Archive for the 'American' Category
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 The interior is a little out of date, but still clean and inviting, consisting mainly of booths with some tables in between.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
Taste:
[rate 7]
Service:
[rate 7]
Ambiance:
[rate 7]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
3636 Monte Vista Blvd. N.E.
Albuquerque NM, 87106
Lomas At Carlisle
255.8686
Two things I can tell you about this restaurant, it has a very good location and yet it is not easy to find. I lived within two miles from this restaurant for some time before I realized what it really is; a restaurant, store, and pharmacy all rolled into one.
Much like the Cracker Barrel, you enter into a fully loaded store before being seated into the restaurant. The store is full of cosmetics, novelties, and of course pharmaceuticals. It is a very interesting place to visit and you can take a look at the store while you wait for your food. But let’s get down to this business, how is the food?
The menu isn’t very extensive, offering only lunch choices of salads and sandwiches. The first thing you’ll notice from the menu is that the entrees are not cheap. This is a mid-range priced restaurant with entrees averaging over 8 dollars. I suppose in that price you pay a little for the attached store and hometown shop feel. The menu is straightforward and you seem to get exactly what you expect. Also, the portions are not very large, especially for the salads, so the price seems a little too much at times. My recommendations here are the Brisket Roll and also the Grilled Ham with Roasted Peppers and Melted Brie. I also enjoy the Chicken Walnut Sandwich, but think it is better at some other establishments. This restaurant is also locally famous for its Shakes and Malts made from Dreyer’s Ice Cream. Their house dessert sits cooling on the bar like a freshly baked pie on a window sill. It is a great Fruit Cobbler that is even better a la mode.
I really appreciated the classic feel to this restaurant, like a colorful shop reminding us of a time past. Both the restaurant and store are divided into small areas so it does feel a little crowded between tables and aisles. But, there is always something to catch your interest here, especially if you wonder off into the pharmacy area. It is just a friendly and laid-back atmosphere that fits in with the University area. The place has a homely feel and is run by just a couple of servers, a cook, and a shop attendant/cashier. The times I have been here they have all been very loose and friendly, which is suiting for this type of establishment. It seems to me like a good place to visit for lunch to forget your busy life and just relax.
Taste:
[rate 6.5]
Service:
[rate 7.5]
Ambiance:
[rate 8.5]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
400 Gold SW at the Simms Building
(505) 245 – 1711
I work in the downtown area and am always on the prowl for good places to go to during lunch. For most of us over here, finding good places to eat is a high priority because the majority of the day we sit in offices and cubicles for hours at a time. 
Lunchtime is a break for us to stretch out legs, get away for a while, and enjoy some good food before we work the second half of the day (what, you need energy to sit for hours on end). La Sierra is a restaurant that I passed by many times because it is tucked away in the Simms Building right next to the main entrance to Gold’s Gym. It also looks very plain from the outside, not like the fancy restaurants that are along Central.
When I first went here I took a look at the menu and didn’t have a good feeling because it had such a wide range of food including American, New Mexican, and Greek. I always think it is a bad sign when a restaurant mixes such different foods. However, this is one place that has really impressed me with taste, price, and portion. First of all, getting a plate in the 5 to 6 dollar range downtown is a steal. To start you are given some tortilla chips and salsa, which is good because most of the time you are starving when you get to a restaurant. Then with many of the entrees you are given a small salad or soup while waiting for your food. Nothing fancy so far right, very plain looking chips and salad, but they taste pretty good, or to the starving worker…like the best chips and salad you ever tasted!
I have had a few entrees here including the Turkey Avocado sandwich, Gyro, and Enchilada Plate. Actually, I have had the Turkey Avocado sandwich about 5 times already. Compared to most downtown restaurants it might seem plain…no imported honey turkey from Europe, no smoked provolone, no rye with poppy seeds or avocado from the nether regions of the world. So you might say that the description of turkey, avocado, and Swiss on a French roll might sound plain. You’re right it is plain…. plain good! This is not a restaurant that raises the cost with fancy ingredients, they make food simple with large portion, they make it good, and you don’t pay 10 dollars for a sandwich. They just started making Gyros and I tried one thinking it couldn’t be as good as some of the Greek restaurants, but it was also pretty good. In fact, I have yet to try something here that wasn’t good and it is shocking considering its humble atmosphere and mixed up menu.
The service is exactly what you would expect here, two ladies in aprons running around calling you “sweetie” and with about 7 other tables to talk to. They are nice and get you everything you need most of the time, so I have no complaints on that. Especially since I run into bad service at some of the more popular downtown restaurants. Like I said before, the atmosphere is very plain and looks like a small town diner, but as long as I have some good food in front of me, I really don’t care. So I definitely recommend this restaurant especially to the downtown employees on their lunch break.
