3600 NM Hwy 528 (Alameda just West of Coors)
Albuquerque, NM 87114
(505) 899 - 6900
Lunch: 11:30am - 2:30pm
Dinner: 5:00pm - 10:00pm
Looking for great Indian cuisine? I recommend the Bombay Grill. The taste, service, value and atmosphere quickly made this restaurant one of my favorite places to go to in this city. As an addition to the northwest area of Albuquerque, it is like a diamond in the rough of chain and mediocre restaurants.
The food here is very pronounced and flavorful as they prepare great dishes with a blend of exotic spices. 
While you look through your menu, they serve up some large bread wafers (a little hot) and three dipping sauces (look in the menu for Raita and Mango Chutney) that all have very unique flavors from sweet to spicy. To start with, you may want to try one of their appetizers. When I go I always get the Keema Samosa for $2.95, which are two crisp patties stuffed with spiced ground lamb and green peas, and tastes very good. They also have a diverse drink menu here with a good variety of imported wine and beer for India. I like to order the Mango Lassi which is a thick and traditional drink made of homemade yogurt and mango. Mango is a very common ingredient in Indian food, as you can probably tell from the menu.
On to the entrees, I think that you can’t go wrong with either the Chicken or Lamb Masala. This is such an addictive semi-sweet entrée that you wont want to put it down. I usually get this with a side of Peas Pallao (a saffron flavored Basmati rice with green peas) and Garlic Nan (a soft baked white bread patty with roasted garlic on top), both are great compliments any entree. Try this combination for yourself, I wouldn’t steer you wrong. If you don’t like it, let me have it on the comment section. If you want more of a traditional and common item, try the Curry, which is very rich sauce loaded with exotic spices to give a unique and pronounced flavor. Other entrées that are different, but also very good are the Karahi Prawns, Chicken Makhani, Saagwala. For all of you vegetarians out there, be sure to try the Mattar Paneer and Bhindi Masala. If you go with a group, its a good idea to order a few of the menu items, some rice and bread, then share and taste all of the sauces and meats together.
The service here is very disciplined, cooperative, and helpful. To start with, you may not know who your server is until halfway through your meal. This is because you are not just helped by one server, but by all of the servers as well as the manager. They all work as a team to get you drinks, answer questions and provide recommendations, and deliver your food. As you can see in the picture the glasses are not that big, but they worked as a team to make sure that my glass of water was never close to empty.
I have had good service and conversation every time I visited here, which is impressive. Also, unlike most restaurants, the servers act attentive and professional while they are in view of the customers. Now I don’t know, they could be wild and chatty in the back, but it doesn’t matter because anyone who knows how a restaurant works, knows that the importance is in the illusion of making each guest/table feel appreciated, like they are the most important one there.
The outside of the restaurant is not very impressive, a plain gray exterior with two neon signs, no view of the inside, and a two-door entrance that makes you do a double take to make sure its not the rear entrance to the building. Then you open the door (maybe into the twilight zone) and it is the opposite as you get first sight of the elegant and beautiful interior. The windows and walls are covered with drapes, there is a cascading and illuminated waterfall that divides the dining room, and a projector displays the culture and sights of India on the south wall. The tables are dressed in white linen and topped with fully prepared meal settings, a candle, and glasses filled with linen flowers. All of this is shown above, but the bottom line is that the atmosphere is very cozy and charming.
Weather you like Indian cuisine or just want to try something different (you know, step out of the box) then I would suggest you make your way to the northwest corner of Albuquerque and give the Bombay Grill a try. It has all of the elements of fine dining like great atmosphere, unique and flavorful food, great service, all for a very good price. Exactly what you would need to impress a date or business associate, especially when you pretend to know exactly what your ordering. This restaurant has made a lasting impression on me and maybe it can do the same for you too.
NOTE: This is an Entertainment Card Restaurant and they also offer a very good lunch buffet.
Taste:
[rate 9]
Service:
[rate 9]
Ambiance:
[rate 8]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
2011 Mountain Rd NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
(505) 843-6358
(map) | ~MENU~
If it is private and romantic to cook a nice meal in your own home for company, how about a restaurant that lets you do that without all of the preparation and cleanup. The Melting Pot is a fondue restaurant that offers private booths and all of the ingredients and cookware right in front of you, so you can make prepare and cook your own food. This establishment began in Maitland, Florida in 1975 and now has over 100 locations nationwide.
