Life, food, events, and community in Albuquerque, NM

our 40th anniversary

the hubster wants to make it a special night but has no desire for pretentiousness..he's a cheap old fart but still wants it to be special. any ideas would be deeply appreciated by me.he can't stand "dirty plates and plates that have sqggiles surrounding preciously built appetizer size entrees. it's april 23rd and i'm having nightmares of his driving me to golden pride. help an old nervous woman.

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Permalink Reply by dolores on April 21, 2009 at 8:29am: Yanni's in Nob Hill; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by sophie on April 21, 2009 at 8:59am: That's a great suggestion! Yanni's totally fits the bill (hearty meal, great service, reasonable price, still special).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kelly on April 21, 2009 at 9:06am: Crepe Michel in Old Town. Great food, and lovely but not pretentious presentation. And tres affordable.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Brendan on April 21, 2009 at 9:17am: You could buy a fondu pot and make dinner together.

If you like ethnic fare, many of our Indian restaurants have a nice ambiance, won't break the bank, and won't be too busy on the 23rd (Thursday night doesn't seem to be a big rush for anywhere, really).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Grumpy on April 21, 2009 at 9:40am: If you want to go totally old school there's always Paul's Monterey Inn? I don't think it qualifies in the "cheap" category, though.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by once banned twice shy on April 21, 2009 at 9:42am: You know? I have been disappointed in Yanni's more than once. I also can't stop thinking about that night a cockroach cruised across the bar and the bartender nonchalantly mashed it IN FRONT OF ME and said "yeah, that happens after we spray." No offer of a free drink, no apology, no nothing. Gah!

I second La Crepe Michel. Don't be freaked out by the French food aspect. No squiggles on the plate and more of a bistro style food than Michelin-star variety.

I can also recommend Zea Rotisserie. Good food, not terribly expensive, generous portions and a fairly nice ambience. Better than Golden Pride, anyway.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Grumpy on April 21, 2009 at 9:44am: I thought I was the only one that is not a fan of Yanni's. Glad to know I'm not alone.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by jeff on April 21, 2009 at 9:55am: add me - i've been a handful of times and have always left thinking that the service is good and earnest however the food is overpriced for the care, precision and basic quality. they're still doing the whole 80's thing of dusting the plate with parsley too....yawn.

but i think the acoustics and generally cheap material quality in that funky addition are unbelievably poor for a restaurant with those pretenses to fine dining.

riffing on brendan's suggestion, how about the melting pot? or season's? or vernon's?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Edith Grove on April 21, 2009 at 9:46am: I'll chime in on Crepe Michel. Nice ambiance in a romantic part of town, but definitely not snooty. Then you can go for a stroll around the plaza.

I've had issues with Yanni's, too.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jen on April 21, 2009 at 10:05am: I'm a big fan of Brasserie La Provence, in Nob Hill--it's French, but not fussy French. The Artichoke's food is always rock solid, but they may be prone to the occasional squiggly flourish, so that might knock them out in your book.

Congratulations!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Phil_0 on April 21, 2009 at 1:35pm: I'll second this - delicious.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by jeff on April 21, 2009 at 12:08pm: i just noticed that 999dine is featuring a nifty rancher's club coupon, $50 for $30.; ▶ Reply to This