Here is an updated list of my pics in Albuquerque.

These are all places I have eaten at and consider my favorites. I have tried not to include any nationalchains, but a couple of better. local ones are listed. I hope you can use this info. I probably missed some; I'll come back and add more if I think of them.

$$ means expensive; type of food is indicated if title of restaurant isn't clear; general location given. All are in ABQ proper unless otherwise noted.

Please feel free to add on your favorites!

Local chains with mulitple locations:
Garcia's Kitchen - New Mexican
Little Anita's - New Mexican
Flying Star - coffee, desserts, good food; eclectic - Bernalillo too
Dions - pizza [best chain]
Papa Johns - pizza
Garduno's - mexican [pretty run of the mill]
Weck's -breakfast
BumbleBee's - on Central in Nob Hill [great roast chicken], also Santa Fe

Abuelita's New Mexican Kitchen [about 25 minutes north of ABQ] on the way to Santa Fe
621 S CAMINO DEL PUEBLO
BERNALILLO, NM
(505)867-9988

Al's NYPD Pizza - downtown
(505) 766-6973
215 Central Ave Nw

Artichoke Cafe $$- eclectic, contemporary American
(505) 243-0200
424 Central Ave SE

Banana Leaf - thai, chinese, vietnamese
355 State Highway 528 SE [in front of Target]
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
(505) 892-6119

Barelas Coffee House - New Mexican Food
(505) 843-7577
1502 4th St SW

Casa de benavidez New Mexican - north valley [ 20 minutes ]
505/898-3311
8032 4th St. NW,

Duran's Central Pharmacy New Mexican/SW
[old Town; don't let name fool you]
505/247-4141
1815 Central Ave. NW

El Patio New Mexican/SW [Univ area]
505/268-4245
142 Harvard St. NE

El Modelo Mexican Foods
(505) 242-1843
1715 2nd St Sw

El Pinto New Mexican [20 minutes north of ABQ; on way to santa Fe]
(505) 898-1771
10500 4th St NW

Frontier - new mexican, across from Univ. of NM
(505) 266-0550
2400 Central Ave SE

The Grove [great for lunch, breakfast or brunch} just west of I 25
600 Central Ave SE
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 248-9800

Jennifer James 101 [eclectic without pretense]
4615 Menaul Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 884-3860

Il Vicino Wood Oven pizza - Nob hill/University area
[also various locations]
(505) 266-7855
3403 Central Ave NE

La Crepe Michelle - french, in Old Town
(505) 242-1251
400 San Felipe St Nw

La Provence Brasserie {Nob Hill}
3001 Central Ave NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
(505) 254-7644

Madd Maxx's BBQ
1600 Sara Road [just off 528, near Intel]
Rio Rancho, NM (505) 891-8910

Mykonos {Mountain Run Shopping Center]
5900 Eubank Blvd NE # E18
Albuquerque, NM 87111
(505) 291-1116

Nobb Hill Bar & Grill
3128 Central Ave SE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
(505) 266-6872

Orchid Thai
4300 Central Ave SE
Albuquerque, NM 87108
(505) 265-4047

Pars - mediterranean
(505) 345-5156
4320 25 Way NE [near movie complex at Jefferson & I 25]

Quarters - BBQ [near Airport]
505/843-7505
801 Yale Blvd. SE

Ranchers Club $$
ABQ Hilton
505/889-8071
1901 University Blvd. NE

Range Cafe - new mexican and american [good]
multiple locations, Bernalillo too
(505) 293-2633
4200 Wyoming Blvd Ne B2

Rudy's BBQ
(505) 884-4000
2321 Carlisle Blvd Ne

Sadies -New Mexican
(505) 345-5339
6230 4th St NW

Scalo - northern Italian $$ [Nob Hill]
505/255-8781
3500 Central Ave. SE

Seasons Rotisserie & Grill $$ [Old Town]
505/766-5100
2031 Mountain Rd. NW,

Yanni's - mediterranean/greek [Nob Hill/Univ area]
(505) 268-9250
3109 Central Ave Ne

Rt. 66 Diner [not my favorite, but has it's fans] [west of Univ. area]
505/247-1421
1405 Central Ave. NE

Please, add on!
Deb

ONiell's Irish Pub
4310 Central Ave SE

People who went with me/ate there also loved the place: a very nice pub. The Black and Bleu burger is to die for! None of us had alcohol, though, can't review the beer (which is what many people care about at a pub, of course.)

Il Vicino Wood Oven Pizza - on your list, would be on mine, too. Good wood oven pizza, nice place.

I can't believe I left off O'Neills! They are a favorite of DH. They have moved around a bit and their newest location is a bit beyong Nob Hill but worth a short walk/drive.

Deb

Zinc Wine Bar and Bistro! In Nob Hill, on Central Ave/Route 66. WONDERFUL wine bar and bistro. Owned by same people who own Season's. But the food and service was much better at Zinc than at my previous 3 dinners at Seasons.

http://www.zincabq.com/index.php

Note that Scalo has half-priced pasta and entrees all day and night on Sundays. And half priced wines on Monday evenings. Try the pear vodka gimlets at the bar!

