{"id":45856,"date":"2019-06-19T10:01:19","date_gmt":"2019-06-19T16:01:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=45856"},"modified":"2026-03-31T14:07:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T20:07:58","slug":"sophias-place-albuquerque-new-mexico-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=45856","title":{"rendered":"Sophia&#8217;s  &#8211; Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_45861\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45861\" style=\"width: 444px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45861 size-full lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 444px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 444\/666;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia01.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"444\" height=\"666\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia01.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 444w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia01-200x300.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 200w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia01.jpg?size=128x192&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia01.jpg?size=256x384&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 256w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia01.jpg?size=384x576&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 384w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 444px) 100vw, 444px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45861\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Despite what the Name on the Marquee Says, This is the New Home of Sophia&#8217;s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Exterior signage for Dennis Apodaca\u2019s new restaurant venture sports the name of the previous tenant, a short-lived eatery named MIXX. In a February blurb announcing Dennis&#8217;s return, the <em>Albuquerque Journal<\/em> called his new venture \u201cREMIXX.\u201d A handwritten note scrawled on the front door, however, informs you that you\u2019ve arrived at \u201c<em>Sophia\u2019s \u2013 that you knew &amp; loved on 4th St. NW<\/em>.\u201d Not taking any chances, Yelp lists entries for both \u201cREMIXX by Sophia\u2019s Place\u201d and \u201cSophia\u2019s.\u201d So which is it? Ask Dennis and he\u2019ll tell you that despite what the sign says, his restaurant is a relaunch of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=394\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Sophia\u2019s<\/strong><\/a>, the celebrated restaurant that made him one of Albuquerque\u2019s most talked-about and respected chefs. \u201c<em>I\u2019d rather spend money on serving great food than replacing a sign<\/em>\u201d he laughs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Dennis points out that the exterior signage for Trois Mec, one of the most revered fine-dining restaurants in Los Angeles, still bears the name of its predecessor, Raffalo\u2019s Pizza. That\u2019s entirely by design, the point being that despite a constantly changing five-course tasting menu approaching a C-note price point, the restaurant is unpretentious, its focus being on the food not peripherals such as signage. The term \u201cunpretentious\u201d probably fits Dennis more than it does any other chef in Albuquerque. He\u2019s as down-to-earth as they come, a straight-shooting guy whose passions are family, fine cigars and cooking. Despite an enviable pedigree that includes cooking side-by-side with some of the country\u2019s best chefs at some of the most highly acclaimed restaurants in the fruited plain, he would rather turn out an affordable menu of New Mexico-inspired Mexican food than a more pricey menu of fine-dining entries.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_52132\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-52132\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-52132 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 750px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 750\/563;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia33.gif?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"563\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia33.gif?lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 750w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia33.gif?size=128x96&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia33.gif?size=256x192&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia33.gif?size=384x288&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia33.gif?size=512x384&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 512w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia33.gif?size=640x480&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 640w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-52132\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Bright, Sunny Dining Room at Sophia&#8217;s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Ensconced on the southwest corner space on the first floor of the capacious Silver Moon Lodge apartment building along historic Route 66, Sophia\u2019s reborn is the antithesis of its namesake predecessor. Where the Sophia\u2019s on 4th Street was situated in a homey ramshackle old structure and for a time didn\u2019t even have signage to tell you you\u2019d arrived, the new Sophia\u2019s has a more contemporary feel to it. Parking at the new venue on the fringes of both downtown and Old Town is a bit tricky, but at least you\u2019ll be parking on pavement. The parking lot at the old Sophia\u2019s was prone to muddiness during inclement weather.