doing something different – French cuisine. Intrigued by the offer and compelled by the beauty of New Mexico’s rivers and mountains, Louis promptly quit his job, left the Big Apple, and headed west.

It was a fortuitous move that would change the trajectory of his life when just four years later he would purchase that very same restaurant, 315 Bistro, and become Proprietor and Chef of what is now known as 315 Restaurant and Wine Bar, the oldest French fine-dining restaurant in Santa Fe.

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Located on Old Santa Fe Trail, the first wagon trail connecting Missouri to Santa Fe, 315
Restaurant and Wine Bar sits between two landmarks: San Miguel Chapel, the oldest
church in the United States, and the De Vargas Street House, the oldest building in Santa
Fe. Conveniently blocks away from Santa Fe’s famed Old Town Plaza, it’s close enough to
walk to, but enough of a distance to be removed from the heavy foot traffic of daily tourists.

Like many of the edifices in this quaint, historic community, 315 is a traditional Southwest-style adobe that, according to Louis, has existed for two hundred years. Under his ownership and through the acquisition of two other buildings, the restaurant expanded twice. Thanks to Santa Fe’s historic preservation laws to protect and promote historic buildings, this neighborhood has maintained its provincial aesthetic and charm through centuries past.

The sidewalk to the restaurant’s front entrance is lined with terracotta-colored brick pavers
that continue up the stairs to the restaurant’s garden patio where during the warmer months, it serves as a space for patrons to commune together, listen to live music, and enjoy the evening beneath a canopy of stars.

Inside 315, the atmosphere is homey and welcoming, with small, but significant touches
capturing the experience de Francais: a wine barrel used as a host stand, miniature, live
roses in small, cylindrical glasses and candles on the tables, neutral-colored curtains
hanging from the windows and wine bottles balancing on sills. Adorning the walls are
quirky pictures and curiosities, most noticeably, hand-painted oyster plates which can be
found hanging in every room.

With four distinct dining areas, you have the option to create a dining experience all your
own. The bistro/bar area is informal and lively, but also very cozy. You can easily enjoy a solitary evening with a book and one of 315’s fabulous drink specials, or make it a night with friends over a shared plate of mouth-watering French Fried Chicken and Mashed Potatoes and Greens, or with a few delectable appetizers like Shrimp with Apricot Chutney and Smoked Salmon with Tater Tots and Cucumber Dill Salad.

The two dining rooms are perfect for a romantic dinner for two or larger parties. Thoughtful
consideration has been given to the room design, which has been spaciously laid out to
provide privacy between tables.

The fourth dining area is a private enclave. Designed for two, with a curtain to offer concealment, and with its own chandelier, it is the ultimate romantic date-night space meant for the most special of occasions for memories that will last a lifetime.

315 boasts four wine lockers and an extensive wine menu to pair with its classic, French
dishes, such as their delicious French Onion Soup with herb crouton, savory Cassoulet
Toulousian with duck confit, lamb, house-made garlic-pork sausage, and flageolet beans,
and flavorsome Black Mussels with white wine, garlic, herbs, and club fries, to name a few.

The chefs at 315 specialize in French cuisine using all five, classical French cooking
techniques; sautéing, grilling, poaching, roasting, and braising, guaranteeing patrons an
exquisite and authentic French fine-dining experience that can’t be experienced anywhere
else in Santa Fe. The menu is crafted around seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. It emphasizes organic fruits and vegetables, as well as responsibly raised, locally sourced meats.

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As I listened to Louis lovingly recall highlights of his three decades at 315 Restaurant and
Wine Bar, I heard a man humbled by his good fortune.

“I’m grateful for 30 years of employment. We have an incredible following and it sort of
feels somewhat venerable at this point as thirty years go by and we continue to grow… I feel
at home here.”

When asked what was next for 315, he replied:
“Our 30th anniversary could be a great night… but the best story I think is yet to come.”

This April 1 & 2, 2025, will be Louis’ 30th year anniversary at 315 Restaurant and Wine Bar
315santafe.com/menu