{"id":4147,"date":"2009-06-07T18:33:03","date_gmt":"2009-06-08T00:33:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=4147"},"modified":"2018-07-22T10:16:33","modified_gmt":"2018-07-22T16:16:33","slug":"charcoal-albuquerque-new-mexico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=4147","title":{"rendered":"Charcoal Mediterranean Grill &#8211; Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_4148\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4148\" style=\"width: 319px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-4148 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 319px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 319\/430;margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px; border: 4px solid black;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal01-760x1024.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"Charcoal Mediterranean Grill\" width=\"319\" height=\"430\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal01-760x1024.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 760w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal01-222x300.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 222w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal01.jpg?size=128x173&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 128w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 319px) 100vw, 319px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4148\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">Charcoal Mediterranean Grill<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;\">If comedian Jeff Foxworthy was Armenian, his repertoire of one-liners might include such gems as, &#8220;You know you&#8217;re Armenian if you have philo dough, string cheese or See&#8217;s candy in your freezer.&#8221; \u00a0Or perhaps, &#8220;You know you&#8217;re Armenian if you serve hummus and tabbouleh with your taco chips.&#8221; \u00a0Then there&#8217;s the classic, &#8220;You know you&#8217;re Armenian if you shovel food on other people&#8217;s plates when they aren&#8217;t looking.&#8221; \u00a0Who can forget the oft-told &#8220;You know you&#8217;re Armenian if you think pilaf is one of the four food groups.&#8221; <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;\">A quick Google of Armenian food will return results that reveal Armenian&#8217;s self-deprecating sense of humor regarding their culinary culture. \u00a0Search results will also show the culinary influence of the regions and countries neighboring the ancient nation of Armenia. \u00a0\u00a0Wedged in \u00a0what has been one of the world&#8217;s most volatile&#8211;some would say unstable&#8211;regions,\u00a0<em><span style=\"font-style: normal;\">Armenia is at the crossroads<\/span><\/em> between the Middle East, Asia. Minor and Europe. \u00a0During the course of its storied history, Armenia was invaded in succession by Persians, Byzantines, Mongols and Turks, all of whom left their mark on the cuisine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;\">It&#8217;s a Middle Eastern cuisine punctuated with dishes that are very aromatic and flavorful. \u00a0It is a cuisine that is not rushed, but for which great care is exercised and time is taken. \u00a0It&#8217;s a cuisine that will certainly remind you of meals you&#8217;ve had in Albuquerque&#8217;s Greek, Turkish, Lebanese and Palestinian owned restaurants. \u00a0If you think you&#8217;ve never had Armenian cuisine, a quick perusal of the menu will \u00a0assure you there&#8217;s nothing strange or foreign about it.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4149\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4149\" style=\"width: 430px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-4149 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 430px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 430\/358;margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px; border: 4px solid black;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal02-1024x854.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"Hummus and Pita Chips\" width=\"430\" height=\"358\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal02-1024x854.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 1024w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal02-300x250.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 300w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal02.jpg?size=128x107&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal02.jpg?size=384x320&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 384w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 430px) 100vw, 430px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4149\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">Hummus and Pita Chips<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;\">Charcoal Mediterranean Grill serves the traditional cuisine of Armenia. \u00a0That authenticity is assured because the yawning restaurant is owned and operated by youthful Armenian Kostan Gasparyan who knows what he&#8217;s doing on the grill. \u00a0 The restaurant&#8217;s name describes its concept. \u00a0All meats and fish are prepared with mesquite charcoal&#8211;not mesquite wood or briquets that have mesquite added. \u00a0Mesquite charcoal comes from the ubiquitous Southwestern tree converted under specially controlled conditions to charcoal. \u00a0 \u00a0 Mesquite charcoal imparts faintly smoky overtones and sweet, slightly acidic flavors that more greatly influence delicately flavored fish and poultry than it does pork, veal and beef. \u00a0Many grill chefs have been swearing by mesquite charcoal since the 1970s.