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">While Sophia&#8217;s would remain Dennis&#8217;s flagship restaurant, operating from 2002 through its unexpected closure in 2017, the enterprising chef would launch several other restaurant ventures over the years, all but one named for family members. First came <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=1559\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Ezra&#8217;s Place<\/strong><\/a> (2008 &#8211; 2013) which was named for his then teenage son. Next came the magnificent, but short-lived <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=10478\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Jo&#8217;s Place<\/strong><\/a> (2011 &#8211; 2012) named for his mother, the delightful Josie. Just before the dawning of 2017, he launched <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=42098\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Maya<\/strong><\/a>, a name inspired by the bright, vibrant cuisine prepared by the dynastic Mesoamerican civilization and their descendants. He left Maya to launch the second instantiation of Sophia&#8217;s in March, 2017.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45941\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45941\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia13.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-45941 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 720px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 720\/526;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia13.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"526\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia13.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 720w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia13-300x219.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 300w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia13.jpg?size=128x94&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia13.jpg?size=384x281&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia13.jpg?size=512x374&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 512w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia13.jpg?size=640x468&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 640w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45941\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Salsa and Chips<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Dennis&#8217;s cachet was elevated from local to nationwide when he wowed Guy Fieri, the Food Network\u2019s spiky-coiffed host of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives during a 2008 episode. He would parlay that appearance into an invitation to compete in the Food Network\u2019s Chopped program where he displayed his chops to another nationwide audience. Exposure on the Food Network made Sophia&#8217;s a restaurant to which visitors pilgrimaged. His other restaurants, all fabulous in their own right, were frequented more by Duke City devotees of dining Dennis style. Some of us will follow him anywhere.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Count my friends Larry &#8220;the professor with the perspicacious palate&#8221; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.abqtopten.com\/blog\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>McGoldrick<\/strong><\/a> and Dazzling Deanell among them. After his first visit to the original Sophia&#8217;s, Larry wrote &#8220;<em>I have done some stupid things in my life, but waiting almost three years after moving to Corrales from the east coast until eating at Sophia\u2019s ranks near the top. With that stupidity cured, I am now hooked<\/em>.&#8221; He wouldn&#8217;t wait three months after its launch to dine at the new Sophia&#8217;s. We were greeted at the door by Dennis&#8217;s delightful mother Josie an effusive ambassador for the restaurant&#8217;s food and her son&#8217;s prodigious talents. A spry and youthful grandmother, Josie<\/span><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\"> is a perpetually smiling ray of sunshine, a terrific hostess.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_52135\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-52135\" style=\"width: 735px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-52135 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 735px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 735\/413;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophias-Sara01-1024x576.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"735\" height=\"413\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophias-Sara01-1024x576.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 1024w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophias-Sara01-300x169.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 300w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophias-Sara01-768x432.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 768w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophias-Sara01.jpg?size=128x72&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophias-Sara01.jpg?size=384x216&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophias-Sara01.jpg?size=512x288&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 512w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophias-Sara01.jpg?size=640x360&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 640w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-52135\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Salmon Tacos (Photo Courtesy of Sarita)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">The menu at Sophia&#8217;s isn&#8217;t a mirror image of the menu at its previous instantiation, but you will find several familiar favorites such as the duck enchiladas, shrimp tacos and a sirloin and green chile sandwich. Sophia&#8217;s is open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week and has a dog-friendly patio. Initially Sophia&#8217;s was a cash only operation, but not accepts all credit cards save for American Express. On select Friday evenings (call ahead), Dennis prepares a different thematic dinner. Whether it be Italian, Thai or some other ethnic cuisine, you can bet it will be outstanding. Dennis isn&#8217;t solely a chef who specializes in New Mexico inspired Mexican food; he can prepare anything you want and prepare it well. That was certainly validated during our inaugural visit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Most Recent Visit: 19 June 2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Eloquence isn&#8217;t always the use of fluffy &#8220;Gil-sized&#8221; words to paint artistic thoughts.