The best Mexican restaurants in Albuquerque, NM – Part 1

If you don’t dine in at least one or two Mexican restaurants when visiting Albuquerque well, then you haven’t been to Albuquerque. The real question is how to narrow the many excellent choices down. Here are a few to start with and on your next trip you can try some more.

El Pinto, 10500 4th NW, Ph. 505.898.1771. Started in 1962, El Pinto has long been described as “being the flavor of New Mexico.” Their red and green chile cuisine features everything from carne adovada to enchiladas. Each meal starts with award-winning salsa. El Pinto’s reputation has spread so far that even President Bush and Mick Jagger have dined there (not together). Dining is available in the shaded patio (considered the best patio dining in the city), in private romantic nooks, or in the main dining room. Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm; Fri-Sat 11am-10pm; Sunday 10:30am-9pm (Sunday brunch 10:30a.m-2pm.

Cervantes Restaurant & Lounge, 5801 Gibson Blvd SE, Ph. 505.262.2253. Consistently ranked as a favorite by visitors, Cervantes is known as being a family restaurant with great homemade cuisine. The green chile stew with cheese and onions, soppas, chile rellenos, very hot red chile sauce, margaritas by the pitcher, and the jukebox all rate high marks. The only negative is that the parking lot can be dangerous after dark, so be careful.

Padilla’s Mexican Kitchen, 1510 Girard Blvd NE. Ph. 505.262. 0115. Padilla’s is so good and its reputation so wide-spread that customers line up at door at 11 to be the first in for lunch. Listed as one of the top 50 Hispanic restaurants in America in Hispanic Magazine, Padilla’s is one of the most popular restaurants in Albuquerque. It’s not the dcor that brings people in; in fact it’s rather sparsely decorated. It’s not the location as patrons often have to park on side streets. It’s the Food! Patrons will tell you that this is not Mexican food, but New Mexican cuisine there is a difference. Starting with the homemade salsa and gigantic fresh corn chips, every meal is a delight.

Choose from daily specials such as Carne Adovada, Carnitas, or Papas and Quelites. Upgrade a la carte specials to dinners and you’ll receive two of the lightest sopaipillas anywhere. The freshly-made tacos are so delicious that you need to order at least two to last long enough to make a memory. The blue corn cheese enchiladas are another raved about item. Padilla’s has a rather small dining room but loyal fans like it that way they’re afraid expansion may

The best Italian restaurants in Albuquerque, NM – Part 1

You may not think of Albuquerque, New Mexico as being the best place to find an Italian restaurant, but in fact you can find many fantastic restaurants with Italian cuisine there. Here are some of my favorite restaurant options:

1. Trombino’s Bistro Italiano. 5415 Academy Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109, Phone: (505) 821-5974

Trombino’s is a great Italian restaurant. The meals are delicious and served up in large portions and the service is also very good. The ambiance is quite elegant in the dining room, while the bar is hopping and lively. There are some unique menu options that are particularly tasty, including the Fritti Di Mare (a seafood pasta dish) and the Chicken under a Brick (delicious chicken dish). The more classic dishes are also good here, such as the Veal Parmesan or the Lasagna.

2. Vivace. 3118 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, Phone: (505) 268-5965

Vivace’s is another nice Italian restaurant in the Nob Hill area of Albuqurque. The prices are a bit high, but the food is good and the dcor is very romantic and quaint. Try one of the pasta dishes as the homemade noodles are to die for. The wine list is also quite impressive.

3. Scalo Northern Italian Grill. 3500 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, Phone: (505) 255-8781

For another romantic Italian option, try Scalo Northern Italian Grill. The food is also great here, made with only the freshest ingredients. The Carpaccio or the White Bean Soup are both great choices for an appetizer, while the pasta dishes are only so-so. Instead, opt for a meat option for your entree like the grilled salmon filet or the pork chops. When you’re finished your meal, be sure to order up a crme brulee for dessert as it is delicious.

4. Farina’s Pizzaria Wine Bar. 510 Central Ave. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102, Phone: 505-243-0130

If you are looking for good pizza, Farina’s is the place for you. The brick-oven-style pizza is just delicious with many creative topping options. My favorites are the Finocchio and the Bianco pizzas. The Finocchio is topped with caramelized onions and sweet fennel sausage and the Bianco is a white pizza with ricotta cheese, sage, artichoke and truffle oil. Yummy! Not only is the food good, but they also have a great wine and beer (local microbrewery beers on tap as well) selection. The atmosphere is also very lively, with fun music and a interesting dcor.

Enjoy your Italian meal out in Albuquerque!

The best Mexican restaurants in Albuquerque, NM

The old traditions of Mexico are very much alive in New Mexico. You see it in the people, the architecture, and you taste it in the Mexican cuisine. The food culture of Mexico coupled with home grown red and green chiles combine to make Albuquerque the premier city for Mexican cuisine. Many restaurants serve top quality Mexican cuisine, but the best Mexican restaurants in Albuquerque build their reputations on excellence.

Mexican cuisine and is a certain favorite in Albuquerque. We’re not talking Tex-Mex cuisine here, but an authentic taste of Mexico. If you’ve been south of the border and wish for the same experience in the US, you can find the same dishes in New Mexico restaurants as with a great assortment of choices.

Green chiles originated in Mexican regional foods and they’re the defining ingredients of New Mexican cuisine. Red and green, they grace the food in Albuquerque with bold bursting flavor.

A word to the wise, if you’re not familiar with red and green chiles, it’s always a good idea to have them on the side and taste them first. They vary in taste from mild to meltdown heat but chiles aren’t just for Mexican cuisine, they’re a flavor enhancement for many different ethnic foods from burritos and hamburgers, to bagels.

Your preferences for certain food will help you choose a great Mexican restaurant.

Ambience at Casa de Benavidez:

Casa de Benavidez is located at 8032 Fourth St. NW. The ambience is hard to match with patio dining in a lush outdoor garden. The food is excellent but you’ll pay extra for the ambience. Dishes run about 40 percent more than the more humble establishments.

The Benavidez family built their trademark on the Sopaipilla burger starting small and expanding as their reputation grew. The family owned restaurant still makes their salsas in house on a daily basis.

The Sopaipilla burger, their specialty, is a beef patty with refried beans, cheese, lettuce, tomato and choice of red or green chiles between two sopaipillas. You might call it a hamburger with a south of the border flair. You’ll find a large expansive menu that offers the world’s finest Mexican and New Mexican cuisine.

Make a reservation if you plan to visit during holidays and festival days because their reputation is grande.’ Visit their web site and view their menu at: Casadebenavidez.

Seafood lovers try Los Equipales Restaurant

If you love fish and seafood for example, you’ll enjoy the specialty, Cerviche,