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;\">Charcoal is situated where <a title=\"Asado Brazilian Grill\" href=\"http:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=208\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Asado Brazilian Grill<\/a> sat for nearly five years&#8211;on the backside of the Pan American frontage road&#8217;s restaurant row within easy walking distance to the Century 24 theater. \u00a0It&#8217;s a tough area for restaurants, several of whom have met an early demise in large part because they are not visible from the frontage road. \u00a0The problem is exacerbated because it&#8217;s ensconced in an area replete with chain restaurants, some with national prominence: Texas Land and Cattle, Subway, Cold Stone and further down the frontage road, Papadeux, Fuddrucker\u2019s and Dickey\u2019s Barbecue. Though the Duke City is very much still a town that loves its chains, in immediate proximity to Charcoal is the fabulous <a title=\"Cafe Jean-Pierre\" href=\"http:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=2639\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cafe Jean Pierre<\/a> and behind it is the <a title=\"Chama River Brewing Company\" href=\"http:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=242\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chama River Brewing Company<\/a>, an excellent restaurant in its own right.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;\">The ambience hasn&#8217;t changed significantly from the Asado days. \u00a0Charcoal has an industrial look and feel with high ceilings and exposed duct work. \u00a0Against one wall is a large wrought iron sculpture of a musical scale set against a colorful mosaic of tiles, a carry-over from Charcoal&#8217;s predecessor. \u00a0Suspended from the rafters are bedizened sun-faces, perhaps only the artist&#8217;s idea of beauty. \u00a0Sit at the wrong table and one of these menacing faces will look down on you.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4150\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4150\" style=\"width: 430px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-4150 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 430px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 430\/329;margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px; border: 4px solid black;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal03-1023x783.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"Lamb chops and three sides\" width=\"430\" height=\"329\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal03-1023x783.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 1023w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal03-300x229.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 300w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal03-768x587.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 768w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal03-1024x783.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 1024w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal03.jpg?size=128x98&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal03.jpg?size=384x294&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 384w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 430px) 100vw, 430px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4150\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">Lamb chops and three sides<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;\">Armenian cuisine as featured at Charcoal includes such familiar standards as shish kabob, barbecue, shawerma and falafel, all Mediterranean standards. \u00a0You&#8217;ll also see borsht, a stew-like soup that is very popular in Eastern European nations where it is served both hot and cold. \u00a0One section of the menu is dedicated to sandwich wraps which are wrapped in either pita bread or lavash, a soft, thin flatbread of Armenian origin which also serves as an excellent platform for pizza.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;\">The menu also includes a section dedicated to kabob plates, all of which are served with four (yes, that&#8217;s four) side dishes and pita bread. \u00a0The pita bread is made on the premises and it&#8217;s served steaming. \u00a0Considering so many other Mediterranean restaurants in the area extricate their pita from\u00a0hermetically\u00a0sealed bags, Charcoal&#8217;s fresh pita is a real treat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;\">A veritable phalanx of cold and hot side orders also set Charcoal apart. \u00a0While other restaurants are parsimonious with their sides, this restaurant fills your oversized plate with very flavorful and authentic sides: mutabbal (an eggplant dip), hummus, tabouleh, dolmas, eggplant caviar, rice pilaf and corn. \u00a0Interestingly, each of these sides go for three to six dollars a piece if you order them by themselves. <\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4151\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4151\" style=\"width: 430px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-4151 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 430px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 430\/333;margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px; border: 4px solid black;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal04-1024x791.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"Beef and lamb gyros\" width=\"430\" height=\"333\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal04-1024x791.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 1024w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal04-300x231.