\u00a0 Sometimes eloquence is simply stated sagacity.\u00a0 Take for example Anthony Bourdain&#8217;s short essay on what really matters about food:\u00a0 &#8220;<em>Anyone who&#8217;s a chef, who loves food, ultimately knows that all that matters is: &#8216;Is it good?\u00a0 Does it give pleasure<\/em>?&#8221;\u00a0 When my friends Sarita, Bob of the Village of Los Ranchos and I made a last-minute lunch date for Sophia&#8217;s, we knew Dennis would prepare great food that would give us tremendous pleasure.\u00a0 Sarita certainly enjoyed her <em><strong>salmon tacos<\/strong><\/em> (soft, warm corn tortillas enveloping fresh salmon, pineapple salsa and avocado slices) with rice and beans while Bob swooned over the <em><strong>lemon ricotta pancakes<\/strong><\/em> (more on these paragons of deliciousness below).\u00a0 Both were on the daily specials menu.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_52136\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-52136\" style=\"width: 735px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-52136 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 735px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 735\/413;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophias-Sara02-1024x576.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"735\" height=\"413\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophias-Sara02-1024x576.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 1024w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophias-Sara02-300x169.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 300w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophias-Sara02-768x432.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 768w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophias-Sara02.jpg?size=128x72&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophias-Sara02.jpg?size=384x216&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophias-Sara02.jpg?size=512x288&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 512w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophias-Sara02.jpg?size=640x360&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 640w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-52136\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cali Burrito With Pork Pibil (Photo Courtesy of Sarita)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Your humble restaurant review blogger just can&#8217;t seem to get past those daily specials, a veritable testament to Dennis&#8217;s innovative cooking.\u00a0 If his specials menu included a pair of Crocs smothered in mole rojo, you can bet I&#8217;d probably order it.\u00a0 Luckily for me Crocs weren&#8217;t on the menu during our visit.\u00a0 Instead, there was a <em><strong>Cali burrito with pork pibil<\/strong><\/em> and salsa.\u00a0 Dennis marinades finely shredded pork in sour orange and achiote, garlic and cumin (just as it&#8217;s done in the Yucatan) then wraps it in banana leaves and slow-cooks it until it&#8217;s as tender as a hummingbird&#8217;s wings fluttering.\u00a0 The &#8220;Cali&#8221; part of the burrito is the rice (integral in the Mission burritos popular in San Francisco) although Dennis elevates the boring and dry Frisco area rice with a moist and delicious Spanish rice.\u00a0 It&#8217;s not often I rave about hand-held burritos (my preference is for them smothered in about a gallon of chile), but this one is special.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Previous Visits<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\"><strong>1 May 2018<\/strong>: You&#8217;d be surprised how challenging it is to decide what to order from a relatively small menu, moreso when you&#8217;re also contemplating the daily specials. Josie doesn&#8217;t make it any easier because she raves about everything her son prepares. As we perused the menu, we shared a bowl of <em><strong>chicken chicharrones<\/strong><\/em>. They weren&#8217;t on the menu. Dennis just thought we&#8217;d like them&#8230;though he wouldn&#8217;t commit to calling them chicken chicharrones (there&#8217;s a pattern here). It&#8217;s a relatively simple offering of lean chicken thighs cut into thin pieces and tossed with Cotija cheese, cilantro, scallions and sea salt. Sometimes, as in the case of this dish, simple is best.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\"><strong>1 May 2018<\/strong>: At first browse, our second starter seemed equally simple&#8211;a bowl of black beans with avocado slices, Cotija cheese and pork rinds. Appearances can be deceiving. The black beans were impregnated with a pleasantly piquant chile that elevated them significantly. (In the spirit of full disclosure, I&#8217;ve never liked black beans that much, preferring the sacrosanct pinto, New Mexico&#8217;s official state vegetable.) These black beans I liked&#8230;a lot! We used the pork rinds as a scoop mechanism to extricate those black beans from the bottom of the bowl and used the avocado as a palate-cleansing, tongue cooling aide. From a textural and flavor perspective, this dish was yet another huge success.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45868\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45868\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45868 size-full lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 500px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 500\/580;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia09.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"580\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia09.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 500w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia09-259x300.