Sunday, October 30, 2011

ALBUQUERQUE

(includes Bernalillo, Corrales, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque & Rio Rancho)

BAKERIES, COFFEE, ICE CREAM, JUICE & TEA
Barelas Coffee House – 1502 4th Street Southwest; 505-843-7577; may look like set in search of script, but is real deal; diners come from all over city to sup in this old-fashioned chile parlor in Hispanic Historic Route 66 neighborhood south of downtown; also tasty breakfast fare.
Golden Crown Panaderia – 1103 Mountain Road Northwest; 505-243-2424; goldencrown.biz; for bolilos, empanadas, etc.



BARS & NIGHTCLUBS
Apothecary Lounge – 806 Central Avenue Southeast (at Parq Central Hotel); 505-242-0040; hotelparqcentral.com; extensive cocktail menu; good for sunset drinks.
Kelly’s – 3222 Central Avenue Southeast (Nob Hill); 505-262-2739; kellysbrewpub.com; University of New Mexico bar; set in 1939 Ford service station; weather permitting, sit outside.
Marble Pub – 111 Marble Street Northwest; 505-243-2739; marblebrewery.com; consummate New Mexico bar (banjo players, benches, or salsa drummers).



HOTELS
Hotel Andaluz – 125 2nd Street Northwest; 505-242-9090 or 877-987-9090; hotelandaluz.com.
Los Poblanos Inn – 4803 Rio Grande Boulevard Northwest; 505-344-9297; lospoblanos.com; set on acreage that supplies city’s biggest organic farm-share program; impeccable rooms balance adobe and brick with Alexander Girard textiles; sumptuous breakfast and dinner.



