Archive for the 'Italian' Category
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
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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.
Taste:
[rate 8]
Service:
[rate 7]
Ambiance:
[rate 7]
Overall Reader Rating
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5415 Academy, N.E.
Albuquerque, NM
821-5974
website
This is an Albuquerque born establishment from a family with strong loyalty to their Italian roots. The Trombino’s moved to New Mexico in the late 60’s and started in a restaurant called “Trombino’s Hamburgers.” Later in 1978, they created what it is today, their own style of Italian Restaurant and 35 recipes that reflect old-style Italian food.
For the most part the food here is very good and served in an elegant setting, much like the atmosphere. In this restaurant I tried Veal Marsala for the first time and was hooked. Now it’s one of my favorite Italian recipes and I have it whenever I can find it on a menu. The sauce has changed a little since then, but it is still good, just not quite as sweet. In this dish, a sweet marsala wine sauce is served over tender seasoned strips of veal, crimini mushrooms, and angel hair pasta.
Another favorite of mine is the Chicken Under a Brick which is a flavorful herb-crusted chicken breast, tender and moist on the inside, baked under the weight of a hot brick. This entrée is served with your choice of parmesan mashed potatoes or a spinach salad with a basil vinaigrette. I would also recommend some of their family favorites like eggplant Parmesan and Fritti Di Mare (clams, shrimp, scallops, and mussels steamed with white wine and garlic, then tossed with tomatoes and linguine pasta). Trombino’s is located next to one of the best fresh fish markets in the city, so it’s always a good choice to try one of their fresh fish selections whenever they’re available.
The servers in this restaurant are very knowledgeable about the food and wine (which is as important as the food for an Italian meal). I only received bad service one time here where the waiter was rude and did not pay enough attention to our table. I should mention that you won’t receive the most prompt service Trombinos, it is more of a relaxed atmosphere. That’s bad for those on a schedule, but good for those looking to take their time to enjoy the experience.
I really enjoy the atmosphere in this restaurant, the dining room is very elegant and relaxing while the bar area can really feel like a traditional Italian pub. For those looking for a romantic Italian spot, this is an excellent choice. I would also recommend to those looking to make a good impression to go during slow hours, you will have plenty of privacy to make the meal feel that much more special.
I would not recommend this restaurant for any of the more common Italian entrees due to the higher prices. However, there are some unique and flavorful dishes that use choice ingredients and are worth the higher prices. Ultimately, for the unique dishes, fresh seafood and high quality meats, wine, and relaxing atmosphere, Trombino’s is a great place to visit.
Taste:
[rate 7.5]
Service:
[rate 7]
Ambiance:
[rate 8]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
3325 San Mateo Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 884-8787
(505) 798-0107
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Nana’s is a restaurant that is best classified as family-style Italian American dining. It is a small and intimate Italian restaurant. You are given bread to start with, which was soft and tasty. Each entrée is served with a choice of soup or salad at no extra cost. The salad is one of those small plate salads with iceberg lettuce, a huge tomato and a large piece of onion. The food here is pretty good and has a unique flavor. The dishes that I would recommend are the Beef or Crab Ravioli, Antipasti Salad, and Calzones. The Small Calzone was a bargain. I also had the Ravioli Sampler which came with chicken and beef ravioli and some spaghetti on the side. The sampler was very good, but i almost couldn’t taste the difference between the chicken and the beef. The price range is about $10, which is about average for an Italian American restaurant in Albuquerque. Although they do have some dishes over priced, like the Chicken Parmesan which is $12.99.
The service I was quite disappointing when we first came in to the restaurant, no one greeted us for at least five minutes. The waitresses just keep walking right in front of us and didn’t even say ” Well be right with you” or something. It wasn’t a good start to the evenings dining experience. That said, all of our servers were really nice and they are not too busy to get everything you need when you need it. They were friendly and informal, which matched the atmosphere perfectly. It’s a laid back atmosphere so you wont be given a 5 minute speech on the history or specials of the restaurant, its just boils down to the food here. The kitchen is not viewable, but you can hear conversations from that area because it is right behind the seating area. There is not much decoration except for the traditional green and red Italian colors that are displayed everywhere.