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 259w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia09.jpg?size=128x148&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia09.jpg?size=384x445&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 384w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45868\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Grilled Cheese with Mango and Shoestring Fries with Salad<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\"><strong>1 May 2018<\/strong>: Since discovering the transformative elotes at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=42293\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>El Cotorro<\/strong><\/a>, my affections for corn-on-the-cob have been rather singularly focused. No other elote has been able to capture my fancy&#8230;until Sophia&#8217;s, that is. As with the elote at El Cotorro, this sumptuous starter begins with a flame-grilled sweet ear of corn. It&#8217;s elevated with the infusion of a <\/span><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\"> lime aioli, chile powder and Cotija cheese. While that makes for a very messy proposition, you\u2019ll enjoy licking any delicious residue off your fingers. You\u2019ll also need a couple napkins to wipe your mouth afterwards. All corn-on-the-cob should be this good!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\"><strong>1 May 2018<\/strong>: While every dish Dennis prepares is a paragon of creativity and deliciousness, perhaps the dish which best shows off his versatility is <em><strong>vegetable curry with papaya salad<\/strong><\/em>, a special of the day during our inaugural visit. If you thought his repertoire was limited to New Mexico inspired Mexican food, this dish will convince you otherwise. It&#8217;s curry as well-prepared as the curry at the very best Thai restaurants in Albuquerque. Dennis has mastered the delicate balance of flavors&#8211;pungent, sweet, savory&#8211;characteristic of Thai food, not compromising the integrity of flavors to pander to American preferences for cloying Thai dishes. The vegetables are perfectly prepared, somewhere between al dente and fork-tender. In a masterstroke of genius, Dennis tops the vegetable curry with a tangy papaya salad, again as good as you&#8217;ll find at any Asian restaurant in town.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45944\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45944\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-45944 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 720px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 720\/385;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia16.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"385\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia16.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 720w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia16-300x160.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 300w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia16.jpg?size=128x68&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia16.jpg?size=384x205&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia16.jpg?size=512x274&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 512w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia16.jpg?size=640x342&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 640w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45944\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lemon Ricotta Pancakes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\"><strong>1 May 2018<\/strong>: Not that long ago, an inquiry by BOTVOLR about grilled cheese sandwiches launched an avalanche of comments with several respondents providing input as to where the Duke City&#8217;s best can be found. Sophia&#8217;s provides yet another contender, a rarefied exemplar of tradition meets innovation. Between buttery, lightly toasted bread are nestled the unlikely combination of Manchego cheese and mango slices. Yes, mango slices. Manchego, a cheese made with sheep&#8217;s milk has a distinct acidity and flavor profile reminiscent of a tangier Monterey Jack. It&#8217;s a perfect complement to the sweet richness of mango. I ordered this <em><strong>grilled cheese sandwich<\/strong><\/em> because it was &#8220;different,&#8221; but will order it again because it&#8217;s absolutely terrific. As with other burgers and sandwiches on the menu, it&#8217;s served with Dennis&#8217;s <em><strong>shoestring fries<\/strong><\/em>, the best in New Mexico. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\"><strong>5 May 2018<\/strong>: It&#8217;s often been said that you don\u2019t know what you\u2019ve got until it&#8217;s gone.&#8221; Perhaps a more accurate aphorism might be &#8220;you knew what you had, you just never thought you\u2019d lose it.\u201d That was the case with Dennis&#8217;s magnificent <em><strong>lemon ricotta pancakes<\/strong><\/em>, the very best we&#8217;ve ever had. Those pancakes were our favorite from the rotation of fabulous flapjacks Dennis served at the original Sophia&#8217;s, a luscious line-up that includes blue corn pancakes, pumpkin pancakes and mixed berry pancakes. It&#8217;s great to see he hasn&#8217;t lost his touch. Available in quantities of one, two or four, you&#8217;ll kick yourself if you don&#8217;t have four, especially if you&#8217;re sharing. <\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45888\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45888\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45888 size-full lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 720px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 720\/621;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia12.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"621\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia12.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 720w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia12-300x259.