  | Albuquerque - Downtown Farina Pizzeria and Wine BarMon: 11am-9pm
Tues-Fri: 11am-10pm
Sat: 5-10pm
Sun: 5-9pm (hours can change without notice) Full review: Seriously sexy food (12/25/2008)
Across Edith from the Artichoke Café, Farina’s proximity to some of the most established fine dining in Albuquerque isn't an accident. Farina is the punked-up younger sibling of jazzy Artichoke Café, and it brings a tantalizingly direct message to the neighborhood: pizza, beer and wine, and all of it damn good. Sharp, concise and to the point, with 20 superb choices offered by the glass or bottle. Farina’s wine list is straightforward and focused. The bar is comfortable and every wine is perfectly matched to the kitchen’s chic pizzeria offerings. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010)  The Grove Café & MarketTues-Sat: 7am-4pm
Sun: 8am-3pm
Closed Monday (hours can change without notice) $$$ • Vegetarian Available • Booze Served • Wine Bar • Catering • Outdoor Patio • Wireless Internet • Dog-Friendly Full review: Twenty more years (9/21/2006)
This ray of sunshine in Huning Highland serves gourmet breakfast and lunch made with local ingredients, sells housemade English muffins and has a mini-shop filled with goodies like honey, jams, mustards and vinegars, not to mention non-edibles like cook books, serving vessels and cards. The hot and cold sandwiches are dandy and come with twee sides of sliced bread-and-butter pickles and fruit salad. There’s also a large, shaded patio and incredible housemade cupcakes. Team this up with an espresso bar, wine service and “Sangria Saturdays,” and the power of triumvirate treats awaits you. Voted Best Brunch for 2013. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) This rooftop bar, the flirty sister of the fancier (and pricier) Lucia, offers a breezy patio, a menu of small plates and specialty cocktails for the Los Angeles-inclined Downtown crowd. The food is hit or miss, but the house-created cocktails—like the spicy-yet-refreshing cucumber-jalapeño margarita—make it well worth a visit. (Alibi Staff, October 10, 2012)  Slate Street CaféMon-Fri 7:30am-10pm
Sat-Sun 9am-10pm
Closed Sunday (hours can change without notice) $$$ • Vegetarian Available • Gluten-free available • Booze Served • Wine Bar • Craft Beer • Catering • Outdoor Patio • Lounge Read more: Mina's Dish: Two museum cafés offer more than eye candy (10/20/2011) Full review: This ain’t your mama’s meatloaf (1/3/2008)
Modeled after a New York loft, Slate Street’s wine bar has an ultra-hip, modern, minimalist feel. This wine list is rhythmic, flowing and poetic, and it’s the most pleasurable to read and easiest to comprehend in Albuquerque. The wines are listed by style—“just a little sweet,” “ABC: Anything But Chardonnay” or “sexy, elegant, austere”—not varietal or region. Demystifying the label like this makes it easy for patrons to pair wine and food. The listings are simple, but not simplistic. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010)  The Standard DinerMon-Thu 11am-9pm
Fri 11am-9:30pm
Sat-Sun 10am-9pm (hours can change without notice) Full review: They’re missing a brick, but only one (7/13/2006)
Forget everything you know about typical diners. Add class, upscale furnishings and a larger price tag, and then you’ll have the Standard Diner. They have oysters, fine wines and homemade desserts, and some interesting twists on ordinary fare like meatloaf and mac and cheese. The service is doting, the view of our beloved Huning Highland is representative and if you need a restaurant to take your boss to, try kissing his rings while downing a nice glass of Port. It might make it a little easier. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) The Standard DinerMon: 7AM - 9PM
Tues: 7AM - 9PM
Wed: 7AM - 9PM
Thur: 7AM - 9PM
Fri: 7AM - 9:30PM
Sat: 7AM - 9:30PM
Sun: 7AM - 9PM (hours can change without notice)
Forget everything you know about typical diners. Add class, upscale furnishings and a larger price tag, and then you’ll have the Standard Diner. They have oysters, fine wines and homemade desserts, and some interesting twists on ordinary fare like meatloaf and mac and cheese. The service is doting, the view of our beloved Huning Highland is representative and if you need a restaurant to take your boss to, try kissing his rings while downing a nice glass of Port. It might make it a little easier. (Alibi Staff, June 14, 2012)
Meat, meat, meat. All-you-can-eat meat. And then there's the salad bar. This joint’s got more dead meat than you can shake a chunk of meat on a stick at. From the kill to the grill, Tucanos makes all your dreams come true. That is, if you dream about meaty hunks of marinated flesh, sliced right at your table. This lively, busy and fun Brazilian-themed restaurant next to the Century 14 movie theater is open late. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) Albuquerque - FairgroundsThe CooperageMon-Fri: 11am-10pm
