Michael J's
appreciates your patronage and support. We are currently OPEN Tuesday through Sunday with the first seating being at 5pm. For pickup please call 575-257-9559 after 3:30pm for pickup between 5pm and 7:30pm.Again, we are fortunate enough to be booked as much as a week in advance, so reservations are recommended. Please call after 2pm on our open days.
We appreciate our loyal customers and your support. - Chef Brian

"Taste and
elegance in an intimate setting..."
Michael J's Restaurant. 601 Mechem Drive, Ruidoso, NM 88345
Since 2013
Welcome to Michael J's
Michael J’s by Chef Brian Flowers is an intimate fine dining Italian American restaurant in Ruidoso NM. Chef Brian Flowers has been in the kitchen since the opening six years ago and developed the base menu. In June of 2019, Chef Brian purchased Michael J’s and has added new items to the menu while ensuring that ambiance and menu that Michael J's has become known for have been maintained.
The menu offers veal and chicken as well as seafood choices such as Crab Cakes for a great appetizer or Williams Brothers Alaskan Salmon for a main course. While the lasagna is one of the most popular dishes, there are also gluten free options. To accompany your meal, there are red wine options such as Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon and La Crema Pinot Noir, or white wines such as Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio and Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay. Save room for dessert! We offer a delicious house-made cheesecake that is a must try!
When dining with us you can expect to be greeted with a welcoming smile as soon as you walk in the door. Our low lighting, warm atmosphere and fantastic servers will ensure you have a wonderful occasion. The generous portions and our kitchen team's skills will make certain that you come back in the future to try other entrées. We look forward to seeing you!
Get DirectionsBrian Flowers
Chef-Owner
Christopher Bustillos
Sous Chef
Reservations are recommended. Call on open days after 2pm. Please DO NOT email.
Opening hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- 5:00pm
- Wednesday
- 5:00pm
- Thursday
- 5:00pm
- Friday
- 5:00pm
- Saturday
- 5:00pm
- Sunday
- 5:00pm
Linguini with Shrimp Scampi
Shrimp with lemon, butter, garlic and white wine sauce over linguini with fresh Roma tomatoes.
Chicken Parmigiana
House Panko crust, pan seared chicken topped with rich marinara sauce and parmesan cheese.
Linguini Pescatore
With clams, shrimp and mussels in a garlic butter, white wine sauce and fresh Roma tomatoes.
Appetizers
Each table will receive 1 basket of fresh bread.
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Bruschetta$13.00
Toasted baguette, garlic, EV olive oil, Roma tomatoes, fresh basil
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Classic Garlic Bread$13.00
Brushed with garlic butter, parmesan cheese and parsley.
Add Cheese+$3.50
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Salmon Crostini$17.00
House-smoked wild Alaskan salmon on toasted baguette with lemon remoulade, Roma tomatoes and capers.
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Steamed Mussels$22.00
Canadian Blue Mussels in a white wine, garlic, butter sauce and fresh Roma tomatoes.
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Garlic Clams$22.00
Sauteed in white wine, lemon, garlic, and fresh diced tomato.
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Caprese Salad$16.00
Vine-ripened tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil drizzled with EV olive oil and balsamic vinegar reduction.
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Lobster Cake$23.00
Maine Lobster, diced red bell pepper, shallots, parmesan cheese, capers, lemon, dill remoulade, with a side of spring mix.
Soup And Salad
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Minestronecup $7.50 bowl $13.00
Classic Italian soup in a rich tomato broth with vegetables. A true vegan soup!
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Caesar Salad$18.00
With romaine hearts, parmesan, garlic croutons and classic house-made Caesar dressing.
Add grilled chicken breast+$10.00Add grilled shrimp+$12.00
Beverages-Bevande
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Your choice of soft drink$ 3.00
Coca Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite, or Dr. Pepper (No refills)
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Stewart’s Root Beer$ 4.00
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Lemonade$ 3.50
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Iced Tea$ 3.50
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Hot Tea$ 3.00
Your choice of herbal or black tea.
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San Pellegrino$ 4.00
Sparkling Water (500 ml bottle)
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Coffee, Decaf$ 2.50Add Amaretto or Coffee Liquor+$4.00
Additional Sides
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Sauteed Spinach$10.00
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Sauteed Asparagus$13.00
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Sauteed Mushrooms$12.00
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Substitute Angel Hair Pasta$ 4.00
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Substitute Gluten Free Pasta$ 7.00
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Additional Bread Basket$ 3.50
Pasta
*Split Plate: $7, including side salad or cup of soup for both people.