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 300w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia12.jpg?size=128x110&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia12.jpg?size=384x331&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia12.jpg?size=512x442&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 512w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia12.jpg?size=640x552&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 640w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45888\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Huevos Divorciados<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">One of the things that makes Dennis\u2019s pancakes a panacea is his homemade butter, a culinary rarity that blew even Guy Fieri away. Fieri who has probably seen just about everything on his road tours seemed amazed that Dennis would go to that extent. After sampling Sophia&#8217;s homemade butter (made from separated heavy cream mixed with toasted pine nuts, dried cherries and honey), Fieri called it \u201coutstanding.\u201d A generous slather of that butter tops the pancakes along with fresh blueberries and strawberries. As expected, the pancakes are punctuated with a lemony flavor that tempers the sweetness of the syrup. These pancakes are available only on weekends, another reason to love Saturdays and Sundays.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\"><strong>5 May 2018<\/strong>: Josie got a kick out of it when I told her, in front of my Kim, that I wanted a divorce. Not from my bride of thirty-two years. I wanted one of the specials of the day, the curiously named <em><strong>Huevos Divorciados<\/strong><\/em>, a term which translates to divorced eggs. This dish is an exemplar of the official New Mexico state question: red or green. This dish features two fried eggs atop two tostadas topped with shredded white and yellow Cheddar and black beans . One egg is slathered with a tomatillo sauce (the green), the other with red chile. Both are absolutely superb! The tomatillo sauce is tart and herbaceous, the red chile piquant and rich. Dennis knows his way around Mexican sauces as well as most of us know our names. The tostadas are crispy around the edges and soft in the middle. The eggs are fried to your exacting specifications. Every divorce should be this good!<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45887\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45887\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45887 size-full lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 720px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 720\/646;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia11.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"646\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia11.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 720w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia11-300x269.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 300w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia11.jpg?size=128x115&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia11.jpg?size=384x345&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia11.jpg?size=512x459&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 512w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia11.jpg?size=640x574&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 640w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45887\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Roasted Organic Achiote Chicken Tostada<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\"><strong>5 May 2018<\/strong>: Another special of the day, emphasis on the word &#8220;special,&#8221; is the <em><strong>roasted organic achiote chicken tostada <\/strong><\/em>with black beans, avocado slices and a fried egg served with a salad. Achiote is a orange-red spice with a subtle, earthy flavor and peppery aroma, but a little goes a long way. Dennis knows exactly how much to use and how to use it. Thin strips of organic chicken are a perfect vehicle for the achiote. The richness of the avocados provides a pleasant counterbalance while the fried egg lends a savory deliciousness. A light sprinkled of Cojita cheese adds a light feta-like saltiness. This is yet another terrific dish.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\"><strong>12 May 2018<\/strong>: Long-time Duke City diners may remember that before there was a Sophia&#8217;s in that dilapidated 4th Street location, there was Fajitaville and a young chef named Dennis Apodaca. When Fajitaville closed in 2002, Dennis rented the location and named it for his daughter Sophia. One holdover from Dennis\u2019s days at Fajitaville are some of the best salsas in town. An order of <em><strong>salsa and chips<\/strong><\/em> rewards diners with two salsas\u2013a smoky chipotle salsa and a pico de gallo style salsa coupled with housemade chips served warm. Neither of the salsas are especially piquant, but both are redolent with freshness and flavor. The chipotle salsa is among the very best in New Mexico and that&#8217;s saying a lot. The chips are lightly salted and oversized for Gil-sized portions of salsa. Unfortunately you\u2019ll run out of salsa before you run out of chips.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45942\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45942\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-45942 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 700px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 700\/657;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia14.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"657\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia14.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 700w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia14-300x282.