Eat Albuquerque - ABQ Restaurant Reviews and Dining Guide

Flying Star Opens New Location At The Santa Fe Railyard Today

The Albuquerque restaurant and coffee chain, Flying Star Café has opened its newest location today at the Santa Fe railyard.

Flying Star Café Santa Fe is 6,500 square feet with an on-site bakery and the largest menu of any of the chain’s locations. The company held a job fair in March and has hired 100 people for the new location.

It is the first restaurant to open in The Railyard, which has other restaurants expected to open in the next two years. Flying Star has outdoor patio seating for 50 and is next to Santa Fe’s downtown Rail Runner stop. [NM Business Weekly]

Flying Star is known for their organic food offerings, a full coffee and tea bar and a huge selection of pastries and desserts. Recommendation: Blues Burger (bleu cheese, bacon & swiss cheese) and slice of carrot cake.

Sophia’s Place

6313 4th St NW
Albuquerque, NM 87107
(505) 345-3935

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 7:00am - 9:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday: 9:00am - 2:00pm

Sophia’s Place is located on Fourth Street north of Montano. I had heard that this was a great place for Modern New Mexican food, so I had to give it a try. I can honestly say, that this is one of my favorite New Mexican food restaurants. It is not like many other restaurants, with the same menu and ingredients. There are many different ingredients on the menu, including daily specials, if you are the adventuresome type. So here is a brief summary of my favorite dishes.

First, the pastrami sandwich is the best that I have ever had, on fresh bread with real pastrami. It came with a side of shoelace french fries. I am not sure how else to describe it except to add that it could be addictive. The green chile burger was also fantastic. Fresh ingredients make for a great burger, and that is what you get at Sophia’s Place. Finally, my favorite, the breakfast burrito. I usually get mine with bacon and smothered with red chile. The red chile is outstanding. It is authentic New Mexican red chile, not the chile “gravy” many restaurants serve these days. The potatoes inside are crispy and delicious. It also looks really pretty with a little sour cream drizzled over the top.

Sophia’s Place has a casual but small dining room. It is brightly decorated with lots of local art displayed. There is also additional seating outside in the covered patio. At Sophia’s Place, you order at the counter and then sit down. I was a little confused on my first visit because I didn’t see the counter when I first walked in, so I sat down. When your meal has been prepared, a waitress brings it out to you. I have always had friendly service. A bit on the expensive side, most dishes are around ten dollars, but it is well worth it for the fresh ingredients.

All in all, Sophia’s place is a great restaurant. I would happily recommend it to anyone. If you are visiting for the Balloon Fiesta, or going to an event at the Balloon Fiesta Park, Sophia’s Place is not far. With recent publicity from it’s debut on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, Sophia’s is sure to be bustling with people from all over Albuquerque and surrounding areas.

Overall Reader Rating
(28 votes, average: 7.25 out of 10)
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News: Artichoke Cafe Owners To Open Pizzeria and Wine Bar in East Downtown Albuquerque

A new pizzeria and wine bar called Farina Pizzeria is be planed for east downtown Albuquerque. The new restaurant is the latest brain child of Artichoke Cafe owners Terry and Pat Keene.

The new restaurant will offer a casual, less costly alternative to the nearby Artichoke Cafe, which is among the city’s most successful fine dining establishments. The Artichoke is at 424 Central Ave. SE.

Farina Pizzeria will offer eight different pizzas that will be available in slices as well as full course meals.

In addition, microbrew beers from Marble Brewery will be available.

The historic building has been redone with tiles and other upgrades and a fall opening is being planned.

The pizzeria will be a great addition to local restaurants being developed in East Downtown Albuquerque.

[source: BizJournals]

Berry Ocean Gelato and Espresso

4410 Wyoming NE (SE corner of Wyoming and Montgomery)
(505) 294-5506
Hours: M-Th 10AM-9:30PM, Fri-Sat 10AM-10:00PM, Sun 11AM-9:00PM
map | www.berryocean.com

Berry Ocean has a wide variety of gelato (Italian ice cream made from milk, sugar, air and fresh ingredients), smoothies, shakes, teas and coffee. The interior is modern, sleek and bright. There are fun couches, chairs and tables that give the place a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for enjoying a wonderful frozen treat.

I was looking forward to this trip, because I am a big dessert fan. There is a glass case with countless types of smooth gelato to choose from, such as White Chocolate, Tirimisu, or Pistachio. I have to admit that I couldn’t make a decision and had to ask for help and was allowed to taste before choosing. I had the Nociolla (Hazelnut) on this visit. The flavor was rich, airy, the consistency was smooth, a mix between pudding and ice cream.