Sat: noon-10pm
Sun: noon-9pm (hours can change without notice)
The Cooperage is old-school Albuquerque, right down to the dusty light fixtures. The barrel-shaped steakhouse has been a standby for 30 years thanks to its mile-long complimentary salad and soup bar, aged steaks (at a place like this, prime rib is king), and big dance floor that’s always packed on the weekends. Winners of Best Catering in 2007’s Best of Burque Poll. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) Albuquerque - Far Northeast HeightsThe County Line BBQMon-Thu 11:30 am-2 pm,
5 pm-9 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am- 2 pm
5 pm-9:30 pm
Sun: 11:30 am-9 pm (hours can change without notice)
Everyone loves good, old-fashioned barbecue, and you’ll find heaps of it at the County Line. It has everything you could want: sweet corn on the cob, coleslaw, brown-sugar beans, you name it. Oh, and meat, meat, meat. The baby back ribs are especially good, as is the homemade hickory barbecue sauce. Wash it down with a pint and phenomenal city views, and you’ll be feeling right at home on the range. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) Mykonos Café & TavernaTues: 11am-9pm
Wed-Sat: 11am-10pm
Sun: 10:30 for brunch
Closed Monday (hours can change without notice) Cuisine: Greek/Mediterranean
This is Greek food that’s elegant, straightforward and absolutely delicious. White tile and recessed blue light create an island oasis that’s suggested rather than spelled out (no 8-foot murals here), and the service is friendly and attentive. The lentil soup is seasoned with just a whisper of aged balsamic vinegar, perfect with a toasty triangle of imported pita bread and a light Greek salad. Stop in for a snifter of ouzo and live jazz music on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) Samurai Grill and Sushi BarLunch:
Mon-Sun: 11:30am-2:30pm
Dinner:
Mon-Fri: 5-9:30pm
Sat: 5-10pm
Sun: 5-9pm (hours can change without notice)
Even if you don’t get out much to the Southeast side of town (where the highest concentration of Asian restaurants are in Albuquerque), you can still get some of the best sushi around at Samurai Grill’s original location in the Northeast Heights. The sushi tastes almost impossibly fresh, and the chefs are pros at presentation. Make sure you try one of the delicious specialty rolls. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010)  Trombino's Bistro ItalianoMon-Thurs: 11am-10pm
Fri: 11am-10:30pm
Sat: 3-10:30pm
Sun: 3-9pm (hours can change without notice) Cuisine: Italian
Trombino's Bistro Italiano has been an institution of family-style Italian dining in the Heights for almost 30 years. It houses an impressively fat menu that includes a full bar, espresso drinks and an ample wine list. The service is quicker than a Hollywood marriage, and the waitstaff seems particularly knowledgeable about the food and wines. Gravitate to the more rustic Italian fare—lemon-basil chicken salad, grilled homemade Italian sausage or meatballs, prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, and manicotti are amply portioned and tasty. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) Albuquerque - I-25 Corridor Chama River Brewing CompanySun-Thurs: 11am-10pm
Fri-Sat: 11am-11pm (hours can change without notice)
This used to be the Blue Corn Café and Brewery, but it's been rechristened as Chama River Brewing Company. Either way, the place has a great beer selection, including a bevy of their own brews. The food is approachable American stuff that, coincidentally, goes pretty damn well with beer. And, according to the 2007 BoB Restaurants poll, it even has the Best Bread Basket around. Say yes to yeast. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010)  Jasmine Thai and Sushi HouseMon-Thurs: 11am-2pm, 5-9pm
Fri: 11am-2pm, 5-9:30pm
Sat: 11am-9:30pm
Sunday: 5-9pm (hours can change without notice) Full review: No pain, no gain (2/21/2008)
Chef Noi Zaintz, formerly of Bangkok Café, opened Jasmine Thai and Sushi House last June in The 25 Way shopping center. With brightly colored walls trimmed in gold and pools of low light, Jasmine has a sort of classed-up opium den feel. There are more than 60 items, plus sushi; the menu gives an equitable amount of attention to appetizers, soups, salads, entrées and an entire page of vegetarian dishes. The service is awesome, and so are the No. 18 (spicy beef
yum nuah
salad), the fresh spring rolls and the pad Thai. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) Pars CuisineMon-Thurs: 11am-9pm
