Albuquerque and New Mexico

For sampling New Mexican style food, as opposed to the nuvogue stuff mentioned  before, try Monroe's on Lomas in Albuquerque. Careful, only the one on Lomas.  Carne adobada burrito, enchiladas, etc, get the green chile, on the side if you must, but it's the only one with a flavor, the red is just hot.  Get the plate, so you get some sopapillas.  Just plain good tasting food. The Star in Bernalillo is nice, but rather california.

Best restaurant in Alb is the Ranchers Club.  First class steak and such.  They serve fish too, but why would one come to NM for fish?  Superb service, where the staff feels that they are there to make sure you enjoy the eating experience.

In Santa Fe, difficult to find NM style food any more.  They all seem to have fallen into california.  Haven't been there in a while, but the Pink Adobe on Old Pecos Road used to be a very good continental style place.  Owner grad of Cordon Bleu or some other fancy french place.  Delicious sauces and a very good wine cellar.

Stan   i.e. Stan Orrell    [email removed]
Artificial intelligence is our only hope.

From  Mon Feb 17 20:58:33 EST 1992

Concerning Abq. and New Mexico.

I don't know much about the good hotels to stay in, never really had to. I can suggest you stay away from the hotels on central that are around the university and eastward.  They are pretty sleazy.  Downtown is nice and more expensive.  Other than that I don't know.

Food:
Los Cuates: on Lomas west of San Mateo; a local favorite.  there are two resturants with the same name across the street from each other.  They are both owned by the same people and have the same menus.  Nothing special or fancy, but good.

Ron's Camino Real: about two miles directly north of the airport on Yale. Again a local favorite serving New Mexican food.  Food is hot so be careful.

Camino Allegre: On central west of University; My favorite.  Owned by the ex of the guy who owns  Ron's(above).  Some non-traditional New Mexican food.  Try the Whole Wheat Sopapillas.

Sadies:  I agree that they aren't as good since they moved out of the bowling alley.

Gardunos: A chain resturant and a tourist favorite, but good anyways.

All the above aren't to expensive($6-$9 / meal).

A little  more expensive is Eulalias(sp) in the La Posada Hotel downtown. Good food good atmosphere.  Have live jazz in the evenings on weekends.

Skiing:
      The best snow in New Mexico is at Sandia Crest which is about
30-45 min from Abq. Good mountain for begginners to intermediate.  Not to challenging otherwise.  Also get a good view of the city from the top. It's a good trip even if your not a skiier(you can drive to the top).

Taos: 2.5-3 hours North of Abq.  More difficult.  Very nice mountain, espescially if they have good snow.  Some very difficult runs if your up to the challenge.  Taos is also a nice town, many shops and such. Try Michaels Kitchen for breakfast.

Sante Fe: 1.5 hours North of Abq. A littel bigger and more challenging
 than Sandia.  I don't go there much though.

Shopping:
      Old Town in Abq.  Historic shops and the like.  Touristy but
some nice merchandise.  Also, some good restaurants.
      Sante Fe:  I've been to the plaze once in Sante Fe (I'm not
much of a shopper).  New Mexican shops and art galleries.  Less traditional than old town in Abq.

Hope that helps...

P.S.  If anybody has any info on New Orleans like where to stay, where to eat, and what to see other than what has been posted here in the last few weeks I'd apprecite

e-mail: [email removed]
Jason McLaurin

From  Tue Feb 18 15:42:43 EST 1992

Sadie's is still in that bowling alley on 4th street.

I would say that in terms of atmosphere, High Finance on the crest (10,378ft) is definitely worth it (make reservations for around sunset)

-merrick

From  Tue Feb 18 15:42:57 EST 1992

It's been a long long time since I was in Albuquerque. I was stationed at Kirtland AFB there in 77-78.

The three best restaurannts that I remember, and they may not even be there any more (would someone from NM please verify) were Silviano's, Al Monte's, and Casa Viejo.

Silviano's was strictly mexican, Al Monte's continental and Casa Vieja als mexican. I'd love to give you addresses, but I can't remember - it's been too long. And I even used to wait tables part-time at Al Monte's, but I still can't remember.

Cheers,
Bob Boulanger

Sandra W. wrote:
>I believe Powdrell's is on Central Avenue, and I think it's not very
>expensive.
>
>Sandra

It's on the north side of central on the east side of town between Juan Tabo and Tramway.  It was cheaper when it was in a hole-in-the-wall on south San Pedro :)

Paul

From  Fri Feb 21 22:45:21 EST 1992

For lunch, try Duran's Central Pharmacy, on Central near Old Town.

Also good is M&J's Sanitary Tortilla Factory -- great lunch, I'm not sure if they serve dinner.

For very good New Mexican fast food, try Adobe Rose, on Central out beyond the university.

In all cases, get green chiles if given a choice if you want it to be more traditionally new mexican.

As to shopping in ABQ:  my favorite places are in old town. Mariposa Gallery and Tanner Gallery.  Mariposa has lots of nice nifty crafts and jewelry, a lot of it based on southwestern themes.  Tanner has lots of jewelry, but some of it is real old stuff that they got as pawn, so it has much larger stones and a finer quality of work-person-ship than a lot of the stuff that's made now.

In Santa Fe, I would try to avoid eating.  You'll pay a lot and it isn't really New Mexican food.  I totally agree with the previous poster who said it was really Californian.  Favorite place to shop: Jett Gallery and a place along the plaza which I think is called Sun West Traders.

In Taos, Little Roberto's had the best chiles rellenos I ate anywhere.

      Valerie