Life, food, events, and community in Albuquerque, NM
Quiet places to eat
Hi there, my name is Page, and I'm a native of Albuquerque. My husband isn't, but he's a fan nonetheless, which is why we moved back here three months ago.
My question is simple:
Are there any restaurants here in town where one can have a nice, quiet dinner with one's spouse/partner/date? By "quiet", I mean places to which parents do not bring their children. Almost everywhere we've been, there have been families with (often noisy) children. It really doesn't make for a nice night out.
For instance, I remember the days when Il Vicino was crowded and somewhat noisy, but wasn't full of little kids. That's not the case now; every time we've been there since we moved back (and last summer when we were visiting), there have been noisy little kids everywhere, even when we went later in the evening.
Anyway, let us know what your experiences have been, and if you have any suggestions. We only go out once a week, and we want it to be enjoyable.
My question is simple:
Are there any restaurants here in town where one can have a nice, quiet dinner with one's spouse/partner/date? By "quiet", I mean places to which parents do not bring their children. Almost everywhere we've been, there have been families with (often noisy) children. It really doesn't make for a nice night out.
For instance, I remember the days when Il Vicino was crowded and somewhat noisy, but wasn't full of little kids. That's not the case now; every time we've been there since we moved back (and last summer when we were visiting), there have been noisy little kids everywhere, even when we went later in the evening.
Anyway, let us know what your experiences have been, and if you have any suggestions. We only go out once a week, and we want it to be enjoyable.
Tags: family, friendly, quiet, restaurants
Replies are closed for this discussion.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Matt on -
sorry I'm butting in,,,but couldn't help myself.
This is a sore subject for me. I have a difficult time when I see parents with thier kids in places serving alcohol. My pet peeve is Chili's. I like to go and have a nice dinner and not be bothered by someone elses monsters, and I prefer to eat in the bar area because there are less children. BUT some people think it's okay to bring their kids into the bar area and sit and drink with their kids at the table, and spending time around the rest of the drinking adults. I know that's the only place in the resturant with a TV, but most of the drinking adults don't want your children there. I've even seen parents bring there little leaguer kids after the game, sit in the bar area, ordering pitchers of beer and it's sad. How are they prepared to get their family home? Don't they think their kids know when they've been drinking and now driving?? What kind of message are they imprinting on their kids minds.
I sometimes would rather a restaurant had a kids/no kids section, rather than a smoking/no smoking areas.
On a more pleasant thought, I like to go to El Pinto and eat on the patio. It's mostly adults, and familys, but not a boisterous outing, and great atmosphere!!!!
Also the first place came to my mind when I read your post was Paul's Monterrey Inn (ha-ha!) I love Paul's for a quiet romantic "Soprano's" type of an evening. The waitresses have all been there for at least twenty years, and the old fashioned highback leather (naugahyde) booths make me think of the "Godfather" movies!!! (come on, we all think that way!!!)
Other suggestions, The Range (both the wyoming location, and the original in Bernalillo), and The Cooperage on Lomas just east of Louisianna.
just my two sense
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Permalink Reply by Masshole in Fringecrest on -
The Range is kiddie valhalla so I'm not sure about that one... I second Paul's Monterey. We brought our 4 yr. old and the grandparents there about a month back, and I was sure to pin my angel into the booth against the wall (well not literally) so she was even more incognito.
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Permalink Reply by NMBeek on -
Johndi's in the North Valley at Rio Grande and Griegos (SW corner) seldom has small kids, although rarely I will see a family. They are a good, casual menu, bistro type place with good wine and beer selection.
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Permalink Reply by once banned twice shy on
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Well, let me make clear that I think it is stupid that O'Niell's and Two Fools have kid's menus. They are bars and children don't belong in bars. Basta. Parents: if a strip bar had a kid's menu, would you take your child in there? I mean, it does have a kid's menu, so it must be okay, right? I remember long ago once going to Rusty's Cork and Bottle when it was on San Mateo, south of Katherine. There was a big sign on the door which read "ABSOLUTELY NO children allowed in this establishment." I remember thinking how pathetic it was that they felt they had to put that sign up--that people who went there had to be reminded that children didn't belong in bars. Now I know that people don't have any more sense than to bring their children into bars.
