Eat More and Think Less

Dining options remain robust in Albuquerque not only for good New Mexican and Mexican food but also Chinese and American fare.

I’ve not been going out to eat much lately. I'm not sure whether this is a good thing or not. True, we're saving money, but if I sit quietly, the carne adovada seems to whisper in my mind. “We’re here, simmering under a slow heat and with nothing but a tortilla between us and you big boy.”

Uh, or something like that.

Maybe what I’m hearing are the coyotes running in the arroyo across the street? Hmmm… bring the cat in, they sound hungry too.

Owl Café
800 Eubank Blvd NE
A 1950’s diner experience that hasn’t lost its comfortable feel in lieu of appealing to every yuppie and soccer mom it can shove in a booth. The meal opens with a bowl of green chile and beans (in place of say, chips or bread). The burgers were small and nothing to write about. The cheese fries (with green chile) kept me occupied for a while but truthfully, I left wondering what all the hype is based upon.

Blake’s Lotaburger
1801 Juan Tabo Blvd NE
This local New Mexico burger joint does it well with cooked to order burgers and excellent service (at least at this location over several visits). Nothing fancy here, just great burgers with green chile, nicely done fries and one of the better vanilla milkshakes I’ve had the pleasure to consume. Now, Blake’s is certainly not up to the standards of In-N-Out, but as I can’t get to the nearest store in Kingman, Arizona very often, I must to visit the local’s also-excellent offering.

China Garden
12611 Montgomery Blvd NE
We like good Chinese food. It would be better if they delivered. They don’t. Still, the garlic shrimp is spicy and overflowing with shrimp. No uh.. scrimping on the shrimp. (Try saying that three times fast!!) While not a very original name for a Chinese restaurant, China Garden does make up for it each and every time we order. The sweet and sour chicken comes with the sauce on the side and the steamed dumplings taste like they were made ten minutes before. I highly recommend the Orange shrimp, beef or chicken (and don’t tell me it’s the same sauce, it’s not!).

Horse & Angel Tavern
5809 Juan Tabo Blvd NE
Since moving to Albuquerque, I haven’t spent much time in the local watering holes. This, of course is in sharp contrast to when I was in Madison, where most nights after the law library closed, you’d find me curled up with my Guinness (or my Pabst’s depending on the lo-cal). The few times I’ve needed a serious tavern atmosphere, however, the Horse & Angel fit exceptionally well. The food is strictly pub fare but the beer selection is excellent with more than 40 taps and another 70 or so bottled selections. Yes, they’ve got the microbrews lined up, but they also import a variety of English and Scottish ales for their more um, refined-palette clientele.

Ok... I was already hungry, now I'm thirsty as well.