Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Albuquerque

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in Albuquerque? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Blades' Bistro

4.8

4.8 (1794)

$30 and under

International

Placitas

About the restaurant

Chef-owned, Blades' Bistro features innovative international cuisine known for its open kitchen, quality menu offerings, and attentive service in a casual, country setting. Specialties include Grilled Salmon, Chicken Française and Roasted Beets topped with Goat Cheese, Fried Calamari and world class French Onion Soup along with salad courses, daily specials, seasonal entrees, and homemade desserts. The owners are committed to use fresh ingredients and support their Local Farmers whenever possible. Look for exciting Wine Dinners pared with wines from regions from all over the world. Blades' Bistro is a classy blend of classic, whimsical; it is an oasis of sophistication thriving in Placitas. Everything about Blades' Bistro is nicer than you expect, in the best possible way. The dining room is refined and the exhibition kitchen classy. By Andrea Lin For the ABQ Journal

Top review

Kat

Dined 6 days ago

Amazing food and dining experience all j. All and will be back

M'tucci's Italian - Albuquerque

4.7

4.7 (1166)

$30 and under

Italian

Albuquerque

About the restaurant

M'tucci's Italian is a celebration of la dolce vita -- serious food in a warm environment. Gather, eat, talk, laugh, connect with your community over a delicious meal. If you ate it here, we made it here. Why? Because hand-crafted food made from the best ingredients is the Italian way. The M'tucci's way.

From lunch to dinner, we have dishes that will please any palate. Can't decide between our calamari and our mussels or maybe between our fresh pasta and homemade pizzas? Our servers can give you a suggestion for a meal that's sure to amaze. If you're looking to impress for a party or meeting, we can bring the sweet life to your event with our onsite and offsite catering. Taste, savor, and enjoy, Albuquerque. We can't wait to welcome you!

Top review

CAROLYNvip

Dined 5 days ago

A Friday night favorite! We always feel welcome at M’Tucci’s. The cocktails, food and service are exactly what we need after a long week!

P.F. Chang's - Albuquerque

4.7

4.7 (163)

$30 and under

Chinese

Albuquerque

About the restaurant

We are an Asian & Chinese restaurant offering dine-in, takeout, to-go, delivery, and catering. Make a reservation online to dine in. Order Asian and Chinese food delivery, takeout, and catering online or through the P.F. Chang's mobile app. Let us cater the perfect feast for you - corporate office catering menus are also available. P.F. Chang's offers a variety of signature Asian, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Mongolian, and Chinese food dishes including Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Chicken Pad Thai, Signature Lo Mein, Fried Rice, Mongolian Beef, Chang's Spicy Chicken, and Pork and Shrimp Dumplings. Order online for sushi delivery and takeout. Many gluten-free and vegetarian menu items are available. Try our seasonal cocktails and seasonal menu items.

Top review

Ulisesvip

Dined on Sep 2, 2024

Excellent overall experience, although the restaurant is kind of dark

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Experience

Lucky 8 Happy Hour (Mon - Fri, 3 - 6pm)

M'tucci's Moderno Italian - Rio Rancho

4.7

4.7 (963)

