Archive for the 'Breakfast' 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.
-
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 The interior is a little out of date, but still clean and inviting, consisting mainly of booths with some tables in between.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]
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]
El Charritos Mexican Restaurant
4703 Central Ave NW
(505) 836-2464
Hours: Mondays 8am-2pm; Tues-Sun 8am-7pm
(map)
El Charritos mexican restaurant is a west side favorite of mine. Nestled between a tire shop and gas station, El Charittos is the diamond in the rough. I have been eating at El Charritos since I was a kid. The old building and the paring lot used to be where the current parking lot is. For breakfast I would always get the ham and cheese sandwich with steak fries and a hot chocolate. Time went buy and i moved away for a while. Coming back the old El Charritos is long gone, in its place is a new building and landscaped parking lot.
El Charritos menu includes classic New Mexican and American entrees. My last visit for lunch I had the carne adovada plate. It came with a huge portion of carne adovada, rice and beans. The carne adovada was perfect. I also have had the combination enchilada, relleno and taco plate. The enchilada and relleno were great and the taco was good. The portions are generous and served hot. most meals are accompanied by warm sopapillas with honey. Having eaten at El Charritos a lot recently, I have to say that his might be the best tasting New Mexican food in the city. I know that is a bold statement, but their food is top notch and cooked to perfection. While El Charritos isn’t known for having the biggest plates, hottest chile or best prices. It just has wonderful tasting food.
The seating is table and chairs with some booths along the back wall. The service was pretty good. The wait staff is very fast but a bit rushed. The greeter is usually very friendly and offers you a choice of seating. Sunday for lunch you will see a mariachi group playing as you eat. During lunch on weekdays can be a bit crowded with politicians and professionals from downtown. I think everyone should give El Charritos on west central a try at least once.
Taste:
[rate 9.5]
Service:
[rate 8.5]
Ambiance:
[rate 7]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
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]
3200 Montgomery Blvd. NE (Amigo Mart) 872-2109
8101 Harper Dr. NE (Winners Shell Station) 798-1970
sandiachilegrill.com | ~MENU~
Well a lot of times we discuss the under the radar restaurants in this city so people can experience some diversity. How about this for under the radar…located inside of a gas station convinience store! Thats right, I was first introduced to this burrito carry-out restaurant about a year and a half ago when they expanded to their second convenience store. I was told they are the best burritos I would find in Albuquerque, and i agree that these are very good.
For the most part I get the big asada burrito, which has two portions of grilled asada steak, bacon, pico de gallo, potatoe, and cheese. It is a huge burrito and only runs 5.99. They have a menu with mainly traditional burrito items arranged is some pretty good variations and combinations (check out the website for the menu). In general the price range is from 3.99 to 5.99 and all of the burritos are made on a grill right in front of you. Of course for people on the go sometimes they will make breakfast burritos ready for you to just walk in and pick them up. They give you a receipt and you pay at the convenience store cash register.
I have only had a problem during one visit where my potatoes were undercooked and hard. Other than that they are consistent in giving you generous portions and a huge burrito that looks like it might not hold in the tortilla.
What can I say about the atmosphere…its a gas station! You probably don’t want to hang out and enjoy the scenery unless you like looking at the nutritional facts of ranch doritos. Oh and for all of the smooth ones out there, you may want to take your date somewhere else (although the flowers are cheap). But if you have a big appetite and want some good, steaming hot burritos, i would recommend this restaurant.
Taste:
[rate 7]
Service:
[rate 6]
Ambiance:
[rate 3]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
8032 4th St NW
Albuquerque, NM
87114
Situated in the far north valley, Casa de Benavidez offers a unique and scenic dining experience. The restaurant is located in an old adobe home, with a spectacular courtyard. The courtyard is larger then the dining room and offers guests a beautiful view with your meal. There is a giant waterfall and pond in the courtyard. In the summer the greenery is amazing. The dining room also has large glass windows facing the waterfall. In the summer you can’t beat dining in the large courtyard. The courtyard is beautiful and one of my favorite places to eat on a warm summer night. In the winter, I really enjoy getting up for breakfast, sitting in the sun filled dinging room and watch the waterfall splash the ice filled pond. The restaurant has many rooms that all have their own unique feel. Casa de Benavidez also offers a large bar in the middle of the restaurant and a separate takeout area.
When you get seated you are given some chips and salsa. I think this salsa is one of the better salsas served at a restaurant. It is fresh hot salsa, with cilantro. I personally don’t care for cilantro, but in this salsa it just works. Last visit me and my husband enjoyed the sampler for two. I came with tamales, enchiladas, tacos, carne adovada, and chile rellenos. The red chile is quite good and hot. Everything tasted good, including the very tender carne adovada. The platter costed $22 dollars and was a little skimpy. I also have had problems on many occasions with the waiter only giving us one sopapilla for the two of us. When asked for more the waiter brings us one more. At most New Mexican restaurants you would expect at least four soppapillas to start off with. the waitstaff is hit and miss. The restaurant is known for having a good bar. Me and my husband ordered margaritas, the magertias came in a huge pitcher for us to share.
In conclusion, Casa de Benividez has a wonderful environment and very good food. The only hangup is the prices are high and the portions are small. It is still worth a try, if you are in the far north valley.
Taste:
[rate 8.5]
Service:
[rate 7]
Ambiance:
[rate 9]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
Dos Hermanos has four locations.
6211 4th NW reviewed.
Do you like huge breakfast burritos with fresh homemade tortillas? If so Dos Hermanos is the place for you. The restaurant is in a strip mall and a little hard to find. The burritos are huge. You could split one with a friend. They offer a wide variety of meats and sides. I regularly stop in for a chorizo breakfast burrito with red chile. One of the reasons why I like their burritos is because they have fresh real homemade tortillas. It is hard to find a burrito place that still makes their own flour tortillas. The tortillas taste wonderful. Sometimes you can buy a whole bag of one day old tortillas for $1.00.
The workers are helpful and welcoming. The burritos are a little pricey at around $5.00, but they are still a good value for the size. There is seating, but you order at the counter and have to serve your own drinks. Although they are not my absolute favorite, if you are hungry, and in the mood for a good breakfast burrito, this is a great place to stop.
Taste:
[rate 8]
Service:
[rate 8]
Ambiance:
[rate 8]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
1736 Central Ave SW
Garcia’s Kitchen has several locations. I usually go to the location on Central near 12th. Garcia’s serves New Mexican food and they are very popular for breakfast and lunch. The atmosphere is casual, with lots of tables so you could take a large group. Garcia’s is very colorful with lots of interesting New Mexican items, perfect for tourists.
The food is classic New Mexican. I usually get a burrito and opt out of the beans and rice. The chile is tasty, with a moderate heat. The portions are a decent size. My family enjoys their hot link breakfast. I enjoy the flavor of the food, but I have found that the quality is not always consistent. One time all the food at our table was cold, fridge cold. Another time the carne adovada was hard as leather. The service is not outstanding. I have had to wait a considerable amount of time whenever I go.
I would recommend going to Garcia’s if you are not in a hurry. There are several locations around Albuquerque, and I think that the overall experience is worth a try. Garcia’s would be a nice place to meet a friend for a casual lunch or to take the family out to breakfast. The prices are reasonable.
Taste:
[rate 8]
Service:
[rate 4]
Ambiance:
[rate 7]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
