We’re going to Albuquerque in mid-July, just for the heck of it (and to use a ticket from last year), and staying close to the airport. We will have a car. My fiance loves to eat out, and sees fine dining as a very serious hobby. Does anyone have a personal recommendation for actual eateries or websites to check out? Expense is not really a factor, but good service is.
Anything overly carbohydrate-based, such as Asian and Indian-type restaurants are out, as we’re trying to stick to a low carb way of eating, but we will certainly tolerate a good dessert here and there. Sorry about such a generic question – I am looking at reviews online, but it’s a tremendous amount of work and I have a slow connection. Plus, you’re a group I trust.
Since you haven’t had any other responses to this, I’ll give it a try, though I don’t live in Albuquerque anymore. Sadie’s, if you want to try the local cuisine, but be warned - Sadie’s chile is hot hot hot. Pars is good Mediterranean food, sometimes they have a belly dancer performing. There’s also a restaurant at the top of the tram, I’ve never been there so I can’t say anything about the food but the view should be fabulous.
If you are not familiar with Albuquerque cuisine, beware the green chili. I think it’s a New Mexico thing, or a Southwest thing. If you let them, they will want to put green chili on everything. You can try it - to get a taste for the local flavor, but I find it to be overly ubiquitous.
One of my favorites is the Prairie Star, about 15 minutes outside of Albuquerque and has a great view of the Sandias. They serve southwest fusion which is your basic steak, fish, chicken, exc. with some southwest spices/sides added. It is actually more fine dining with some local flare. Sadies is yummy, but it is by no mean fine dining. Have not been to Pars before.
I lived in 'burque for 18 years, really miss the food. Sadie’s is great, but I’d agree that it’s not fine dining. (The original Sadie’s was a bowling alley, I think, food is great, portions are huge, atmosphere is loud, and it’s a place where I’d bring my kids)
When we go back to visit and want fine dining…leaving the kids with the grandparents, I go for either Seasons in Old Town, Savoy in the heights, or Scalo’s in Nob Hill.
Scalo’s in Nob Hill is absolutely lovely, I think. It’s Italian, but I can’t remember much more than that, as it’s been far too many years since I’ve been there.
At the top of the Tramway is High Finance, and the food is very good. It’s not fine dining in terms of getting dressed up to go there, though people do, but it does good food very well. Mostly steakhouse type items, but all done quite well. And going up the Tram is fun, and coming back down at night is absolutely beautiful. If you do this, try to get on the tram first, and stick near the window facing west/down the mountain. Very good views this way. Reservations at High Finance will get you a reduction in your tram ticket cost.
Oh, and if you sit near the window, you also get an amazing view of the city.
I’ve never been, but the Ranchers’ Club is “fine dining” in terms of having a dress code and whatnot. The food may or may not be good, though. I think there’s a couple of other “XYZ Club” type places in the area as well (I think as a teen I went to a place called the “Petroleum Club” for an award ceremony of some sort, but I’m not positive).
I can’t think of much else. Report back, once you visit, and let us know where you went and what you thought!
I’ve dined at High Finance, though it’s been several years, and the food is very good. It’s not particularly unique to the region, it’s a very straightforward upscale American steakhouse which you could find most anywhere, but the location and scenery are absolutely worth the trip. Taking the Tram itself is a must-do for a tourist in Albuquerque I think. I suppose if you plan on taking the Tram up at some point it makes going to to High Finance for the views a bit redundant. Maybe taking the Tram up early in the day for lunch reservations at High Finance is the way to go freeing your dinner plans up for something a little more unique and culinarily interesting later.