Best of Burque Restaurants 2010
Around the World
Ethnic cuisines
Best Greek
Olympia Café
Best Indian: Taj Mahal
Eric Williams ericwphoto.com
olympiacafeabq.com
olympiacafeabq.com
Savory Greek delights from gyros to full platters of lamb, chicken and more keep this university hot spot elbow-to-elbow. Don't forget the baklava! (MY)
2) Yanni's Mediterranean Grill and Opa Bar
3) Mykonos Café & Taverna
3) Mykonos Café & Taverna
Best Italian
Tie: Scalo Northern Italian Grill, Trombino's Bistro Italiano
Scalo Northern Italian Grill3500 Central SE • 255-8781
scalonobhill.com
Trombino's Bistro Italiano
Northeast Heights: 5414 Academy NE • 821-5974
bistroitaliano.com
Good thing they aren't next door to each other, because we'd have a good, old-fashioned vendetta (Italian for “blood feud”) on our hands. How else to resolve this tasty dilemma? With fresh pastas, wood-fired pizzas, hearty steaks, seafood and veal on both menus, it's simply a matter of geography. In the Heights, Trombino's trumps. In Nob Hill, Scalo scores. (DO'L)
2) Vivace
3) Mario's Pizzeria and Ristaronte
3) Mario's Pizzeria and Ristaronte
Try the ground beef kabobs at Pars. Even if you're a vegetarian. They'll change the way you see things. (JB)
2) Sahara Middle Eastern Eatery
3) Café Istanbul
3) Café Istanbul
Brasserie chefs add panache to the very best of classic bistro cuisine from crêpes to daily specials. The moules frites with Parmesan truffle fries will never disappoint. (MY)
2) Chez Axel
3) La Crêpe Michel
3) La Crêpe Michel
Best Vietnamese
Viet Taste
5721 Menaul NE • 888-0101The globe trotters we know say Viet Taste has the best pho in the city—and with so many top-notch Vietnamese restaurants in Albuquerque, that's a mighty big bowl of praise. (LM)
2) Tie: May Café, 2000 Vietnam
3) Pho #1 Vietnamese
3) Pho #1 Vietnamese
Dishes of fresh, authentic fare have made Orchid Thai an East Nob Hill staple for years. Touches such as the murals on the walls and the flickering fake-fire lamps, plus the orchids that come with most every plate, make this a great date spot, too. (MD)
2) Siam Café
3) Bangkok Asian Fusion
3) Bangkok Asian Fusion
A perennial favorite for its classy digs and elegant take on traditional Chinese-American dishes, Chow's makes our readers wanna chow down on some chow fun. (DO'L)
2) Budai Gourmet Chinese
3) Chen's Chinese Food Restaurant
3) Chen's Chinese Food Restaurant
The lunch buffet overflows with a daily variety of Indian cuisine. Then, for a memorable dinner, try the masterful tandoor-grilled fish. (MY)
2) India Palace
3) India Kitchen
3) India Kitchen
Get an authentic, spicy bugolgi box with a side of kimchi, and afterward treat yourself to some of that sweet rice wine next door at the conjoined Sushi and Sake. (AF)
2) Fu Yuang
3) Yen Ching
3) Yen Ching
Like a 600-pound sumo wrestler, Japanese Kitchen dominates this category every year. It’s spent decades perfecting fresh fish and teppanyaki delicacies, and the cocktails alone will take you half way to Yokohama. (LM)
2) Azuma Sushi and Teppan
3) Shogun Sushi
3) Shogun Sushi
Is it the salsas (traditional mole, tomatillo, habanero, chile de arbol—of which El Norteño is justifiably proud) or is it the heaping helpings of carne asada, flautas de res, tinga de pollo, cochinita pibil and huachinango a la Veracruzana that keeps 'em coming back for more? All of the above, say our readers! (DO'L)
2) Taquería Mexico
3) Los Equipales
3) Los Equipales
Most Wanted Ethnic Cuisine That's Not in Albuquerque
Ethiopian
Responses ran the gamut from "Ethiopian?" to "Ethiopian!" to "Ethiopian!!" to "Ethiopian!!!" Those people didn't know about Damara Fresh Ethiopian, with its catering and dinner service at Winning Coffee some Saturdays. Consult freshethiopian.com for availability. (LM)2) Jewish delicatessen
3) Russian
3) Russian
Results reported by John Bear (JB), Christie Chisholm (CC), Marisa Demarco (MD), Adam Fox (AF), Ari LeVaux (ALV), Laura Marrich (LM), Devin O’Leary (DO’L), Mina Yamashita (MY)
