66 Diner

1405 Central Avenue NE
Phone: 505 247-1421
Fun and good food sum up this nostalgic favorite on historic Route 66. My personal favorite in this homage to roadside eating and 50s culture, is the "Pile Up" and its smaller version "Fender Bender" with pan fried potatoes, chopped bacon, chopped green chile, two eggs, cheddar cheese and red or green chile sauce. But it's all good at this casual 1950s feel eatery. The burgers, sandwiches and Blue Plate Specials offer comfort food 7 days a week.

And we definitely need to mention the luscious pies and milkshakes. Yes, indeed, whether you were there, or just have a hankering for waitresses in blue uniforms and potsy (or hopscotch) floor tiles, you'll have a great time.

Buca di Beppo

6520 Americas Parkway NE
Phone: 505 872-2822
We love this place -- both for the food, and the over-the-top decor. Valentine's Day, here's where we went. For an unusual experience, eat in the kitchen. Otherwise, you'll find any place in the restaurant is welcoming. This is a party place with the more the merrier. But a couple can also enjoy. The menu for dinner is served as platters, with the small size serving two or three. Get a small pasta and a small entre, or a salad and a pasta and it will feed two comfortably. You could take home leftovers, if there are any.

Personal favorites: Apple Gorgonzola salad, warm tomato and spinach salad, and eggplant parmesan. However, we are still eating our way through the menu, with gusto.

Cafe Trang

230 Louisiana Blvd, SE
Phone: 505 232-6764
One of the great surprises of Albuquerque is the excellent Vietnamese cuisine, and Cafe Trang is one of the best in the city. Read the review at Cafe Trang Restaurant

Chopstix

6001-L Lomas Blvd. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
Phone: 505-268-8777
Quite simply the very best Chinese restaurant in the city, probably the state. In December, 2008 Jackie was in Albuquerque filming his latest movie The Spy Next Door. Chan plays a man who is asked to baby-sit for his neighbor’s children and winds up having to protect them from secret agents after one of them accidentally downloads a code. After trying several places in the city, Chan settled on Chopstix as his favorite, finding it the most authentic Chinese restaurant in the city. Even going into the kitchen to try his hand at cooking and generally charming the owner and staff.

Read our review of Chopstix Restaurant

Church Street Cafe

2111 Church St. NW
Phone: 505 247-8522
This New Mexican restaurant (and outdoor dining patio) in the heart of Old Town is a favorite both for the food and the atmosphere. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner specializing in traditional New Mexican dishes (including a New Mex take on old favorites). Sandwiches, hamburgers, and soups, and salads. And, fajitas, chile smothered steak, carne adovada al horno, vegetarian rellenos (two large green chiles stuffed with cheese dipped in egg batter and fried) and old fashioned chile rellenos (made the old Spanish way with meat and cheese, lightly dipped in egg batter, fried and topped with green chile). Did we say Yum? Well, it is.

The ambience comes from its history. The property was originally a residence built by the Ruiz family in the early 1700s, and it remained so until Rufina G. Ruiz died in 1991 at the age of 91. The house is built of terrones -- a type of adobe brick that was used prior to the 1820s. In places the walls are over 2 feet thick -- built to be warmer in winter and cooler in summer. The rooms are cozy and meander throughout the building, and eventually lead to a cozy outdoor dining patio.

Mykonos Cafe and Taverna

5900 Eubanks Blvd. NE
Phone: 505 291-1116
The taste, feel, and atmosphere of Greece, in the middle of northeast heights. This is a true Greek restaurant, from the old country with white walls, blue accents and clay tile floors. It was the first place I ate when I arrived in Albuquerque, fresh from New York, and it was a taste of home. It's all delicious.

Papa Felipe's Mexican Restaurant

9800 Menaul Blvd. NE
at the corner of Menaul and Eubank
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87112
505-292-8877
This family owned restaurant is a local favorite. The result of a festive atmostphere, consistently good food and good prices. Green Chile Carne Adovada is a standout. But we've happily eaten our way through the menu with nothing but praise.

Range Cafe

With several locations in the Albuquerque/Bernalillo area, you're never far from one of the friendly, funky, and really good places to eat.
4200 Wyoming Blvd. NE (Albuquerque)
Phone: 505 293-2633

2200 Menaul Blvd. NE (Albuquerque)
Phone: 505 888-1660

925 Camino del Pueblo (Bernalillo)
Phone 505 867-1700

This place is pure comfort food in a colorful, friendly, and funky atmosphere. Their motto serving ordinary food done extraordinarily well, sums it up. It ain't fancy, it's just delicious. Breakfast items include huevos rancheros (with blue corn tortillas), omelettes, waffles, and more plus their Home on The Range -- Bowl of hot oatmeal topped with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream, chopped walnuts and fresh strawberries. Since it's a New Mexican influenced menu, their North of the Border dishes include burritos, blue corn enchiladas chimichangas, chile rellenos, fajitas, and combination plates. Most come with either chicken, shredded beef or sauteed veggies, and choice of chile. The marinated shredded beef is my personal favorite in any way it's served. But you can also find meat loaf, chicken fried steak, fish and chips, and much more. We've never made it to the dessert menu, but we will one day. They sound mouth-wateringly good.

Standard Diner

320 Central Avenue Southeast
Albuquerque, NM 87102-3516
(505) 243-1440
We have made this anything-but-standard dining place our special place. Here's where we go when we want to celebrate, or just enjoy a well-prepared meal in a laid-back funky and friendly atmosphere. Their website says: Standard Diner updates traditional diner classics with modern flair, but really, they serve entrees no diner ever served that I visited. Okay, yes, they do have a form of meatloaf that's angus chuck wrapped in bacon, with smashed potatoes, vegetables in a red wine gravy. But how many diners ever served ahi tuna? Oh, yes, they can call it Country Fried Tuna, but reall. Come on. It's tuna, served appropriately raw in the middle with a thin crisp coating and it comes with wasabi guacamole, pickled ginger tartar sauce and ginger infused basmati rice.

Their specials are pretty special, too. And they offer excellent wines and beers. Oh, yes. I like their desserts too. And their 1950s auto-themed yet sophisticated decor. After all, it did start out as Caruthers & Maudlin service station built in 1938, and situated on what once was Route 66.

Whole Hog Cafe

9880 Montgomery, NE
Phone: 505 323-1688
Barbeque lovers, rejoice. This is the finest BBQ in the city, and probably the state. We've been smitten by the tender yet lean and perfectly delicious pulled pork. The brisket is rubbed to perfection then gently smoked. It's tender but with just the right texture and chew. The potato salad is a bit too heavy with mayo for our taste (we prefer the mustardy version), but clearly above commercial grade. We will be working our way through the entire menu because we do love 'que. As an aside -- the website is filled with accolades for the barbeque, and you'll also find other locations. Apparently this is a franchise/licensing operation.