RESTAURANTS
Barelas Coffee House – 1502 4th Street Southwest; 505-843-7577; may look like set in search of script, but is real deal; diners come from all over city to sup in this old-fashioned chile parlor in Hispanic Historic Route 66 neighborhood south of downtown; also tasty breakfast fare.
El Bruno’s Albuquerque – 8806 4th Street Northwest; 505-897-0444; elbrunosabq.com; family-owned; uses best quality meat for fajitas.
Casa de Benavidez – 8032 4th Street Northwest (Los Ranchos de Albuquerque); 505-897-7493; casadebenavidez.com; family-owned.
Cervantes – 5801 Gibson Boulevard Southeast; 505-262-2253; cervantesabq.com; Mexican & New Mexican food since 1976.
Cesar’s – 5300 Lomas Boulevard Northeast; 505-256-8017; cesarsmexicanandgreek.com; only Mexican & Greek restaurant in world with drive-thru window.
El Charritos – 4703 Central Northwest; 505-836-2464; facebook.com/pages/Charritos-New-Mexican-Restaurant/113351018688344?rf=221242024604097; best bets are Tiwa taco, corn fries, mutton stew, blue corn pancakes, Pojoaque carne adovada plate, Mama’s burrito, biscochitos, and prune pie.
Church Street Cafe – 2111 Church Street Northwest; 505-247-8522; churchstreetcafe.com; New Mexican cuisine in oldest city residence (1706).
Cooperage Restaurant – 7220 Lomas Boulevard Northeast; 505-255-1657; cooperageabq.com; prime rib since 1976.
Los Cuates – 8700 Menaul Boulevard Northeast; 505-237-2800; loscuatesrestaurants.com; New Mexican food.
Los Cuates – 4901 Lomas Boulevard Northeast; 505-255-5079; loscuatesrestaurants.com; New Mexican food.
Los Cuates – 10051 Coors Boulevard Bypass Northwest; 505-897-7441; loscuatesrestaurants.com; New Mexican food.
Duran Central Pharmacy – 1815 Central Avenue Northwest; 505-247-4141; durancentralpharmacy.com; unique old fashioned drugstore with soda fountain and popular New Mex-Mex lunches.
El Patio de Albuquerque – 142 Harvard Drive Southeast; 505-268-4245; elpatiodealbuquerque.com; across from University of New Mexico; no-frills spot; includes vegetarian options.
Ezra’s Place – 6132 4th Street Northwest; 505-344-1917; fluorescent-lit room overlooking Lucky 66 bowling lanes; family restaurant run by chef with Chez Panisse credentials and farm-to-table produce; try blueberry pancakes with pine-nut butter and/or duck enchiladas with tomatillo-serrano salsa.
Frontier Restaurant – 2400 Central Avenue Southeast; 505-266-0550; frontierrestaurant.com; occupies better part city block; walls adorned with John Wayne portraits; no trip to Albuquerque complete with at least 1 meal here.
Garcia’s Kitchen-Original – 2924 San Mateo Boulevard Northeast; 505-888-3488; garciaskitchen.com; fresh, hand-prepared, New Mexican cuisine at reasonable prices since 1975; try carne adovada.
Garcia’s Kitchen – 4917 4th Street Northwest; 505-341-4594; garciaskitchen.com; fresh, hand-prepared, New Mexican cuisine at reasonable prices since 1975; try carne adovada.
Garcia’s Kitchen – 1113 4th Street Northwest; 505-247-9149; garciaskitchen.com; fresh, hand-prepared, New Mexican cuisine at reasonable prices since 1975; try carne adovada.
Golden Crown Panaderia – 1103 Mountain Road Northwest; 505-243-2424; goldencrown.biz; for bolilos, empanadas, etc.; also, Mexican pizza and greens from indoor garden.
Grill on Menaul – 4615 Menaul Boulevard Northeast; 505-872-9772; facebook.com/pages/The-Grill-on-Menaul/175735999157670; best burgers in town; some say best steaks.
Grove – 600 Central Avenue Southeast; 505-248-9800; thegrovecafemarket.com; must-have breakfasts; try pancakes with raspberry jam and/or chocolate date scones.
Jennifer James 101 – 4615a Menaul Boulevard Northeast; 505-884-3860; jenniferjames101.com; small space so make reservations; perhaps best Albuquerque restaurant.
Jo’s Place – 6100B 4th Street Northwest; 505-341-4500; owned by Ezra’s place chef-family; towering burgers & chili-dusted fries.
Marble Brewery – 111 Marble Street Northwest; 505-243-2739; marblebrewery.com.
Mary & Tito’s – 2711 4th Street Northwest; 505-344-6266; maryandtitos.com; neither décor nor recipes have changed in decades; won 2010 James Beard America’s Classic award; try carne adovada (wrapped in flaky dough and fried).
El Modelo – 1715 2nd Street Southwest; 505-242-1843; elmodelomexicanfoods.com; quality New Mexican food for over 79 years.
Monroe’s Restaurant – 1520 Lomas Boulevard Northwest; 505-242-1111; monroeschile.com; circa-1960s drive-in for Mexican food & burgers.
Monroe’s Restaurant – 6051 Osuna Road Northeast; 505-881-4224; monroeschile.com; circa-1960s drive-in for Mexican food & burgers.
Monte Carlo Liquors & Steakhouse – 3916 Central Avenue (7 miles from Albuquerque airport); 505-831-2444; facebook.com/pages/Monte-Carlo-Steakhouse-and-Liquor-Store/161613480542493; chophouse & liquor store cohabitate in this low-slung, painted brick building; back entrance leads directly to steakhouse, but why not set mood by walking in via liquor store; with tufted, horseshoe-shaped booths, posters of Elvis & Marilyn, and red pleather seats, no surprise that Breaking Bad cast broke bread here; shrimp slung over parfait glasses, steaks with precise grill marks, baked potato on side; must try green chile cheeseburger.
Owl Cafe – 800 Eubank Boulevard Northeast; 505-291-4900; owlcafealbuquerque.com; Albuquerque landmark since 1986; owl-shaped, 50s-style diner; breakfast & burgers; landmark.
El Pinto Restaurant & New Mexican Salsa Company – 10500 4th Street Northwest; 505-898-1771; elpinto.com; green chile, sopapillas, carne adovada, etc., in old hacienda surrounded by lush gardens.
Q Burger – 301 Central Avenue Northwest; 505-224-2747; qburgerabq.com; downtown joint for grass-fed, high-quality burgers.
Range Cafe – 2200 Menaul Boulevard Northeast; 505-888-1660; rangecafe.com; for breakfast.
Range Cafe – La Mirada Square, 4401 Wyoming Boulevard Northeast #1; 505-293-2633; rangecafe.com; for breakfast.
Range Cafe – 925 South Camino Del Pueblo (Bernalillo); 505-867-1700; rangecafe.com; original Range Cafe; eclectic & funky dining atmosphere; gift shop; primarily for breakfast.
Sadie’s on Academy – 5400 Academy Road Northeast; 505-821-3388; sadiesofnewmexico.com; informal restaurant serving classic New Mexican cuisine, including enchiladas & tacos; best New Mexican Restaurant according to Albuquerque Magazine; pomegranate margaritas; newest location.
Sadie’s East – 15 Hotel Circle Northeast; 505-296-6940; sadiesofnewmexico.com; informal restaurant serving classic New Mexican cuisine, including enchiladas & tacos; pomegranate margaritas; best New Mexican Restaurant according to Albuquerque Magazine.
Sadie’s on 4th – 6230 4th Street Northwest (Los Ranchos de Albuquerque); 505-345-5339; sadiesofnewmexico.com; informal restaurant serving classic New Mexican cuisine, including enchiladas & tacos; best New Mexican Restaurant according to Albuquerque Magazine; original restaurant; pomegranate margaritas.
Sadie’s at Star – 54 Jemez Canyon Dam Road (Bernalillo); 505-771-7140; sadiesofnewmexico.com; informal restaurant serving classic New Mexican cuisine, including enchiladas & tacos; best New Mexican Restaurant according to Albuquerque Magazine; pomegranate margaritas.
La Salita Restaurant – 1217 Eubank Boulevard Northeast; 505-299-9968; lasalita.com; traditional New Mexican food, family-made from scratch since 1965.
Sophia’s Place – 6313 4th Street Northwest; 505-345-3935; owned by Ezra’s place chef-family.
St. Clair Winery & Bistro – 901 Rio Grande Boulevard Northwest; 505-243-9916; stclairwinery.com; local landmark since 1984.
Tia Betty Blue’s – 1248 San Mateo Boulevard Southeast; 505-268-1955; tiabettyblues.com; described by some as extraordinary; home-style New Mexican breakfasts & lunches.
Weck’s on Louisiana – 3913 Louisiana Northeast; 505-881-0019; wecksinc.com; for breakfast & lunch.
Weck’s on Osuna – 4500 Osuna, #100; 505-344-1472; wecksinc.com; for breakfast & lunch.
Weck’s on Juan Tabo – 1105 Juan Tabo Boulevard Northeast; 505-293-3154; wecksinc.com; for breakfast & lunch.
Weck’s on Coors – 6311 Riverside Plaza Lane; 505-352-6209; wecksinc.com; for breakfast & lunch.
Weck’s on San Mateo – 933 San Mateo Boulevard Northeast; 505-265-9237; wecksinc.com; for breakfast & lunch.
Weck’s on 4th Street – 2039 4th Street Northwest; 505-242-1226; wecksinc.com; for breakfast & lunch.
Weck’s on Paseo Del Norte – 6650 Holly Avenue Northeast, #C4; 505-821-9816; wecksinc.com; for breakfast & lunch.
Weck’s in Rio Rancho – 1620 Rio Rancho Boulevard Southeast; 505-896-1411; wecksinc.com; for breakfast & lunch.