Also catching my eye were the fruit flavored gelato’s which are a lot like sherbert but with a smother less icy texture.

Berry Ocean Gelato and Espresso would be a great choice for a casual get together with friends, or just for a sweet fix after a long day at work.

I was impressed by the variety of flavors, which all looked delicious. The espresso and white chocolate are my favorites.

Take a look at their menu and their website, because there are a lot of choices - from coffee and tea to a gelato classic Sundae. The atmosphere is clean and inviting and the service is outstanding. I was not disappointed with my visit, and I seriously doubt that you will be either.

Taste: 9
Service: 9
Ambiance: 9

Sushi Gen

5210 San Mateo Blvd. NE #B
(505)830-0131
Hours:
Mon – Thur: 11:30 – 2:30, 5 – 9:30
Fri – Sat: 11:30 – 2:30, 5 – 10
Sun: 5 – 9:30
Menu

Sushi Gen is located in an out of the way place and in the same respect, is a pretty unnoticed sushi establishment in Albuquerque. I have been going here for three years, and since that time, I have seen a steady decline in both value and service in this restaurant. What was once one of my favorite sushi restaurants, offering a great all-you-can-eat menu at a good price, has gotten more expensive and does not offer the same atmosphere or service that you can get at a competitors restaurant.

The taste and quality of the food here is the draw, it is very good. The first time I came here I was suprised, especially when you are eating in a sushi restaurant located in a strip mall suite. Some of their great sushi dishes are the Fire California Rolls (tempura, crabmeat, avocado), Salmon Rolls (salmon, cucumber), and Spider Rolls (soft shell crab, cucumber). For a higher or much higher price (see menu) you can get some great specialty sushi dishes like the Crunch Roll (eel, cream cheese, avocado, fish eggs) which taste amazing or the Rainbow Roll which is a long sushi roll topped with shrimp, avocado, salmon, eel, and tuna for $10.95. For the sushi grade connoisseurs out there, the fish here is great so sashimi is always a good choice (salmon, mackerel, and eel are very good choices). The Sushi Gen gets a lot of lunch business here with a $15.95/person all-you-can-eat option. Just make sure to not over do it because what you don’t finish will be charged on top of this base price.

The starter for any entrée here is a small salad and cup of warm miso soup. The small salad consists simply of shredded lettuce tossed in a sweet vinegar dressing. This is followed by the miso soup which is a cup portion of a light wakame seaweed soup with just a small amount of tofu squares. To drink they offer some great beer and sake imports, as well as oyster shooters (raw oysters, sake, and seasoning shots) for those looking to try something different.

Now for the drawbacks in this restaurant. The first one is obvious by the picture, this restaurant is not located within easy view from San Mateo Blvd., unlike its competitor Azuma. The strip does not face the street, so you have to turn into the parking lot before seeing this inconspicuous restaurant. The inside is not stellar, but it is comfortable. The sushi station is located in the dining room where the chefs prepare food behind the glass of a prep station.

The service here has been terrible for me the last two times. In the first instance, it took 5 minutes to be greeted (although workers were passing) and then 10 minutes after I placed my drink order there was nothing, so I left. The second time I went the same thing happened, I was sat at a table during a slow time, only two other tables in the place. The waitress was by the cash register doing nothing but looking around, then had a discussion with another waitress, and finally decided to take the table 7 minutes later. The drinks took a long time again, and there were no refills throughout the meal. Ultimately, the service is the reason I think I will try some of the other sushi restaurants in the area.

Taste:
[rate 7.5]
Service:
[rate 3.5]
Ambiance:
[rate 5]
Overall Reader Rating
(25 votes, average: 5.60 out of 10)
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Cake Fetish Cupcakes

2665 Louisiana Blvd. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 883-0670
Hours: M-F 9:00-6:00, Saturday 10:00-4:00, Sunday 10:00-4:00
MENU | MAP | WEBSITE

Have a sweet tooth? Cake Fetish is the place for you. Cake Fetish Cupcakes is located on the northwest corner of Louisiana and Menaul. This little bakery offers cupcake for a quick sweet snack, cupcakes to go for the whole family or order cupcakes in advance for those special occasions.

Cake fetish offers 12 varieties available daily as wells as different specialty flavors depending on what day you visit. The half dozen I choose was Puker Up, Inside out German Chocolate, Peanut Butter Cup, Sleepless in Albuquerque, Grasshopper and Cafe Ole. The first delectable cupcake I tasted was called Pucker-Up! which consisted of moist vanilla cake and a lemon filling, then topped with a candy lemon slice. The butter cream frosting was sweet without the overwhelming sweetness of most butter cream frostings you will find at the grocery store.

