An Albuquerque Landmark

1 star of 1 for ambiance - live music made it a 1
.8 star of 1 for service
1.2 of 2 stars for food
.8 star of 1 for cleanliness

Judging from the president, celebrities and TV networks showing up at El Pinto, I'd say this place is about the total experience, not just the food. The best part of my meal was the guacamole someobdy else at our table ordered. Thanks Richard.

Eleven years ago I asked an Albuquerque native which restaurant was best in Albuquerque. He said El Pinto, and brought cases of salsa with him when he returned from visits home. He also got sacks of Hatch chiles, but that's another story. He gave me a bottle of El Pinto salsa when the office bid me farewell. That particular bottle was pretty scorchy. Three years and three tries later I finally found El Pinto. It's west of the river and north of town.

My first visit I was seated in one of the northwestern dining rooms. Rustic with a rock waterfall fountain, turned off for winter. Dining rooms and patios are a huge part of El Pinto's allure. Some kind of Southwest/New Mexico style to suit most tastes. My meal was probably a green chile burrito or chiles rellenos. It's how I compare chefs. As I ate I wondered, "Why am I here?"

My host of tonight loves the calabacitas at El Pinto. Earlier today, when he asked where I wanted to eat, I said, "We're in New Mexico, we have to eat New Mexican." He looked slightly dismayed, but said El Pinto calabacitos tickle his tastebuds.

We were seated in a former patio, pillars walled in, central fountain now a home for potted chile and firecracker penstemon plants. A fireplace blazed in the corner. The iron chairs were comfortably padded.

I had what my host had. Stuffed green chile sopapilla chicken, the chile hot, and a side of calabacitas. We also got chips and salsa. The chips were chips, some almost burned black. The salsa, not too hot, was good. The guacamole improved the chips dramatically and answered my opening question, "Can good guacamole be found in New Mexico?" Yes. At El Pinto. At least I thought it was good.

Remembering my red hot gift salsa experience I wondered if ordering hot chile sopaipillas was a good idea. It was fine. Very edible, some sweating and nose wiping, but I've experienced much more severe chile effects at other restaurants. The flavor was ok. The appearance of the lettuce bed hiding my little pillows was spruced up with sodium bisulfite. The diced tomatoes on top gave it a splash of southwest color.

Some very good Mexican folk music performers livened up our patio. A table of Minneapolis school teachers did some spontaneous dancing lighting the place up with their spirit.

One of us ordered the Levante dessert. We shared it. It was decent, like the food, fluffy whipped cream layered between thin cake slices.

I've written reviews of much better food than El Pinto's. But the ambiance, live music, and decent food made a good package of the evening. Give it a try, especially some warm summer evening.

El Pinto salsa can be bought in grocery stores across the country.

Tea, Sopaipilla Chicken, Calabacitas, Levante, $27.29, includes tax.

Will I return? When my fellow diners decide El Pinto is the place to eat, I'll join them and not regret a minute of the evening.

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