This restaurant offers all of the necessities to impress anyone you take along, whether its business or personal. They offer cheese fondue, salads, wine, entrees, signature fondue, and chocolate fondue. When I went I had the “fondue for two” which offers a three-course meal (excluding the dessert portion). A large fondue pot was placed in the center of the table, with meats, batters and sauces filling up a good part of the table surrounding it. You take your extended fork and stab a meat or vegetable, then coat it in a batter, and place it in the pot to cook. Once you get it out you let it cool for a bit and dip it into one of your sauces. The great thing about it was that I had a fun time making my food, trying to find the best batter and dipping sauce to go with my meats (chicken, shrimp, salmon, and teriyaki-marinated sirloin). This isn’t an eat-and-go restaurant, the atmosphere is very comfortable so you can take your time and enjoy yourself. For those who don’t like or want to try the fondue, they also have a very good selection of entrees including a French Quarter Sandwich, Lobster Tail, Shrimp & Sirloin, and Filet Mignon dishes. If you take a look at the wine list, they have a very large selection and can offer some very premium wines. The drawback of course is high prices, but that is what you expect from a restaurant that offers choice ingredients and atmosphere.
One of the most impressive parts is the service here. They are extremely knowledgeable about the history and menu and will likely spend about 5 to 10 minutes explaining everything to you on your first visit. They know it is a comfortable social setting and do not try to get you out as fast as possible, once you begin your meal they will only interrupt to refill drinks and setup each course. You can have that intimate feeling in this restaurant because the servers try not to intrude unless they’re needed.
The atmosphere is great and you are seated in a private booth, completely secluded from the view of other tables. The majority of the restaurant has dim lighting and the booths are better lit so you can see what you’re doing. It is very private and elegant, just what you want if you want to impress a date or business associate. I think it’s a unique experience and I would recommend it for those willing to drop some cash for the same.
Taste:
[rate 8]
Service:
[rate 8]
Ambiance:
[rate 8]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
4701 San Mateo Boulevard NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
Phone: (505) 880-9800
Website
(map) | ~MENU~
I’m sure the Teppan is great here, but in this review I’m going to focus on the sushi and sashimi. The reason is because I have been going to sushi here for years and it is really good, so I haven’t ventured over to the other side yet. I have been to all sorts of sushi restaurants from low to high end and this one is in competition for the top spot here in Albuquerque. I would recommend it as a romantic option but it is even better as a group affair.
The food is amazing here and I have always left satisfied. With sushi you have to be careful where you eat, although it is a little pricy here, you have a safe bet for great quality. What I like to do is go in a group and order a lot of items from the menu, they are brought out one at a time so you can enjoy them. To start with you are given a cup of ginger soup and a sweet salad, both very unique tasting to someone used to new mexican foods. All of the sushi is quality and my favorites are the california rolls, eel sashimi, 911 rolls, and monkey balls (dont let the name throw you, once you stop laughing, you’ll see how good they are). Azuma also offers a wide variety of saki and japanese beer to compliment your meal.
The picture you see above is called the love boat. I first went here on a date and got this hoping that it would be enough for the both of us…whoa, we got some stares when they set this giant boat filled with sushi and sashimi in front of us. It felt like they were doing a birthday presentation with a firecracker candle and sombrero (yeah that happened…I have a picture of myself, the unhappy kid with a sombrero on his head). The attention was warrented, the presentation was beautiful with fruit flowers and fans, and as you can see a tremendous amount of food.
The service is really good here. They allow you all of the privacy you need to make it appear private, but always seem to get you what you want when you need it. Watch out though, they are sneaky here and if your back is to the restaurant, the waitresses will come up from behind and scare you. Sometimes you’ll get the “and then…” effect when you order, which is that whatever you say they will ask you “what else would you like?” I have enjoyed the waitresses, they are professional and funny, they know how to treat the romantic table as well as entertain a group.
The atmosphere is impressive also where you can lose yourself in the japanese scenery and booth presentation. I would have given it a better rating, but it is a little crowded and there is not much privacy from other tables. They have a nice, relaxing atmosphere with blue light shining through plate glass art at each booth.
Note: The website has a printable coupon for 10% off of your purshase.
Taste:
[rate 8]
Service:
[rate 7]
Ambiance:
[rate 7]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