The inside-out German Chocolate is a chocolate cupcake with a pecan filling, chocolate butter cream frosting sprinkled with toasted coconut. Sleepless in Albuquerque, my husbands favorite, consisted of chocolate cake with mocha butter cream, chocolate gouache and an espresso bean to top it all off. The grasshopper is a peppermint and chocolate flavored cupcake with green mint butter cream frosting drizzled with chocolate. Cafe Ole is available on Tuesdays. It is cinnamon cake with cappuccino butter cream sprinkled cinnamon and a coffee bean. The Peanut Butter Cup was my favorite of the bunch. It had peanut butter in the butter cream frosting, chocolate cake and a few peanut butter chips on top.

Prices were very fair, $1.75 for a single and $10.50 for a half dozen. If you are looking to try a variety of flavors at a reasonable price, try the cupcake minis at $6.50 a dozen, can’t beat that.

The customer service was great and the interior was modern and clean. I went in right before closing but the cupcakes still fresh as if they had just been made. It is nice to see a specialty bakery in Albuquerque doing it right.

Taste:
[rate 9.5]
Service:
[rate 9]
Ambiance:
[rate 9]
Overall Reader Rating
(29 votes, average: 6.28 out of 10)
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Padilla’s Mexican Kitchen

1510 Girard Blvd. NE
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106
Monday - Friday 11am to 745pm
505.262.0115

Limited beer and wine
**Cash only!
MAP

Padilla’s Mexican Kitchen is one of Albuquerque’s best hidden treasures. Located on Girard between Indian School and Constitution, it’s nestled in a strip mall-like area, next to Harold’s Laundromat. According to our server who was very nice, Padilla’s has been serving for close to 30 years. Our server actually has been there since the very beginning, left for a while,
and has been back for the past 7 years. But don’t be fooled by the name…
Padilla’s serves strictly New Mexican food. As a family run establishment, they have all your favorites from Huevos Rancheros to Chile Rellenos to Stuffed Sopaipillas. Padilla’s is a place for anyone who loves homemade goodness.

When my dinner date and I arrived, we were greeted and seated promptly in the corner with a great view of the dining room. Padilla’s is definitely kid friendly and seems to cater to just about anyone. The dining room is very modest, just a few landscape paintings and your occasional beer mirror. All off the staff was very helpful and genuinely nice.

After our Iced tea and Diet Coke arrived, we were given yummy chips and salsa to start. After briefly glancing at the menu, our server appeared to take our order. I had cheese + onion enchiladas, red and green, egg over medium. The green chile was especially delicious and hot with chunks of beef and onions. My date had a Carne Adovada burrito plate with red and green at our servers recommendation. The Carne was tender and juicy with the right amount of spice from the chile it’s cooked in. The bite I took left me wanting more. We also shared a beef and potato taco that was just like Grandma used to make. All meals come with homemade pinto beans and rice. And lets not forget the fabulous sopaipillas that come 2 to a person. I love to eat one with dinner for sopping up all the cheese, chile and egg and one with honey and beans for dessert. The savory sweet combo is absolutely to die for.

Another great thing about Padilla’s is that it’s very affordable. Between my date and I , including tip we only spent $25.00 and left very satisfied. We always like to bring a doggie bag home for the pup if possible… tonight it was not.

Taste:
[rate 9.5]
Service:
[rate 7]
Ambiance:
[rate 7]
Overall Reader Rating
(26 votes, average: 7.50 out of 10)
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Eat! Albuquerque Welcomes A New Reviewer

Eat! Albuquerque welcomes are newest reviewer Factorygirl! Here passion of food should be a great addition to are website.

Expect Factorygirl’s first review of Padilla’s Mexican Kitchen tomorrow morning, in the mean time check out here blog Dre Day.

DAT Best of Downtown Albuquerque LOOK Awards

The Downtown Action Team (DAT) has released their third annual Look Awards showcasing the Best of Downtown Albuquerque. The Look Awards are based off of community nominations off their website.

People submitted their nominations over the past three months, with winners awarded at an Academy-awards style dinner Saturday night at the Hyatt, with entertainment by nationally-renowned Coffey Anderson, local dance group THROB and local sensation Vanilla Pop.

