Restaurants in Southwest
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In-N-Out Burger
At California’s famous In-N-Out, where the beef patties are never frozen and the potatoes are hand-diced daily, there’s a secret menu. Ask for your burger ‘animal style’ (with mustard, an onion-grilled bun and extra-special sauce).
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El Norteño
True Mexican - not New Mexican - cuisine is the thing here, with fantastic pollo norteño, chicken mole and the must-have cabrito al horno (oven-roasted goat).
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Bison Witches
Dive into a bread bowl at this lively hangout for college students and the occasional hipster. It's all about the sandwiches; the beef and brie is exactly what it sounds like. The music is boisterous, there are myriad TVs and drinks from the full bar are served till 2am.
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Frontier
An Albuquerque tradition, the Frontier boasts enormous cinnamon rolls, addictive green chili stew, and the best huevos rancheros ever. The food and people-watching are outstanding, and students love the low prices on the 24/7 breakfast, burgers and Mexican food.
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Mesa Grill
While the star New York chef doesn’t cook on the premises, his bold signature menu of Southwestern fusion fare lives up to the hype, whether it’s a sweet potato tamale with crushed pecan butter, blue-corn pancakes or spice-rubbed pork tenderloin.
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Tucanos Brazilian Grill
Next to Century 14 Downtown, Tucanos serves an all-inclusive Brazilian-style BBQ with skewered meats and a comprehensive salad bar.
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Sadie’s
Make sure to snap a photo in front of the sign at Sadie’s that says, ‘in 1897 in this location, nothing happened.’ A massive place with a barn-like atmosphere, Sadie’s is a local institution. One author makes this her first stop in Albuquerque – bar none. Recite along with us: ‘a carafe of grand gold margaritas, please, and the enchilada dinner with blue corn, rolled, chicken, green vegetarian, no onions and a side of guac. Great. Thanks.’
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Firefly
Firefly is always packed with a fashionable local crowd, not just for the singles’ scene on the late-night patio, but also for the food. Tapas-style dishes are often fusion-spiced, but still shake hands with Spanish tradition, from patatas bravas to chorizo clams and vegetarian delights. A backlit bar dispenses the house specialty sangria and infused mojitos. On some nights, hot Latin turntablists spin. Reservations strongly recommended.
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Roxy’s Diner
Every place in Vegas has a gimmick. At this ’50s-style rock ‘n’ roll diner, servers drop everything to perform song-and-dance numbers straight out of Grease. It’s hilarious fun, but it sure does slow service down. Copious comfort food tastes just about right for the prices. Blue-plate specials won’t leave you hungry, and super-thick milkshakes come with silver sidecars, just like when you were a kid.
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Golden Crown Panaderia
[ourpick] Golden Crown Panaderia Who doesn't love a friendly neighborhood bakery? Especially one with gracious staff, fresh-from-the-oven bread, fruit-filled empanadas, smooth coffee and the frequent free cookie. Make time in your schedule to sample the goodies inside this beloved adobe oasis, and call ahead to reserve a loaf of quick-selling green chili bread.
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Gabriel’s
It’s worth the 12-mile drive north of Santa Fe to eat at Gabriel’s. The scenic patio and beautiful interior, hung with Miguel Martinez’s art, are fabulous spots to enjoy fresh guacamole, made to order at your table, excellent New Mexican cuisine and even better ribs. Plan to drop by if you’re headed to the flea market or points north.
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Aureole
Chef Charlie Palmer’s seasonally inspired tasting menus (from $95), which show off dishes like saffron seafood chowder and maple-nut baklava, are not always artfully executed. But it’s worth ordering wine just to watch catsuit-clad ‘wine angels’ ascend the four-story tower. Extensive wine list, upscale dress. Reservations essential.
