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

COFFEE in Burque Town?

Hey-
I'm moving to ABQ in October and my fiancee (from ABQ) knows NOTHING about coffee. He suggested Starbucks for a good cup of coffee...eeeew. Well I'm from Portland, OR and am hoping there is at least a couple non-chain, coffee-snob places I can frequent. (We'll be living around Indian School & Juan Tabo). PLEASE tell me I can get some great coffee from a pretentious tattooed/pierced person that deigns to talk to me enough to order a cup of coffee (this is one of the weird things that I'll miss about Portland).

Also, my fiancee's favorite restaurant is Mac's Steak in the Rough, so that tells you a couple things about his palate. I'd also be grateful for recommendations for the top 10 of Albuquerque (cheap, $$$ & everything in between), so I can prioritize my foodie exploration of Albuquerque.

Tags: coffee, foodie, moving, portland, snobbery

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Permalink Reply by John V on July 1, 2009 at 2:52pm: Unfortunately, you have a Starbucks right at JT&IS. Otherwise, Flying Star and Satalite (same local company) have restaurants/coffee shops around town. RB Winnings in the university area roasts their own. Cup'a Joes at Eubank and Comanche, only open for lunch.

I don't know of any Mac's that are still open. Lucky you! The afore mentioned Flying Star has good food but a little overpriced. Mai Thai is my favorite Thai food that'll set you back about $10 with a drink (Eubank & Constitution).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Noel on July 1, 2009 at 3:04pm: Some caffeinated thoughts:

one-- Whole Foods. They roast their own beans and some of them are beyond belief. (Also some of the best shopping in town for top quality anything). (Best to leave fiancee home or the whining and moaning and "whole paycheck" jokes will cause a rift.)

two-- as John said, Flying Star and Satellite are a local chain, so not anything like Starbucks.

three-- online? I was living in CA for a while and got hooked on Naked Coffee. Their retail outlets in northern CA were "Habit," and they had exactly what you're describing: "pretentious tattooed/pierced person that deigns to talk to me enough to order a cup of coffee," plus awesome jazz. They sell coffee online, I believe. As do Portland and Washington coffee roasters. The lesson learned there was Grand Cru - the top 2% of the beans. (See Whole Foods above.)

four-- The Range Cafe. Pretty darn good prices on some pretty darn good comfort food. E.g., a bowl of Green Chile Chicken Stew is around $5-6 and it's huge. (They also have pretty darn good coffee.)

five -- Nob Hill. Tool around that part of Central Ave. and you'll find some very good coffee.

Oh, and hey ... welcome to ABQ.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Brendan on July 1, 2009 at 3:17pm: Welcome (in advance) to Albuquerque and DCF! There are so many java junkies here that there is a group named Caffiends dedicated to the holy molecule. There aren't as many tattooed/pierced persons in what will be your neighborhood as others, but there are a number of outstanding restaurants in the area: Ming Dynasty (dim sum), Le Paris (Bakers of most of the city's french bread), Taj Palace (Indian), and Paisano's (Italian) are all near Indian School, one major street west of Juan Tabo. On Juan Tabo itself there's Chow's Chinese Bistro (upscale, but Americanized), A Taste of Italy (pleasingly dumpy Italian place) and Garcia's (A servicable place to get a taste of New Mexican food).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Masshole in Fringecrest on July 1, 2009 at 3:33pm: Michael Thomas Coffee on Carlisle, just N. of Gibson is a good for slight coffee snobbery, sans piercing/tattoos. Mac's Steak in the Rough is still around, a couple of locations anyway. Triple Yuck. Just read up in this group and you'll be hitting all the best places (regardless of price point) in no time. Welcome!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by geofizx on July 1, 2009 at 5:03pm: For beans - try Moon's Coffee and Tea. Yummy! It's on Juan Tabo between Indian School and Lomas, in the Sandra Plaza Strip Mall (get used to knowing crazy strip mall names). She (Moon) roasts the beans in the store and it smells fantastic when you walk in.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kristin Ford on July 1, 2009 at 5:11pm: You folks are rad, thanks for the suggestions. I try to avoid 'chain' anything (unless it's a small, local chain) & try to buy local, so I'm coming to the realization that I'm going to have to be pretty resourceful to be able to buy/eat/live in ABQ.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rob Creighton Garrison on July 1, 2009 at 7:41pm: I have no recommendations for you, but the "pretentious tattooed/pierced person that deigns to talk" comment make me laaaaugh, AND miss Portland. My wife and I moved to da 505 in April and are loving it muchly. I hope you're happy here as well. :oD; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andrea Lin on July 1, 2009 at 10:15pm: Cup O' Joe is up on Eubank and pretty darn good. Moon's is awesome for beans, and she'll typically have one variety brewed when she's open so you can get a cup, too.

Other than that.... nothing nearby, anyway.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rebecca on July 2, 2009 at 11:31am: For coffee, I would also suggest Java Joe's downtown, or any place that serves Santa Fe's Aroma Coffee. (Sunflower Cafe on Mountain, Ecco Gelato on Central in Nob Hill.) Cafe Giuseppe (see above) is a great recommendation.

For food: Kokoro (Japanese) on Menaul; Vietaste, which is across the street or Pho #1 for Vietnamese Food; Taj Mahal (Indian) on Carlisle; Barelas (New Mexican) on 4th Street; Relish (Sandwiches/Salads) on Menaul, and also downtown on Central; and Farina Pizza on Central (East of Downtown).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jessica on July 2, 2009 at 11:59am: I don't claim to know coffee, but I do know food. The Albuquerque foodie scene has it's own funky vibe. Nothing like the fabulous restaurants I frequented for my year in Denver, which marry atmosphere and good eats flawlessly. Here, it seems you enjoy some of your best meals in a bowling alley or a strip mall jack-in-the-box. Here are my *current* top 5 in Albuquerque, in no particular order:

Ezra's Place (the aforementioned bowling alley haunt) - fresh, local, inventive, unpretentious, margaritas the size of your head
Nob Hill Bar & Grill - when I need to feel like I live in a big city and want to be seen, the caipirihna's a killer
Casa de Benavides - the BEST New Mexican food in town, luscious green outdoor patio, incites serious cravings
Brasserie de Provence - I've only been here once, on Saturday night, and had the best mussels I've ever found in Albuquerque, in addition to a New Mexican, grass-fed filet mignon that was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I must admit, the meal exceeded my expectations; I will be going back to see if this experience is reproduced.
Flying Star - a local staple, there's always something scrumptious to attend to any mood, expensive because they use local and organic products

As far as shopping local: Montanita Co-op... there's one in Nob Hill and one in the valley on Rio Grande, also check out the Los Ranchos growers market every Saturday during the summer

The next place on my list: the new wine bar and tapas menu at Prairie Star in Bernalillo; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John V on July 2, 2009 at 12:27pm: Looking back, I see that noone has mentioned the Fronteer on Central by the university! Not the best food in town, but certainly edible and cheap. The decor is.. umm.. well it's decorated. It draws an eclectic mix of cusomers though. The place must be experienced, it really can't be decribed.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John V on July 2, 2009 at 12:28pm: Same goes for the Owl Cafe on Eubank near the freeway. Greasy diner food, but the best greasy diner food in the heights.; ▶ Reply to This