I would recommend this restaurant to those that don’t mind being a part of a small, social restaurant and who want to try some good Italian food.
Taste:
[rate 7.5]
Service:
[rate 7]
Ambiance:
[rate 7]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
10041 Coors Road NW,
Albuquerque NM, 87114
Phone: 505-792-9222
Fax: 505-792-9333
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Zio’s is an Italian kitchen that markets itself as a restaurant offering good Italian food and atmosphere within a good price range. It is not a formal setting so this is a restaurant that suits the family experience and you can watch your food being prepared by oven or open flames as it offers an open kitchen to the seating area. Zio’s is a chain managed by Mazzio’s, a large corporation with restaurants located mainly in the Oklahoma and Texas areas. However, this Italian kitchen located on the Cottonwood Mall grounds is the first of this chain to reside in New Mexico.
The main selling factor for me is the modest prices for the majority of entrees. The average price of an entrée is in the $7 - $8 range with house features getting up to $13. For the most part the ingredients used are very basic and do not extend to exotic Italian ingredients, like some dishes you will find at Trombinos or the Macaroni Grill. But hey, how many people out there really care about the difference between regular and buffalo mozzarella anyway? Like any Italian restaurant, the heart of any dish is the sauce, and in this restaurant I would recommend three very good ones to try; their Marinara, Spicy Alfredo, and Spinach Artichoke sauces. My recommendations for appetizers are the Bruschetta and Pepperoni Bread. For entrees I would recommend the Seafood and Spicy Fettuccini Alfredo’s, Salmon Dijon Pasta, Marco Polo Salad (a unique salad with a sweet strawberry/raspberry flavor), Chicken Marsala, and Chicken Cannelloni. One thing this restaurant is missing is the inclusion of veal, which is traditional for Italian dishes. From the brick oven they have excellent calzones, but I would say that the pizzas are average. The desserts are also well priced in the $4 range and you get your money’s worth with the Tiramisu and Wedding Cake.
The area that this restaurant needs the most work in is organizing their entrée preparation among the sauté, salad, and brick oven areas. They seem to not be in sync a lot of times, especially on busy nights as the pizza/calzone area seems to be slow to complete orders (a warning to those ordering a pizza or calzone, or well done ribeye for that matter). So the pasta dishes can be made very quickly while the oven area will drag the ticket for a long time. Other open kitchens like the Macaroni Grill offer a much more cohesive assembly and entrees are prepared in both areas at around the same time. The service is about average, but you will find really good service from a few of the servers at this restaurant. It’s a very laid back operation so they are not expected to know everything, but the menu here is very informative as to what is in your dishes and how it is served.
It is a very chain-like atmosphere in this restaurant, just like what you would expect to find in a mall parking lot. The Italian décor is mainly painted on to the walls and the walls are decorated with a vast collection of artistic olive oil bottles. The tables are dressed with white construction paper and crayons to suit the family (aka occupying the kids while you eat). So I would recommend this restaurant to those looking to take the family to eat and to those that want to visit an Italian restaurant without spending a lot of cash.
Taste:
[rate 7]
Service:
[rate 5]
Ambiance:
[rate 4]
Overall Reader Rating
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3109 Coors Blvd SW
Amadeos website
Amadeo’s Pizza and Subs has two locations, Coors and Rio Bravo and on 98th Street. They have the largest pizza that I have ever seen. You can order a 26in pizza! I usually go for the 18in pizza and that is big. The atmosphere is casual with a fifties feel, black and white tile and posters of Marilyn Monroe and other celebrities cover the walls. They deliver to a limited area, but for those outside the delivery zone, the location on Coors has a pick up window. You have to go inside at the location on 98th, but it is worth it.