Taste:
[rate 8]
Service:
[rate 6]
Ambiance:
[rate 5]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
6001 M Winter Haven NW (NE corner of Coors & Mantano)
Albuquerque, NM 87120
Anyone who visits the upper Westside area of Albuquerque will probably notice how much is has and continues to grow. 
There are building crews everywhere widening roads, clearing land, and building houses and businesses. However, as a resident of this area, you will also notice that businesses and restaurants are just now starting to catch-up with the population growth. In particular, there are not many restaurants you can visit here that are not mall or large-chain restaurants. This is why Spinn’s Burgers and Beer has been a welcome addition to the shopping center on the corner of Coors and Mantano. It gives more variety for Westside people who are looking for good American food and beer, outside of Chili’s and TGIFridays.
The menu at Spinn’s isn’t gigantic, they are more concerned with making what they do have right. The first thing you will notice is that the prices are pretty good for the market with burgers starting at $5, sausages at $4, and steaks at $11. On my first outing I had the Double Green Chili Cheese Burger (two 1/3 lb. USDA choice patties), ordered to a medium. First on my checklist, did they cook it right? Yes they did, it was a perfect medium with a slightly pink center throughout and juicy. All of the vegetables and condiments are located at the “Fixins Bar” much like Fudrucker’s, and it is served with a side of fries. It was a very good burger, but I think they should offer a thicker and better quality bun (it was soggy by the time I took my first bite) and better French Fries. The Fries do taste very homemade, but they taste too much like the cooking oil (very greasy) and didn’t offer any spices for unique flavor other than some salt. I also tried the Texas Chili which I felt was too heavy on cumin and not as hearty as I would like Texas chili to be (forget the spoon, give me some chips).
On my next trips to this restaurant I will try the rest of the menu that I am interested in, namely the T-bone steak and their house favorite Frank-n-Stein. They offer three sausages in this restaurant (beef, bratwurst, and polish), all steamed in beer and browned on the grill. They also have some other American favorites like Country Fried Chicken Strips & Gravy, Cornmeal battered Catfish, and a Grilled Chicken Sandwich. On to the beer, they had some trouble getting a liquor license (what else would you expect in New Mexico right) and were open for a month before being able to serve beer. Now they are up-and-running and offer a large bottle beer selection at a good price ($2.95 domestic, $3.50 import). Whats next? They plan on expanding their selections and hold true to the old song “100 bottles of beer on the wall.”
The service was great because everyone there was friendly and greeted me as soon as I walked into the restaurant. The servers looked like they were having a good time and smiling. It was like they took all of the annoying parts of Red Robins service and atmosphere and still made it a fun place to hang out. The restaurant itself is decorated with American culture, neon signs, and beer bottles. It almost looks chainy, but this restaurant manages to be and feel authentic. This is a good place to try, especially to the Westside and Rio Rancho residents who are sick of deciding which mall restaurant to go to.
Taste:
[rate 7]
Service:
[rate 8]
Ambiance:
[rate 6.5]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
1216 Central Ave SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102-2803
Phone: (505) 243-1019
Hours: Daily 10am-10pm
(map)
When I think of classic New Mexican style hot dogs, I think of the The Dog House on central and Bob’s Burgers. The Dog House has been a staple in the downtown area since the 1960’s. A true city landmark with its animated neon sign. As a kid I remember always wanting to go to the Dog House so I could prove to my dad that I could eat the foot long chile dog without crying. The chile is very hot and is uniquely New Mexican. Their chile is not that meat and bean chili you would find throughout the country or classic red or green. It is like a hot chile gravy. Their hot dogs are spit down the middle and grilled. The favorites at The Dog House are the foot-long chile cheese dog with onions, the double green chile cheeseburger, and the frito pie. I usually always get a foot long chile cheese dong with onions and an order of chile cheese fries. The prices are very reasonable for this wonderful.
The dining room inside is not much bigger then a large closet. I don’t recommend the dining room unless you are wanting to watch them make your order. The way to order is park in the front or on the side facing the restaurant, roll down your window and just look hungry. At some point the carhop will come to your window and take your order. Never go to The Dog House when you are in a hurry, because it is always busy. Also, don’t be expecting to swipe your card here, The Dog House only accepts cash. The Dog House is definitely worth the wait.
