Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Moderate
The Grove Café & Market
Finds
CAFE/LIGHT FARE Albuquerque's hip-
pest new dining spot in the EDo district (east of downtown) offers fresh breakfasts and
lunches utilizing organic and locally grown produce in a fun and open space. Colorful
nature paintings hang on sky-blue walls, and a patio opens during warm months. Order
at a counter and a very friendly server brings your food to the table. The menu offers
creative twists on standards, such as French-style pancakes with fruit and crème fraiche,
but the real winner here is the croque madame—black forest ham, tomato, and Gruyère
cheese on rustic farm loaf, topped with a sunny-side-up egg. Wash it all down with good
coffees and teas. This is also an excellent place to stock a picnic basket and purchase
specialty teas and cookies in the Market portion of the restaurant.
600 Central Ave. SE (just west of I-25).
&
505/248-9800.
www.thegrovecafemarket.com. All main
courses under $10. AE, MC, V. Tues-Sat 7am-4pm; Sun 8am-3pm.
UNIVERSITY & NOB HILL
Moderate
Scalo
INTERNATIONAL/ITALIAN This Nob Hill restaurant is a local favor-
ite, so it's usually crowded, a good sign of the food's quality. The place has a simple,
bistro-style elegance, with white-linen-clothed tables indoors, plus outdoor tables in a
covered, temperature-controlled patio. Service is decent. The kitchen, which makes its
own pasta and breads, offers an international menu with excellent selections for lunch
and dinner. Seasonal menus focus on New Mexico-grown produce. At lunch you can
select from salads, wood-fired pizzas, and paninis. Their
panini con salsiccia
has sausage,
caramelized onions, and mozzarella. The varied dinner menu offers soups, salads, pizza,
pasta, and meat and fish entrees. The
bianchi e neri al capesante
has black and white
linguine, shrimp, salmon, and peas in a cream sauce. For dinner a standing favorite is the
veal scallopine with sautéed mushrooms. The wine list won a
Wine Spectator
award; from
it you can sample 30 wines by the glass. Or you may order from the full bar.
3500 Central Ave. SE.
&
505/255-8781.
www.scalonobhill.com. Reservations recommended. Lunch
$6-$10, dinner $8-$29. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Thurs 11:30am-10pm; Fri 11:30am-11pm; Sat
11:30am-11pm; Sun 11am-9pm.
Yanni's Mediterranean Grill and Opa Bar
MEDITERRANEAN With
bright blue and white decor, Athenian-style pillars, and Mediterranean paintings on the
walls, this is a great place for a festive meal. Locals crowd the cafe any time they can,
including the patio with big windows looking out on Central Avenue. Service is friendly,
though overworked during peak hours. All food is made fresh, with specials daily. You
might start with jumbo sea scallops seared and served with grilled tomato, and then move
on to one of the excellent specials such as wild opa roasted with oranges, wild halibut
seared crispy with lemon and thyme, or, my favorite, oven-roasted lamb. The menu hosts
a variety of pasta dishes and, of course, moussaka. Entrees come with a salad, bread,
vegetable, and a potato or rice side. An international wine list featuring Greek offerings
and a full bar accompany the menu. And the attached Opa! Bar provides live entertain-
ment on weekends.
3109 Central Ave. NE.
&
505/268-9250.
www.yannisandopabar.com. Reservations recommended. Main
courses $7-$14 lunch, $13-$27 dinner. AE, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Thurs 11am-10pm; Fri-Sat 11am-11pm;
Sun noon-9pm.
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