There are two China Star locations: one on Montgomery, the other on Juan Tabo. This review refers to the Juan Tabo restaurant. An extremely organized, efficient all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant, the China Star features over a hundred separate menu ... more

There are two China Star locations: one on Montgomery, the other on Juan Tabo. This review refers to the Juan Tabo restaurant. An extremely organized, efficient all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant, the China Star features over a hundred separate menu items. The menu is predominately Americanized Cantonese dishes, which means that most dishes will be extremely sweet due to the Cantonese influence and deep-fried due to the American influence. There are a handful of starch and vegetable dishes, but most of the dishes have a protein component of some kind. The appetizer section includes sushi and steamed shrimp. Except to see most of the traditional American standby dishes such as pot sticker dumplings, fried won tons, and spicy orange chicken. There is also an unusual number of seafood dishes. The coconut shrimp is delicious when it's fresh. If you prefer fresh stir fry, a Mongolian barbecue is available. There are actually several healthy food options available. If you are on a diet, start with the sushi and perhaps some soup, and steer clear of the rice and noodle dishes in favor of the vegetables or the broccoli beef dish. The dessert aisle contains plenty of fruit. This is one of the most family-friendly restaurants in the city, with an entire buffet section devoted to American children's food: fries, chicken nuggets, and the like. There is a dessert buffet and also an ice cream machine for the children. There are separate prices for adults, children, and senior citizens, and lunch is cheaper than dinner although nearly all the menu items are the same. The restaurant is not licensed for alcohol. The China Star is nearly always packed, so except for during very slow periods there is almost always a server coming from the back with a fresh menu item or two. During slow periods some menu items will become tough or dry. This is characteristic of buffet dining. On the outside the restaurant looks old and well established, if not a little bit run down. Inside, the carpet sustains heavy use due to the popularity of the restaurant and the foot traffic back and forth to the buffet. The decor has a lot of the stereotypically cliche Chinese decorations, but the restaurant is always immaculately clean and well kept. The staff is friendly and polite, and there is not a great deal of turnover so management must be doing something right. The noise level is characteristic of a buffet and also of a low-cost, all-you-can-eat restaurant: there are lots of children and plenty of people milling about. If you don't like to deal with other people's children when dining, select a different restaurant. Do not expect top quality in terms of all the dishes, especially if you come during a slow period. The restaurant is geared to budget-conscious large family dining. However, if you're looking for lots of reasonably good food at a very reasonable price, consider the China Star. less

For the last several years, the Zea restaurant has consistently impressed me with outstanding quality in terms of food, ambience, and service. The restaurant is divided into several small, quiet dining areas suitable for dates, family entertainment, ... more

For the last several years, the Zea restaurant has consistently impressed me with outstanding quality in terms of food, ambience, and service. The restaurant is divided into several small, quiet dining areas suitable for dates, family entertainment, or celebration. Well-behaved children are welcome and the restaurant is family-friendly without being chaotic or child-dominated. Reservations are accepted, and at peak dining hours it's a good idea to reserve a table. The atmosphere is on the upscale side of the bar and grill scene and the food would not be out of place in a fine dining establishment. Decor is subdued and tasteful, music is generally recorded jazz, and the staff is attentive, polite, and almost always sophisticated. There is a patio available in the summer. This restaurant is definitely a good place to take a date, because the tables are not too close together, there are lots of nice, private booths, and the noise level is low due to the design and layout of the building and the type of floor covering used. The food is spectacular. The rotisserie items are slow-cooked and tasty. My personal favorite is the twice-baked crispy duck. Yet the grilled options are also very good. There are a variety of appetizers, side dishes, salads, and desserts, and the wine list is respectable. Not one thing about the Zea is lacking. This kind of upscale bar and grill dining experience is what the Assets Grill and the Whisque try to offer, but fail to deliver. less

I took my girlfriend out for a night on the town at Exhale, which was billed as an upscale women's club and restaurant. Based on the pictures on the Web site (and the fact that the restaurant's name includes the phrase "bar and grill&quo ... more