Taste:
[rate 9]
Service:
[rate 7]
Ambiance:
[rate 7]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
319 5th St SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
842-1600
(map) | ~MENU~
I recently went on a search downtown for out-of-the-way restaurants that were well known to the local business class such as PNM and MFA employees. One caught my attention and it was a restaurant on the corner of 5th and lead called Wranglers.
On the outside you would never give it more than two looks as it is a very modest restaurant that doesn’t call much attention by appearence or reputation. However, inside you will find an American/New Mexican menu that is well prepared. I have gone there a couple of times now and have had the chicken salad sandwich with fries, chopped salad, and fried catfish sandwich with fruit. All of which were in the $6 price range and very good. the food is modest but they do a good job in this restaurant. They have fairly priced entrees and offer a great assortment of lunches for the business class on the go or the general public searching for that small town restaurant atmosphere in the downtown area.
I wish I could say the service was as good as the food, but it isn’t. The service is consistently average in this restaurant and you sometimes run the risk of experienceing really bad service here. In my experience the servers are very nice, but dont know or care much about time. In my second visit I was ready to walk out because it took so long to get my drink and entree out to me. The waitress was sweet but she could not multi-task at all. I would think that a restaurant who’s business is primarily derived from the workers of surrounding business, that they would respect the lunch hour limitations. I can just hope I caught them on bad occations because I feel it is not a bad restaurant at all.
Like I said before, the ambiance is very modest and subtle. Wranglers tries for a western appeal but like some other good restaurants, you are not going to this one to lose yourself in the atmosphere. There are a few signs, pictures, lasso’s, and longhorns on the wall to remind you of the old west, but honestly, its the good food that will bring me back again. So if you are ever in the downtown area and dont feel like visiting the usual reputable spots, try this out of the way restaurant and you might be pleasantly suprised by its food.
Taste:
[rate 7]
Service:
[rate 4]
Ambiance:
[rate 5]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
Revisited 7/12:
It seemed that as I went to this restaurant throughout a few months the food was changing and the lunch crowd was dwingling, so I asked around. This restaurant is in the process of new ownership/management, which is why the food quality has lost some appeal, the waitstaff is lacking, and the business lunchers are going off to the downtown strip. I talked to some local business people and they all feel like it isn’t the same anymore. The good news is that this is a good opportunity for the new management to turn it around and make the changes needed to bring the customers back again.
2400 Central Ave SE
frontierrestaurant.com | ~MENU~
The Frontier is located on Central and Yale, across from the UNM bookstore. It is locally owned and has been in business for 35 years. The Frontier is open 24hrs, 7 days a week. It is a popular place for breakfast, lunch, dinner, study groups, and late night dining. When you walk in, there is usually a long line that wraps around the dining room, but it moves quickly. There are several counters and when one of them is ready to take your order, they will flash a green light. Once you place your order, you sit down and wait for your number to show up on one of the screens around the rooms. The various rooms have western paintings on the walls, especially paintings of John Wayne. There are small tables and booths or large tables for big groups. This casual atmosphere makes the Frontier a good place to meet people. You can order what ever you want, you don’t have to worry about splitting the check, and you can stay as long as you want.
The menu offers breakfast, New Mexican food, platters and salads, burgers and sandwiches. My favorite menu choice is Western Hash Browns, which are hash browns smothered with cheese and green chile. The tortillas are freshly made and irresistible. I also like the Frontier sweet roll, which is a huge cinnamon roll with tons of butter. I used to get the Chicken Nachos, but I have to warn you that the jalapenos are super hot because they are fresh. Near the silverware is a huge pot of salsa, which is almost like stew, but it is very tasty. Overall, I would rate the food as above average. It has its own quality and flavor that is not typical New Mexican food and not typical diner meals either.
I grew up eating food from the Frontier restaurant. It was a favorite place to hang out with friends in high school and college. The prices used to be reasonable, but it is no longer very affordable for poor college students. I would consider the portions to be mid-sized. In the last ten years, they have become more and more popular, and much more sophisticated. I think those of us who grew up with the charm of the old Frontier, are not too impressed with all of the changes. However, the food has not changed, just the prices. I would recommend a trip to the Frontier Restaurant, even just to say you’ve been. It is not easy to find parking, and if you are not into crowds, I wouldn’t go there.
