Marley’s Barbecue – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
“In Central Texas, Barbecue is more than a way to cook meat – it’s a way of life, a path to salvation, and a sure-fire way to start an argument at the dinner table.” ~Central …
Read MoreClosed in 2017
Papaburgers – Los Ranchos De Albuquerque, New Mexico
Back in the 1960s, A&W’s Papa Burger was a rite of passage for me. By age nine, I had surmounted the phased progression through A&Ws burger family–Baby Burger, Mama Burger and Teen Burger–and was ready …
Read More
Irrational Pie – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
Jethro Bodine, the country bumpkin with diverse career aspirations (brain surgeon, street car conductor, ‘double-naught’ spy, Hollywood producer, soda jerk, and bookkeeper) on the Beverly Hillbillies television comedy graduated highest in his class by a …
Read More
Kitchen Se7ven – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
During a 1996 episode of Seinfeld, George Costanza, a self-proclaimed “short, balding, unattractive man” made the mistake of telling his fiancee he wanted to name his child “Seven” after his idol Mickey Mantle. To George’s …
Read More
ECLECTIC URBAN PIZZERIA AND TAP HOUSE – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
Looking around our table, my friend Ryan “Break the Chain” Scott astutely pointed out the relative scarcity of pizza at our table. Considering the Eclectic Urban Pizzeria and Tap Room may have been the most …
Read More
El Maguey – Rio Rancho, New Mexico (CLOSED)
On a 2010 episode of The Travel Channel’s No Reservations series, host Anthony Bourdain described pulque as “the sap of the maguey cactus” as well as “man juice” and “Mexican Viagra.” That may explain why …
Read More
Albuquerque / American / Breakfast / Brunch / Closed in 2017 / Dog Friendly / Food Network Eats New Mexico / Gone But Not Forgotten / Rated 25
Eli’s Place (formerly Sophia’s Place) – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
NOTE: In March, 2018, Sophia’s Place reopened. Please click here for the updated review. Picture yourself as a first-year marketing student assigned by your professor to perform a marketing analysis of Eli’s Place and its …
Read More
Bricklight Dive – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
If we really are what we eat, I’m fast, cheap and easy. Fast, cheap and easy. That would certainly describe the stereotypical college diet, especially for freshmen. On their own for the first time, freshmen …
Read More
Albuquerque / Closed in 2017 / Food Network Eats New Mexico / Gone But Not Forgotten / Latin American / New Mexico / Rated 24 / Restaurant Impossible
Pasion Latin Fusion – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
“In my experience, food and passion always intertwine. Passion is food for the soul’s mood at any particular time.” Tammy Mollai Robert Irvine, host of the Food Network’s Restaurant: Impossible show has some nerve! In …
Read More
Albuquerque / Closed in 2017 / Gone But Not Forgotten / Greek / Italian / Mediterranean / New Mexico / Pizza
Olive Branch Bistro – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
The depiction of a dove in flight with an olive branch in its beak is common in early Christian art and tradition. The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit while the olive branch is seen as …
Read More
Albuquerque / Closed in 2017 / Gone But Not Forgotten / New Mexico / Rated 23 / Soul Food / Southern
Bucketheadz – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
“I think it’s easy to dismiss Southern food as nothing but grease and grits. I happen to like both grease and grits, And if you call them lardo and polenta, no one would have a …
Read More
Karibu Cafe – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
During the dry season in Africa, the protective shade of majestic trees casting their cooling shadows are prized–and not only for their impressive and assiduous statures. For generations, the “palaver tree” has served as a …
Read More
Kasey’s Restaurant & Pub – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
Thematically, it’s usually pretty easy to tell what some restaurants have to offer. Seafood restaurants, for example, tend to have nautical-themed “tells” such as fish nets, buoys and oars designed to evoke the salty, briny …
Read More
Cafe Bella Luca – Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (CLOSED)
“The qualities of an exceptional cook are akin to those of a successful tightrope walker; an abiding passion for the task, courage to go out on a limb and an impeccable sense of balance” – …
Read More
The Library – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
Although my Kim has now lived in New Mexico for more than twenty years, her functional Spanish hasn’t improved much (sadly this places her in the company of many native New Mexicans). She sings Spanish …
Read More
Sandia Chile Grill – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
If perspiration is (as the proverbial “they” have declared) the mother of invention, Mickey and Clinton Coker may just be two of the most glistening guys in the Duke City. Since 2004, the Cokers have …
Read More
Q Burger – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
“Q.” It’s the seventeenth letter of the English alphabet, a consonant. Only two letters (“X” and “Z”) occur less frequently as first letters of words found in the English dictionary. It’s the only letter not …
