The old joke that waffles are simply pancakes with abs does an injustice to both: A good waffle is slightly crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside and far more than a frilly pancake.
Daniel Gonzales, general manager of the recently-opened Roasted Rooster Coffee and Waffles at 2702 W. Amador Avenue, is demonstrating as much with a menu incorporating waffles suitable for breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert. Besides the country waffle, there are green chile cheese waffles, pesto waffles, cornbread waffles and a gluten-free variation. For larger meals, they are incorporated into sandwiches with baked chicken, smoked brisket, shredded red chile pork and more. For dessert, perhaps the Turtle Road bubble waffle with praline pecan ice cream, chocolate and caramel sauce will do.
Nothing here is fried, setting aside arguments over whether waffles are “fried,” “baked” or “cast.” The kitchen is oven-based, bustling with workers preparing fresh ingredients, locally sourced as much as possible; and of course, the waffle irons are in constant use.
The beverage menu is replete with coffee- and espresso-based drinks, tea and frescas, the coffee blends a proprietary blend unique to Roasted Rooster, Gonzales said, by way of Picacho Coffee Roasters.
The location is prime for attracting travelers, located at Amador and Motel Blvd. near the interstate and two travel centers. Roasted Rooster even offers an array of Tesla charging stations in its parking lot. However, Gonzales said that two weeks after opening, most of the clientele are local and there are already quite a few regulars getting something to go or dining in.
A native Las Crucen who has worked in the food and beverage industries for 20 years, Gonzales said, “I wanted something that was both creative and comfortable, familiar and innovative. … I love all the local restaurants here in town, I frequent them, but I wanted to find something that was unique … where we could provide higher-quality coffee, in my opinion, than your national chains.”
An adjacent space on the property is being prepared for the future opening of the Baked Chicken Farm cannabis dispensary, which will sell cannabis products made from plants grown at a former chicken farm in Berino, south of Las Cruces.
In the meantime, Roasted Rooster is busy from morning into the night, welcoming visitors with aromas of fresh waffles and coffee, colorful menus overhead and friendly greetings.
“What I keep hearing all the time is how homey it feels,” Gonzales said. “That was the vibe that we wanted … like grandma’s home or grandma’s farm.”
That is, assuming grandma likes locally roasted coffee or cucumber limeade with a dash of red chile salt.
Roasted Rooster Coffee and Waffles is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. It is located at 2702 W. Amador Avenue in Las Cruces. Online orders are available via RoastedRoosterNM.com.