The menu offers pizza, salads, subs, other Italian specialties, wings, and desert. I really enjoyed the pizza. The crust on the pizza is hand-tossed and the 100% mozzerela actually tastes like fresh mozzerela. The sauce is spicy and delicious. They offer a variety of toppings and fresh ingredients. I have had two different 6in subs which were light and had fresh ingredients. They also offer large party subs, which are generous. If you are looking for a sub for a party, try them instead of Subway, you won’t be dissapointed. I also had a piece of chocolate cake which was moist and decadent.
Every time that I have gone to Amadeo’s I have received outstanding service. I had heard stories about Amadeo’s and thier huge pizza’s from several different people, so I finally made the trip out to Coors and Rio Bravo to try it. It was worth the trip. I have been back several times since. The flavor is refreshing break from bland, greasy pizza.
Taste:
[rate 8]
Service:
[rate 8]
Ambiance:
[rate 7]
Overall Reader Rating
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4266 Corrales Rd
Corrales, NM 87048-9310
(505) 898-0045
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There is a very good family pizza restaurant in Corrales called Village Pizza. I have been here over ten times because it some of the best restaurant pizza that I’ve had in New Mexico. The restaurant is located on the corrales business strip so it is just walking distance to various shops, occational music venues, and a walking path in the back along the ditch banks.
I usually start with some bread sticks which are really good, not cheesy or greasy, just sprinkled with some italian seasoning and parmasean. There are the usual options for pizza such as thick or thin crust, with traditional or high-end toppings. Now I’m sure the pizza with feta cheese and artichoke is good, but I’m a traditional type of guy and I like my pepperoni, mushroom, and sausage pizza on thick crust. To change things up a bit, I would definitely suggest getting the calzone here. It is a very large portion filled with marinera, ricotta cheese, and your choice of add-ins…one of the best I’ve had. They also offer a buffet with salad and pizza up until about 7 pm. If you’re looking for desert, they dont offer any here. Village pizza also has a nice selection of beer (draft and bottle) and wine.
Of course there are different expectations for service depending on the restaurant. Just like the atmosphere, the service is very laid-back here. The servers are really nice, usually get to know people, and are the kind to make a table laugh. One problem is that they usually have too many tables in their section and can get too busy to provide prompt service, especially on busy nights. But if you go to a restaurant like this, odds are you’re there for the food much more than the service.
Over the past years this restaurant has been renovated to accomodate the rise in customers, so at times it can get very loud and crowded. In that case, you might just want to pick your times wisely. Its a family restaurant so the tables are topped with disposable paper, paper napkins with silverware, and crayons are at the table to keep your kids occupied. There is a mix of private tables and long tables where families can sit by each other picnic-style. I recommend this restaurant, its a nice getaway from the city and you’ll have some really good food here.
Taste:
[rate 7]
Service:
[rate 7]
Ambiance:
[rate 7]
Overall Reader Rating
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107 Cornell Dr SE
Tel: (505) 255-5454
Saggio’s is located on Cornell just south of Central. It is very close to the University of New Mexico and the Frontier Restaurant, so parking is sometimes a concern. They serve Italian pastas, sandwiches, and pizza. When you walk in there is usually a long line, but it moves relatively quickly. You place your order at the counter and when it is ready, your number is called. There are no servers. There are a few different rooms one is all booths, one has a bar, and the other has TVs. The atmosphere is very loud and busy. There are interesting murals all over the walls.
The food is great. I have enjoyed everything I have tried. This is one of my favorite places to order a pizza to go. They have a huge extra large pizza which has hand-tossed crust. Its so big one slice will fill you up. They do not skimp on the cheese or toppings. They have the usual pizza toppings and lots of specialty toppings. I like the Italian sausage, it’s the sliced stuff, not the balls like the franchises have. The calozones are very big and can be ordered the way you like. I also enjoy the deserts they sell by the slice. Overall the portion sizes are large and the prices are very reasonable. The menu has a variety of choices so I think everyone could find something that they would enjoy.
Saggio’s is a good place to meet people and have a beer. It is very casual and everyone can order on there own. However, it is very loud and at busy times the parking is limited. The people at the counter are knowledgeable and polite. At times the line is very long, and the food does take a while. They do have a parking space reserved in the back for pickups. So call ahead and get it to go.