Read More
Omira Bar & Grill – Santa Fe, New Mexico (CLOSED)
HOLLY: I can’t believe you’ve never taken anybody here before. JERRY: Well, I’m not really that much of a meat eater. HOLLY: . . . You don’t eat meat? Are you one of those. . …
Read More
Chicharroneria Orozco – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair Warm smell of colitas rising up through the air ~Hotel California – The Eagles Among the many alluring olfactory temptations emanating from dilapidated and timeworn …
Read More
Delish – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
Rachael Ray may be the most reviled celebrity cook or chef on network and cable television. While adoring fans admire her perkiness and down-to-earth approachability, it’s those traits grumpy detractors (including other celebrity chefs and …
Read More
Nicky V’s Neighborhood Pizzeria & Patio – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
Just when you think you’ve seen it all and you think nothing else can possibly been done to exploit the versatility in pizza, something comes along which surprises you. One such example is the “make …
Read More
Panchito’s Restaurant & Bakery – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
“Let’s get one thing straight: Mexican food takes a certain amount of time to cook. If you don’t have the time, don’t cook it. You can rush a Mexican meal, but you will pay in …
Read More
Albuquerque / Barbecue / Closed in 2017 / Food Network Eats New Mexico / Gone But Not Forgotten / New Mexico
The Cube – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
Timon: [singing] Luau. If you’re hungry for a hunk of fat and juicy meat Eat my buddy Pumbaa here, ’cause he’s a tasty treat Come on down and dine on this tasty swine All you …
Read More
Marcello’s Chophouse – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
Steak–even the word conjures stereotypes of power brokers in suits and ties. There’s just something about sizzling, flame-kissed beef that seems to appeal to the wheelers and dealers and movers and shakers among us. Steak …
Read More
Burgers / Closed in 2017 / Gone But Not Forgotten / New Mexico / New Mexico Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail: 2011
Blue Ribbon Bar & Grill – Estancia, New Mexico (CLOSED)
Unlike diners throughout New Mexico, bears in the Sandias and Manzanos have found food in their mountain habitats very scarce, forcing them to forage populated areas for their fill. As of August 25th, 2011, the …
Read More
Chama River Brewing Co. – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
We were mellowing out to the haunting three-part harmony of the Bee Gees as they crooned “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” when we drove into the Chama River Brewing Company’s parking lot during …
Read More
Antonio’s Cafe & Cantina – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
A veritable melting pot of cultures from throughout the world, the Duke City has a laid-back attitude toward diversity, a live and let live realization that our differences aren’t as important as all we have …
Read More
Mama Lisa’s Ghost Town Kitchen – Madrid, New Mexico (CLOSED)
Steeped in rich history dating from the early 1800s, Madrid has been transformed from a hard- and soft-coal mining town with shafts as deep as 2500 feet down into a distinctive artist’s community. In the …
Read More
Albuquerque / American / Breakfast / Brunch / Closed in 2017 / Dog Friendly / Gone But Not Forgotten
Gold Street Caffe – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
When you’re alone and life is making you lonely You can always go – downtown When you’ve got worries, all the noise and the hurry Seems to help, I know – downtown Just listen to …
Read More
Fox and Hound Pub & Grille – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
English Parliamentarian and writer Samuel Pepys described the pub as “the heart of England and the church as its soul.” As England has become a more sectarian nation, the pub has essentially supplanted the church …
Read More
Chow’s Asian Bistro – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
With but few exceptions, the Duke City’s Chinese restaurants have a boring sameness (perpetuating the stereotype that all Chinese food tastes the same) with an increasing emphasis on super-sized portions of Americanized Chinese food (fried, …
Read More
Albuquerque / American / Breakfast / Closed in 2017 / Gone But Not Forgotten / New Mexico Culinary Treasures Trail
Murphy’s Mule Barn – Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)
A mule is an animal with long funny ears he kicks up at anything he hears His back is brawny but his brain is weak he’s just plain stupid with a stubborn streak and by …
Read More
Hackney’s – Lake Zurich, Illinois (CLOSED)
The second city doesn’t take a back seat to anyone when it comes to burgers and if you have to hire a hackney (carriage or automobile) to get to Hackney’s, by all means do so. …
Read More
Swedish Bakery – Chicago, Illinois (CLOSED on February 28, 2017)
In New Mexico, which is very proud of its “tri-cultural” heritage, the contributions of Native Americans, Hispanics and Anglo-Americans are manifest in its languages, architecture, cuisine and cultural events. While New Mexico has certainly not …
Read More