$30 and under

Italian

Albuquerque

About the restaurant

Our mission is to open a few restaurants that take care of our guests in every way-treating them like guests in our home, making sure that they feel embraced by the joy with which we extend our hospitality, and making sure that they become entranced by our restaurant. We understand the value of 'regulars' returning weekly and in many cases more frequently. We hope that all of our guests will feel that they belong to a private club, to which we welcome them again and again. M'tucci's Moderno located in Rio Rancho is a sister of our first restaurant, M'tucci's Italian, which is located at Coors and Montano on Albuquerque's West Side. At Moderno, we continue to offer a moderately priced, Italian menu built on a foundation of both traditional and contemporary recipes. The menu, together with the bar (full liquor license) menu, is offered in a contemporary building with black steel elements, high ceilings, and a big garage door that opens to the Sandia Mountains. Inside the steel, we have inserted a more traditional looking wood clad restaurant featuring traditional lighting and Edison bulbs, as well as other playful elements. Our congenial bar and mezzanine offer alternative spaces within which to enjoy M'tucci's food and beverage. Moderno's bar program features our unique shrubs as well as a new collection of original cocktails to complement our food and wine. Our mezzanine can also be reserved for private groups. M'tucci's Moderno is located just west of Presbyterian's Rust Medical Center. At the end of 2016, Jeff Spiegel, Katie Gardner, and John Haas, founders of M'tucci's Restaurants, welcomed five new partners to their ownership team: Austin Leard, Sherri Rivenburgh, Cory Gray, Shawn Cronin and Chris O'Sickey. This ensures that M'tucci's Restaurants are here for the long haul.

Top review

Jim

Dined on Sep 2, 2024

Excellent food and service. Ate outside with gorgeous Mountain views. Only distracted by hot rod noise in the parking lot and a smoker on the sidewalk for a short while. Otherwise a great experience!

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Popular dish

Pesto Ravioli

Indigo Crow

4.6

4.6 (2491)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Albuquerque

About the restaurant

Indigo Crow is located in the Village of Corrales. Owners Don and Regina Raber, along with their staff, have created an amazing place for friends and family to gather and enjoy great food and wine.
At the Crow, we love food. It is our passion to pair great food with exceptional wine for a memorable dining experience. Join us and enjoy this inspired menu with local produce, southwest touches, as well as international flavors.
Enjoy patio dining under our elm trees or cozy up to one of our two fireplaces in the cooler months.
Please call Indigo Crow for Happy Hour reservations from 3-5pm.
If you are unable to make a reservation during business hours online, we may have limited seating. Please call to make your reservation.
505-898-7000

Top review

AthleticBakervip

Dined today

The host Tamara is amazing. She filled in the gaps for our server Cody. The ambience was lovely in September, but a lot of black tiny ants on the patio. Our server Cody was a wondeful human, but it seemed he was overwhelmed even though the place was barely occupied. He did take decent care of us, but id be lying if it didn't feel like he was angling for assumed wealthier tables. For transparency we tipped over 25%, but it wouldve been nice to have given more. The food was lovely, but the kitchen missed the mark with protein temperatures. My filet was over done and the salmon was nearly raw. While they fixed the salmon, it made the timing of our meal off. I was done while my wife was waiting for her meal. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and we'll be back, but for an anniversary and a first time, it wasn't 100% what was expected. Tamara was our highlight. She deserves all the flowers.

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Trombino's Bistro Italiano

4.6

4.6 (1352)

$31 to $50

Italian

Academy West

About the restaurant

SERVING "MANGIA" & "ABBONDANZA" FOR OVER 34 YEARS! Welcome to Trombino's Bistro Italiano, since 1979 a long standing favorite among Albuquerqueans, business travelers and tourists alike. Our restaurant is an ideal location for your lunch, dinner, or important client meetings. A comfortable Trattoria that has that inviting feeling of an old Italian neighborhood! More than just a place to eat, but rather, a gathering place where you, your friends, family and business associates can slow down, enjoy a great meal and reconnect. Trombino's serves signature dishes of authentic Italian-American cuisine. Our menu is large and varied, offering a great selection of homemade pastas, signature salads, prime steaks, fresh fish and memorable desserts, including these delectable choices... Gorgonzola Crusted New York Strip Steak, Veal Piccata, Veal Marsala, Chicken Caprini, Shrimp fra Diavolo, Fruitti di Mare & House-made Tiramisu Cake. The bar offers a first class wine list, and Decadent Martinis.

Top review

Roxannevip

Dined 3 days ago

Excellent all around- it was great! Food, ambience and service!

