Grub
Burritos Alinstante
Seriously cheap, seriously delicious burritos with seriously excellent green chile. Until the recent economic meltdown, all their burritos cost $4.20 with tax; we shake our heads at the Bush Administration once more.
Burt’s Tiki Lounge
Kitschy as all fuck; the walls practically sag with tchotchkes. Surprisingly chill, if a little spooky, around 9pm. Horrible White Russians, but excellent island drinks. Hipsters everywhere; many hot. If skinny pants and ironic t-shirts get you weak in the knees, this is kinda your Mecca. Unless you’re, you know, kinda beyond that.
Café Giuseppe
If you’re serious about biking and espresso, Café Giuseppe may be heaven. Giuseppe (Joe for short) is an Italian bicycling fanatic (he even had his own jerseys made to sell at the store).
Café Istanbul
This ‘everything from scratch, made by family’ café is also a grocery store and deli, offering pickled and canned bulk, most with labels indiscernible to English-only speakers.
Casa de Benavidez
Where other high-end New Mexican restaurants might look modeled on a house, here you’re waiting to be seated in Paul and Rita’s old foyer–and eating on their porch. It’s gourmet New Mexican made with love–ain’t a lot of places can boast that combination, and no other in Burque that we’re aware of.
Cecilia's Café
A cute and quirky family-run nook in the heart of Downtown. Amazingly hot (read: colon-punishing), richly flavorful Chimayó red chile.
Central Market Deli
Now under new ownership, and family owned, this local deli is finally standing ground against other downtown restaurants, and we’re thrilled to see more Middle Eastern fare down that way. We’re not sure of the sort of alchemy they’re practicing back there, but it’s a shockingly good price for the taste.
Cervantes Restaurant & Lounge
Cervantes is exactly the Mexican joint you’re expecting, give it’s smack in the middle of The War Zone… er, we mean, International District. No, no – there’s no looming threat of bar-fights or line out the door of gangsters (unless they’re there to eat). It’s just been there forever and hasn’t really been blessed with an interior update since the early 80s.
Chama River Brewing Co.
Two completely different locations serving the same excellent beer! Downtown has a casual, easy-going vibe (with food nearby). Up north is the huge, swanky brewery. Choose for location, mood, or who it is you intend to run into. Neither disappoints.
Charlie’s Back Door
A Burque classic! This dark Scottish-themed bar tends to the daytime-break needs of ever-present Heights construction workers. Boasts a wide variety of whiskeys and dark ales, as well as the full Front Door menu. Try the sheepdip, a bowl of just-tender meat in chile.
CLOSED M-SA 2–5
ChebaHut
Oh, stoners. Oh, the marketing savants that appeal to stoners.
Oh, the stoners who bite anyway, and oh, everyone else who’s hungry… for something other than pizza, danishes, twin varieties of mediocre deli sandwiches, bruschetta, an epic combination plate, General Tsao’s Chicken, or a Breakfast Burrito Deluxe.
Christy Mae's
Churning with the requisite charm of a family-owned and –operated kitchen, Christy Mae’s pitches a piquant palatte of affordable dining options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.