I may not get back to Albuquerque for a while, but believe me, O'Niells will be at the top of my list of places to revisit. I love a great burger and have had them all over the US this year; O'Niells had one of the best burgers I've had in a long time - several times. (A rival is a local place back east near where my parents live.) I haven't found a great burger here in Portland. They are quite good at McMenamins but not outstanding.

(ONiell's I mean.)

Just so people know, Rudy's is a Texas-based chain (all their locations are in Texas except the 2 in ABQ and 1 in Norman, OK). Their slogan used to be "The Worst BBQ in Texas", and I totally agree. The sauce had way too much pepper in it for me.

And Papa John's is nationwide - based on Louisville, KY. I do like their pizza, though. But Dion's is GREAT!!

I love the sopaipillas (stuffed with meat, beans and cheese for dinner, and then with honey for dessert) at Padilla's (on Girard, just south of Indian School). It is a little neighborhood place with great prices.

Go to the Frontier for breakfast and get one of their huge cinnamon rolls (I've never eaten there for any other meal). It is an ABQ institution. Of course, lots of the places on this list are!

Nice job!

I'll add a couple:

Standard Diner on Central just a bit east of Broadway, near Artichoke Cafe. Upscale diner-ish food.

Viet Taste on Menaul between San Mateo and San Pedro. Delicious, reasonably priced Vietnamese dishes; we haven't had a bad meal there yet.

Smokehouse BBQ in Rio Rancho

Olympia Cafe on Central across from UNM - inexpensive, good Greek food.

Deb and Cranachin mentioned Frontier; don't believe the price guide in Fodor's New Mexico. The most expensive meal on the menu is around $10!

Lee Ann

We had two really great meals at High Noon in Old Town. Really good margaritas and nice waiters too.

Topping cause Lee Ann couldn't find it.

Deb

Thanks, Deb!

Copying and pasting my post from the other thread, plus a bit more...

Chez Axel www.chezaxelrestaurant.com
6209 Montgomery NE (at San Pedro)

Mr. Pickle and I had our belated anniversary there this evening, thanks to a two for one coupon in the Entertainment book. Nice atmosphere, great food (I had cassoulet, he had pork cutlets), live classical piano music, and very good service.

Richard's Mexican Restaurant
3301 Menaul Blvd. NE
881-1039

We ate breakfast at Richard's Saturday morning (also using an Entertainment book coupon); I had a bacon/egg/papitas breakfast burrito and Mr. Pickle had a chorizo/papitas skillet, both with flavorful, not too spicy red chile.

Richard's will do low-fat or low-carb dishes (my burrito was wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla), and they have a pretty good selection of vegetarian entrees.

Richard's is located near the Radisson, the Residence Inn, Motel 6, etc. at Carlisle and Menaul, and isn't far from the other motels on Menaul between Carlisle and University.

Lee Ann

I will second Barelas Coffee House. Great local vibe and homemade-kitchen feel to the place. A tasty breakfast burrito with good green/red chile sauce started my day off right.

When we're passing through, Frontier Restaurant (on Central - especially for breakfast), sitting outside at El Patio on Harvard, and Duran's for lunch are some of our favorites too.

This is a little off the beaten path, but if you want something a little different after visiting Old Town, the zoo, or the aquarium and botanic gardens, head west on Central across the river to

Pro's Ranch Market at Central and Atrisco.

It's a Hispanic market with all kinds of stuff, but their food hall is pretty amazing. We had lunch there today - three street tacos for $3.33. I had carnitas, Mr. Pickle ordered al pastor (marinated pork), and DS got pollo. We swapped so we all had one of each kind.

While we were waiting for our food, we got fresh salsa, guacamole, and limes at the salsa bar.

Each taco comes with a grilled jalapeno, lettuce, and a small grilled onion. They were all very tasty and just the right amount of food.

This place has just about any kind of prepared food you can imagine, and maybe some you couldn't. Trompas (fried pork snout), anyone?

You can get a Mexican soda or one of their agua frescas with your meal, and there is a great selection of pastries and desserts by the entrance. Listen to music and watch a futbol game while you dine.

Cheap, fun, and tasty - who could ask for anything more?

Lee Ann

I have this on my go see and do list, Lee Ann. Thanks for the reminder.

Deb

You have a list like this for SF? We're going there in a week.

Deb - just emailed this list to my ds. He sells produce to about 7 restaurants in the area. I recognized two on the list. Maybe this can help him. Thanks!

BigRuss, there are at least a couple of San Francisco food threads on Fodor's. www.sfgate.com also has a pretty good list.

Lee Ann

Big Russ, SF? Santa Fe or San Francisco? LeeAnn thinks San Francisco, I think Santa Fe. I have a trip report on here with a few Santa Fe favorites, but not nearly as comprehensive. I also have ones for Durango and Cortez CO. Click my name to find them.
Deb