I took my girlfriend out for a night on the town at Exhale, which was billed as an upscale women's club and restaurant. Based on the pictures on the Web site (and the fact that the restaurant's name includes the phrase "bar and grill"), we were expecting a small steak house or grill with a fruit buffet. We dressed accordingly. The cover charge was only $5, which seemed unusual for a restaurant but understandable given that there was a bar attached to the restaurant. The hostess asserted that the food was "very good", so we were optimistic. But once we were indoors we could not get service. In fact the wait staff glared at us, possibly because neither of us were dressed like lumberjack wanna-bes or something out of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. We were dressed as though we were going to... the upscale club that Exhale presented itself as being! In a place that looked like a cross between a post-industrial biker bar and a 1980's disco pool hall, we might have been a bit out of place. We found it ironic that there would be such a hostile vibe at a bar that caters to the gay community: a community which prides itself on diversity and universal acceptance. We eventually went to the bar to ask for a menu, and were told that the restaurant was actually "separate" from the bar and on a different register. After a fair amount of hunting, we secured a menu. The food was typical bar fare: Nachos, cheese sticks, and the like. There was not a single item on the menu that wasn't deep-fried or loaded with calories. "If this is supposed to be 'good' food at the best upscale women's club in town, " said my girlfriend, "no wonder most of the lesbians here are overweight." Although we were both very hungry, there was not a single menu item either of us could eat. My girlfriend's a Vegan and I'm counting calories. There was not a single vegetarian-friendly, healthy item available. So we left after spending a grand total of twenty minutes indoors, without eating or drinking, and went straight to the closest upscale restaurant I knew of. There, despite the late hour, the mostly straight and very mainstream staff had no problem serving us. less

The Whisque (pronounced "Whiskey") opened in 2007 and bills itself as an upscale American eatery, which it is not. An upscale eatery DOES NOT have televisions in the dining area, exposed duct work in the ceiling, sound-reflecting walls and ... more

The Whisque (pronounced "Whiskey") opened in 2007 and bills itself as an upscale American eatery, which it is not. An upscale eatery DOES NOT have televisions in the dining area, exposed duct work in the ceiling, sound-reflecting walls and floors, dance music blaring from the speakers, wait staff in black shirt sleeves, and enough noise to rival Tucanos or Chuck E. Cheese. Do not go to this restaurant for a date, a family party, or a retirement unless you can lip read or enjoy shouting. Otherwise your dinner conversation will be mostly "huh?" "what?" and "I'm sorry, could you speak up?" The restaurant is not child-friendly due to the noise, although if you bring a small baby who has a temper tantrum, nobody is likely to notice because the sound will be swallowed up by the overall din. There is a nice view of the city and the decor is in line with a bar and grill: no tablecloths, cutlery delivered wrapped in a napkin, booths, and wood tables that are about four inches too high. There is a lovely outdoor patio that is designed more for lounging than for dining, but the noise is not as oppressive and there is no distraction due to television. Logistically, the restaurant is easy to get to but the parking lot is only a third of the size it needs to be. Even during off-peak hours people are still double-parked. There's not much choice except to use the valet service. The food is excellent. It is well presented and very tasty, the ingredients are fresh and of good quality, and even the side dishes are well thought out. The portion sizes are excessive, such that it's impractical to order an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert. The menu has a little bit of variety, and there is a selection of beer and wine as well as cocktails from the bar. The service is efficient and the staff are upbeat although they do not appear to communicate with each other (which is understandable given the noise level, unless they can lip read). They are enthusiastic, almost overly friendly, but not sophisticated. None of the wait staff seems to have been taught to read silent service, and they do not do as upscale servers do and wait for an opportune moment before asking how the food is. Instead they do the typical volume-restaurant thing and cruise by at their convenience, asking how the meal is while you have a mouth full of food and are unable to reply. On the whole, the Whisque has a lot going for it. The chef and the wait staff alone are worth a visit, in fact they would make for a good restaurant no matter where they were. The quality of the food and the enthusiasm of the service does offset the parking and noise issues, and I expect to be back. I also expect the restaurant to do very well due to the near-total lack of competition on the West Side. It is about on par with Texas Land And Cattle or Assets Grill, but cannot go toe-to-toe with the established steak houses. As soon as an actual upscale restaurant opens on the West Side, the Whisque will have trouble unless it either abandons its upscale pretentions or makes some changes. Pull out the televisions, install an actual ceiling, cover the floor, install some sound baffles, buy some table cloths, unplug the Muzak, advertise for a violinist to play for tips, and brief the staff on silent service and cutlery protocol, and you will have an upscale restaurant. The Whisque stacks up well with the Albuquerque restaurants I've given three stars, and it is head and shoulders above most restaurants in the Coors/Montano area. less

