Mariscos La Playa
April 4th, 2007 by eleet34
4420 Central, S.W.
Albuquerque, NM
839-8081
MAP
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Archive for the 'Seafood' Category
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Los Equipales
March 24th, 2007 by mandoza
4500 Silver SE
Albuquerque NM, 87102
MAP | MENU | WEBSITE
This a unique location! Los Equipales is located in the an old bank building at 4500 Silver SE, right next to Highland High School. From the outside, it doesn’t look like a restaurant but the huge signs all over the exterior tell you it is.
The interior is beautifully designed with warm colors, handmade chairs (los equipales), soft lighting and gorgeous tile. The walls are adorned with Mexican paintings and two bright parrots hang from the ceilings. The interior of Los Equipales is very welcoming, and I was greeted instantly and politely by the staff. This was more of a “fine dining” experience than I expected.
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Trombino’s Bistro Italiano
January 16th, 2007 by eleet34
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.
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]
The Melting Pot
August 9th, 2006 by eleet34
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]
Azuma Sushi and Teppan
July 13th, 2006 by eleet34
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]
Mariscos Altamar
June 5th, 2006 by eleet34
1517 Coors NW
Albuquerque NM, 87121
505.831.1496
( map) | ~MENU~
I was told to try this restaurant because it offered very good Mexican seafood at good prices. I have to say I was very impressed with this one. Hector Hernandez began Mariscos in a much smaller location and as business expanded he was able to move across the street to a much larger establishment. Now, every time that I go there it seems to be filled and business looks good for this restaurant.
I have tried a few of the entrees including fish tacos, tampiquena steak, mojarra veracruz, crab meat enchiladas, and shrimp with mushrooms. I have to say that all of the entrees that I have had have been very good. My favorite is the tampiquena steak which is marinated carne asada steak garnished with guacamole and pico de gallo, served with rice and a cheese enchilada. It is a fantastic meal with good portion and all for just $8.95! Another time I had the mojarra veracruz which is literally the whole fish, skin and all. I wasn’t used to cleaning my own fish so it took a while to eat, but it was really good also. I still have to try some of the burrito and Mexican food plates, but so far everything that I have listed above were really good.
One of the great things about this family owned restaurant is that as busy as it has been the times that I have been there, I was always seated quickly and with a lot of courtesy. The service isn’t top notch here, but there are a lot of the family working here and they take pride in their work. You don’t always get the most prompt service here and in one case it took almost 10 minutes to get my drink because the waitress had to come back and tell me that they didn’t have dr. pepper, then they didn’t have sprite, in fact they didn’t have any soda at that time. Another time I had to get my check fixed because something extra was accidentally added. But other than that I would say that they are always pleasant servers.
The atmosphere is nice and casual in this restaurant. They fixed up the building with their own style of light blue décor with those motion pictures and mirrors. There are murals of fish both inside and out. There are floating mariachis that play and they are pretty good. It was funny because one time they broke out in their rendition of “who let the dogs out,” which is something I would never have thought I would hear from a mariachi band. Ultimately it is the good Mexican seafood that I will go back for, but I would definitely recommend this restaurant for others to try also.
Taste:
[rate 8]
Service:
[rate 7]
Ambiance:
[rate 7]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
Cristobals in the Hotel Albuquerque
April 7th, 2006 by eleet34
This restaurant is located in the historic Old Town area of Albuquerque, inside of the Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town(formerly Sheraton Old Town). It is a private room located next to the hotel restaurant and offers the appeal of fine dining. I have gone here twice and had the Salmon and Prime Rib. The grilled Atlantic salmon was very good as were the sides of garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. The salmon was braised in a light raspberry chipotle barbecue sauce. On the other hand, the slow roasted aged prime rib was not nearly as good. It was bland and over cooked. The entree price is very reasonable for a fine dining experience (around $17) and the portions are filling. Also, for those who have an Entertainment book, you can use your card here.
The most disappointing part from me eating here was the terrible service. It took about ten minutes to get water and about 16 minutes to get bread. The server convaid about as much as I could get from a TGIFridays which is….what to drink? what to eat? are you finished? The first time I went there it was a Saturday night and there were only two other sat tables. Even so I expected the waiters to be present in the room more, and had to wait a long time after I was finished to get the check. I have been a former server in both low and high class restaurants, so I know when the service needs work.