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Blue Willow Restaurant
If you’ve greeted the day with bloodshot eyes, get back in gear with high-octane coffee, energy-restoring omelettes or a fiery chorizo scramble at this beloved local institution. Fresh pasta, bulging sandwiches, meat-free choices and daily specials keep the place packed through dinnertime. The patio is heated in winter.
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Cloud Cliff Bakery
Slip on some Birkenstocks and drop by for a stack of groovy blue corn pancakes (around US$6). Rainbow trout wraps (around US$9), organic lamb and quinoa (around US$9), and soups and sandwiches are served alongside organic wines and microbrews. As for side helpings, look for lefty commentary, live music, poetry or lectures.
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Il Fornaio
Feast on wood-fired pizzas, salads and pastas, or make a meal of the antipasti platter with scallops wrapped in pancetta, baked eggplant, truffled cheeses and more. Delectable, fresh-baked breakfast goodies such as lemon-pecan scones are also available at ll Fornaio Paneterria, near the hotel lobby.
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Mandala Tearoom
An organic vegan cafe in cheerful minimalist surroundings, it serves up rockin' baked ziti, dozens of organic teas, and a weekend brunch with filling tofu scrambles. In addition to the creative international-inspired menu, treats include vegan truffles from Cosmic Cacao, herbal elixirs (around US$7) and free wi-fi.
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La Plazuela
Make reservations to dine on pork medallions in prickly pear-Tecate barbecue sauce, chipotle-glazed filet mignon and other gourmet goodies at this lovely spot in the painted-glass heart of La Fonda hotel, where local artist Ernest Martinez has graced more than 400 windows with his paintings over the last 50 years.
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La Cantina at Coyote Café
This lively rooftop cantina atop famed sister restaurant, Coyote Café, welcomes budget gourmets to sample chef Mark Miller’s cut-rate creations. Try the Oaxacan chicken mole ($11), spit-roasted pork tacos with pineapple ($13) and the signature mango margarita ($8). Sunsets are fabulous.
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Joseph's Table
Chef Joseph Wrede doles out unique and creative Southwestern dishes with an emphasis on ingredients from local farms. The dining room sprouts pussywillow chandeliers and a lush flowery mural painted by his wife and his mother. Couples should go for a 'loveshack, ' one of the cozy, romantic window booths.
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Salt Lake Roasting Company
The Salt Lake Roasting Company has been roasting its own beans since 1981, and the coffee is premium java - strong, aromatic and flavourful. Food-wise, take your pick from the range of salads, sandwiches and pastries to accompany your coffee as you relax in this airy, open, two-storey space.
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La Crepe Michele
Tucked in the corner of an adobe courtyard near Old Town Plaza, this intimate restaurant is the place to enjoy a quiet romantic dinner. A variety of crepes are served for lunch and dinner, while French specialties, ranging from beef Wellington to barramundi au champagne, change nightly.
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Carnival World & Village Seafood Buffets
Some say Carnival World is Vegas’ best all-around buffet, with wok-fried dishes, taco bars, fresh seafood and handmade gelato. Pricier Village Seafood is for those who can’t get enough snow crab legs, lobster tails and fresh-shucked oysters, plus salads and house-made breads.
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Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill
California flair pervades this ultra-contemporary bistro just off the casino floor. The truffled potato chips with blue cheese, skirt steak skewers with celery salad, wood-fired pizzas and ricotta gnocchi with sweet fennel sausage thrill, just like the New World wine list.
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Seasons Rotisserie & Grill
With bright-yellow walls, high ceilings, fresh flowers and a creative menu, this contemporary place provides welcome relief from the usual Old Town atmosphere. Try the hearty red-chile-dusted chicken burgers or Baja tacos inside or on the rooftop cantina.
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Chelsea's Kitchen
Set in a converted mid-Century Modern home alongside a canal in Phoenix' quietly upscale Arcadia district. Get a platter of tacos or some ribs and you won't be disappointed; it's comfort food (yes, in the Southwest tacos are comfort food) gone gourmet.
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