El Pinto is great for someone who isn’t from around here. It's in the North Valley and captures that New Mexico vibe, only greener. (JB)
2) Sadie's 3) Frontier
Best Atmosphere
El Pinto
See above for contact information.
Yup, it’s true. El Pinto's sunburned adobe, ristra-adorned patio and gorgeous gardens showcase the natural beauty of New Mexico unlike any other. (AF)
2) Vernon's Hidden Valley Steakhouse 3) Jennifer James 101
Best Seafood in a Landlocked State
Pelican's Restaurant
Far Northeast Heights: 9800 Montgomery NE • 298-7678 Westside: 10022 Coors NW • 899-2000 pelicansabq.com
New Mexico can't have good seafood? Pelican's disagrees and offers flown-in fare every day. Have a meal in this rustic shack and you won't be too far removed from the maritime morsels on the East Coast, landlubber. (AF)
2) Tie: Los Equipales, Mariscos La Playa 3) Noda's
Best Gluten-Free Options
Paisano's Pasta and Regional Italian Cuisine
1935 Eubank NE • 298-7541
About 90 percent of Paisano's menu can be made without wheat—calamari, pastas, pizzas, lasagna, even bread. Almost all of the desserts are gluten-free, and that includes cakes (but not the cannoli shell). Paisano's also sells gluten-free pizza crusts so you can make your own at home. (MD)
2) Annapurana's World Vegetarian Café 3) A TeaCo (The Annapolis Tea Company)
Marble has only been open for a few years, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a grocery store that doesn't carry one of its "rock solid" brews. Drink fresh pints at the awesome brewpub, complete with an outdoor patio, a library wall and games. (AF)
The spoons come spotlessly clean at Frontier so that you, the customer, can have all the fun dipping them into various, diet-destroying pools of cheese, chile and eggs. Not to mention "sweet roll sauce," also known as half a stick of melted butter. Mmm ... fattening. (LM)
2) Tie: 66 Diner, Mannie's Family Restaurant 3) Milton's Family Restaurant
Best Outdoor Dining
El Pinto
See Best of the Rest, Best Place to Take Out-of-Town Guests for contact information.
New Mexico isn’t known for its lushness—not in terms of greenery, at least. But a visit to the El Pinto patio will make you feel like you’re in an oasis. Surrounded by ivy-choked trellises and pools of flowers, you’ll dine in a verdant sanctuary. (CC)
2) Kelly's Brew Pub 3) O'Niell's Irish Pub
Best Fine Dining
Tie: Artichoke Café and Wine Bar, Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro
Artichoke Café and Wine Bar 424 Central SE • 243-0200 artichokecafe.com
Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro 3009 Central NE • 254-ZINC (9462) zincabq.com
Is it coincidence that our fist place winners both have the term “wine bar” in their name? Or is it that a fine selection of fermented grape squeezings enhances our appreciation for fine food? (DO’L)
2) Tie: Jennifer James 101, Ranchers Club 3) Tie: Antiquity, Seasons Rotisserie & Grill
Since opening her restaurant last year, Casa Vieja’s Kate Gerwin—who acts as sommelier, resident mixologist and co-owner, to boot—has turned the city's wine scene on its head. And that’s a good thing, as evidenced by her landslide victory. Three cheers to K.G.! (LM)
Best New Restaurant
Tie: Cool Water Fusion, Lumpy's Burgers
Cool Water Fusion 2010 Wyoming NE, Suite B • 332-COOL (2665) coolwaterfusion.com
Lumpy's Burgers 5420 Central SW • 833-1300
Cool Water Fusion has a new take on comfort food, as its scrumptious short-ribs will attest. Settle in front of a loaded frybread or a plateful of bread pudding for total satisfaction. Craving a burger? Lumpy’s 100 percent Angus burgers go down great with screwy, skinny or chunky fries. Lumpy's serves 'em the way you like 'em, and you like 'em a lot! (MY)
2) The Cube 3) Bailey's on the Beach
Most Missed Restaurant
Le Café Miche
We've reminisced about wonderful meals here—cassoulet, bouillabaisse, appetizers that stole conversations two weeks after the fact—too. We miss you, Café Miche. Chef Hjortkjaer, wherever you are, we know you’re eating well. (MY)
2) Chocolate Café and Bakery 3) Great American Land and Cattle
Foodies know. They follow Jennifer James wherever she hangs her chef's hat. Because her meals are art, offering up surprising combinations of unusual ingredients. James never misses her mark. (MD)
From the cocktail menu all the way through dessert, the food and drink at Casa Vieja is made from scratch with carefully selected ingredients and many strokes of genius. (ALV)
2) Artichoke Café and Wine Bar 3) Scalo Northern Italian Grill
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)
