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 The interior is a little out of date, but still clean and inviting, consisting mainly of booths with some tables in between.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]
411 Central Ave. NW
Open: 11am - 5pm (Mon - Fri) ~MENU~
Other Locations:
8019 Menaul Blvd. N.E.
299-0001
Do you remember on the show “Friends” when Joey would say that his favorite food was a sandwich? He was stingy and never wanted to share, even saving it form a bullet. Where do they come up with this stuff! But what if there were sandwiches out there that were so good that you would consider saying, seriously, that your favorite food is a sandwich. After visiting Relish, the thought has crossed my mind. And I would say just “sandwich” because they have so many sandwiches here I like, it would be hard to pick just one as my favorite.
The Relish Sandwich Shop is located downtown in a small little area between two clubs. It’s easy to miss, I know because I overlooked it so many times and thought it was just some little bar. I didn’t give it a try until the name showed up on the “best salad” poll for this website. I found that Relish sandwiches and salads have some really unique and quality ingredients to their food as well as some delicious fresh breads.
The menu consists of five selections each for hot sandwiches, cold sandwiches, or salads. Starting with hot sandwiches, my favorites are the Cubano (house speicalty) and Grinder. The Cubano is made from seasoned pork roast, honey ham, swiss cheese and a cilantro mayo, all placed within a long baguette and toasted. This sandwich is very rich and flavorful, it is soft on the inside, but crisp on the outside, and the combination of chipotle pork roast and cilantro mayo blend perfectly. The Housemade Mozzarella is another favorite with roasted red peppers, arugula, and tomatoes are combined with mozzarella made in-house, lightly topped with a balamic vinegarette and served in an alpinetta roll. On the cold side, I would definitely recommend the Honey Roast Turkey which is a generous portion of sliced turkey, tomato, jack cheese, mizuna greens (I don’t even know what this is, but its good), avocado, and wasabi mayo all in between sourdough bread. This sandwich is a perfect mixture of my favorites with some unique touches to make a sandwich that is top notch. All sandwiches are served with your choice of house-made potato salad (thinly whipped), pasta salad (tangy like a balsamic dressing), or slaw (sweet and fruity).
Like I said before, I discovered this place form a salad poll, so even their salads are done right. My favorite is the Chicken Salad which it just loaded with flavor, from sweet to salty, all mended together for a different flavor every bite. Basically, the menu covers fifteen selections and one dessert (chocolate sandwich), but what they lack in selection they gain in quality.
Relish is very much like a small deli you would find in New York, with the same three people packed into a small place and a lot of people outside waiting. The cashier is always very nice, weather they are slow or jam-packed, and I know that can’t be easy. Even when its busy they get the food out quick because two guys are non-stop making these sandwiches with their back to the restaurant, and a girl pleasantly collects the money, takes calls, and gets the orders together and out. It’s so efficient you wonder if they have some more people in the back. Bottom line, the menu isn’t big, the place isn’t big, but the sandwiches and salads you get out of Relish will surprise you.
UPDATE:
The Double Stacked Ruben is one of the best sandwiches I have every had. I read somewhere that the downtown location is lowering prices to make it more affordable. I haven’t been to the downtown location to verify.
Taste:
[rate 9]
Service:
[rate 9]
Ambiance:
[rate 6]
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]
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]