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 300w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal04.jpg?size=128x99&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal04.jpg?size=384x297&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 384w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 430px) 100vw, 430px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4151\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">Beef and lamb gyros<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;\">Perhaps because there are so many sides, the menu includes only a few appetizers, one of which (the <em>hummus<\/em>) is available as a side. \u00a0Hummus is made from garbanzo beans (also known as chickpeas) and is one of the world&#8217;s most versatile foods. \u00a0In Armenia as throughout the Middle East, it can be served as an appetizer, side dish or main course. \u00a0Arguably, it tastes best when scooped up with a piece of warm pita bread. \u00a0 Alas, as an appetizer Charcoal&#8217;s hummus is served with crispy pita chips which just don&#8217;t cut it as well as pita bread. \u00a0The hummus, while good, could use a bit more garlic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;\">Charcoal is one of a handful of restaurants in the Duke City area offering <em>lamb chops<\/em> for under twenty dollars. \u00a0Discard any\u00a0notions you might have of overpowering gaminess and tough cuts. Charcoal-grilled lamb is tender and succulent. \u00a0It is also quite tasty though served at about medium-well which is a bit more done than gourmet-quality lamb chops are typically served. \u00a0These chops are also quite thin, not nearly the half-inch to inch thick beauties served at premium costs elsewhere. <\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4152\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4152\" style=\"width: 430px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-4152 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 430px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 430\/281;margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px; border: 4px solid black;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal05-1024x668.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"Mediterranean Coffee and Desserts\" width=\"430\" height=\"281\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal05-1024x668.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 1024w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal05-300x195.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 300w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal05.jpg?size=128x84&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/charcoal05.jpg?size=384x251&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 384w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 430px) 100vw, 430px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4152\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">Mediterranean Coffee and Desserts<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;\">The gyros plate includes the thinly sliced beef and lamb amalgam carved from a perpetually rotating spit over the grill. \u00a0The meat is served outside the pita bread so you can stuff it as much as you&#8217;d like or stab it with your fork. \u00a0In either case, the tzatziki is quite good, a tangy combination of yogurt, cucumber, garlic and more. \u00a0It&#8217;s a refreshing additive to the charcoal blessed meat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;\">Most of the sides are quite good. \u00a0Notable are the corn niblets which don&#8217;t have an out-of-the-can taste and the pickled vegetables which have just enough tartness to get your attention without pursing your lips too much. \u00a0Desserts are all under two dollars and include baklava, sweet rolls and other desserts made with finely ground (pulverized) walnuts or pistachios, honey and phyllo dough. \u00a0Desserts are served with Mediterranean coffee which is brewed in sand on top of the charcoal grill. \u00a0It is a strong coffee, but very rich and deliciously flavored.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;\">The Charcoal Mediterranean Grill certainly has the chops, figuratively and literally, to survive in a competitive Albuquerque restaurant market. \u00a0All it will take is for Duke City dining patrons to look beyond the Pan American frontage road for their meal options.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;\"><strong>Charcoal\u00a0Mediterranean\u00a0Grill<\/strong><br \/>\n4959 Pan American Freeway, N.E.<br \/>\n<strong>Albuquerque, New Mexico<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>LATEST VISIT<\/strong>: 7 June 2009<br \/>\n<strong># OF VISITS<\/strong>: 1<br \/>\n<strong>RATING<\/strong>: *<br \/>\n<strong>COST<\/strong>: $$ &#8211; $$$<br \/>\n<strong>BEST BET<\/strong>: Lamb Chops, Lamb &amp; Beef Gyros, Hummus &amp; Pita Chips, Baklava, Sweet Rolls<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If comedian Jeff Foxworthy was Armenian, his repertoire of one-liners might include such gems as, &#8220;You know you&#8217;re Armenian if you have philo dough, string cheese or See&#8217;s candy in your freezer.&#8221; \u00a0Or perhaps, &#8220;You know you&#8217;re Armenian if you serve hummus and tabbouleh with your taco chips.&#8221; \u00a0Then there&#8217;s the classic, &#8220;You know you&#8217;re Armenian if you shovel food on other people&#8217;s plates when they aren&#8217;t looking.&#8221; \u00a0Who can forget the oft-told &#8220;You know you&#8217;re Armenian if you think pilaf is one of the four food groups.&#8221; A quick Google of Armenian food will return results that reveal Armenian&#8217;s self-deprecating sense of humor regarding their culinary culture. \u00a0Search results will also show the culinary influence of the regions and&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4150,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[440,577,262,489],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-albuquerque","category-closed-in-2010","category-closed","category-mediterranean"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Charcoal Mediterranean Grill - Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED) - Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=4147\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Charcoal Mediterranean Grill - Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED) - Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If comedian Jeff Foxworthy was Armenian, his repertoire of one-liners might include such gems as, &#8220;You know you&#8217;re Armenian if you have philo dough, string cheese or See&#8217;s candy in your freezer.&#8221; 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