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

places for a nice lunch

My husband & I periodically have a "date" lunch. Brasserie La Provence is our favorite. Sometimes Chef du Jour depending on the menu/chef. Slate Street Cafe & Nob Hill Bar & Grill were just OK in my opinion. Does anyone else have other suggestions? We've considered Seasons, Artichoke Cafe & Zinc since we've enjoyed all of them at dinner, but haven't tried any of them for lunch yet. We prefer the downtown/old town/nob hill area for proximity to work.

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Permalink Reply by Eugene Paul Dunaway on June 18, 2009 at 8:18pm: gold street cafe; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Shady Lady on June 18, 2009 at 8:57pm: My husband and I had a fantastic late lunch at Seasons today. We ordered the special - grilled moonfish over couscous and haricots verts. They had nice wines by the glass as well. I also recommend Marcello's good people watching from the patio.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Brendan on June 19, 2009 at 9:40am: Sort of depends on what a "date" lunch requires. Is it the napkin-must-be-some-sort-of-fabric threshold?

We enjoy the Artichoke for dinner, but not lunch. Not that it was bad, just it was lunch-fare prepared and presented like dinner-fare. If that's what you're looking for, that's probably a good choice for you.

You might like Quinn's. It has the general location you mention and pretty much a "date" lunch ambiance inside. I'm being a little self serving here, though: I'd like to know if I'm alone in not appreciating it.

It's a little out of the way being in Old Town, but Le Crepe Michel is wonderful at any time of day. Every time we go there I ask my wife "why don't we go here more often?". If you're a museum member, park in their lot for free, check out the current exhibit, then go around back to use bat cave entrance to the restaurant.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by jen-E on June 19, 2009 at 10:01am: We have lunch about once a month & go to a variety of places. Although we sometimes frequent our old favorites like Chopstix, Kokoro & Viet Taste, I sometimes like to go somewhere nicer. I guess "nice" or "date," to me mean somewhere I wouldn't readily take my kids- a more quiet, adult atmosphere.

My sister was visiting a few weeks ago & we had lunch at both Le Crepe Michel & Relish. La Crepe Michel fits my idea of a "date" lunch. I'm like you, I've only been there a few times, & every time I think "I should come here again soon." I had the pissaladiere which was delicious & very reasonably priced. My sister had a smoked fish special that was also very good.

Our lunch at Relish was also very good & I want to go back sometime soon, but it has less of a "date" atmosphere. I had the chop salad & my sister had the Cubano. Fresh ingredients, well proportioned, perfectly dressed.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Brendan on June 19, 2009 at 10:29am: For less kids and a quieter atmosphere in Nob Hill, consider Yanni's, Vivace, Gruet Steakhouse (Monte Vista Fire Station), or Scalo. These are all dinner places to me, but they're open for lunch too.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by jeff on June 19, 2009 at 10:43am: pars, not exactly an ideal location though.
los equipales.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by once banned twice shy on June 19, 2009 at 11:51am: Monte Carlo Steak House
Chef du Jour
Cafe at Natural History Museum--haven't been there, but heard it's really good
Cafe/restaurant at Indian Cultural Center on 12th street. I thought their food was good and different. Big portions though!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andrea Lin on June 19, 2009 at 11:58am: Le Crepe Michel. Absolutely.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by JuliusFan on June 19, 2009 at 4:54pm: Jen-E, you might try Yanni's and Farina. I enjoy them both for lunch and dinner. They're just a cut above the norm, day or night. In fact, my honey and I had a "date" lunch at Yanni's after his attorney swearing-in ceremony. It was just perfect. Depending on your lunch window, neither may meet your "quiet" criteria, but will definitely fit the bill for a higher-quality midday repast. Enjoy!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by jen-E on June 19, 2009 at 8:31pm: Good suggestion for Scalo. We went there for lunch today & it was exactly what I was looking for. I hadn't eaten in the restaurant (have been to the bar) for 5-6 years; not sure why not.

Pars is also a good suggestion- again we haven't been there for years.

I've been wanting to try both the Monte Carlo Steakhouse & the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center dining room. I miss The Townhouse & Monte Carlo sounds like it might be similar.

I haven't had very good luck with Vivace. I've been there a handful of times, & on some occasions it has been very good, but on others we have had either poor service or mediocre food.

And I still want to get my husband to Le Crepe Michel... it looks like we have our dining work cut out for us...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Brendan on June 28, 2009 at 3:36pm: BTW, you can get much of The Townhouse experience at Paul's Monterey Inn in the NE.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by YDI Mentoring Initiative on June 29, 2009 at 12:01pm: Hannah and Nates Cafe is quiet and has great food. At the Riverside plaza, Montano and Coors area; ▶ Reply to This