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Spaghetti Bolognese$24.00
Classic meat sauce from Bologna, Italy.
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Fettuccini Alfredo$24.00
Rich cream sauce with parmesan cheese and garlic.
Add chicken+$10.00Add shrimp+$12.00
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Fettuccini Carmella$32.00
Heavy cream, rich tomato sauce, spinach, prosciutto ham, chicken and large shrimp
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*Linguini Pescatore$32.00
With clams, shrimp and mussels in a garlic butter and white wine sauce and fresh Roma tomatoes.
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Linguini Vongole$31.00
Little-neck clams in a white wine, garlic butter sauce, and fresh Roma tomatoes.
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Pasta Primavera$26.00
Fresh vegetables (zucchini, red bell peppers, asparagus, mushrooms, tomatoes and spinach) in a garlic, butter and white wine sauce.
Add chicken+$10.00Add shrimp+$12.00
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Linguini with Shrimp Scampi$30.00
Shrimp with lemon, butter, garlic and white wine sauce over linguini with fresh Roma tomatoes.
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*Cioppino with Linguini$32.00
Made with shrimp, clams, mussels & stewed seafood in a rich tomato broth over Linguini with fresh Roma tomatoes.
Entrees
All entrees served over pasta!
*Add side house salad, Caesar or cup of soup: $4
*Split Plate: $8.5, including side salad or cup of soup for both people.
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*Michael J’s Homemade Lasagna$28.00
Our homemade house specialty!
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Eggplant Parmigiana$26.00
A vegetarian delight with ricotta, mozzarella and marinara sauce.
Veal and Chicken
All of our chicken is free range, hormone and antibiotic free.
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Chicken Piccata$29.00
Chicken breast sautéed with lemon, butter, white wine and capers.
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Chicken Parmigiana$28.00
House Panko crust, pan seared chicken topped with rich marinara sauce and parmesan cheese.
-
Chicken Marsala$29.00
Chicken breast lightly floured then sautéed with Marsala wine, butter, garlic and cremini mushrooms.
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Veal Piccata$32.00
Veal sautéed with lemon, butter, white wine and capers.
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Veal Parmigiana$29.00
House Panko crusted veal cutlet, pan-seared topped with rich marinara sauce and parmesan cheese.
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Veal Marsala$33.00
Veal lightly floured then sautéed with Marsala wine, butter, garlic and cremini mushrooms.
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7-oz Filet Mignon$40.00
Ancho-rubbed filet with garlic compound butter or blue cheese compound butter with sautéed asparagus.
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Alaskan Salmon$32.00
Wild Alaskan Salmon Cajun seared and topped with an asparagus tipped Bevier-Blac sauce, over creamed spinach.
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Prawns Arrabiata$31.00
Large Shrimp sautéed in a spicy marinara sauce served with linguini pasta.
Steak and Seafood
Pasta Primavera
Fresh vegetables (zucchini, red bell peppers, asparagus, mushrooms, tomatoes and spinach) in a garlic, butter and white wine sauce.
Desserts
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Buttercakes$13.00
A rich Buttercake topped with house made fruit option compote, accented with Amaretto, Mascarpone vanilla mousse. Choose from: Cherries, Peaches, Strawberries, or Wildberries.
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Chocolate Mousse Torte$11.00
Rich flourless chocolate torte made in house with strawberry coulis, topped with house made chocolate mousse.
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Tiramisu$11.00
Lady fingers dipped in espresso, layered with a whipped mixture of mascarpone and heavy cream flavored with Amaretto and topped with chocolate shavings.
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Add a side of Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.$ 4.00
Buttercake
A rich Buttercake topped with house made fruit option compote, accented with Amaretto, Mascarpone vanilla mousse. Choose from: Cherries, Peaches, Strawberries, or Wildberries.
Chicken Marsala
Chicken breast lightly floured then sautéed with Marsala wine, butter, garlic and crimini mushrooms.
Dessert Sampler
1/2 portion of house-made cheesecake, chocolate mousse torte, and tiramisu. Great for sharing.
Caprese Salad
Vine-ripened tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil drizzled with EV olive oil and balsamic vinegar reduction.