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 300w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia14.jpg?size=128x120&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia14.jpg?size=384x360&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia14.jpg?size=512x481&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 512w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia14.jpg?size=640x601&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 640w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45942\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nopales Breakfast Tacos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\"><strong>12 May 2018<\/strong>: Jonathan Gold of the <em>Los Angeles Times<\/em>, the only food writer ever to earn a Pulitzer Prize, once wrote &#8220;<em>when it&#8217;s done properly, taco should be a verb.<\/em>&#8221; In Albuquerque, Dennis has made taco not only an active verb but a possessive adjective (as in <em>my taco<\/em>), an exclamation and an interjection (as in <em>aha, great tacos<\/em>). His scallop tacos are superb, his shrimp tacos a revelation and his carnitas tacos are transformative. In his <em><strong>breakfast nopales tacos<\/strong><\/em>, we found a new favorite. Nopales or nopalitos are the flat paddles of prickly pear cactus (nopal). Remove the thorns, slice them up, bottle them in brine and they&#8217;re delicious, albeit a bit on the slimy side. Dennis pairs nopales with scrambled eggs, fresh salsa and cojita cheese then packs them tightly into two warm corn tortillas. The tortillas can barely contain their contents. You won&#8217;t be able to contain your smile as you enjoy them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\"><strong>12 May 2018<\/strong>: A couple of years ago, <em>Business Insider<\/em> published a feature entitled &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/how-to-make-any-quesadilla-better-2016-8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><strong>How to make any quesadilla better<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.&#8221; Obviously very few people in Albuquerque need help finding the quintessential quesadilla but if they do, all they need to do is point their GPS toward Sophia&#8217;s. The <em><strong>carnitas quesadilla<\/strong><\/em> with salsa, eggs and papas is one of the best reasons to get up in the morning. It&#8217;s several orders of magnitude better than the best <em>Business Insider<\/em> could do. Four triangular wedges of cheesy, meaty love can only be improved with some of Sophia&#8217;s magnificent salsa. <\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45943\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45943\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-45943 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 720px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 720\/620;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia15.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"620\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia15.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 720w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia15-300x258.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 300w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia15.jpg?size=128x110&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia15.jpg?size=384x331&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia15.jpg?size=512x441&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 512w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia15.jpg?size=640x551&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 640w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45943\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Carnitas Quesadilla<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Sophia&#8217;s is located directly across Central Avenue from Robinson Park, home of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.downtowngrowers.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Downtown Grower&#8217;s Market<\/strong><\/a>. The market operates on Saturdays from April 14th through November 3rd from 8AM to noon. Parking is often a challenge when the market is in full swing, but it&#8217;s worth walking an extra block or six to visit one of the most dynamic and vibrant markets in the city followed or preceded by a fabulous breakfast or lunch at Sophia&#8217;s.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">By any name, Sophia&#8217;s is an outstanding restaurant and platform for the culinary genius that is Dennis Apodaca. Albuquerque is a far better place with Sophia&#8217;s as its culinary heart.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\"><strong>Sophia&#8217;s<\/strong><br \/>\n918 Central, S.W.<br \/>\n<strong>Albuquerque, New Mexico<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>LATEST VISIT<\/strong>: 19 June 2019<br \/>\n<strong>1st VISIT<\/strong>: 1 May 2018<br \/>\n<strong># OF VISITS<\/strong>: 4<br \/>\n<strong>RATING<\/strong>: <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Outstanding<\/strong><\/span>\u2013A stand-out; delivers a memorable dining experience through a harmonious blend of exceptional food, attentive service, and consistent quality<br \/>\n<strong>COST<\/strong>: $$<br \/>\n<strong>BEST BET<\/strong>: Grilled Cheese with Mango, Chicken Chicharrones, Black Bean Stew, Vegetable Curry with Papaya Salad, Elote, Huevos Divorciados, Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Roasted Organic Chicken Achiote Tostada, Nopaies Tacos, Carnitas Quesadilla, Chips and Salsa<br \/>\n<strong>REVIEW #1040<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Exterior signage for Dennis Apodaca\u2019s new restaurant venture sports the name of the previous tenant, a short-lived eatery named MIXX. In a February blurb announcing Dennis&#8217;s return, the Albuquerque Journal called his new venture \u201cREMIXX.\u201d A handwritten note scrawled on the front door, however, informs you that you\u2019ve arrived at \u201cSophia\u2019s \u2013 that you knew &amp; loved on 4th St. NW.