Upscale Restaurant in ALQ

Hi. My husband and I will be in ALQ for 4 nights while he is on pass before a deployment. The last night that we are there we want to go out to a nice upscale restaurant. I%26#39;ve done some searching and I%26#39;m having trouble finding anything I like. We really like to try new foods and interesting combinations. I%26#39;ve looked at Antiquity but we both really like fish and that isn%26#39;t an option there. Does anybody have any suggestions? Thanks so much.

Upscale Restaurant in ALQ

Albuquerque is really not known for its seafood. Typical menu offerigs here are Atlantic Salmon ( yawn ) or maybe tuna and most restaurants only have one or two seafood items on the menu.

I%26#39;ve had the mixed seafood rotisserie dinner at the Corn Maiden and it was very good. The restaurant is at the Hyatt Tamayo, just north of Bernalillo. It%26#39;s a nice, upscale place to dine.

You might also call and see if the Prairie Star, located close by has any seafood offerings ( I%26#39;ve found they usually have a couple of off menu specials ), their food is outstanding and they have a great wine list. They usually have coupons on 999dine.com.

Upscale Restaurant in ALQ

Hola!

For upscale I would recommend the Albuquerque Petroleum Club, Marcello%26#39;s Chop House, Vernon%26#39;s Hidden Valley Steakhouse, and probably the nice restaurant at the Tamaya Resort.

Vernon%26#39;s is kind of a special place: google it to learn it%26#39;s secret. We loved it.

Petroleum Club is at the top of a building with amazing views. I was there six years ago (very special occasions only) and I still remember how good it was.

We%26#39;re waiting to try Marcello%26#39;s, but soon I hope. I%26#39;ve heard good things though.

www.marcelloschophouse.com

The fish at Yanni%26#39;s is very good as well. Slightly less upscale than the previous recommends, but a great restaurant. We go there a couple times a year. Definitely have the Dolmathes! The soup isn%26#39;t on the menu, but have it too: lemony chicken and rice something or other.

www.yannisandopabar.com/yannismenu.html

The Gruet steakhouse is nice as well. I%26#39;ve been once, and I liked it very much. They%26#39;ve got three fish entrees. www.gruetwinery.com/menu1.htm

We really like Pelican%26#39;s on the westside, and we go there several times a year. Like Yanni%26#39;s, it%26#39;s not quite as upscale, but they%26#39;ve got lots of fresh fish on the menu.

www.pelicansabq.com

It%26#39;s going to be a great meal--enjoy!

I believe the Albuquerque Petroleum Club closed in 2007.

Vernon%26#39;s is an amazing steakhouse, but I would not go to a steakhouse and order fish.

I%26#39;ve never tried Pelican%26#39;s...I believe that%26#39;s a chain, right?

You may have to settle for ';Upscale,'; minus the fish/seafood. :-)

Another possibility is Seasons Rotisserie and Grill (www.seasonsonthenet.com) located at 2031 Mountain Rd. NW, in San Felipe Plaza, just east of Rio Grande Blvd. NW and north of Old Town. We ate there our first night in Albuquerque and thought it was excellent.

Another place to consider: Nob Hill Bar %26amp; Grill (www.upscalejoint.com) at 3128 Central Ave. SE, between Richmond Dr. and Bryn Mawr Dr. Good food, but the ambiance might be too casual for what you%26#39;re looking for.

Hi Karma!

Yeah, fish is hard to come by in the desert. Sad to hear about the Petroleum club. That was a great place.

I think there might be one or two other Pelicans in El Paso or Austin, but I don%26#39;t think it%26#39;s a big chain. Maybe 4 restaurants. I remember when I bought gift certificates they mentioned the other two restaurants.

I%26#39;d like to second Forest%26#39;s recommend of Season%26#39;s. It%26#39;s a nice place and I%26#39;ve always liked their food.

However, I don%26#39;t think I%26#39;d pick the Nob Hill grill yet, as I think they%26#39;ve got some kinks to work out. I%26#39;ve been there twice now and I%26#39;d rather eat at other nob hill restaurants like Yanni%26#39;s, Zinc Wine Bar, or a few steps down the sidewalk at Vivace. I will say that Nob Hill makes a great burger, but that%26#39;s not what I want when I go out to an upscale place.

Again, sorry about the lack of fish places. I am really trying to think of more, but I%26#39;m drawing a blank!

Actually my favorite fish place in Albuquerque is Mariscos Altimar. Not upscale by any means, but they make great shrimp cocktails, ceviche and Mexican fish dishes. If I want a large selection of fresh fish I just wait until I am in Boston and then eat almost nothing else all week.

I concur with the other posts; Albuquerque is not the best place for fish. A few places I would recommend, if price is no object are: Trombinos for some of the best Italian you have ever had. Their Chicken Marsala is superb; The Cooperage, which has been around for a long time, has great steaks and some seafood; The Ranchers Club in the Hilton Hotel is primarily steaks, but very good food, and El Pinto, for great authentic New Mexican food.

I wouldn%26#39;t put Trombino%26#39;s, The Cooperage and El Pinto into the ';if price is no object'; category. I%26#39;ve eaten at all three, and the prices are pretty moderate. Of course, everyone has their own budget.

Maybe it%26#39;s just me but I thought the Rancher%26#39;s Club was mediocre, kind of old people food. My husband and I were the only diners who weren%26#39;t gray hairs in there!

If we%26#39;re skipping seafood, I thought I%26#39;d add Savoy Grill to the list of suggested upscale places. We%26#39;ve eaten there twice, really enjoyed both meals there.