About
Located in the historic downtown district of Taos, the contemporary American restaurant SUCHNESS dining room burst onto the high-desert stage in 2024, quickly drawing serious praise from food lovers. With a name rooted in the Buddhist ideals of presence and authenticity, every plate at SUCHNESS is done by one chef, from conceptualization to prep and plating, every night.
Run by husband-and-wife team Chef Kevin and Meg Sousa, the duo blends Kevin’s 25 years of experience as a chef, owner, and operator with Meg’s background as a wine professional. Chef Kevin Sousa, who has been praised in the New York Times, Food & Wine Magazine, and featured in Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown, along with accolades from TIME Magazine, pours his creativity and passion into each dish at Suchness.
While Chef Kevin is known for modernizing classic American cuisine with dishes that feel familiar yet fresh, Meg provides vast knowledge about wines while ensuring an elegant yet comfortable dining room experience. Meg curates the wine list, makes every cocktail, and greets each guest at the door.
The Summer/Fall 2025 edition of Travel + Leisure captured the adventurous dining experience at Suchness, noting that it’s a place “where you’re allowed to wonder what’s next without ever feeling rushed to get there.”
Vibe
Suchness sits in the center of town, making it an easy stroll from the galleries and shops of the historic district. Inside, the room is bright and modern with an upscale feel though it never feels stuffy. Guests often describe it as laid back and unforced, with a chill vibe and smooth service.
The open kitchen is the heart of the room. You can watch Kevin work alone at his station, carefully plating each course by hand. The small, intimate dining room enhances the feel of a chef's table without the formality. It's a good fit for an elegant date night, a quiet dinner with friends, or a special-occasion meal.
SUCHNESS dining room: Menu & Drinks
The menu at SUCHNESS changes often and follows the seasons, so no two visits look quite the same. In fact, diners can expect to find the living menu on their website as it is updated frequently. Additionally, menus are accessible via the QR code at each table.
Recent standouts include a braised lamb tostada made with neck, head, and shank, layered with mole poblano, chèvre, nectarine, and nasturtium. The escargot is another favorite, served with cremini and chanterelle mushrooms, persillade, and crispy prosciutto. For something lighter, the stone fruit plate pairs apricot, peach, cherry, and nectarine with a plum dressing, cashew and nori, and wild herbs.
Meg's wine list is thoughtful and well-matched to the food. Her handcrafted cocktails get plenty of praise, and the mocktails earn rave reviews too. Non-drinkers won't feel like an afterthought here.
A meal at SUCHNESS dining room is worth planning your Taos vacation around. It brings serious culinary talent into a relaxed, welcoming room, and you won't find another dining experience in town quite like it.
Local Tips
- Reservations are necessary and can be made by calling (575) 240-4251, via email hello@suchnessdiningroom.com or on the Reservations page from their website
- There is a 15-minute grace period for reservation times
- Plan for a relaxed pace, because Chef Kevin prepares each dish himself.
- Check Instagram before you go to see what's on the menu that night.
- There is a parking lot that is shared with neighboring Ledoux Plaza businesses, as well as parking available in a lot across the street and nearby public lots.