There are two Annapurna locations; this refers to the location on the NE corner of Silver at Yale, in the University area. Annapurna offers Ayurvedic food, which means that everything is purely vegetarian with emphasis on fresh organic food. Vegan a ... more

There are two Annapurna locations; this refers to the location on the NE corner of Silver at Yale, in the University area. Annapurna offers Ayurvedic food, which means that everything is purely vegetarian with emphasis on fresh organic food. Vegan and gluten-free options are clearly labeled on the menu. Many of the ingredients are local. The food is very high quality, with fresh ingredients and everything made to order. The restaurant is not licensed, so there is no alcohol. However, the restaurant specializes in chai and the carbonated cider is also excellent. Service is casual and normal as per university standards. This means that all orders are placed at the counter and paid for in advance. The wait staff bring the food to your table and bus the table. The restaurant is very clean and well kept. The walls are painted brightly and the decorations are Indian themed. less

This review pertains to the lunch menu only. Cervantes is a great place for lunch if you don't have much time to eat. The place is always packed, so make a reservation. The decor is nice, with a Don Quixote twist that makes perfect sense if you s ... more

This review pertains to the lunch menu only. Cervantes is a great place for lunch if you don't have much time to eat. The place is always packed, so make a reservation. The decor is nice, with a Don Quixote twist that makes perfect sense if you study old literature. The service is friendly and efficient, and the lunch menu is varied enough to provide a reasonable range of choices. Prices are slightly higher than averge for burrito style food, yet the quality is better than what can be had in the surrounding area. It's possible to buy the chili and salsa by the jar. less

This gigantic restaurant is out of the way in an inconvenient location. Parking is in an unimproved lot (watch out for cow droppings) but once you get inside the decor is exceptional. They could do a better job getting rid of the flies in the dining ... more

This gigantic restaurant is out of the way in an inconvenient location. Parking is in an unimproved lot (watch out for cow droppings) but once you get inside the decor is exceptional. They could do a better job getting rid of the flies in the dining area, especially around the patio. The food is average except for their chips and salsa. Their green chile is good, but this is not the place to go if you want good, authentic New Mexican cooking. On the whole the food is a step up from Garduno's (which is not saying much) but certainly not the best to be had. less

This is a microbrewery with excellent beer. Ambience is comfortable, fairly quiet, and private with lots of booths. This would be a good date restaurant if the food were better. It looks good on paper but is often mediocre unless you go for a basic h ... more

This is a microbrewery with excellent beer. Ambience is comfortable, fairly quiet, and private with lots of booths. This would be a good date restaurant if the food were better. It looks good on paper but is often mediocre unless you go for a basic hamburger (which is not the point). The service varies. The prices are high, but the quality of the food does not always reflect the price. They do not make up for it by serving large amounts of food. The amount of food served was reasonable. It's the ingredients that were unsatisfactory. My thinking is that if I order the filet mignon, the side salad needs to be edible as opposed to wilted. The place has got a lot of the potential if only management and staff pay attention to food quality. less

This is not fine dining nor it is where you would want to bring a date. It is the place to bring marathon runners the day before a big race to indulge in a carb-o-rama garlic binge. Service is all buffet style, and you can select from two different k ... more

This is not fine dining nor it is where you would want to bring a date. It is the place to bring marathon runners the day before a big race to indulge in a carb-o-rama garlic binge. Service is all buffet style, and you can select from two different kinds of salad, assorted pasta, a couple vegetables, various sauces, and meatballs. Pizza is also available. The food is very tasty although it is not made to order. At peak hours the food is replaced quickly, yet if you dine off-hours you risk having food that has sat out a few minutes. Service is good but very informal which is in keeping with the buffet design. less

The building is easily accessible from I-40 and has a distinctive owl's head roof. The restaurant is clean and the decor is a 1950's theme. Service is mediocre at best. My server would not keep his hands to himself even after I explicitly tol ... more

The building is easily accessible from I-40 and has a distinctive owl's head roof. The restaurant is clean and the decor is a 1950's theme. Service is mediocre at best. My server would not keep his hands to himself even after I explicitly told him to stop touching me. I had to yell at him to get him to take his hands off me. There was no reaction from the management. The food is standard American diner fare: greasy, salty, sweet, and starchy but not necessarily in that order, and in gigantic proportions. The meal was overpriced and gave me indigestion. less