House offerings
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Chardonnay$ 7.50/$28.00
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Cabernet$ 7.50/$28.00
White Wine Offerings
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Davinci Pinot GrigioAlto Adige, Italy$ 9.00/$34.00
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Santa Margherita Pinot GrigioAlto Adige, Italy$13.00/$52.00
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Kim Crawford Sauvignon BlancMarlborough, New Zealand$ 9.00/$34.00
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Duckhorn Sauvignon BlancNapa Valley, California$13.00/$56.00
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Kendall Jackson ChardonnayCalifornia$ 9.00/$36.00
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Sonoma Cutrer ChardonnayRussian River, California$11.00/$42.00
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Ferrari Carano ChardonnaySonoma County, California$12.00/$44.00
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Far Ninete ChardonnayNapa Valley, California$129.00
Sparkling Wine
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Lamarca ProseccoItaly, 187 ml bottle$11.00
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Gruet BrutUnited States$42.00
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Veuve Cliquot BrutChampagne, France$132.00
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Perrier Jouet Belle EpoqueChampagne, France$252.00
Sweet Whites /Blush
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Sutter Homes White ZinfandelCalifornia$ 7.00/$26.00
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J.Lohr RieslingCalifornia$ 9.00/$28.00
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New Age RedArgentina$ 9.00/$28.00
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Mirassou MoscatoCalifornia$ 7.50/$28.00
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Matua RoseNew Zealand$ 8.00/$28.00
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Ruffino Moscato D’astiPiedmont, Italy$ 9.00/$36.00
REDS
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Love Pinot NoirCalifornia$ 8.50/$32.00
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Coppola Diamond Pinot NoirOregon$12.00/$46.00
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La Crema Pinot NoirSonoma, California$13.00/$49.00
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Sea Sun Pinot NoirCalifornia$11.00/$58.00
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J.Lohr Los Osos MerlotCalifornia$ 8.50/$34.00
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Duckhorn MerlotNapa Valley, California$72.00
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Carnivore CabernetCalifornia$ 9.00/$34.00
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Silver Palm CabernetCalifornia$10.00/$44.00
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St. Francis CabernetSonoma, California$48.00
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Rodney Strong CabernetSonoma, California$81.00
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Faust CabernetNapa Valley, California$116.00
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Duckhorn CabernetNapa Valley, California$126.00
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Jordan CabernetAlexander Valley, California$132.00
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Silver Oak CabernetAlexander Valley, California$144.00
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Silver Oak CabernetNapa Valley, California$197.00
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Caymus CabernetNapa Valley, California$132.00
INTERNATIONAL REDS
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Alamos MalbecArgentina$ 8.00/$32.00
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Layer Cake MalbecMendoza, Argentina$ 8.50/$46.00
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Norton Reserve MalbecArgentina$52.00
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Da Vinci Chianti DOCGTuscany, Italy$ 9.00/$34.00
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Bell’agio ChiantiTuscany, Italy$ 9.00/$38.00
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Arcanum Il FaunoTuscany, Italy$15.00/$56.00
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Santa Margherita Chianti Classico RiservaTuscany, Italy$54.00
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Antinori Villa Chianti Classico RiservaTuscany, Italy$81.00
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Chiarlo Tortoniano BaroloPiemonte, Italy$118.00
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Banfi Brunello Di MontalcinoTuscany, Italy$124.00
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Antinori TignanelloTuscany, Italy$274.00
Ports Wine by the Glass
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Taylor Fladgate, Portugal10-year Tawny Port$12.0020-year Tawny Port$16.00
Draft Beer Selections
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Bud Light$ 6.00
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Michelob Ultra$ 7.00
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New Belgium Fat Tire$ 7.00
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Stone IPAIndia Pale Ale$ 7.00
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Marble Double White$ 7.00
Bottle Beer Selections
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PeroniItalian Pilsner$ 7.00
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Stella Artois$ 7.00
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Dos EquisLager$ 6.50
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CoronaPale Lager$ 6.50
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Budweiser$ 6.00
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Coors Light$ 6.00
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Miller Lite$ 6.00
Private Parties
Available upon request and reservation, including extended hours. Please contact us to celebrate your occasion in style!
- Business Events
- Birthdays
- Rehearsal Dinners
Please complete the form to get in touch
Please DO NOT use this form for reservations. Call for reservations after 3 PM on open days.
Private Parties
Complete the form to begin arrangements.

Phone:
Email:
chefbrian10161@gmail.com
Please do not email for reservations.
Address:
601 Mechem Drive, Ruidoso, NM 88345