SERVICES
Rainbow Ryders – 5601 Eagle Rock Avenue Northeast; 505-823-1111; rainbowryders.com; air balloon tour over city and surrounding countryside; amazing.
Stevie’s Happy Bikes – 4583 Corrales Road; 505-897-7900; corralesbikeshop.com; owners will give you directions to pedal down to Paseo del Bosque trail, along Corrales’ irrigation channels.



SHOPPING
Maisel’s – 510 Central Avenue Southwest; 505-242-6526; skip-maisels.com; American Indian arts emporium.
Man’s Hat Shop – 511 Central Avenue Northwest; 505-247-9605; manshatshop.com; hats.
Los Poblanos Farm Shop – 4803 Rio Grande Boulevard Northwest; 505-938-2192; lospoblanos.com; stocks lavendar soaps & salves, etc.
New Mexico Piñon Coffee Co. – 4431 Anaheim Ave Northeast; 505-298-1964; nmpinoncoffee.com; try biscochito.
Quality Taxidermy – 10527 2nd Street Northwest; 505-897-7598; owned by Tom Kettles; considered to be among best taxidermy studios in America.



SIGHTS & SITES
ABQ Trolley – 303 Romero Street Northwest; 505-240-8000; abqtrolley.com; faux-trolley tour of Route 66, featuring locations from Breaking Bad & Bill Gates-Paul Allen tales; despite tacky-seeming appearance and atmosphere, actually fun and interesting.
Church of Beethoven – 1715 5th Street Northwest; 505-234-4611; churchofbeethoven.org; Sunday morning chamber music series, free to public and non-religious; arrive early to score best seats.
KiMo Theater – 423 Central Avenue Northwest; 505-768-3522; cabq.gov/kimo; opened in 1927 as movie palace, now public arts center; enter through business offices to admire cow skull wall sconces and pueblo drum chandeliers.
Lightning Field – P.O. Box 2993 (Corrales, 87048); 505-898-3335; lightningfield.org; Walter de Maria’s landscape art piece; by appointment.
National Hispanic Cultural Center – 1701 4th Street Southwest; 505-246-2261; nhccnm.org; make sure to see Frederico Vigil’s 4K' square fresco, depicting 3K years Hispanic cultural history; contemporary art gallery free admission on Sundays.
Paseo del Bosque Trail – extends from Sandia Pueblo in north through Albuquerque and south to Isleta Pueblo; Rio Grande bosque offers unique, arid environment (large cottonwood trees, coyote willow, and New Mexico olive create cool, shady forest and provide habitat for beaver, numerous bird species, turtles, and snakes); extends through Corrales, village within city.
Petroglyph National Monument – 6510 Western Trail Northwest; 505-899-0205; nps.gov/petr; stretches 17 miles along West Mesa; scant petroglyphs but good hiking.

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