Carom Club: Best Night Spot
Vitality Juice Java & Smoothie Bar: Best New Business.
JC’s NYPD: Best Patio Dining
Artichoke Cafe’ : Best Place for Romance
Anodyne: Best Place for Billiards
Slate Street Cafe: Best Appetizers
Standard Diner: Best Desserts
Grove Cafe & Market: Best Place to be Seen

Mario’s Pizza and Ristorante

2401 San Pedro Dr NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110-4101
505.883.4414
M-Th 11a-9:30p, F-Sa 11a-10p, Su noon-9:30p
MAP | MENU | WEBSITE

Mario’s Pizzeria located near Coronado Mall is a nice casual Italian restaurant, serving many Italian specialties as well as wonderful pizza. The Burgarello family has been a serving pizza in Albuquerque for over thirty years. I have to admit, I have passed buy many times over the years, but only recently have stopped in. I was surprised how big the dining room was and how busy it gets during rush hours. The dining room is very open and can get quite loud during rush. Wall painting , Pictures, News articles and Italian wine bottles adorn the interior.

The menu is huge, serving Italian classics, pasta, burgers, sandwiches, appetizers, calzones, pizza, and deserts. I usually try have one of the combos such as The Goodfella, The Sicilian, The Godfather or a Tour of Italy. The combos usually mix a meat parmaigiana(Chicken or Veal) with a pasta dish(Ravioli, Fettuccine, Lasuna or pesto pasta). The dishes are good, usually smothered in sauce and served with salad and bread. I’m not impressed with the bread, its usually hard. If you are a chile addict, my wife loves the green chile Fettuccine Alfredo. They also feature many sandwiches on the menu. I have tried the Ruben and the chicken parmaigiana sandwich. Both were good, but I have had better. For desert you have a full menu to choose from. I recommend the Giant Brownie, good and also cheap.

Being a self proclaimed pizza connoisseur , good pizza is hard to find these days. Mario’s Pizzeria offers a great pie, that I would say is among the best in Albuquerque. The pizza’s strong point is the sauce. I have worked at many pizza establishments in Albuquerque growing up and all of them used huge bulk generic tomato sauce and a few herbs. Mario’s sauce tastes different, it tastes like tomatoes. Whether it is fresh tomatoes or a large amount of tomato paste, it gives a wonderful taste that makes me want more. The pizza is thin, but not to thin.

The prices are about average for casual Italian in Albuquerque. The wait staff is usually fair to good and the meals are served quickly. Mario’s isn’t perfect, but it has some good things going for it. Overall Mario’s is a well choice for Italian cuisine and pizza in Albuquerque.

Overall Reader Rating
(28 votes, average: 5.64 out of 10)
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Casa Grande - Closed

2424 Central Ave SW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
(505) 243-2519
MAP

Casa Grande is located on Central next to the Rio Grande Bio Park and directly across from the Village Inn.
The menu at Casa Grande has a little something for everyone. There are Mexican Dishes, Seafoods, Steaks & Chops, Pasta, Chicken, Open Faced Sandwiches, Cold Sandwiches, Salads, Low Carb Specials, Deserts and the Breakfast Menu (served all day) has just about anything you would want.
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I suggest trying the Mexican Combination Plate which has two enchiladas, one relleno, a taco, spanish rice and beans. The red chile is hot, but not too hot. Some of my favorite items are the biscuits and gravy(just $2.50), Patty Melt and Spare Rib Plate. The food here is simple, but that simplicity still tastes good. After every meal you are offered a free desert, which is usually a bowl of rice pudding or tapioca pudding. This is a nice simple thing to offer guests that just adds to a positive experience.

Overall the most amazing feature of Casa Grande is their prices. It is one of the most affordable restaurants that I have visited. It’s like when you go to Walmart sometimes and wonder how they make a profit with some of their prices. Sandwiches here range from $3.95 to $5, are well sized, and come with a good portion of fries. Most breakfast items are in the $5 range. Dinners come with a salad, mashed potatoes and butter, wonderful green beans and bread. When you walk in, don’t forget to look at the daily specials, because they are a bargain!

The atmosphere at Casa Grande is very relaxed and casual. It has a small town feeling, and all different types of people come here to eat. I get the feeling that many people eat here on a daily basis. The interior is a little out of date, but still clean and inviting, consisting mainly of booths with some tables in between. There is a large mural on one one wall and some other smaller art work scattered the restaurant. In a way, the art and the atmosphere remind me of the Frontier Restaurant, without all the hustle and bustle. At times you can find merchants here, selling jewelry to the customers.

The service is sometimes great, sometimes very slow, but never rude. Casa Grade is the type of place where you can enjoy a meal, a cup of coffee and the newspaper without feeling like you are being rushed out the door. I would recommend this place to families with picky children or for a group of people who all want something different. Casa Grande has a loyal customer base which is the main reason why they offer great prices, food, and customer service.

Pros: Friendly Environment, Prices
Cons: Inconsistent Service

Overall Reader Rating
(18 votes, average: 8.33 out of 10)
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