It’s easy to forget you’re in the 21st century at Tecolote Café. This diner has the down-home, old-timey feel of  traditional neighborhood restaurants of the past.

The décor is dominated by cross stitch and figurine owls (Tecolote means owl in the Aztec Indian language Nahuatl though the restaurant is named for the town) that line the walls and give Tecolote the vibe of Grandma’s kitchen, right on Cerrillos Road.

The green chile is hot, hot, hot but the staff keeps water glasses full as you munch. Make sure to check out the French toast, which is made with homemade breads that change daily a recent visit found orange poppy seed (so good and sweet it’s like desert for breakfast), honey blue corn and honey almond.

Meals come with a choice of a tortilla or a bakery basket filled with blueberry muffins, cinnamon rolls and biscuits. There’s so much food you’ll be glad you waited in the line that forms most mornings, and by the time you leave you’ll be so stuffed you’ll think you’ll never have to eat again. (Patricia Sauthoff)

Breakfast and lunch Tuesday-Sunday. $