Taste:
[rate 7]
Service:
[rate 7]
Ambiance:
[rate 8]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
Four Locations:
- 8246 MENAUL @ WYOMING IN HOFFMANTOWN CENTER
292.9464
- 4565 San Mateo Blvd in@Montgomery Plaza
830.9464
- 5241 Ouray, Coors Rd @ I-40 in West Bluff Center
831.5300
- 3705 Ellison Rd @ Hwy 528 in Cottonwood Corners
899.7040
Wing Basket Menu(pdf)
I knew it was coming! With the popularity of Buffalo chicken wings, sooner or later we were going to see a restaurant dedicated to the popular bar food, “The Chicken Wing”. Being a chicken wing fan, I had high hopes for the Wing Basket. The Wing Basket offers eight flavors of wings: WB Original, Hot, TNT, Barbecue, Honey Mustard, Kentucky Bourbon, Garlic Parmesan, and Lemon Pepper. Along with their wings they also offer chicken tenders, fries, and other various sides.
The interior of the restaurant has a fresh picnicy-farm theme. There is plenty of seating for being such a small restaurant. You can order at the counter or call ahead for take-out. The staff is usually friendly and willing to give recommendations. The service can be a tad slow when you order at the restaurant, so call ahead.
The sauces at the Wing Basket were all decent. The sugar based sauces, such as the Kentucky Bourbon, and Honey Mustard, were too sweet. The Honey Mustard seemed to be missing the MUSTARD. Of all the buffalo sauces, the hot buffalo sauce was the only one spicy enough for me. I have tried all of the flavors except for the TNT. The main problem with the wings at the Wing Basket is the quality. On all the occasions the wings were dry and had very little meat, mostly dry skin and bones. One time at the West Bluff Center location, the wings had absolutely no meat, what so ever. If there was meat, it must have disappeared in the deep fryer. I love wings, but these are very low quality. The fries were soggy and tasted sweet. I have to say the only thing I did like were the sweet stix.
I have had the Wing Basket four times and all were consistently mediocre. If they upgrade their quality of wings, I would give them another try. Until then I could just not recommend the Wing Basket.
Taste:
[rate 5]
Service:
[rate 7]
Ambiance:
[rate 7]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
www.lotaburger.com
With over 75 locations in New Mexico, Blakes Lotaburger has become a New Mexico institution. Blakes Lotaburger is by far the best chain burger restaurant in New Mexico. Some people call it “Blakes” others call it “Lotaburger” which ever way you call it, people will know what you are talking about. Lotaburger offers good quality food. Many of the location’s now have drive-in’s, but still the fastest way is to go inside and order at the window. Once you order you will be given a number and when your order is ready the number will be called.
The signature burger is the Lotaburger. Most of the time I get it with cheese and green chile. It is not over greasy and the bun’s taste great. Lotaburger contry fries are good, but most the times I order my combo with season fries. I also like Lotaburgers chicken tender combo, which comes with chicken tenders, seasoned fries, and a medium drink. I enjoy their drinks, especially the ice that makes the drinks unique. My wife is an ice conosur, she always goes to Blakes for their drinks. Their shakes are wonderful, especially vanilla, my favorite.
I have to disclose that I worked for Blakes Lotaburger when I was in high school. It was the hardest fast food job I have ever had. They are super clean compared to other fast food places I have worked. Their is very little waste, if an employe dropped something on the ground or their was a order canceled, the employe would have to place the food in a special container and document anything that was to be placed in the trash. This is opposite of all the national food chains that I have worked for, they waste a lot of food. Lotaburger also make everything fresh and use quality ingredient’s, that’s why they are significantly slower. I would highly recommend Blakes Lotaburger if you are in the mood for a good quality green chile cheese burger.
Taste:
[rate 9]
Service:
[rate 8]
Ambiance:
NA
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
Wrap it Up is located on Coal just east of 10th. They serve different types of wraps and salads as well as breakfast and some New Mexican food. Wrap it Up is located in a neighborhood just west of downtown. If I am not mistaken, it is actually in the same building as the old Stuffy’s. The atmosphere is casual and colorful. There are tables and a few booths. There are a few tables out on the sidewalk in front, which would be perfect for sipping tea on a sunny spring day.
The wraps are light and refreshing. There are a wide variety of wraps and you can choose from different wrap flavors. My favorite wraps are the Hot Ham and Cheese with green chile, and the Thai Chicken wrap. The New Mexican food is mild but enjoyable. Wrap it Up is also very reasonably priced, from $3-$5 for a wrap, which comes with potato salad. The service is outstanding. I have always felt welcome as soon as I arrive.
Wrap it up is a good choice for a casual lunch. You can have a satisfying meal without spending a fortune. They also have a pick-up window, so you could call in and pick up lunch or dinner. Its perfect if you work downtown like me.
Taste
[rate 8]
Service:
[rate 7]
Ambiance:
[rate 7]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