Fri-Sat: 11am-10pm
Sun: 5pm-9pm (hours can change without notice)
For something a little more out of the ordinary, pay a visit to Pars Cuisine, the Persian restaurant near the Century Rio 24 theater. Vegetarians will appreciate the nonmeat options and meat lovers are sure to love the spicy kabobs. Linger on your floor cushions while belly dancers roam through the dining room. Then head out to the patio for discounted appetizers and sheesha during the hookah happy hour—it’s from 7 to 9 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, and from 8 to 10 p.m. on Saturdays. Pars tied for Best Middle Eastern in the last BoB Restaurants poll. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010)  Torinos' @ HomeTue- Sat: 11 am- 9 pm (hours can change without notice) Read more: Locovore: A flawless meal @ Torinos’ @ Home (8/18/2011)
Torinos’ is owned by Maxime and Daniela Bouneou (a husband-and-wife team from Nice, France, and Torino, Italy, respectively), and their Northern Italian restaurant is the next best thing to a plane ticket to Occitania’s northeast corner. Everything is made from scratch, and ingredients are sourced as locally as possible. The
pappardelle all’Amatriciana
— fresh, house-made wide linguine tossed in a light tomato sauce with pecorino
,
chile, olives and
guanciale
bacon
—
is a glorious bowl of pasta. In the guilty pleasures department, the foie gras would satisfy the itch of the most jaded addicts. Don’t pass up the
spezzatino,
a slowly braised beef brisket served with seared polenta cubes. There’s also half-melted mallard duck confit served with cranberry rhubarb compote. Drop in for à la carte breakfast and lunch, or book a table for dinner service—a $36, six-course set menu. Vegetarians and other food restrictions can be accommodated, Maxime says, but it’s best if they call ahead. “Then we can make something special.” (Alibi Staff, February 2, 2011) Albuquerque - Midtown Taj MahalLunch: Mon-Sun: 11am-2:30pm
Dinner: Sun-Thurs: 5-9:30pm
Fri-Sat: 5-10pm (hours can change without notice) Full review: Cauliflower and love … with wine (5/18/2006) Full review: Taj Mahal Cuisine of India (2/13/2014)
Taj Mahal has some killer naan. In fact, you’ll probably eschew your fork in favor of this edible utensil, using it to scoop up mounds of delicately textured, beautifully sauced and aromatic Indian food. Wash it down with not-too-sweet hot chai, which is frequently replenished at no extra cost by the attentive service. For dessert, don’t miss the refreshing mango custard. Voted Best Indian for 2013. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) Albuquerque - Nob Hill Nob Hill Bar and GrillTues-Thurs: 11am-10pm
Fri-Sat: 11am-1:30am
Sun: noon-9pm
Closed Monday (hours can change without notice) $$$ • Vegetarian Available • Booze Served • Full Bar • Craft Beer • Catering • Take Out / To-Go • DJ • Dancing • Outdoor Patio Full review: Gastrobar is best after dinner (6/26/2008)
If you like your comfort food with a gourmet twist, it’s here. Nob Hill Bar and Grill boasts meatloaf (crowned with smoked bacon) and burgers (American kobe). Signature cocktails, a few vegetarian entrées, and a comfy but chic atmosphere make Nob Hill Bar and Grill a solid addition to the neighborhood. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010)  Scalo Northern Italian GrillSun 11am–2:30pm & 5pm–9pm
Mon–Thu 11am–2:30pm & 5pm–10pm
Fri–Sat 11am–2:30pm & 5pm–11pm (hours can change without notice) $$$ • Vegetarian Available • Gluten-free available • Booze Served • Full Bar • Wine Bar • Catering • Take Out / To-Go • Live Music • Outdoor Patio • Wireless Internet • Lounge Full review: Scalo Northern Italian Grill (6/6/2013)
The surprising thing about Scalo is that it’s simultaneously more fancy and less expensive than you’d think. It’s just as breezy and classy as ever in its high-ceilinged dining room. All of the bottles on the wine list are half-price on Monday nights, and there’s free, live music in the bar. Voted Best italian for 2013. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) Shogun SushiLunch:
Mon-Fri: 11:30am-2pm
Sat: 12:00pm-2:30pm
Dinner:
Mon-Thurs: 5:00-9:30pm Fri-Sat: 5:00-10:30pm
Closed Sunday (hours can change without notice)
Too much time studying can turn the sweetest soul into a big ’ol crab. But just so you remember that not all crabs are bad, take a lunch or dinner break at Shogun. There’s sushi, sashimi and nigiri, and the soft shell crab rolls are a treat worth mentioning a couple of times. The best part is watching your food get made right in front of you and then floated around the table on an armada of wooden boats. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) | 
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