Campo
With pink light rising on the Sandias and lavender fields aglow, dining at Los Poblanos—its menu wholly committed to finely prepared dishes made from organic and locally sourced ingredients—can be a transcendent experience thanks to the pastoral setting of Albuquerque’s historic North Valley. The seasonal menu is a tantalizing mix of distinctive farm-to-table flavors crossed with Southwestern cooking traditions that together have been become the basis for Rio Grande Valley cuisine. Start with tangy sweet potato pierogi, then move on to a superb field or lemon za'atar salad, then the braised lamb birria, beet risotto, or a special tamale adovada. Or try one of the house-made pastas (carrot cavatelli is a favorite, and, as with most dishes here, they will always accommodate non-meat-eaters with a wholly satisfying variation). Wine, spirits, and microbrew selections, local and regional, are well-chosen. Campo ("field" in Spanish) diners enter its high-ceilinged open space—brilliantly transformed from a one-time dairy barn building—through the charmingly tiled and whimsically lit Bar Campo; dining outdoors is a treat as well since the weather here cooperates just about year-round. Find a somewhat smaller menu at the bar, or come for a memorable breakfast or brunch throughout the week.