Restaurant Forty Nine Forty

4.6

4.6 (245)

$50 and over

American

Los Ranchos

About the restaurant

Discover Restaurant Forty Nine Forty, a sophisticated dining experience nestled in the heart of Corrales, New Mexico, where guests are treated to elevated American cuisine. Executive Chef Javier Montano presents a delectable array of unique dishes, showcasing his extensive culinary expertise and professional finesse.

Whether you prefer the intimate ambiance of the dining room, the beautiful patio, or the charm of the marketplace, Restaurant Forty Nine Forty offers the ideal setting for any occasion."

Top review

Kristie

Dined 3 days ago

We would've given it 6 stars easily if we could. The knowledge of the staff and description of items is amazing. This is our second trip there. It's our new favorite spot. There aren't many restaurants out there like this. I'm originally from Chicago where there are a variety of restaurants. This is a gem of a place. On my asparagus there was a cream on it. I asked our server and it's whipped feta.... who would think of such a thing? Everything is great. Presentation of the appetizers and drinks are spot on. No complaints here at all. You gotta have the Ahi Tuna Cigar appetizer. We were amazed.

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4.4

4.4 (944)

$30 and under

Steakhouse

Albuquerque

About the restaurant

Old Town’s original steakhouse! Celebrating 47 years of serving exceptional steaks, wild game, hand pattied burgers and small-batch New Mexican food in a historic adobe building built in the 1700's. Join us for a meal or stop in to enjoy our handmade margaritas, extensive Tequila selection, and thoughtfully selected beer and wine offerings in our charming Santos lounge.

Top review

Dante

Dined 6 days ago

Everything was amazing! The brie empanadas are a must! So good! The staff was friendly and attentive. The decor is beautiful.

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Popular dish

Shrimp Enchiladas

Mulas

4.0

4 (72)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Los Ranchos

About the restaurant

A unique Corrales restaurant atmosphere with cuisine steeped in multicultural history of New Mexico. You'll experience traditional Spanish, Mexican, and Native aspects in all our dishes! Great outdoor patio!

Top review

Dined 4 days ago

Food is amazing. Seriously, the most phenomenal pork chop I've ever tasted in my life. Roasted broccolini, perfectly seasoned crisp + soft potatoes. Perfect spice level for me. Bread basket is good and the chile jam that came with it was super flavorful; I will remember it. Ambiance is nice, and the chef came out to talk to us. He was delightful and very proud of his work, as he should be - obviously, a lot of love for his craft went into making our meal, and we could taste the attention given, right down to the micro salad placement atop the savory peach chutney. The atmosphere was quiet and we had no problem hearing each other speak. I'd never heard of Mulas until my friend suggested it as we were leaving home. We thought it a shame that such gourmet and flavorful food didn't have a packed house on a Friday night, because it is deserving of such. My friend had the scallops, which were perfectly seared and seasoned nicely. The texture was buttery and lovely, with fabulous flavor. We had sangria with some interesting fragrant fruit in it. While the sangria itself was on the dry side (vs. sweet), it did hit the spot and we both enjoyed it. I will definitely be returning to this restaurant. I hope more people find out about it, so that it's there for many decades to come. I believe this restaurant will be a staple on date night for many couples, and a great place to celebrate with groups.

Vinaigrette - Albuquerque

3.7

3.7 (485)

$30 and under

American

Albuquerque

About the restaurant

Vinaigrette is a chic and green bistro that raises the "salad bar" with bold and delicious entrée salads. Featuring innovative flavor combinations and the option to add savory protein accompaniments like diver scallops, lemon-herb chicken or grilled hanger steak, these tantalizingly hearty yet healthy creations allow for guiltless and delicious eating at the same time. The restaurant strives to source local and organic ingredients. As one local publication put it "Eating well never tasted so good."

Top review

Dedee

Dined 6 days ago

My husband and I loved our dinner at Vinaigrette. Their salads are creative and delicious. There is something for everyone. Jade was our server, and was friendly, helpful, and efficient. We thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend! Note to the owner: Please expand your restaurants to Southern California!

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