I have no problem with children whose parents are responsible and teach them how to behave in a restaurant. Sadly, that just isn't the norm any more. I don't hate children; I hate their parents who don't know what is a kid-appropriate place and what isn't. By the way--I think both Flying Star and the Satellite ARE kid-appropriate places. There are TONS of kid-appropriate restaurants--why do you have to bring the child into the bar? Can't you leave the kid at home when you need to go to the bar?
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Permalink Reply by Masshole in Fringecrest on
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Wow, "hate", huh? Maybe there's a utopian, "ignorant parent"-proof world where like-minded people who equally despise parents blurring the lines between restaurant/bars and bars, and pubs, and bar and grills, and restaurants with beer/wine lists, and sporting events where people get shitfaced, can all be happy free from evils of this crazy confusing modern world with its confusing hazy gray area surrounding food and alcoholic beverage norms....
The Rusty's example is specious, that place was a haven for already drunk ne'er-do-wells who had no business having custody of their kids in the first place. I don' t think it was for slummin' hipsters who wanted a good burger. And I doubt they had a kid's menu. They were fined multiple thousands of dollars at least once for serving already drunk patrons and many a stumbling fight spilled out of that place, I can tell you. I agree it is sad that they had to put that sign up. "Good for you, Albuquerque, Albuquerque, good for you..."
If the aforementioned establishments want to offer kid menus (perhaps as a paen to more "european" pub style, where families are welcome and they have a status as neighborhood meeting place), then kudos to them. I am sure there are places you can go if you do not wish to support that. Or you could let the ownership know.
Don't blame the parent. (of course this goes for well-behaved kids only...)
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Permalink Reply by Brendan on -
I'm with OBTS. There's nothing wrong with well behaved children. And kids don't behave badly for no reason- If they're very young, it's because they're tired, scared, toothing, or otherwise uncomfortable and distressed. If they're old enough to know better, it's because their parents have not taught them proper manners. In either case, it's up to the parent to remove them when they can't comport themselves properly.
Other restaurant suggestions:
Korean BBQ House - I've been there many times and the only children in there have been well behaved.
Taj Mahal, India Palace, Taj Palace - Children are rare and the misbehaving ones tend to be removed promptly.
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Permalink Reply by CB on -
That is so true. I hate seeing a tired child crying in the mall because the parents are dragging him/her around because they want to shop. Then they get mad at the child because they are crying - hello, time to go home.
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Permalink Reply by mombat on -
The basic issue here has to do with how WE ALL behave in public. I would love a "no trendy people talking loudly on cell phones" section or a "no heavy perfume section" or a no "high piched laugh section," but I am not holding my breath.
Kids learn to behave in public by going out and having the rules explained to them.
We took some friends to Kelly's on a Sunday and the only place to sit was the bar, so we sat with 5 kids aged 8-12 and we all enjoyed ourselves and talked and played some darts. There were 3 other families with kids and they were all doing fine, no screaming , no running.
I agree that there are fancy restaurants where younger kids will get bored and that actual bars are not a good place for kids, but I object to statements that treat kids as some sort viral illness.
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Permalink Reply by Brendan on
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Mombat brings up a good point- 30 and 40 year olds can be just as bad! My guess: 30 or 40 years ago their parents didn't teach them how to behave in public.
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Permalink Reply by NxDLamb on -
wow, I'm not sure what quite to say. Although we avoid higher end or fancy restaurants with our crazy 2 yr old, I'd have to agree with the kid's menu/high chair arguement. Places like Applebee's, Chili's, and the equivilent are first and formost a family restaurant, then a bar if you can even call them that. I think actually the bar area is literally the bar itself in those places. It's extremely ludicris to refer to children's actions as terrorism when they act up. most small children are noisy, period. With all these comments and "pet peeves" people are adding and have, i'd like to throw one out too. If you can't acknowledge that children do exist in the real world, even noisy ones, not just the type in movies, or are even offended/bothered buy them, then you really shouldn't leave your house, regardless if you are a "paying" customer, as we are all "paying" customers. only my 2 cents.
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Permalink Reply by Masshole in Fringecrest on
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What does he have to do with this? :-)
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