Filed under: Kid-Friendly Trips, Uncategorized

Where to Eat? Taos Pizza Outback

Back in the free spirited days of the 1960s a group of ambitious but laid back young people got the idea to open a pizza restaurant in Taos, NM where they lived. They located a place to rent behind another establishment, making it a bit difficult to find. Customers would enter the business in front and ask, “Where’s the pizza?” “Outback” was always the response. Thus was born the name of one of our family’s favorite pizza restaurants in Taos.

Still in its same location, Taos Pizza Outback also favors laid back waiters, waitresses and cooks and an extremely casual atmosphere. Your pizza may take a bit longer than at Pizza Hut, but this is, indeed, part of the charm of the place. It gives you a bit more of an opportunity to enjoy the unique atmosphere surrounding you.

The restaurant itself is small, consisting of a small eating area and covered porch. Most patrons prefer to dine outside at one of the many picnic tables in the tree-covered yard. You can then enjoy reading the graffiti decorating the outside of the building—a unique, but pleasing, decorating concept.

Children visiting the restaurant are greeted with sheets of white newsprint and several crayons. They are invited to make a placemat for themselves or to choose to have their “creation” put up to adorn the walls of one of the two unisex restrooms.

The atmosphere is “kitschy” and relaxed, but the food is not to be beat! They have some of the most unusual pizza on their menu I have ever seen and we never fail to select a favorite from the list. Most recently, it was a combination of artichokes, garlic, feta cheese and mushrooms.  And, not to worry: as children seldom have the same taste in pizza as their parents (or each other, for that matter), Outback has massive slices of pizzas available, made to order. Most often our children have each elected one of these and, even at 15 and 16, had to take a portion of it home.

If you’re in the vicinity of Taos, NM, and looking for an unusual place to eat, check out Taos Pizza Outback. You won’t be disappointed, but you will be entertained and well-fed. If you look for it, it can be a bit tricky to find. Just remember, it’s outback! Enjoy!

Read more about New Mexico camping and things to do in New Mexico.

Last 5 posts by Diane Berry

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