\u201d Not taking any chances, Yelp lists entries for both \u201cREMIXX by Sophia\u2019s Place\u201d and \u201cSophia\u2019s.\u201d So which is it? Ask Dennis and he\u2019ll tell you that despite what the sign says, his restaurant is a relaunch of Sophia\u2019s, the celebrated restaurant that made him one of Albuquerque\u2019s most talked-about and respected chefs. \u201cI\u2019d rather spend money on serving great&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":45944,"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":[440,725,703,262,57,112,141,561],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-albuquerque","category-closed-in-2019","category-dog-friendly","category-closed","category-mexican","category-new-mexican","category-new-mexico","category-rating-outstanding"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Sophia&#039;s - 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=45856\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sophia&#039;s - Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED) - Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Exterior signage for Dennis Apodaca\u2019s new restaurant venture sports the name of the previous tenant, a short-lived eatery named MIXX. In a February blurb announcing Dennis&#8217;s return, the Albuquerque Journal called his new venture \u201cREMIXX.\u201d A handwritten note scrawled on the front door, however, informs you that you\u2019ve arrived at \u201cSophia\u2019s \u2013 that you knew &amp; loved on 4th St. NW.\u201d Not taking any chances, Yelp lists entries for both \u201cREMIXX by Sophia\u2019s Place\u201d and \u201cSophia\u2019s.\u201d So which is it? Ask Dennis and he\u2019ll tell you that despite what the sign says, his restaurant is a relaunch of Sophia\u2019s, the celebrated restaurant that made him one of Albuquerque\u2019s most talked-about and respected chefs. \u201cI\u2019d rather spend money on serving great&hellip;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=45856\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nmgastronome\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-06-19T16:01:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-31T20:07:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia16.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"385\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Gil Garduno\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Gil Garduno\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"16 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/?p=45856#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/?p=45856\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Gil Garduno\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/423b9c3eeeb199e43ab4f1f584fa67bf\"},\"headline\":\"Sophia&#8217;s &#8211; Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-06-19T16:01:19+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-31T20:07:58+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/?p=45856\"},\"wordCount\":3019,\"commentCount\":28,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/?p=45856#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/05\\\/Sophia16.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Albuquerque\",\"Closed in 2019\",\"Dog Friendly\",\"Gone But Not Forgotten\",\"Mexican\",\"New Mexican\",\"New Mexico\",\"Rating: Outstanding\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/?p=45856#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/?p=45856\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/?p=45856\",\"name\":\"Sophia's - Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED) - Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/?p=45856#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/?p=45856#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/05\\\/Sophia16.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-06-19T16:01:19+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-31T20:07:58+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/?p=45856#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/?p=45856\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/?p=45856#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/05\\\/Sophia16.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/05\\\/Sophia16.jpg\",\"width\":720,\"height\":385,\"caption\":\"Lemon Ricotta Pancakes\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/?p=45856#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Sophia&#8217;s &#8211; Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog\",\"description\":\"Follow the Culinary Ruminations of New Mexico&#039;s Sesquipedalian Sybarite.  1,522  Restaurant Reviews, More Than 14,900 Visitor Comments...And Counting!\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"\",\"contentUrl\":\"\",\"caption\":\"Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/423b9c3eeeb199e43ab4f1f584fa67bf\",\"name\":\"Gil Garduno\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/140571d25459ad5954bce10ffc2f8c8d21c92edf345ea30e6145c3e68a417af1?s=96&r=pg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/140571d25459ad5954bce10ffc2f8c8d21c92edf345ea30e6145c3e68a417af1?s=96&r=pg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/140571d25459ad5954bce10ffc2f8c8d21c92edf345ea30e6145c3e68a417af1?s=96&r=pg\",\"caption\":\"Gil Garduno\"},\"description\":\"Since 2008, the tagline on Gil\u2019s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog has invited you to \u201cFollow the Culinary Ruminations of New Mexico\u2019s Sesquipedalian Sybarite.\u201d To date, more than six million visitors have trusted (or at least visited) my recommendations on more than 1,300 restaurant reviews. Please take a few minutes to tell me what you think. Whether you agree or disagree with me, I'd love to hear about it.