Archive for the 'Steak House' Category
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]
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 Website
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]
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]
3201 Central Ave., NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
The Gruet Steak House offers a fine dinging experience and a large collection of Gruet wines. The restaurant is located in the old Monte Vista fire station. The fire station is classic New Mexican architecture, mixed with a very modern contemporized decor.
I had the crackling pork shank. The pork was fork tender and amazing. The sauce was a nice apple reduction and complemented the pork. I highly recommend this dish. The steaks looked wonderful and were properly cooked. The salad was a bit plain and the service was a little overwhelmed that night. Entrees were in the twenty-dollar range. If you are looking for a fine dining experience and are in the mood to taste some good wine, the Gruet steak house will fit the bill.
Taste:
[rate 9]
Service:
[rate 6]
Ambiance:
[rate 8]
Overall Reader Rating
[ratings]