The atmosphere is very cozy and you are given a lot of space on each table. The table dressings are very elegant and the seating is wide and comfortable. The only thing that I couldn’t make sense of were the paintings which seemed a little tacky. They were too colorful and the energetic band theme seemed like it didn’t belong with the fine dining ambiance of the room. Other than that, the lighting was good and the room is quiet. This restaurant is a good choice for those seeking a private atmosphere and fine dining with a New Mexican twist.
Taste:
[rate 8]
Service:
[rate 5]
Ambiance:
[rate 8]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
Pappadeaux
April 1st, 2006 by eleet34
The food at Pappadeaux is an excellent and tasteful Cajun escape for all New Mexicans. If you like your seafood spicy or pronounced with a lot of seasoning this may be the right choice for you. The restaurant serves high quality Cajun entrees with a variety of fish flow in fresh daily, a fruit and vegetable selection that surpasses anything you can pick up in your local grocery store, and its own unique blend of 9 Cajun spices to blacken your favorite fish. Of course, with quality comes price, which is also at the higher end for this seafood restaurant.
The menu offers variety to the guest, yes even those who do not like seafood. To start you may like to try something new like Blackened Alligator or Boiled Crawfish. You can taste this restaurants’ take on popular fishes like Salmon and Catfish, or seek something more exotic like Alaskan Halibut and Swordfish. However you like your fish cooked, Pappadeaux offers a wide variety of signature sauces to add on top. For those pasta fans I recommend the Pasta Mardi Gras and to those who don’t like seafood, you’ll be surprised at how good the steaks are. To drink, try their Swampthing which is layered tropical drink or just browse through the variation in the wine list. The icing on the cake is when the server brings by the desert tray with ten excellent suggestions. But if you ask me, the break out star in the bunch is the Oreo Mousse.
The service at Pappadeaux is not the best in Albuquerque, but you will get prompt service, food served fairly quick, and all of your requests taken care of. The servers here are well trained to be knowledgeable about the food and restaurant and can answer almost any question you may have. Remember this is a high-paced family restaurant so if you are looking for more attention or professional service, you may want to go to a higher end establishment.
This restaurant offers an escape for the southwest natives as soon as you get first sight of the artistically molded shrubs and water fountains. Once inside it’s more of a family-style décor covered with wall dressings from mounted fish and pictures of jazz musicians to a loft with a life size fishing boat with nets and equipment. The main layout of the restaurant is very social and crowded, not for those looking for a little privacy in their meal. However there are great options as you may like to eat in the patio area with a nice fountain view or my favorite, the lounge, with a cherry wood finish, leather sofas, and big screen T.V.
As you can tell by the size and layout, this can be a very loud restaurant. While the background Zydeco music is very Cajun and creates the mood, it is also not the greatest selection of the genre and becomes a little irritating by the end of your meal. So just a warning, if you go at a busy time, be prepared to use your loud voice.
Taste:
[rate 8]
Service:
[rate 7]
Ambiance:
[rate 7]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
The Cooperage
February 27th, 2006 by art365
7220 Lomas Boulevard Northeast
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110-7146
ph: 505.255.1657
The Cooperage, one of Albuquerque’s premiere steakhouses. The Cooperage is known for its quality prime rib, steaks, and seafood. The restaurant is welcoming and intimate. The lights are turned down real low and their are many rooms with some seating on platforms. You will see some people all dressed up along side people that are dressed very casual and informal. The cooperage is also known for its live music Thursday trough Saturday. Being from Albuquerque, everyone knows that the Cooperage is the place to go for salsa dancing.
The Cooperage has a good selection of meats and a salad bar. I had the prime rib(managers cut) with a baked potato. It came with the salad bar and sourdough bread. The prime rib was cooked medium rare and was wonderful. I was a little disappointed in the salad bar. It seemed lacking compared to other salad bars of the same size. The bread was good and the waitress kept if coming. The service was fast and polite. I was very satisfied with the overall experience.
The Cooperage is a good place for a romantic date or night out dancing. I have had better steaks and seafood elsewhere, but The Cooperage offers good food with a relaxed dining experience.
Taste:
[rate 8.5]
Service:
[rate 8]
Ambiance:
[rate 9]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