Taste:
[rate 9]
Service:
[rate 9]
Ambiance:
[rate 8]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
3301 Coors Blvd NW
(505) 831-4191
Mimmo’s is located on Coors Blvd, in the ladera shopping center just north of I-40. They serve Italian American food. The dinner menu includes a variety of Italian dishes, including veal, seafood, chicken, pasta, pizza and calzones. The lunch menu is more limited, but has a buffet. They also offer a selection of wine and beer. The atmosphere is casual with tables and some booths. They play Italian-American music which makes the ambiance more enjoyable. Mimmo’s has been around for a long time, I remember going there as a kid to pick up pizza.
I have had the baked ziti, the chicken parmesan, and the pizza. The ziti came in a baking dish with fresh mozzarella and herbs on top. The sauce was sweet, not spicy. The chicken parmesan was flat, breaded chicken with a good portion of spaghetti on the side. The chicken breading seemed store-bought and unsatisfying. The entrees come with the salad bar and garlic bread. I was satisfied by the portions. They offer a buffet, that has salad, pasta, and pizza. I wasn’t impressed, but it was reasonably priced. The pizza had a thin, crispy crust and the mozzarella was outstanding. Since I ordered my pizza by the slice, the toppings had no top cheese, but it was still enjoyable. I think that the next time I pick up a pizza, I may pick up one of the specialty pizzas with feta cheese, red peppers and olives.
Mimmo’s is a comfortable place where a family would feel welcome. The buffet is only served at lunch. The prices were very reasonable compared to other casual Italian restaurants. The service is also very good. My drink was never empty and the plates that I was finished with were cleared. I would recommend Mimmo’s for good Italian-American food.
Taste:
[rate 7.5]
Service:
[rate 9]
Ambiance:
[rate 7]
Overall Reader Rating
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6225 4th St. NW
Luigi’s serves Italian American food and pizza, and is located on 4th, north of Osuna. The atmosphere is casual. There are tables and booths with a buffet in the middle of the restaurant. On Fridays they have a seafood buffet, which offers a variety of fried seafood. The buffets don’t look to appetizing, but a lot of people get it.
The food is pretty good and the portions are large. I like the calzones and the pizza. I had the Fettuccine Alfredo, which I did not like, but I have enjoyed everything else that I’ve tried. The chicken and veal parmesan is what i usually get. The portions are large and tasty. The marinara sauce is mild and has a good taste. The prices are high for casual dining, around $12 a plate, but that includes soup or salad and fresh bread. The service is outstanding; the servers are very accommodating and friendly. I have yet had a bad server at Luigi’s.
Luigi’s is a nice place to eat Italian American food. If you are looking for an inexpensive meal or a fancy atmosphere, this is not the place. It is a perfect place for a satisfying meal in a casual rustic setting.
Taste:
[rate 8]
Service:
[rate 9.5]
Ambiance:
[rate 6]
Overall Reader Rating
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Central & Monroe
505.265.6919
www.dionspizza.com
I assume that everyone in Albuquerque has heard of Dion’s. They have several locations around the city. They serve pizza, subs and salads. You can eat-in or take-out. You order at the counter and when your food is ready, your name is called. The atmosphere is casual, and sometimes loud because it is a popular place for teenagers. They also have drive through windows, so that you can call in an order and then pick it up.
The food is always great. The pizza has hand tossed crust with plenty of toppings. You can order a whole pizza, or by the slice. The subs come in 6in or 10in sizes and are served with chips and Greek dressing. Depending on the type of sub, I usually substitute the dressing for ranch. Dion’s makes great salads with plenty of cheese and meat. They make their own dressings, which are outstanding. The prices of their food are very reasonable.
Dion’s is one of those places that almost everyone loves. I have enjoyed this food since I was young. It is a fun, casual place where you can go on your own, or with a whole soccer team. If you call in take-out, make sure your order is correct before you leave. They do make mistakes, but are very willing to correct them.
Taste:
[rate 9]
Service:
[rate 8]
Ambiance:
[rate 8]
Overall Reader Rating
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