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/%20\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/nmgastronome\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/nmgastronome\\\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.nmgastronome.com\\\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Sophia's - Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED) - Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=45856","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Sophia's - Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED) - Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog","og_description":"Exterior signage for Dennis Apodaca\u2019s new restaurant venture sports the name of the previous tenant, a short-lived eatery named MIXX. In a February blurb announcing Dennis&#8217;s return, the Albuquerque Journal called his new venture \u201cREMIXX.\u201d A handwritten note scrawled on the front door, however, informs you that you\u2019ve arrived at \u201cSophia\u2019s \u2013 that you knew &amp; loved on 4th St. NW.\u201d Not taking any chances, Yelp lists entries for both \u201cREMIXX by Sophia\u2019s Place\u201d and \u201cSophia\u2019s.\u201d So which is it? Ask Dennis and he\u2019ll tell you that despite what the sign says, his restaurant is a relaunch of Sophia\u2019s, the celebrated restaurant that made him one of Albuquerque\u2019s most talked-about and respected chefs. \u201cI\u2019d rather spend money on serving great&hellip;","og_url":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=45856","og_site_name":"Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nmgastronome\/","article_published_time":"2019-06-19T16:01:19+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-03-31T20:07:58+00:00","og_image":[{"width":720,"height":385,"url":"http:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia16.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Gil Garduno","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Gil Garduno","Est. reading time":"16 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=45856#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=45856"},"author":{"name":"Gil Garduno","@id":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/#\/schema\/person\/423b9c3eeeb199e43ab4f1f584fa67bf"},"headline":"Sophia&#8217;s &#8211; Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)","datePublished":"2019-06-19T16:01:19+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-31T20:07:58+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=45856"},"wordCount":3019,"commentCount":28,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=45856#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia16.jpg","articleSection":["Albuquerque","Closed in 2019","Dog Friendly","Gone But Not Forgotten","Mexican","New Mexican","New Mexico","Rating: Outstanding"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=45856#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=45856","url":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=45856","name":"Sophia's - Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED) - Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=45856#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=45856#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia16.jpg","datePublished":"2019-06-19T16:01:19+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-31T20:07:58+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=45856#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=45856"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=45856#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia16.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sophia16.jpg","width":720,"height":385,"caption":"Lemon Ricotta Pancakes"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=45856#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Sophia&#8217;s &#8211; Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/","name":"Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog","description":"Follow the Culinary Ruminations of New Mexico&#039;s Sesquipedalian Sybarite.  1,522  Restaurant Reviews, More Than 14,900 Visitor Comments...And Counting!","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/#organization","name":"Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog","url":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"","contentUrl":"","caption":"Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/#\/schema\/person\/423b9c3eeeb199e43ab4f1f584fa67bf","name":"Gil Garduno","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/140571d25459ad5954bce10ffc2f8c8d21c92edf345ea30e6145c3e68a417af1?s=96&r=pg","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/140571d25459ad5954bce10ffc2f8c8d21c92edf345ea30e6145c3e68a417af1?s=96&r=pg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/140571d25459ad5954bce10ffc2f8c8d21c92edf345ea30e6145c3e68a417af1?s=96&r=pg","caption":"Gil Garduno"},"description":"Since 2008, the tagline on Gil\u2019s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog has invited you to \u201cFollow the Culinary Ruminations of New Mexico\u2019s Sesquipedalian Sybarite.\u201d To date, more than six million visitors have trusted (or at least visited) my recommendations on more than 1,300 restaurant reviews. Please take a few minutes to tell me what you think. Whether you agree or disagree with me, I'd love to hear about it.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/%20","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nmgastronome\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/nmgastronome\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?author=1"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=45856"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45856\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":78407,"href":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45856\/revisions\/78407"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/45944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=45856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=45856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=45856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}