Beer Guide Questions: Albuquerque & Santa Fe

1) Honestly, from my limited time here in NM, I think all the can't miss places are listed in the Beer Guide.

2) Food in Albuquerque is, IMHO, largely underwhelming. Not bad, but coming from Denver it has been a noticeable step down. And I would imagine Denver is a step down from the hotspots in California (though Denver has come around a lot the past couple years, FWIW). So I would just set your expectations accordingly. You can find good food here, I don't know if I have found great food (but sometimes repeat visits to a place are needed for me to determine that, which I have not pulled off yet at many of these spots). And its way too easy to find forgettable food.

As for vegetarian, Zacatecas in Nob Hill has some really tasty wild mushroom tacos, their guacamole and salsa is fantastic, I enjoyed their raja relleno. Downtown has AM Spices of India, vegetarian Indian cuisine....I enjoy the place. They have a small, limited buffet usually or a full menu (a little over priced and smaller portions than they should be, tasty though....but you wont leave the place thinking next time in ABQ I have to come back here).

Annapurna is a vegetarian cafe, though I have never been there. Thai Vegan gets love on Yelp, but like every Thai place in town, I don't find it to be impressive.


3) Albuquerque - Zacatecas is good and their chef is a James Baird award winner, I enjoyed my dinner at the restaurant at Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm, breakfast or lunch at Grove St Cafe is worth your time. If I was to choose one place, I'd make the effort to do breakfast or lunch at Grove St. Cafe.

 

Okay, budgetary considerations would be useful for Santa Fe, as there are places I'd recommend that are $$$$.

But for any budget, in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, you should really hit at least one New Mexican restaurant. I'm a norteño (northerner) and don't love Albuquerque's New Mexican food, but I do like El Modelo (cheap and greasy and fatty) or Cervantes (moderate and greasy and fatty). Tia Betty Blue's is pretty nice too and I'm pretty sure they even have some vegetarian New Mexican options.

Santa Fe's food is better in general and this applies to New Mexican. The Pantry, La Choza, The Shed are all good choices. You really should hit El Parasol and try their chicken tacos if you're able to eat meat (I'm assuming you eat meat, but like vegetarian food, haha).

The Compound and Geronimo's are great upscale restaurants in Santa Fe and they're on Canyon Road which is a cool strip as it is (art gallery after art gallery).

Hard to know without knowing you, but one vegetarian dish I'd recommend is calabacitas... squash and zucchini, corn, onion, garlic, in a slightly buttery, creamy sauce. I love it.

While in Santa Fe you should also do yourself a favor and visit Kakawa.

Also, now that I think of it, one of the best places to dine and I'm sure they'll have some veggie dishes for you is Farm and Table. Probably the best setting for food in Albuquerque.

Oh and a fun place to eat and drink in Albuquerque is the Green Jeans Farmery. Rustic's Burgers are some of the best I've had in New Mexico.

 

If it hasn't been stated in the guide, I'll just say that in Santa Fe, Fire and Hops is doing a great job.

For NM food, Maria's. (period) It's up in Santa Fe, the Margaritas are the best anywhere (yes I have been throughout Jalisco) and all of the NM food is spot on.
I honestly would not argue with Denver10 about ABQs food scene, but it is getting better. When I travel I always am happy to find new and often better restaurants elsewhere. For thai food, thai vegan on Osuna is good, but I like thai cuisine II on Central, and they do have our (La Cumbre) beer in cans as well as vegetarian options. I do disagree that our thai restaurants aren't up to par with others. Having an air force base here, I feel that both the Vietnamese and the thai restaurants are plentiful, and therefore, the best of them are truly great, if not a bit hard to find through the clutter of selection.
I am reluctant to say it as the place is tiny and already popular, but fairly unknown, Mogokoro (formerly kokoro) is off the walls, batshit-crazy amaze balls. Country-style Japanese food. No sushi. Rice dishes for lunch. Noodle dishes for dinner. I have not had anything I didn't absolutely love here. Their vegetable tempura is incredibly good.

Skip Annapurna. IMO, completely boring, uninspired and cheaply made.

Hope you enjoy our state!

 

Been really enjoying these guys recently. Spicey Karaage Don Bouri (and this is coming from someone who does does not care for breaded fried fods 97% of the time) for lunch, Spicy Tonkutsu Ramen for dinnner. I probably should experiment more with their menu, but can't seem to pass up these when there.