travelottie

Leaving in one week for LA & NM and appreciate the planning help I've received from this forum.

One further question: I'm looking for a NM style lunch recommendation for day 1.

After picking up rental car at ABQ airport (12:35 PM), will drive directly to Carlsbad, via I 40 & I 285 (I believe this is the fastest, most direct route). Need someplace that will be convenient and not take us out of our way.

Trip report will follow!

Cranachin

Padilla's (1510 Girard NE) is a nice little local place. It's just south of Indian School (not too far offI-25 and I-40). I really like their stuffed sopapillas. They don't have a website, but here are their Tripadvisor and Yelp links:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...ew_Mexico.html

http://www.yelp.com/biz/padillas-mex...en-albuquerque

Padilla's is cash-only, though, so plan accordingly!


Blake's Lotaburger is a New Mexico-only burger chain. You could stop at one of their locations and have a green chile angus cheeseburger and some of their thick-cut fries. The closest ones to the airport are at 2200 Broadway SE and at 413 Adams SE. There's also one at 1230 W Pierce in Carlsbad if you want to wait to try them. http://www.lotaburger.com

Note that it's US-285, not I-285 (so you will go through the occasional town).

ElendilPickle

Hmmm...we live here, but don't eat a lot of New Mexican food, so I'm trying to think what would be on your route out of town.

El Patio on 142 Harvard SE just south of Central is supposed to have good New Mexican food, but I haven't eaten there. http://www.elpatiodealbuquerque.com/

You might want to try Frontier Restaurant at Cornell and Central, across from UNM. It doesn't look like much, but they have tasty, inexpensive food. http://www.frontierrestaurant.com/

Barelas Coffee House is a local institution at 1502 4th St. SW. From the airport, take I-25 north to Avenida Cesar Chavez, turn left (west), go to 4th St., turn right, and it's a block or so north on your right.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/barelas-coff...se-albuquerque

Lee Ann

travelottie

Cranachin: Padilla's menu looks good - do you know if parking is easily available?

Lee Ann: Are there non-New Mexican restaurants that you like that would be a convenient stop?
If you have time, could you post a few? Maybe I'll be open to try something else... I have the rest of the week for NM cuisine.

Thank you both,
Lottie

DebitNM

What day of the week will this be - many places are closed on Sundays.

travelottie

Arriving on a Monday.

DebitNM

Do you just want a fast bite or do you want something a bit nicer? Do you want NM or not, confused due to your first and second posts seem to differ. If not, you want just regular food or some other cuisine?

Cranachin

Padilla's has a parking lot (which they share with a laundromat). You can see it on Google Maps street view (1510 Girard Blvd NE 87107). If it is full, you can turn down Haines (Padilla's is at the corner of Girard and Haines) and go a block east to Dartmouth or a block west to Vassar and park in the neighborhood.

Cranachin

Deb—Any idea how Little Anita's at 3401 University SE is? It's been too long since I ate at a Little Anita's. http://www.littleanitas.com/locations.university.html

DebitNM

Little Anita's was the first NM restaurant we ever ate at when we first visited NM [before we moved here]. We thought it was so great. Not so much nowadays that we know better. I haven't eaten at Padilla's in several years. It was good back in 2003, don't know how it is these days.

I will be happy to recommend places, especially ones close to I40 so the OP won't have to go to far out of the way. Need a bit of feedback from them.

Cranachin

Deb—I just realized my comment about Little Anita's could be taken two ways. I meant it has been so long I don't remember, not I am really hankering for a Little Anita's fix—LOL.

Now Padilla's and Blake's, on the other hand ...

I lived in ABQ in the '90s. I am overdue for a trip back. Padilla's was still good in 2007 (last time I ate there).

travelottie

Deb - I originally asked about a NM restaurant recommendation. When Lee Ann answered that she doesn't eat a lot of NM food, then I said I'd be open to other cuisine suggestions.

I do have a list of your prior recommendations saved, but don't know what is on the way.

My main consideration is convenient parking and not driving out of the way, as we are headed to Carlsbad that day. A fast bite is fine, although not fast food chain type place.. NM or other cuisine freshly made (not Asian or Italian we have that at home).Not looking for huge portions.

DebitNM

Ok, I would say that you should really go to Frontier. They have THE BEST tortillas ever! In addition to NM food, they have standards like sandwiches, burgers, salad. It is really an ABQ institution. It will be easy to get to and then onto I 40. Reasonable prices, local ( it's the only one) fast service and fairly inexpensive.

We still eat there on a semi regular basis. It is consistently good food.

http://www.frontierrestaurant.com/

Cranachin

Plus Frontier has cinnamon rolls the size of hubcaps.

travelottie

Frontier looks just right for this stop, with a cinnamon roll to go. Great - I appreciate the help!

ElendilPickle

Frontier should work for you. I was going to suggest one of my favorite Vietnamese places, but you said no Asian.

Actually, to confuse matters more, if I was driving from the airport to Carlsbad I would probably head south on I-25 after lunch, go past Socorro to San Antonio, head east on 385 past White Sands and through the mountains, then go through Roswell to Carlsbad. Either route is fine, but the one I mention is more scenic.

Lee Ann

travelottie

Lee Ann

Plan to return from Carlsbad - 285 N to 82 W through Cloudcroft, then to ABQ. So, thought it might be best to take the fastest route initially from ABQ to Carlsbad.

Is the routing you mentioned much longer time wise then I 40 & 285?

Lottie